Love this. Johnny has such a grand view of life and a wonderful sense of humor. Hope you enjoyed his unsolicited comments about WWII engineers.
ENGINEERS
WHO ARE THE ENGINEERS? WHAT DO THE ENGINEERS DO?
ENGINEERS ARE MADE OUT OF WELDERS- TRUCK DRIVERS-PLUMBERS-CARPENTERS-STEELWORKERS-ELECTRICIANS-DR,S-UNDERTAKERS-DENT.-TRACTOR OPERATORS-AND MANY,MANY MORE.
THE ENGINEERS BUILD BRIDGES-BUILD RUN WAYS-BUILD ROADS-BUILD SHIPPING PORTS .IF THE ENGINEERS CANT DO IT IT CANT BE DONE.
IF THE INFANTY WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND CAME TO A RIVER WHERE THE BRIDGE HAD BEEN BLOWN IN TO THE RIVER THEY WOULD HAVE TO STOP.THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO IS GET THE BOOKS OUT AND START READING.NEXT THE ARTILLERY COMES ALONG AND PULL UP TO THE SAME BRIDGE BUT THE BRIDGE IS GONE .THEY PARK GET OUT THE FISHING POLES AND START FISHING.NEXT HERE COMES THE TANKS THEY PULL UP TO THE SAME BRIDGE. THEY STOP JUST LIKE THE REST. THEY HUNT A SHADE TREE
AND GO TO SLEEP.NEXT HERE COMES THE ENGINEERS.THEY DO JUST LIKE THE REST.CANT CROSS THE RIVER. NO BRIDGE.SO THE ENGINEERS GET THE TOOLS OUT AND GO TO WORK.THEY FIX THE BRIDGE -REPAIR THE BRIDGE-WORK ON THE BRIDGE-BUILD A BRIDGE.THEY WORK ALL DAY AND AND SOME TIMES INTO THE NIGHT. THEY WORK IF THE SUN IS SHINING- KEEP ON WORKING IF ITS RAINING-SNOWING-COLD-HOT-THEY KEEP ON WORKING.THE ENGINEERS STOP AT NOTHING.WITH THE BRIDGE FINISH DOWN THE ROAD TO WAR.THE ENGINEERS WON THE WAR-IF NOT FOR THE ENGINEERS THE U.S. WOULD HAVE LOST THE WAR.
WHEN THE LAST BRIDGE WAS FINISH IN GERMANY AND THE LAST BOLT WAS PUT IN EVERY BODY WAS HEADED HOME.WHEN THEY GOT HOME EVERY ONE GOT THE GLORY,GOT THE MEDALS BUT THE ENGINEERS.DIDNT ANY ONE KNOW WHAT AN ENGINEER WERE.I WAS IN THE H&S CO.OF THE 341ST.ENGINEERS.CAME HOME WITH 5 BATTLE STARS.WHEN THE REMAGEN BRIDGE FELL IN THE RINE RIVER 28 MEN WHERE KILLED ON IT.OUT OF 28 KILL 3 WHERE FROM MY OUT FIT.COULD BE MORE. I DONT KNOW.
I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN AN ENGINEER IN WW 2,VERY PROUD.
About a year or so ago, I revamped the VI Corps Jukebox. Well I'm now working on a total revamp of our main site. It's a huge project, but it will be well worth it. Not only will it be a new look, but it will also give me a chance to reorganize/restructure.
I started the site twelve years ago with a single page dedicated to my father and it has grown exponentially from 2004 to 2016. In the interim I've added numerous stories and hundreds upon hundred of related links, therefore I'd like to make it even easier for you, my readers, to hunt and explore.
The venture will probably take me a year or so (I'm working on other projects too), but here is a sneak preview of the layout...
Damn, some of these are tougher than others. You get to know someone so well and when he slips away...
Oh no. I am so saddended to hear this. Even though we never met in person, he has brought so much joy into my life. We've been corresponding for years and I can't tell you how many times he has brought a smile to my face. I will always cherish his memory and his book.
Here's to a great engineer and one hell of a human being.
His self-published book -
"My Nine Lives (minus) One." The publisher is iUniverse.
Hello. My name is Matt Snyder. I'm here searching doing research. My grandfather was Sgt Maj William Snyder. He was in the army 51-71 and served in the 10th Engineer Battalion.
