Also doing research for Ed, whose dad was listed as being with the 351st (on his discharge papers). Am uploading here. Ed is also questioning whether his dad served with another unit prior to.
Here's a couple of letters....
On Fri, Jul 13, 2012 at 2:50 PM, Edward Ferrari wrote:
Hi Marion,
I could use your help and advice. My father Walter Ferrari served in the 351St General Engineering Regiment during ww2. He died some years back and I’m trying to make sense out of his service record. According to his discharge papers, he was in the D Day invasion at Omaha Beach, Battle of the Bulge , Ardennes and others. He spoke of being with Patton’s army which I remember from years back. He was shot in the arm in France and after recovery was sent back to Patton’s army and division which he said was great because other units were sent to a pool and Patton wanted his people back.
Anyway, when I researched the 351st GER, according to what I have read, I found that the 351st was not involved with Patton’s group nor in the battles. He said he was there and his paperwork shows the same. Was it possible to be in the 351st and be in the third army? I can not find any listing of the 351st with the 3rd. I have no idea which division he would have been attached to.
How do I find information regarding this? His occupation was called a Rigger 188. I believe these are the people that were removing mines but again I do not know if that is correct. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
Ed Ferrari
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Ed:
There is a table which refers to WWII MOS listings (Military Occupational Specialties). Rigger 189 refers to his specialty, which fell under the following category. The numbers are simply Army designations.
If you go to that site and scroll down and click on Rigger 189, you get the following. Pretty cool huh? Hope all this begins to shed light on him.
Marion
RIGGER (189)
Performs all types of general rigging work on military construction, manufacturing, shipping, reclamation, and other activities.
Raises and moves heavy equipment, using derricks, cranes, gin poles, a-frames, cableways, and chain blocks. Sets up, braces, and rigs hoisting equipment, splices rope or steel cable, and reeves and runs rope and guy wire.
Uses such equipment as rope, steel cable, chains, hooks, snatch blocks, pulleys, ax, sledge, wrenches, knife, and other small tools.
Must be able to climb. Must know knots. splices, correct method of moving heavy objects, and safety precautions to be followed in moving heavy equipment.
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"