Tec5 William A Sawatsky Killed in Belguim 5th ECB

[Currahee]

seeking any info on William A Sawatzky 5th engineer combat Bn MIA/KIA Belguim

I am guessing a battle of bulge KIA but not 100% sure on unit ?

Thanks scott

[Christoph]

Scott,

I found his Purple Heart was sold here:

 

http://home.comcast.net/~matmil/site/?/page/US_Medals/

 

with a photo of his grave.

 

Christoph

[scott]

his grave !! Thanks Chistoph !!!

 

What units were in 5th engineers ? 1278th engineers ?

 

found out he went MIA Dec. 21 1944

[SonofaMP]

Havent found an exact date of death yet, first reported missing. if he died in 1944 he was in the 1278th Engineer Combat Bn.

William A Sawatzky

1921 - 1944

Son of John Sawatzky

Oil City, Venango County, PA

ASN 13012751

Enlistment Date: 11 Jan 1941

Enlistment City: Pittsburgh

Branch: Corps of Engineers

 

Temporary burial was in 6020-Hamm Cemetery, Hamm, Belgium

 

An article in the newspaper: The Blizzard, Oil City Penn., Monday Evening July 12, 1948

Body returning on ship Oglethorpe Victory

 

part of history of 5th Engineer Regiment:

5th Engineer BN designated 2 Bn, %th Engineer Regiment.

Sent to Iceland 1941 then to Scotland.

The Regiment was broken up 27 December 1943 and its elements reorganized and redesignated. 2nd Battalion was reorganized and redesignated as the 1278th Engineer Combat Battalion. Headquarters and Headquarters and Service Company became Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1128th Engineer Combat Group and 1st Battalion became the 1277th Engineer Combat Battalion, both of which thereafter had separate lineages.

The forward echelon of the 1278th Engineer Combat Battalion landed at Utah Beach on 26 June 1944

On 19 December 1944, the Battalion was preparing a defensive line along the west bank of the Ourthe River to hold against the German Offensive.

The 1278th Engineer Combat Battalion was redesignated on 23 January 1945 as the 5th Engineer Combat Battalion

[Walt's Daughter]

Thanks, Christoph and Larry. Good work guys.

 

How sad that his PH was sold and not passed down to family members, but maybe it's a good thing, for usually anyone who purchases items such as these, usually cares about the men and will treasure and preserve it.

[scott]

I know william was prewar 5th engineers is there a prewar yearbook or photo ? i would love to find a photo on him !

Scott

[Mike1278]

Scott, I have some information for you.... send you a message via IM....