PFC Desmond T. Doss

Hello Everyone,

Wanted to bring to your attention today, if you have not heard about it, of a new film that is to be released on November 4th, 2016 entitled "Hacksaw Ridge". This film is to portray the remarkable story of Medal of Honor winner PFC Desmond T. Doss. His award carries with it a couple of distinctions, the first being he was the only medic to be awarded the MoH in World War II. There were many deserving of the award but the army brass at the time had a certain "prejudice" or "reluctance" to give the award to medics, the brass could not discount his actions of May 1945 though. The second distinction is that PFC Doss is the very first conscientious objector ever to receive the MoH. He preferred the term "conscientious cooperator" though, for he gladly wanted to serve his country but because of his strong religious beliefs could not carry a weapon or kill anybody. Making him a medic was the solution.

I am anxiously waiting to see this film, hopefully they have presented this hero's story well. Time will tell. Have a good one everybody!

Randy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Doss

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119532/

Would like to drop some pictures here from my dad's scrap book. The boat photos are from the Rhine River Crossing.

Rick Daniel

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The 39th Engineers - past and present - would like to extend their hospitality on

September 21-25, 2016

Comfort Inn and Suites

Plano, TX (just north of Dallas)

Call 972-881-1881 for reservations

Please ask for the 39th Engineer Battalion Reunion Block

Cost - $79.00 per night - includes "vittles" each morning

For more information call

Bill Ray - 817-239-0787 or

Gail Helser - 956-367-0999

I'm sorry, but I just have to rant about this somewhere...

Yesterday morning I received an unfriendly email asking me what right I had sharing a WWII video on my YouTube page and it said, "Did you read the copyright on this film? Do you think it is right to rip off someone else's property?"

At first I'm like, what the hell is this and who is this person. You guys know I am a stickler for details and always respect copyrights. Heck I had to deal with all this when I created my documentary and had to contact all kinds of people including Universal Studios and sign contracts.

Well I go to take a look and lo and behold, a copy of this video was sent to me by the son of a WWII engineer, who wanted me to share this on my website, quite a while back. So I wrote to him and said, hey, you gave me permission, but if you want me to take it down I will. I didn't hear anything back.

So I wrote to him again last night and no reply. I said I will be removing it today and I showed him where the link was on my site. No reply!

Well I went into my YouTube account this morning and about went ballistic, for he turned me in and now my entire account is locked down for copyright infringement. You best believe that I am pissed. So I wrote to him again today and said, why didn't you just contact me directly. I would have gladly and willingly removed your video, but now I have to deal with this.

What it also means is that every WWII video that I have linked from my website, including my documentary excerpts, are on lock-down, which means no one can access them. Arggh!! Now I have to watch some STUPID video on YouTube and take a long test on copyright procedures in order to restore my account. Just like I have time for all this. Sorry, but I am simply incensed right now.

Maybe he didn't realize it was me, but I find that hard to believe, for my YouTube account says VI Corps. Even if he made a mistake, I surely deserve some kind of apology for all this nonsense.

Thanks for listening!

Marion... My dad was Sgt Earl J Saxton, Co A, 1301st Engineers. He had three issues of the Spanner, the newsletter of the regiment, and I made scans of them.

 

20 Jul 1945, approaching Gibraltar

One copy for each 10 men on account of paper shortages [Why these are hard to find]

Rules for mail censorship.

 

14 Aug 1945, Pacific

WAR ENDS plus cartoons

 

17 Aug 1945, Pacific

VJ awards ceremony. Speech by Col Purcell on some highlights of the history of the regiment.

List of those awarded medals that day, and since the regiment landed in France on 6 Aug 1944.

Our honored dead.

 

All of these were done aboard the SS Sea Quail.

 

A government publication so public domain.

 

Legal size, roughly. 8" X 13". One sheet mimeographed on both sides. I did these as jpeg and pdf files, both full color. The black-and-white tiff test file was less legible so I didn't do tiffs. Resolution 600 dpi, the maximum for the copier I was using. (I doubt an Army mimeograph had 600 dpi resolution.) There are some faint areas but they are a problem with the original mimeographing. I've printed these on legal size paper, jpeg from Windows 7 Photo Gallery and pdf from Adobe Reader. Equally legible.

 

Total 6 pages

File size per page:

jpeg 4.73 MB to 6.92 MB

pdf 4.71 MB to 6.64 MB

 

Total for the 12 files: 71.88 MB

 

I could transfer these via Dropbox, or multiple emails.

 

Best wishes,

Mike

 

Michael J. Saxton

 

So happy to have these. Thanks for your time and efforts! I know many will enjoy reading these newsletters from the unit.

These links can also be accessed directly on our Engineer History page on the main site:

July 20, 1945

August 14, 1945

August 17, 1945