Hi:

I am trying to locate the book, Overseas with the 540th Engineers. Someone was kind enough to lend me their copy so I can scan it to my hard drive, but eventually I would like to add the book to my permanent collection. If anyone knows where I can obtain the book, please let me know.

Thanks a million.

I'm not exactly a new Combat engineer. Actually I did my time between 1992 and 2000 but i do have a bit of a funny story that happened on a training exercise.

It took Place in what we affectionately refered to as the Yak, Yakima, Washington. We had been up for about four days straight we where sent on a road crater mission at about three in the morning. It was the dumbest idea anyone in command had ever had. Since we were not allowed to blow a real road they had two squads pull off on the side of the road, set up about forty pounds of C-4 each and when they gave the signal let it go, two minute time fuse. I was in second squad and we went out with first squad to set our charges. It was one of those nights were everything seemed to be going wrong. First we got the go ahead, then half way there we were called back, then we were sent again, made it to the righht spot and the changed the location. We finally made it to the proper location and set our charges. Since it was rather informal we conducted our selves rather informal. Instead of all the normal precautions we just dropped the ramp of our APC, set the charge down and waited. We attempted to contact the LT for the go ahead several times but couldn't get through. We waited and waited then suddenly first squad about twenty feet off our rear loads up in to their APC and leaves. It didn't dawn on us they wouldn't leave without lighting their fuse. Not until abour a minute and a half later when our squad leader gets this weird look on his face and walks over to where they dropped their charge. I have never seen anybody run that fast. He came hauling back to our track screaming the entire time to pull the fuse and load up. I was the driver and had pretty much figured out the problem. As soon as the ramp was off the ground about an inch I dropped it in gear and laid on the gas raising the ramp as I drove. I was looking over my shoulder to see when the ramp was up when the first charge blew. It was the prettiest fire ball I had ever seen and due to the course we had to take it wasn't more then thirty feet off our tail. Everyone in he track saw it and one new guy almost wet himself. I was pelted in the helmet by several peices of dirt and rock. When we got down the road a bit more the second charge went. The First Squad showed up. They had made it to the minimum safe distance before they realized we were not following them. They kept waiting for us to show up and had started to get worried. When the first charge blew they had seen our outline in the blast and panicked starting back for us. All in all in was a pretty amusing evening. I ronically there was a comet in the sky that everyone kept saying was bad luck. I Think it was good luck that night.

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Seeking any WWII veterans who were admirers of the late Ann Sheridan (1915-1967) and may have an interest in being interred in a niche beside her. Miss Sheridan's cremated remains were recently discovered in storage and are in the process of being moved to the Los Angeles cemetery where I work. I am in charge of setting up a lasting and permanent memorial to this great star -- and inspiration to millions of brave GIs the world over -- and have a limited number of available spaces in our beautiful Columbarium behind the chapel. Please contact Michael Roman ASAP at 310-560-3077 or email me at mroman@forevernetwork.com.

Another cadetat6 stories.

Kirkuk firefighters train Iraqis

KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq -- Staff Sgt. Shannon Anderson shows Iraqi firefighter Saad Edrees Younis how to attack a fire during a joint training session here. Sergeant Shannon is assigned to the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's fire department and is from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adrian Cadiz)

by Staff Sgt. Ruth Curfman

506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

10/19/2004 - KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- A siren pierces the early evening night calling attention to the bright yellow firetruck speeding toward a pillar of smoke in the distance.

People here are accustomed to the sounds and sights of the emergency response crews as they hurry to save lives and property, but this crew is different.

Instead of U.S. servicemembers deployed to Iraq driving the 10-ton firetruck to its destination, the men behind the wheel have a far more compelling interest in their destination, because they are Iraqi guards.

As part of a program to help rebuild Iraq, the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s fire department graduated 19 Iraqi students here Oct. 13 after completing a three-day first responder, first aid and firefighting course.

In all, more than 284 people have received this training which began in February.

This is the story of Air Corp. Boot Training at Tent City

Sunday Oct. 24, 1943 Left Miami Beach Hotel at 1 P.M. arrived at Tent City at 4:15 P.M.. No Hotels there is 400 tents with 8 men to a tent. For next few dats you eat with

Your army utensils and drink from a large canvass bag. The firing range is just across the street.. We fire carbine, Springfield,tommy gun, and other weaponds.I shot a 142,, does

Any-one know if that is good or bad? There were guards all around to keep us from leaving.The only toilets were slit trenches and it rained all night. We got chemical war-fare training when thay through tear gas among us and we put our gas masks on..

We left tent city Wed.27th and returned to our Miami Beach hotels. For those who were at Miami Beach do these name ring a bell. Hotel Netherland,,Nautilus,,Pancoast,,Nausaue,,

Macfadden Deaville,,Edge Water Beach,,St., Moritz,,Massonettes,,Grand Plaza,,Rendale

And for eating Hauffman Café.. Remember Nov. 18, 1943 every-one was re-stricted to there hotels ,because they lost 147 men and they took a head count. There goes my senior moment