BULLDOZER DECEMBER 2, 1943.

Long after this struggle is over and every serviceman is home, the story of the heroic exploits of the Seabees shoulder to shoulder with the Rangers and Commandos at Salerno will be told at many a fireside throughout the country. And here's one that won't be overlooked. Shortly after the first landing. English Army Engineers were prevented from laying down a section of wire mesh roadway by heavy fire from a strongly entrenched German Maching gun nest. It couldn't stop a Seabee bulldozer, however from hauling several English trucks which had bogged down. The maching gun nest was finally cleared out, and Commandos were taking care of the Nazis, the trucks were rumbling their badly needed loads inland, thanks to Seabee resourcefulness and courage. Moving in on the exploding beaches together with the first wave of assault troops, and working under severe continuous maching gun, plane and shell fire, the battling builders piled vital supplies ashore, often completely unloading heavily packed LST's in less than an hour per ship. Picked Seabee platoons also unloaded roughly 10,000 vehicles at Salerno and earned high praise for excellent performance.

At Guam, Marianas, Islands, two beach parties from the 53rd N.C.B., One officer and 17 enlisted men, equipped with several tractors, landed on D-Day (H-plus-5 minutes), July 21, 1944, with special mission to assist unloading a Marine Battery of Sherman Tanks from LCM's and LCT's at the edge of the reef at Agat Beach. This task was finished within an hour under heavy enemy mortar and machine gun fire. Three of the Sherman Tanks dropped into bomb craters on their way in from the reef to shore and were submerged. This party volunteered to rescue these tanks safely and succeeded in getting two of the tanks safely to the beach in two hours, under heavy fire. A second beach party of five enlisted men was assigned the task of operating a North West Crane, mounted on a pontoon barge and anchored off the reef of Agat Beach, to unload gasoline and ammunition from LCT's to LVT's in support of assault troops. The party, in charge of the same officer Lt. Reeves, landed on D-Day (H-plus-5) and worked day and night for five days, never leaving the barge. This barge was under heavy mortar fire for the first four days. An LST anchored alongside was hit by enemy artillery and withdrew. The remainder of the battalion moved ashore on D-plus-2 and established, maintained, and constructed roads and bridges in support of the assault troops. The Battalion's beach camp was under enemy artillery fire for four hours on D-plus-3. No enemy air raids were experienced, but sniper fire was in evidence, for a nine months period after D-day, in jungle locations. The 53rd's Demolition Squad, consisted of a Chief Petty Officer and 13 enlisted men. This squad cleared all beaches, roads, and areas ahead of the construction troops over a nine months period. Both Beach Parties have been recommended for special suitable awards. Before jungle could be cleared for road building operations, the squad had first to go out with it's mine detectors. Their efforts saved many lives among our number, without any doubt. There were also armed, unexploded naval shells to be disposed of in many places. And there were detonators to be removed from both friendly and enemy ordinance before much of it could be moved. While the 53rd NCB was attached to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, during the initial landing on Guam, they were detached from the Marines on July 27, 1944 and assigned to to duty under the Fifth Naval Construction Brigade.

I ran into a friend last week, who highly praised this book:

Duty: A Father, His Son, and the Man Who Won the War - Bob Greene

http://www.amazon.com/Duty-Father-His-Son-Man/dp/0380814110

Let the party begin. More news to follow soon, but the reunion will go on as scheduled. Same month, same place. Here's some news from John Fallon.

I have been sending out our regular reunion announcements to Colonel George Gardes (ret) and he and his wife will be attending our reunion in Lebanon. They have already made reservations and I hope you will do so soon. Colonel Gardes is the son of General Gardes who was our Commander and later 6th Corps Engineer. He is bringing pictures of the early 36th including pictures of the 36th at Plattsburg

 

36 Engineers are rugged......John Fallon II. Capt. USA Ret.

==============

Quality Inn

625 Quentin Rd.

Lebanon, PA

17042-7088

Toll-Free: (800) 626-8242 or (717) 273-6771

Fax: (717) 273-4882

Make your reservations by September 1, 2010 to make sure you get a room. Let them know that you are part of the 36th/540th Reunion to get discounted rate! Hotel rooms are $58.00 per night and includes breakfast.

Thursday- Sunday, September 23rd to 26th, 2010

The Colony Room (our hospitality suite) is available to us for all four days. Snacks will be provided, along with beer and wine.

We usually plan a nice dinner out at a local restaurant on Friday night. If you are interested, let John or I know ahead of time so we can include you in the reservations. If not, the Colony Room will be open for your use.

There will be a banquet Saturday evening. This is a semi-formal affair.

DVD presentations by YOURS TRULY will be shown throughout the weekend.

Bring your photos, etc. We have a LOT of fun reminiscing!

------------------------------------

PLEASE MAIL $40.00 (per person) to JOHN FALLON to cover dinner and hospitality suite goodies before September 1, 2010. Let him know how many will be attending along with names, so he can prepare your name tags. Send check or money order to:

John Fallon

2459 First Ave

Avalon, NJ 08202

-----------------------------------

Nearest available airport - Harrisburg, PA (approximately 30 minutes west of our hotel)

The famous Hershey's Chocolate Factory/Museum, in Hershey, PA is located between airport and Lebanon. Plan on stopping in!

