Marion (or others),
I was able to talk to a gentleman today who was the platoon leader that my Grandfather served under and he gave me some more information, but also led me to some more questions. I knew my grandfather was in the 157th Combat Engineer Battalion, Company C but I didn't know which Platoon or Squad. Today I found out that he was in Headquarters Platoon.
As I understand it, for the 157th, each of the three companies (A, B and C)had three Platoons and Headquarters Platoon. I was told the Headquarters Platoon consisted of approximately 38 men including Supply Sgt., cooks, Staff Sgt., Motor Sgt. Bull Dozer Operator, Air Compressor Operator, Radio Operator, Weapons Sgt. (what my Grandfather was), Etc.
I was told that the Weapons Sgt. was in charge of the machine guns (water cooled 30 caliber and 50 caliber on prime mover) as well as rocket launcher and other (?) weapons. He was not the front line guy with the weapons but was responsible to know where these weapons were at all times and keep them clean and in working order for the Company.
I tried searching for a breakdown such as this on the site and in my books but did not find anything like it. Do you have a Company breakdown that shows this information? Was this typical? If you do, do you know what other people would be in the Headquarters Platoon? Do you know of any other responsibilities for the weapons Sgt.?
This gentleman also told me about my Grandfather being "selected" while in Austria after the war to be one of two soldiers to go on a guided mountain goat hunt. I remember my Grandfather telling me that he and the other guy flipped a coin to see who got to shoot first and the other guy won, and got the goat! (My Grandfather is Frank Altman in the photo. This was not too far from Hitler's Eagles Nest)
The gentleman is in the process of writing his memoirs of his war years and of course I asked if I could get a copy when he is through. He said it was for his family and didn't know if he wanted to give it to others. I hope to be corresponding with him and exchanging photographs, so perhaps he will change his mind. At 92 he is sharp as a tack and was very nice to talk too!
Brian