Brief history of the 285th: (my apologies for any spelling errors, the font is small and faded on the document that I'm reading for this)
Arrrived at Barry, Wales aboard the USS Marine Raven, debarked 2 NOV 1944. Boarded train there and proceeded to Delamere Park Camp, 1 mile NW of Cuddington Station, England. Battalion quartered there until departing for continent. Embarked 7 Jan 1945 at Southhampton, England. Debarked at Le Havre, France 9 Jan 1945. Entrained to Camp Twenty Grand SW of Duclair, France. Entrained again after sweating it out for a week on salmon and cheese for Ukange, France. Departed by truck for Delheim, Luxembourg 20 Jan 1945. Assigned to Third Army, attached to 12th Corps, further attached to 42nd Cavalry Sqdn of 2nd Calvary Group. Relieved of attachment to 42nd Cavalry Sqdn and attached to 1137th Engr. C. Group 3 March 1945 at Wecker, Luxembourg. 17 March 1945 placed in direct support of 11 Armored Div. east of Bitburg, Germany. Relieved of support to 11th Armored Div. 24 March 1945 at Undenheim, Germany. Place in direct support of 4th Armovered Div until relieved 31 March 1945 near Lauterback, Germany. Crossed the Rhine river 25 March 1945. Relieved of support of the 4th Armored Div and attachment to 1137 Engr. C. Group 31 March 1945. Attached to 1135 that date. Relieved attachment to 1135 Engr. C. Group; attached to the 1137 Engr. C. Group at Herbstein, north of Gedern, Germany 7 april 1945, being relieved of this support 22 April 1945 and made direct support of 26th Infantry Div. that date at Kaltenbrunn, Germany. Remained in support of 26th until termination of war and relieved 12 May 1945.