There is a concrete bridge in Lohmar/Rhineland near the village Wahlscheid across the river Agger, just wide enough for a car, which has not been destoyed by the retreating german Wehrmacht as the only one far and wide, therefore combat engineers were not needed here.
A local historian and churchman (and acquaintance of my parents), Peter Kemmerich, who passed away 20 years ago, wrote in his book about Lohmar’s history of the early 20th century, that a resident farmer himself told him why: The bridge was already prepared for blasting when he tiptoed in the night to the bridge just before the Americans (97th infantry) arrived there and cut the fuze, so he saved the bridge… I read the text some years ago, but forgot about it…
Until 2011 when the bridge was examinated to prepare its overhaul. What they found was surprising: two big explosive charges without fuzes. Everybody seemed very astonished, articles in all local newspapers, nobody remembered Kemmerich’s passage in the book, not even I.
Now, trying to reconstruct the last days of WWII in Lohmar, I found the “Citations for Awards of the Silver Star to U_S_ Army Personnel in World War II”:
“GLOBIS, ANTHONY W.
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Anthony W. Globis, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action in connection with a military operation against an armed enemy while serving with Company A, 387th Infantry Regiment, 97th Infantry Division. On 13 April 1945 near Wahlscheid, Germany, Private Globis was sent to make a bridge reconnaissance. After advancing 2000 yards he came upon a road bridge which was mined an protected by three enemy soldiers. Though outnumbered, Private Globis unhesitatingly crawled to a position from which he could place fire upon the enemy troops and forced their surrender. He then audaciously required his prisoners to deactivate the mines and returned them to his own lines. Private Globis' boldness and gallantry on this occasion permitted his company to advance and reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces.
I told all this to one of our Lohmar notabilities asking what he thinks about publishing and which version he would trust. The only thing he said was he knows that farmer for more than 40 years and knows that everything he says should be considered with the utmost caution.
Was sent this via my "Google Alerts" for anything pertaining to WWII Engineers - As you will see, I left him a message to get in touch with me. What a great map!
Received two emails this week, and accompanying documents with photos. Had to share them with you. Hats off to the 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan. Hats off the the photographer. Great images. Thanks for sending these my way, Sgt Shaw!
I am looking for information on anybody who worked on the Alcan Highway and in New Guinea in WWII. My dad, Paul Armstrong from Shelton, WA was an enlisted engineer on the Alcan Highway and an officer in New Guinea.
I have seen a photo of him in and enlisted uniform standing with my Grandmother, Ida B Armstrong. I believe a SSgt or so he says. He was sent to OTS and commissioned as a 2Lt in Corp of Engineers.
He tells us of being shipped off to New Guinea and the Phillipines. I can remember looking at the B&W photos of him in the Pacific. He is 94 now and doesn't talk much about it. He never really did.
I remember his Army Captains uniform hanging in the closet for years. The 6th Army patch, the Engineer collar brass (Castle), the captains bars. He also had a foot locker full of momentoes. I took his old field jacket, put some old Captains bars on it and wore it around. Dad said I was inpersonating an officer.
He also told us of one night while guarding the camp perimeter they hear a lot of movment in the jungle. As it got closer the machiner gunner let loose. The movement stopped. My dad crawled out to see and found a water buffalo riddled with bullets.
He just recently told my brother that he (dad) had been awarded the bronze star. For what I really don't know.
I also have a French Unique 7.62 (32 ACP) pistol he took a Jap officer. How the gun got from France into the Japs hands I will ever know.
Being a retired USAF MSgt myself I am interested in anythingI can find about the Army Engineers on the Alcan or in New Guinea. Especially anybody who knwe my dad Capt Paul E Amrstrong.
For some reason our FORUM is no longing posting birthday events. Due to this, I (we) have missed several birthdays, including Joe from the 3rd Infantry div's birthday, earlier this month.
So happy belated birthday to Joe and to everyone else we've missed lately! Sorry for that. Have to write to tech support to see if we can fix the problem. Sigh!
