Hi Ms. M1 !!!
Thanks for all the information and time you spent trying to help me. Sadly and unfortunately, I had found most all of this too.... I've was very active in trying to uncover information on the 358th when I joined here and put a lot of time into searching virtually every avenue I could possibly think of. I even contacted Jane Kepp who did a great job on her Father's unit, the 631st Engineer Light Equipment Company. The reason I contacted her was because of the Lineage I found on the 358th which really confused both Jane and I even more.... Here is what it said:
The 358th Engineer Co., Constituted 25 February 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 631st Engineer Light Equipment Company
Jane said, she has never heard of the 358th and certainly never saw a reference to them while doing research on her father. But that's what the official lineage states.... She and I both looked everywhere and she pulled her Research Documents out trying to find something.... Not one thing uncovered...
There is another part to this story that I didn't state in the beginning because it didn't seem relevant at that point. But it may be more relevant than I had thought....
Haywood E. Waters apparently was in a Bar while overseas and got into an, well, "altercation" let's call it, with an Officer. I believe he was tried over the incident but it must not have been quite serious enough to cost him his honorable discharge. My Ex-Brother in law says that he was in Germany in 1945 and there until the war ended.
Germany surrendered in May 0f 1945 and most units were assigned and shipped out to other areas within 2-weeks or less of the war ending. However, Haywood E. Waters didn't.... My understanding is that the 358th Moved on to the Phillipines shortly after the War in Germany ended in May 1945 but I cannot find anything on them in the Phillipines.
I have a copy of a certificate for an Authorized "WAR Treasure" where a Lt. Albertus J. Cone, 406th Infantry, Commanding, Signed an authorization Form for a Ruger Pistol to be sent home to the States for Haywood E. Waters. My question is, if Haywood E. Waters was with the 358th and the 358th moved on to the Phillipines which is where they supposedly went after Germany surrendered, then how did a Lt. Authorize the War Treasure from the 406th Infantry when the Offical Command Seal is the "European Theater"... It should have been an Asian Campaign because the docuement was signed, 16 November 1945, about 6 months after the 358th would have left for the Philipines. So I'm kinda leaning toward a new theory that Haywood E. Waters, got into trouble, was sentenced to "X" amount of time in local Army jail, wasn't bad enough to cost him his Honorable Discharge but bad enough he lost time and To get a FULL HONARABLE DISCHARGE, he had to make it up. I'm thinking he must have stayed behind in Germany to finish whatever project was going on.
Another reason I have is that HAYWOOD E. WATERS' MOS shows: Squad-Leader LMG 604.... The actual "358th Engineers should have never seen combat and were called, as you also stated above, the "358th General Sevices Engineers". They stayed mainly Miles behind the front line and operated Heavy Machinery. I would not think there would be a need for a MOS 604 LMG Squad Leader. That would be more of a "Combat Engineer" position....
After both Jane and I couldn't figure out why the Lineage would state the 358th became the 631st, I contacted the Department of the Army, Historian for Corp Engineer Units. All they could find was a Certificate hanging on their walls and they took a picture and sent it to me. Bascially, all it says is exactly what is stated in the lineage online. (SEE ATTACHED 2 NEW PICTURES)
After receiving that, I felt that maybe I'm right about him staying behind in Germany but what I'm also thinking is that HAYWOOD E. WATERS may have been with another Unit altogether! I have read that sometimes a Soldier is transferred to another unit so he can ship back home. If that is true, it is very possible that since his unit moved on, he may have been transferred to an inactive arm of a Unit to finish his time in Germany and receive his Honorable Discharge. I may not be stating that correctly, but the reasoning is there....
And last, but certainly not least....... and I hate to admit it... I thought I was pretty good at digging up info..... "I THREW IN THE WHITE TOWEL" !!!!!!!!! I told Earl, you wanna know about your Dad???? I can still guide you but this one is a REAL MYSTERY!!!!!!! And you are gonna have to bring your wallet out!!! hahahahahahaha.....
I explained all that I had researched, told him my theory and told him I was out of ideas... He agreed and we hired Geoff at GOLDEN ARROW RESEARCH. Geoff has pulled some MRs for me before AND has done work for Jane Kepp as well... He has had the order since August 15th. Haven't heard from him yet but Earl opted to get the FULL PACKAGE with Geoff and Geoff told me it could take up to 6 weeks to complete.
Once Geoff has completed the research, I'll come back and post the findings here so at least we will know, "WAS THERE TRULY A 358th???"
Thanks for you work and time.... I really appreciate that and hope to have an answer to share soon.
