It is solemnly that I announce the parting of Walter Fritz, Staff Sergeant, third platoon, Company B, 48th Combat Engineers, on Friday, November 5th. May he rest in peace.

Hi Again Art

When we were flying phase training at Chatham Fld. Sav. Ga. We were training formation flying and hit a weather front , I didn’t see it, but one plane crashed. The only person who got out was the ball turret man. There is no room for a chute so you have to leave it on the deck, now this man climbed out of the ball , got his chute on , saw the guys in the waist pinned by centrifugal force to the side of the plane, and had no idea how or where he left the plane. He was the only person to survive. When we were flying missions we could see the B-17s off to the right or left of our bomber stream and would see them spin in then they might come out of the spin for a minute and you would see some chutes pop out., then it would start to spin again sometimes the rest of the way to the ground. I would imagine some would get out thru the bomb bay, or the waist window , or the back door on the B-17, or the bottom hatch at the back of the B-24. This was a awful feeling seeing these planes going down. We were very lucky that no 262’s hit us, as they would come thru the formation and knock down 2 or 3 planes with one pass. If the Germans would have had more time to build these jet’s it would have made one hell of a difference to the AF. I was 5-8 tall and weighed 150 lbs---a good size for the ball. I think any one taller would have had a hard down there as even with my size it was crowded.

Several weeks ago I found this entry in our guestbook:

This is a wonderful site full of a wealth of information. My grandfather is Ernest Joy from the 540th. Like he, I joined the army and am also a combat engineer. I leave for Iraq in a couple of weeks. Thanks for you dedication to our veterans that gave the most. ESSAYONS!!

Yes, the grandson of one of the men in this photo.

I replied with this:

Dear Benjamin:

 

I always take a moment to thank each and every person who signs the guestbook and I must say what a  pleasant surprise it was hearing from you.  I plan on having a page for your grandfather in the very near future, so stay tuned for more developments.  Please stay in touch and of course my best wishes go with you in Iraq. 

 

I'm sure your grandfather is very proud of you.  It is quite an honor to be a combat engineer.  I'm more than happy to share my dads history, along with the history of all his buddies and fellow E-men.  Unfortunately the public has very little awareness of the combat engineer's role in war and it is my job to make sure that I educate them regarding your role past and present.  I find all to often while reading history books that combat engineers don't get the justice they deserve.

 

I would be honored to have you join our message board and keep us posted on events in Iraq, especially from an E-Mens perspective.  I think the public needs to hear more from the soldiers stationed there and get a birds-eye view of the war whether good or bad.  Hey, what the heck, let's do a page on you.  What would you think about that?  It would be great to have a modern-day engineer featured on our site.  Grandfather and grandson.  That would be awesome.  Let me know what you think.

 

Take care and may God keep you safe.

Ben's reply to my letter:

The web page idea would be fine with me.  I have emailed you from my wifes email address because my time at home is short.  She can cordinate any information and pictures you need.  I'll do my best to stay in touch over the next 18-24 months while I am away.  My wifes name is Lynette.  She is very involved with our family support group.  She is a prior service MP.  She said she would love to help out.  Thanks for the compliments and warm wishes.

 

SSG Benjamin Joy

B Co.  113th Engr. Bn

I heard from Lynette. Ben's address is left off for privacy:

Here is Ben's address while he is at Camp Atterbury.  He will be there for approx.  4-6 weeks.  I will let you know when to stop sending mail there and then as soon as I get the new address for him I will pass it along to you.

And today, Lynette sent me these photos that were taken in Iraq. You may have seen these before, but they are very touching.

God Bless our boys!

Hi:

If any of you have read Al Kincer's latest entry on his page, then you will know how strongly he feels about trying to give his men the credit they deserve. If you haven't read it, I will let you read it now:

Marion...I noticed under "Links" A paragraph re. Anzio 1944  Army Military History that is printed as follows.

Earlier on 25 May, at 0730, troops of the 91st Reconnaissance Squadron, 85th Infantry Division, U.S. II Corps, racing north from Terracina across the Pontine Marshes, met soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 36th Engineer Combat Regiment, from the Anzio beachhead, effecting the long-planned and longer-awaited link-up between Fifth Army forces. With the physical juncture of the II and VI Corps, the beachhead ceased to exist and the formerly isolated soldiers became the left flank of the Fifth Army. Clark personally greeted the II Corps troops three hours later. What a shame that history is sometimes written so badly. The 91st was sitting ion their butts in Terricina. Of course the 5th Army troops was Co B 48 Engrs. I wish I could right this wrong so my guys could get the credit they deserve. AL

I wrote back to Al and said,

Amen to that my friend.  Oh if we could only go back.  Well, we do have some say Al, I can "sort of" right a wrong.  No I can't change that danged history books, but I do have the Internet as a strong ally.  We can make quite a few people aware of mistakes that were written and tell them what really happened.  So even though I can't FIX things, I can attempt to make some minor repairs.

 

Trust me, now that I have begun my life long journey into my father's history and the history of the 540th, I realize how little recognition they received.  Seems now that I have accepted the assignment to educate the masses.  But, it is not only the history of the 540th, but the gleaming history of all combat engineers.  I have taken on quite a job, but it is one that I am happy to be a part of.  So with you and the other combat engineers veterans behind me, maybe we can show the world what you guys were (and are) made of.  So I am counting on you and them to tell me everything you possibly can so I can share it with all those interested.  You and I are already off to a good start. 

 

My best to you.  We make a good team.

So while I can't rewrite the history page for him, I can give it my best shot and write about it here so that other people can see it. Let the truth ring out!

Vet Recalls Stalag 17