Hi:

If anyone read the latest post in "New Additions" dated 10-11-04, then you know about the CIB and the Bronze Star Medal. Anyway, in order to get his medals replaced and to apply for the Bronze Star, I have to send in a copy of his discharge papers. Well, that's no problem. But for some reason, my dad's CIB wasn't on his discharge papers. I don't know why. I have the CIB in my possession and know he received it in the Ardennes/Alsace Campaign. Can anyone give me some advice and info on this? Greatly appreciated.

I have his:

• European Theatre Ribbon
• American Theatre Ribbon
• Good Conduct Medal
• CIB
• Victory Medal
• Expert Sniper Badge (Rifle and Bayonet)

• Good Conduct Medal
• European Theatre Ribbon
• Victory Medal

Additional. Just discussing the dates on the phone with Paul T, and it appears that the Army may have screwed up on the arrival/departure dates too. For instance, they have him leaving in 21 April 43 for North Africa, but not arriving until 2 Sep 43. Just some inconsistencies like this leave me wondering.

A truly tragic event occurred here in Michigan today. There was a devastating fire at the Yankee Airforce Museum. You can read more about it here. How very, very sad for all of us.

Yankee Airforce Musuem Fire

Addendum 10-22-04...

I should have added a very important fact the other day when I initially posted this. My mother and my husband's mother worked at the Willow Run plant building bombers during the war. Hail, hail to Rosie and her riveters. The great woman who held down the home front.

As some of you may know, one of my new friends, an historian, has lent me the book that I have been feverishly searching for, Overseas with the 540th Engineers. He is giving me the opportunity to scan and copy all the pages, so at least I will have a copy on the ol' computer. This will enable me upload the pages to our site. They are hundreds of photos and text to go along with them.

The book covers the 540th E-Men from their first steps on the shores of North Africa to their last days in Germany in 1945. It's a real treasure and hopefully someday I will find a copy for my collection. There are great pics of bridges being built, mines being diffused, roads being improved, landings in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Southern France, etc. There are also photos of each platoon and much, much more.

Hopefully I will be able to share these with you very soon. It is quite an undertaking to copy an entire book and then crop and improve each image before I upload them to the web, so please be patient. It will be worth the wait.

Max Schwartz is looking for any 1306th brothers in arms and their family members. He has written a book and it is available FREE OF CHARGE to members of the 1306th and their family members. You can visit his site at:

1306th Engineer General Service Regiment

The general public can also purchase the book. Please see site for details.

He'd love to hear from you.

Here's another one. Found this on a university site and contacted them. They wrote back that Mr. Hoch died earlier this year. If any family members see this, please contact me if you wish to tell your loved ones' WWII story.

Woodrow Hoch, '42 B.S. CChem, served with the Army Corps of Engineers 540th Amphibious Brigade in Africa, Italy, France, and Germany during World War II. He was decorated with the Purple Heart and Silver Star. In 1951, he founded Master Oil Products and served as its president until 1957, when he bought Viscosity Oil, merged the companies, and remained president. Until 1985, he led the company as Viscosity Oil became a major supplier of lubricant oils, rust inhibitors, calibration fluids, greases, industrial oils, and diesel engine oils. He sold Viscosity Oil to Tenneco Oil and Gas in 1985 and retired.