292nd Engineer Combat Battalion (New Member)

[Tony's Boy]

I'm not sure if this is the proper forum to post this but I thought I'd try here first. Please let me know if I should post to a different on as I am new here.

 

The tombstone of my uncle (and godfather), Herbert Joseph Rice (#32261778) says he was in Co A, 292^nd Eng C Btn. In searching for info on this unit I found this informative website so am hoping someone on here can help me figure out his connection to the 292^nd.

 

I tried the NPRC but only received the dates of enlistment and discharge. I am not next-of-kin -- he married but had no children.

 

Briefly, here is what I have pieced together so far on his military service:

1. Enlisted 23 Mar 1942, Fort Dix NJ – from NY (born in Ireland but brought to US as infant and raised in Manhattan NYC)

1. Photo (undated) – in dress uniform, MP slip-on arm band, Sam Brown belt, & pistol with barracks-type buildings in the background. Looks like the US south.

1. Was attached to 77^th Infantry Div (I have the actual patch he wore!!) - is listed as a Private in Co K in the Div roster but was transferred out before the 77^th went to the Pacific, March 1944.

1. Wedding photo Jan 1944 – jacket has patch of the 4^th Area Service Command.

1. Photo (undated) of Herb in uniform having a beer in a bar/club. Written on the photo is “178 (US) Gen Hosp Non Coms Club”. The 178^th was in the area of Reims, France.

1. A 3 ring binder covered with leather and hand tooled with “Reims 1945” on the cover which he sent home to his sister and now in my possession.

1. Excerpts from letters of medical tech father of a fellow researcher written in Reims, 1945, where he was with the 178^th Gen Hospital. He mentions “Rice from NY” who told him about the GIs trying to get photos at the school house where the surrender was signed; and then “Herbie Rice, a 253^rd man” and says Herb was the supply Sgt and in charge of the bar/beer garden.

1. Discharged 8 Mar 1946.

I can’t figure out is how the 292^nd fits into this -- from what I’ve read, they landed in France in Dec 1944 and then onward into Germany. I do not see him in the photo of Co A – he was 6'4", skinny as a bean pole, very high forehead, and ears standing way out.

 

Don’t know what the 253^rd was (as mentioned in the letter noted above) or when he was with the 292^nd. Could he have been left behind when the Btn went to Germany? Or gone there and come back or ????? I’ve come across 2 other Herbert Rices - one was a POW and another was a Ranger.

 

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas about this mystery, I’d love to hear from you. Thank you in advance !!

KRO

 

The 253rd may have been the 253rd combat battalion that was part of the 9th army, which the 292nd was also a part of. Also could he have re-upped at the end of the war and been put with the 292nd which was building and supervising POW camps?

 

Ken