Thanks Carl this information is very helpful!
Sorry its been a year since i've been back on. In the process we've had a little boy so my days have been a little hectic. But, I'm going to fire up the research again and send out notes to Mr. Kline of the 106th.
My grandfather was a mechanic thoughout his working days. I'm sure he helped get those trucks up and running to get them back to the 424. Neat story.
My goal is to put something together for the rest of my family that shows where he was and what he faced during the war.
Does anyone know of any pictures from the 81st? My mother has a really cool panoramic picture of the 81st engineers during the war. When I go home for christmas I'll try to get that digitialized and sent out.
Happy holidays everyone
and thanks marion for putting that video together! Great site you have here.
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
my friend Erwin told me about your post here. My main point of interest is the 106th Div. so I'll see if I can help you out with info.
C-Company of the 81st Combat Engineer Battalion was stationed in and around the town of Heckhalenfeld on December 16th, 1944.
This was in the 424th Infantry Regiment sector of the Schnee Eifel, the most southern part defended by the 106th Infantry Division.
On the second day of fighting, 81/C moved northwest, towards Elcherath. There they bivouaced for the night as the town was deserted.
Although they didn't know it at the time, they were the only unit of the 106th that was not surrounded. On the 18th, a artillery barrage bombed the town and the Germans were prepared to advance north from Winterspelt towards Steinebruck on the St Vith road. MG fire was heard in the north and the Engineers knew where to go (Rendesvous at Bracht) . They moved west and entered the deserted town of Hemmeres. In this village, 81/C fond vehicles of 424/SV that were abandoned. Service Company had pulled out the day before and was forced to leave it's vehicles behind. 1st Lieutenant Maier, at the time the acting Company Commander, decided that they should save the trucks. This was offcourse very practical as they didn't have to walk the two miles to Bracht then. While enemy fire was falling nearby, the Engineers of C-Company tried to ford the stream with three of the trucks. The first two got bogged down in the mud, but the third one got through!
The truck that made it had a winch and cable so the smart engineers pulled out the two other trucks and by 8:30 AM they had all reached it to Bracht. They proudly returned the trucks back to 424/SV.
If you need more info you can always contact the 106th Infantry Division Association. http://ice.mm.com/user/jpk/
Mail John Kline and ask him a list of your dad's former buddies that are attched to the Association. Then you might be able to contact them.
Or maybe John might add your request in the next Cub (the quarterly magazine).
What you can also do is send a Form-180 request to NARA to obtain your dad's full military record.
I hope I could have been of help. A Merry Christmas and the best of luck with your search in the New Year 2008.
Carl Wouters