-----------------------------------

Map of Area

http://www.lebanonpa.org/lebanoncity/site/default.asp

The following is correspondence regarding trying to expand membership to the Battle of Bulge - VBOB

=====================

To Bob Rhodes, et al,

I feel the suggestions put forth by Bob Faro are very good ones.

Along with the "Cornerstones of Freedom" , we should also try to

locate age appropriate

Bulge book(s) for the Middle School and High School.

(Just a note: my name in the listing is spelled incorrectly and the

email address is wrong: should be Judy or Judith Greenhalgh

(left off for privacy) Please

make those corrections.)

Sincerely,

Judy Greenhalgh

On Jan 8, 2010, at 4:43 PM, Bob wrote:

Mr. Rhodeas and others:

I am an Associate Member of the Lehigh Valley Veterans of the

Battle of the Bulge. We have a small but growing Associate Team

that is now presenting

the agenda at 2 monthly meetings per year in 2010. We are

dedicated to the men and women who comprise VBOB and their legacy.

My uncle Tom Reda

who served in the 106th Infantry became a POW on December 16, 1944,

the first day of the battle. My mother's cousin, Tom O'Brien who

served in the 26th Infantry (Yankee Division)

was KIA on January 25, 1945, the last day of the battle. So for me

I have a vested interest as well as being a Vietnam era veteran

myself.

To expand upon Mr. Rhodes' list of ideas I offer the following:

1. With the suggested revision of the website should come an

expanded reach to the sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters

and others by the veterans still with us today.

What greater marketer than those who were there and for whom we

shall carry on their legacy.

2. Perhaps even a Junior Membership for the youngsters of family

members to get them interested and "card carrying" early on. I

believe children are more involved when they

have a sense of belonging such as their own membership in such

a storied organization.

3. Marketing VBOB to younger veteran organizations with emphasis

that all veterans should carry on for each other and obviously the

youngest veterans have time and energy

on their side. This would include every veteran from Korea to

date which would include the youngest such as my son Joe, 19, a

Marine, deploying for Afghanistan any day now.

4. In regards to composing a team to preserve the legacy there

should be local VBOB teams that have such a membership especially

if as it should be education in the schools

will be continued. Our VBOB does an outstanding job in the

education program led by our Vice President, Associate Judy

Greenhalgh. This is a real case in point of how

outstanding Associates such as Judy have already been long and

hard at work to preserve the VBOB legacy.

5. On a note I have mentioned to others at the national level

before I believe the Executive Council MUST be open to all

interested members regardless of geographical location.

I had expressed an interest several years ago but learning that

you meet at Ft. Meade, MD, eliminates perhaps well over 90% of your

membership. In this day and age we

have availability of video conferencing, telephone conference

calls, etc. While meeting in person may be nice for those who can I

believe it unwittingly eliminates some

dynamic individuals who might be willing to really jump in and

help.

6. In my own case, past work and volunteer efforts, I have always

believed that thanking and marketing can go hand in hand. As such,

2 years ago I had a highway here in

Pennsylvania renamed (portion of) the Veterans of the Battle of

the Bulge Memorial Highway. I have written numerous letters and Op

Ed pieces honoring VBOB members.

I regularly tell others about VBOB and praise our individual

organization as "family" because we are truly a large extended

family who interact in many ways other than

just at one monthly meeting.

7. Before i forget, a few years ago I found what I thought was an

extraordinary book on the Battle of the Bulge by "Cornerstones of

Freedom" that I am told speaks to the

3rd-4th grade level. I showed it to several of our VBOB members

who thought it was quite good. Perhaps the "National VBOB" can come

up with a new version and market

it directly to schools via an education median.

I am proud to be an Associate Member and I will be glad to assist

as best I can.

Sincerely,

Bob Faro

-----Original Message-----

From: Robert Rhodes

Sent: Jan 8, 2010 3:29 PM

Dear VBOB Regular Members, VBOB Associate Members, and Friends;

During the November '09 VBOB Executive Council Meeting I offered to

help expand VBOB's Associate Member Program during my tenure as a

trustee.

I am writing to all of you - regular members, associate members and

others - committed to preserving the legacy of all those heroic

veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. I am most interested in any

and all suggestions designed to improve and expand our associate

member program.

I will be briefing the executive council next Tuesday, 12 January,

during their regularly scheduled council meeting and ask for your

suggestions before the meeting. Apologies galore for a short

turnaround . . . (I was in Florida for the past couple of weeks -

poor me!)

I intend to discuss:

- Revision of the VBOB website <www.battleofthebulge.org, as

appropriate, with special efforts designed to appeal to associate

members - sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, others.

- Preparation of letters co-signed by Dee Paris, president of VBOB,

and myself to all current regular members, current associate

members, and former associate members. highlighting the important

benefits of membership with special attention toward preserving the

legacy of all VBOBers and their families.

- Expansion of the marketing of VBOB to include school children

across America, other veterans organizations, Belgian and

Luxembourg families and friends, etc.

- Insuring that all links on our website to 'Bulge' military units

are current and active as a source for historical research and for

connections to comrades in arms.

- Composing a team (not a committee) of those interested in

preserving the historical legacy of the battle and its participants.

- Suggestions provided by you . . .

May I wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Bob Rhodes

VBOB Trustee

Alexandria, Virginia

H: (703) 360-5110

PS: Pls look over the addressees, above, and let me know if I have

inadvertently left potential teammates out.