As always, I try to assist family members in regards to their questions about their loved ones. I received this letter this week, and wrote to him to see what other information the family may have. But in the interim, I am posting his letter and the two images he sent. For as we all know; you never know who will stumble upon this post and maybe, just maybe, recognize the images.

I have reason to believe that my father in law served in one of the engineer units with the US army building bridges (He is the one center bottom with pipe troop)

 

Any information that you have would be appreciated and I have attached a

picture of the Tug that was used for bridge building

 

Best Regards

Bruce Patterson

Looks like they requisitioned this tug.

I looked up "Ruhrort" and this is what came up ...

Ruhrort is a district within the German city of Duisburg situated north of the confluence of the Ruhr and the Rhine, in the western part of the Ruhr area. Ruhrort has the largest river harbour in the World, with quays extending nearly 40 kilometres along the river, and it is the principal inland shipping port in Germany.

It is not much, but it might be helpful.

Erwin

And all I've got was that the Franz Haniel XI was a German Tug "acquired" by US troops to assist in river work. Scapped in 1960, built 1902.

My grandfather was in that area of the Ruhr and Rhine. I'll check the the roster for the 280th for a patterson.

I can't even begin to tell you the number of engineering units in this area though. First name would help the search! OR his military records from the vault would SAY who he's assigned to.

???? Pfc Patterson, Elton E. Ukiah, California 280ECB company C

OH HIS FATHER IN LAW!

Well his name really is necessary! I can't guess his wife's father's name!