Update on research.
Megan has sent for personal file from NARA, St Louis and we are awaiting results.
Thanks to Marion`s information from Ft Leonard Wood, we have a lot on the 1289th ECB.
Still trying to find info on the 3939th Quartermaster Gas Supply Co. We know they were under the 306th QM Battalion Headquarters & Headquarters Co. assigned to the 1st Engineer Special Brigade and landed on Utah Beach 6-7 June `44. Movements after the invasion are unknown, but i think the unit may have been placed under control of ADSEC, Advance Section, Com-Z, Base Section.
Here`s what we have so far:
William H. Cox
Born: 15 August 1924, West Chester, Pennsylvania
Died: 09 September 1992 Kennett Square, Chester, Pennsylvania
Enlistment Record & Report of Separation Data:
ASN 33588811
Enlistment Date: 01 March 1943
Place of Enlistment: Philadelphia, PA.
Date of Entry to Active Service: 08 March 1943
Place of Entry: New Cumberland, PA.
Organization: CO B 1289th Engineer Comb BN
MOS: Truck Driver Light 345
Highest Grade Held: PFC
Battles & Campaigns: GO 33 & 40 WD 45 Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes
Decorations and Citations: Good Conduct Medal; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal;
European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal With 3 Bronze Stars; WWII Victory Medal
Service outside Continental US and Return:
Date of Departure Destination Date of Arrival
6 Nov 43 Scotland 17 Nov 43
10 Dec 45 US 26 Dec 45
Date of Separation 09 January 1946 at Unit A SEP CTR 45 IGMRPA, Indiantown Gap, PA.
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On a page of "separation qualification record". it says
"truck driver light; truck driver light with the 3939th Quartermaster. Used truck to haul gasoline from and to the various installations as required and where needed. Did night driving made emergency road repairs. Served overseas 24 months in England, France and the Phillipines."
That is the only place on his records that mentions the 3939th QM. His official organization on discharge papers is 1289th combat engineers.
__________________________________________
1st Engineer Special Brigade assigned troops and attached units
This is the unit composition while on Utah Beach.
Units Assigned to the 1st ESB
1st Engineer Special Brigade, HQ & HQ Company
531st Engineer Shore Regiment (see note 1)
– 3 shore battalions (see note 1)
24th Amphibian Truck Battalion, HQ & HQ Detachment
– 462nd Amphibian Truck Company
– 478th Amph Trk Co
– 479th Amph Trk Co
306th Quartermaster Battalion HQ & HQ Company
– 556th Quartermaster Railhead Company
– 562nd QM Railhead Co (see note 2)
– 3939th QM Gas Supply Co
191st Ordnance Battalion HQ & HQ Detachment
– 3497th Ordnance MAM co
– 625th Ordnance Amm Co
– 161st Ordnance Platoon
577th Quartermaster Battalion HQ & HQ detachment
– 363rd Quartermaster Service Company (see note 3)
– 3207th QM Service Co
– 4144th QM Service Co
261st Medical Battalion (Amphibious), HQ & HQ Company
– 3 Medical Companies (Amphibious)
449th Military Police Company
286th Joint Assault Signal Company
33rd Chemical Decontamination Company
Units Attached to the 1st ESB
2nd Naval Beach Battalion
38th Engineer GS Regiment, HQ & H & S Company
– 2nd Engineer GS Bns
467th Engineer Maintenance Company, 1st Platoon
440th Engineer Depot Company, 1st Platoon
1605th Engineer Map Section
1217th Engineer FF [fire fighting?] Platoon
1218th Engineer FF Platoon
62nd Quartermaster Battalion, HQ & HQ Detachment
– 4061st Quartermaster Service Company
– 4083rd QM Serv Co
– 4088th QM Serv Co
– 4090th QM Serv Co
– 4092nd QM Serv Co
– 4190th QM Serv Co
244th Quartermaster Battalion, HQ & HQ Detachment
– 552nd QM Railhead Co
– 3878th QM Gas Supply Co
308th QM Railhead Company (attached to the 306th QM Bn)
3877th QM Gas Supply Company (attached to the 306th Qm Bn)
4132nd QM Service Company (attached to the 577th QM Bn)
607th Qm Graves Registration Co, 4th Platoon (attached to the 577th QM Bn)
537th Quartermaster Battalion HQ & HQ Detachment
– 3692nd QM Truck Co
– 3683rd QM Truck Co
– 3684th QM Truck Co
– 4002nd QM Truck Co
– 4041st QM Truck Co
815th Amphibious Truck Company
816th Amphibious Truck Company
817th Amphibious Truck Company (attached to the 24th Amph Trk Bn)
818th Amphibious Truck Company
3615th Ornance MAM Company (attached 191st Ord Bn)
23rd Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad (attached 191st Ord Bn)
175th Sig Repair Company, Detachment
215th Sig Repair Company, Det
999th Sig Sv Company, Det
3111th Sig Sv Company, Det
165th Sig Photo Company, Det
1st Medical Company2nd Section Advance Medical Platoon
3rd Aux Surgical Group
301st MP Escort Guard Company
595th MP Escort Guard Company
Company "D," 383rd MP Battalion
52nd Finance Dispursing Section
Det 8th AF Intransit Depot Group
490th Port Battalion
– 226th Port Company
– 227th Port Co
– 228th Port Co
– 229th Port Co
518th Port Battalion
– 278th Port Company
– 281st Port Co
– 298th Port Co
– 299th Port Co
– 300th Port Co
– 301st Port Co
519th Port Battalion
– 280th Port Company
– 279th Port Co
– 302nd Port Co
– 303rd Port Co
– 304th Port Co
– 305th Port Co
Notes:
1. After the Utah Beach Operations closed in the fall of 1944 these units were reorganized as Engineer Combat Group with three Engineer Combat Battalions. They joined the US 9th Army in the Netherlands.
2. This unit substituted for the 557th QM Railhead Company which lost the major part of its personnel by enemy action during Exercise Tiger, the rehearsal for the Normandy invasion.
3. This unit substituted for the 3206th QM Service Company which lost the major part of its personnel by enemy action during Exercise Tiger, the rehearsal for the Normandy invasion.
It's been pretty hectic! Will keep in touch though!
