326th Engineers - 101st Airborne

[Walt's Daughter]

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.

[Walt's Daughter]

Oh here is the page for Charles Wilber

 

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/Cha...arlesWilber.htm

[Walt's Daughter]

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

[Walt's Daughter]

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).