243rd Engineers

[twzimmers]

Regarding the crossing of the Rhine operations by the 243rd, here is is what took place: On 25 March, at 1700 hrs, CO's of Companies B and C met with officers of the 1010th Treadway Bridge at a house near the river's edge to discuss how the bridge was to be built. Company B was assigned the actual construction and stood ready to act soonafter the assault by the 89th Infantry. This began at 0200 hrs on 26 March. Due to enemy resistance, it took 18 hours to secure the bridgehead. At this point bridge construcion began immediately. Company C constructed the pontoon rafts. Current was swift and 2 powerboats were swept away. Company A was called in to assist in placing the pontoons by hand. A and B Companies set up kitchens along the river bank to keep the construction going. Despite sporadic enemy fire, no damage was done. At 2700 hrs on 27 Mar, the bridge was completed. Company A was used for bridge security and set up machine guns along the bridge. St. Goarhausen lay directly across the river. A consideraqble amount of wine was discovered in the cellar of a local Gasthaus. (Later, the troops were celebrating). My father was with Company A. He said that General Patton's tanks crossed that bridge. His unit was proud that not a single knot tied to the pontoons had failed.