I have been trying to research my fathers unit the 1251st Battalion Combat Engineers for several months now with almost no info. It has been very frustrating to say the least, but about two weeks ago, I posted on a bunch of WWII web sites. After several days, I figured that there was going to be no answer, until Friday AM. A very wonderful person pulled the records at the National Archives and sent me a two paragraph description on the different armies....yes armies they were in. Evidently they were sent wherever they were needed. Kinda like a decent utility infielder being traded from team to team. He never was part of the sixth, but spent time in the 15th,1st,9th, a second time with the 15th and then the 12th corp....They received credit for the Central Europe and Rhineland Campaign.

Heres where my confusion comes in....One of the few places that I could find a listing for the 1251st was on a monument in St Louis listing them at the Battle of the Bulge. One of my uncles said that my father talked about being terrified at the Battle of the Bulge, and yet, he did not reach France until Dec 31st of 44. So, I'm still really confused...How the heck were they in the Ardennes long enough to be listed on a monument....

Oh well, time to dig in and do some more research

Darlene

I don't know if all you folks have access to "The Military Channel" on your cable system. I pay for the digital service for that, History International and National Geographic. Any ways on Friday, Dec 7th starting at 6 pm The Military Channel will start running back to back documetaries on Pearl Harbor.

This will the the first Pearl Harbor Anniversary since my friend Sue's father died. He was on the hospital ship Solaris on that day. If you've ever seen the film of the Arizona lifting out to the water when the magazine exploded, that was taken from the deck of the Solaris. I would always try to stop by there and tell him what they running that day, just to let him know that someone remembered what happened on that day.....I'm going to miss that little tradition.

Hi All,

Just thought you may wish to see the following message I have just received.

I know it mentions Britsh service men and women, but I feel it should say all service men and women, especially those overseas working together trying to make and keep peace in these troubled times.

Pvt Puddles

*****************************

THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY A PEACE KEEPING SOLDIER STATIONED OVERSEAS

THE FOLLOWING IS HIS REQUEST I THINK IT IS REASONABLE.

"PLEASE WOULD YOU DO ME THE KIND FAVOUR OF SENDING THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN, CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND SOME CREDIT IS DUE TO OUR BRITISH SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN FOR OUR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES.

LETS TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY A TINY BIT BACK OF WHAT WE OWE!"

ITS CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE

IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

HE LIVED ALL ALONE

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE

AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE

NO TINSEL NO PRESENTS NOT EVEN A TREE

NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES AWARDS OF ALL KINDS

A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT IT WAS DARK AND DREARY

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING SILENT ALONE

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER

NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE BRITISH SOLDIER

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO THE FLOOR FOR A BED

I REALISED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT

SOON ROUND THE WORLD THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY

THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY ALONE

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME

THE VERY THOUGH BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE

'SANTA DON'T CRY THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM I DON'T ASK FOR MORE

MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY. MY CORPS'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT I CONTINUED TO WEEP

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR SO WILLING TO FIGHT

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE

WHISPERED 'CARRY ON SANTA ITS CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE'

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT

'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT'

Jim Hennessey sent this to me this week:

http://www.mamarocks.com/military_prayer.htm

The Day of Battle - The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944

by Rick Atkinson

http://www.liberationtrilogy.com/day_of_battle_reviews.htm

My buddy Bill Hamiter sent the link to me today and let me know it was out on the market.

From the same author who brought you, An Army at Dawn - The War in North Africa 1942-1943