James Phillip Regan, 2756th Combat Engineers, Company A

[Walt's Daughter]

Some would call it the "didn't get caught" medal.

 

There's an applicable Bill Mauldin cartoon, but I couldn't find it online.

 

Ya, but I found it for ya!

[CaptO]

No, there's actually another one where two Brits are standing around looking at the US soldiers passing by and the captions reads something like:

 

Bloody immoral army. They get a medal for staying out of trouble!

 

Or something to that effect. I would scan it, but my Bill Mauldin book is in Okinawa and I am in Thailand until March!

[Walt's Daughter]

Let me see if I can find that one.

[buk2112]

Hello Allie1823,

 

According to Stanton's WWII Order of Battle the 2756th Engineer Combat Battalion was originally the 2nd Battalion of the 591st Engineer Boat Regiment. The reason for the new designation later on I do not know. The book provides us an outline of their movements.

 

 

 

 

591st Engineer Boat Regiment

 

15 JUNE 1942 Activated at Camp Edwards Mass

5 AUG 1942 Departed New York P/E

17 AUG 1942 Arrived in England

2 NOV 1942 Departed England

8 NOV 1942 Assaulted Oran (Operation Torch)

6 DEC 1943 Arrived in Italy

1 NOV 1944 Deactivated with assests to 1185th Engineer Group

Campaigns: Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, North Appennies

 

 

 

 

2756th Engineer Combat Battalion

 

10 OCT 1944 Formed in Qualiano Italy from the 2nd Battalion, 591st Engineer Boat Regiment

 

20 DEC 1944 Arrived in France-ETO

 

AUG 1945 location; St. Martin Czechoslovakia

 

25 JUNE 1946 Deactivated in France

 

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps you a little, good luck with your search. I also found a thread on another forum that had been discussing the 2756th, and has many photos you probably will what to check out, click on the link below.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/103593-591st-engineer-boat-regiment2756th-engineer-combat-battalion/

[Walt's Daughter]

That's because in 44/45 the Army redesignated all the engineer regiments.

 

For instance, my dad's unit, the 540th Engineer Combat Regiment, consisting of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, were restructured and were then called the 540th Engineer Combat Group.

 

1st Bn became the 2832nd

2nd Bn (my dad's) became the 2833rd.

[buk2112]

Thanks Marion, good to know.

[Walt's Daughter]

It's very confusing to so many, including yours truly, in the beginning. You see all these designations and think, wow, did HE get transferred or...

 

Trust me, the "boys" hated this and even after the changes, most refused to refer to their NEW designation, and still to this day, refer to their original names. They still say, 1st Bn, or 2nd Bn, etc.

[Allie1823]

So on his paperwork states he entered in April of 42, army air corps basic training for 3 months. Continental service for 3 years, 9 months, and 23 days. Then ETO starting April 1945 to December 1945. Why would they keep him stateside for so long? He was discharged in January 1946 as a Sergeant.

[Allie1823]

Also I have a newspaper clipping with my Grandpa's picture stating he was on leave from ETO overseas 10 months. He was on the victory ship SS Lincoln Victory. So his official discharge paperwork does not match with this. Something does not make sense here.

[Walt's Daughter]

No it doesn't. Don't be surprised to see or hear that many of the discharged veterans were rushed through the process and consequently, many of the forms were botched. This would not be the first time I have seen this, nor will it be the last.

 

Ya, if he was on leave for 10 months, then his service record is totally wrong. This doesn't add up, does it?

 

What's the date on the newspaper clipping? Do you know?

 

Wait, wait, read that wrong, that should be he was overseas for 10 month. That makes sense!