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326th Engineers - 101st Airborne - Printable Version +- Forums (http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/forumnew) +-- Forum: World War II (http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/forumnew/forumdisplay.php?fid=43) +--- Forum: WWII ENGINEERS (http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/forumnew/forumdisplay.php?fid=9) +--- Thread: 326th Engineers - 101st Airborne (/showthread.php?tid=896) |
326th Engineers - 101st Airborne - Walt's Daughter - 03-04-2006 We already have a great page on our site featuring Charles Wilber, but now I am delighted to say that I have been contacted by a gentleman today looking for info on his uncle, also with the 326th. Here is the letter.
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Hello Marion,
My name is Ron Day and I just happened across your web site about the 326th Airborne Engineers. What I saw was amazing! I couldn't believe it when I saw the 2 part photo's of Baker company 326th... because I have the same photo's. My Uncle is in the right side photo. Count fourth from the left of those sitting indian style on the ground, in the center, and then go up one (to the first row of those seated on the bleachers). That is Sgt. Peter Paul Evans (called Paul by most). I have been looking for years for any link to anyone that may know anything about the 326th and what they did during WWII. My Uncle Paul was awarded at least 2 Bronze Stars (one I believe as an end of tour type award for participation in all of the major campaigns) and one for actions at Carentan France. He was also awarded at least 2 purple hearts. I believe both were for wounds received at Bastogne.
He enlisted in West Virginia and was a carpenter by trade.
Unfortunately, I have to report that he was killed in 1971. He limped somewhat from grenade shrapnel in his knee, and one day limping/crossing a wide street in Washington D.C. where he lived, he was run down by a car and killed.
Do you know anyone that is still alive, that could possibly know him? If so, is there anyway you could possibly put them in touch with me?
I am retired from the Army myself and am the youngest son of his sister. I have several photos and even newspaper clippings of some of his letters that were published in the local newspaper where he was from, about some of the things he saw and did during WWII. I can not express the pride I have for my Uncle's service and the extreme respect I have for the every day heroics of that generation... words are not enough.
Please use the information about my Uncle which I have provided. Pass it on... maybe there is a friend of his out there that this info could mean a lot to. Again, if there is anyone out there that you can put me in contact with, that may have known my Uncle, Please put them in contact with me.
Thank You very much for putting this information on the web.
Respectfully, Ron Day
I wrote back to him this morning and have forwarded his email to Doug, the son of Charles Wilber. I also sent him the phone number of Joe Grille, who was also in Co B, 236th. I am sure all involved with have much to share.
I am going to feature Ron's uncle on the site in the near future. Always grateful to have another great engineer on our site. 326th Engineers - 101st Airborne - Walt's Daughter - 03-04-2006 Oh here is the page for Charles Wilber
http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/Cha...arlesWilber.htm 326th Engineers - 101st Airborne - Walt's Daughter - 03-04-2006 More from Ron...
Peter P. Evans, Serial No. 35290540, from Hardy County, Moorefield West Virginia Inducted on 20 March 1942, entering service at Fort Hayes Ohio.
Battles and Campaigns: Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe
Decorations and Citations: - Purple Heart Medal GO29 Hq21st Gen Hosp. 12 Feb 1945 - Oak Leaf Cluster to Purple Heart Medal GO29 Hq 21st Gen Hosp. 12 Feb 45. - Bronze Star Medal GO19 Hq 101st AIB Div 14 Jul 1944 - Oak Leaf Cluster to Bronze Star Medal GO 167 101st ABN Div 18 Jul 1945 - Good Conduct Medal 15 Sept 1945 - American Theater Service Ribbon - European African Middleeastern Service Ribbon w/4 bronze stars & Bronze Arrowhead - Distinguished Unit Badge GO26 Hq 1st Army 31 Aug 1944 - Oak Leaf Cluster to Distinguished Unit Badge GO31 Hq 3rd Army 7 Feb 1945 - Glider Badge SO 63 Hq 326th ABN Engr 15 Sep 1944
Wounds: - Wounded in Belgium 9 Jan 1945 - Wounded in France 1 Feb 1945
All of the above information is from his Seperation Document. It also lists his highest rank held as Sergeant, however, I do know that he was a Staff Sergeant at one time, as it is written in a newspaper article by the writer of the article and in a separate letter of his (printed in a newspaper article). He mentions that he took a down grade to sergeant to accept a different position, when they ended up in Lofer Austria at the end of the war, because he couldn't keep up with the "boys on their hikes" (he was talking about training and patrolling) due to the shrapnel in his knee. I guess the promotion to Staff Sergeant and possibly the deal to downgrade was too hard to explain on a military form so they just listed his highest grade as Sergeant.
Also, I have half of the company photo in a frame (the half with my uncle in it) but know that there were several names on the back of the photo... some names had lines through them, but are still readable. The next opportunity I get I will send you those names if you are interested. If I remember correctly there were 8 or 10 names... I don't who they are but may be of some interest.
Thanks again Very Respectfully, Ron Day 326th Engineers - 101st Airborne - Walt's Daughter - 03-18-2006 Here's a photo that Art Morneweck supplied. It's a good one!
First Reunion of the 101st Airborne Division, Indianapolis 1946
These recent former members of the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion got together quite soon after the war ended. Don Peterson of B/326th (2d from left) provided the photo. Also shown are Sam Weiner(wearing glasses, a B Co.medic), Captain Charles Roden, C.O. of B Co.(2d from right), and LTC Hugh Mozley, who commanded the 326th Bn. after the death of LTC Pappas in Normandy(extreme right). |