My mother moved into a house next to my older brother about 5 mo. ago and my younger brother, knowing what a history buff I am found my father's footlocker. My father I found out was in the 292nd. The Footlocker has a lot of paperwork as he was Lt. Ervin M. Watson and was in Co. A. So if the photo of company A has a Lt. with a dimple in his chin that is my father. I can't tell in the photo, can't make it big enough to see right now. Will try later. He was in the Indiana National Guard at the start of the war, then ended up training with the 440th field Artillery of the 7th armored Division. Went to OCS in early to mid 1943. Then ended up in Engineer school and the 292nd as his record says he went in theater in Oct. which was the same month the 292nd went in I believe. I will try to get some of the paperwork up for people to look at. I have just touched the surface, as there is also some of his class work from Engineering school/armored training, and OCS school.
My wife has had more fun reading the letters from a lot of women that happen to be in it, she said my dad must have enjoyed himself while in the army. My father died in 1976 and my mother is still alive but married my dad in 1955 so she really don't know much about his war time. My younger brother and I have started looking into dad's war time records in the last year.
My mother moved into a house next to my older brother about 5 mo. ago and my younger brother, knowing what a history buff I am found my father's footlocker. My father I found out was in the 292nd. The Footlocker has a lot of paperwork as he was Lt. Ervin M. Watson and was in Co. A. So if the photo of company A has a Lt. with a dimple in his chin that is my father. I can't tell in the photo, can't make it big enough to see right now. Will try later. He was in the Indiana National Guard at the start of the war, then ended up training with the 440th field Artillery of the 7th armored Division. Went to OCS in early to mid 1943. Then ended up in Engineer school and the 292nd as his record says he went in theater in Oct. which was the same month the 292nd went in I believe. I will try to get some of the paperwork up for people to look at. I have just touched the surface, as there is also some of his class work from Engineering school/armored training, and OCS school.
My wife has had more fun reading the letters from a lot of women that happen to be in it, she said my dad must have enjoyed himself while in the army. My father died in 1976 and my mother is still alive but married my dad in 1955 so she really don't know much about his war time. My younger brother and I have started looking into dad's war time records in the last year.
Jon Watson
Hello Jon,
We are most certainly glad to have you join us here on the forum and look forward to anything you might want to share. If your dad is in the Company A photo, we will find him. I took a quick glance through the 292nd documents I have and found your father's name listed on this one below. Of course there is probably more but I'm getting ready to go to work and haven't had much time to look. Again, warmest welcome to the forum, talk to you soon,
My mother moved into a house next to my older brother about 5 mo. ago and my younger brother, knowing what a history buff I am found my father's footlocker. My father I found out was in the 292nd. The Footlocker has a lot of paperwork as he was Lt. Ervin M. Watson and was in Co. A. So if the photo of company A has a Lt. with a dimple in his chin that is my father. I can't tell in the photo, can't make it big enough to see right now. Will try later. He was in the Indiana National Guard at the start of the war, then ended up training with the 440th field Artillery of the 7th armored Division. Went to OCS in early to mid 1943. Then ended up in Engineer school and the 292nd as his record says he went in theater in Oct. which was the same month the 292nd went in I believe. I will try to get some of the paperwork up for people to look at. I have just touched the surface, as there is also some of his class work from Engineering school/armored training, and OCS school.
My wife has had more fun reading the letters from a lot of women that happen to be in it, she said my dad must have enjoyed himself while in the army. My father died in 1976 and my mother is still alive but married my dad in 1955 so she really don't know much about his war time. My younger brother and I have started looking into dad's war time records in the last year.
Jon Watson
Welcome, Jon! Glad you could join those dedicated to telling the story of these great men! Great story... look forward to hearing more and to your posts. Here are the officers and enlisted from the company photo. Look forward to many fruitful discussions, my new friend!
Gary
Gary L. Gates
Proud Grandson of Randall Gates
Mechanic, A and H&S Companies, 292nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 1149th Engineer Combat Group
We are most certainly glad to have you join us here on the forum and look forward to anything you might want to share. If your dad is in the Company A photo, we will find him. I took a quick glance through the 292nd documents I have and found your father's name listed on this one below. Of course there is probably more but I'm getting ready to go to work and haven't had much time to look. Again, warmest welcome to the forum, talk to you soon,
By looking at the document Randy posted I wonder whether your Dad will be in the photo. We think this photo was taken around June 19th and according to the document your Dad wasn't transferred in until early July. Hopefully I am wrong about this.
Gary
Gary L. Gates
Proud Grandson of Randall Gates
Mechanic, A and H&S Companies, 292nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 1149th Engineer Combat Group
My mother moved into a house next to my older brother about 5 mo. ago and my younger brother, knowing what a history buff I am found my father's footlocker. My father I found out was in the 292nd. The Footlocker has a lot of paperwork as he was Lt. Ervin M. Watson and was in Co. A. So if the photo of company A has a Lt. with a dimple in his chin that is my father. I can't tell in the photo, can't make it big enough to see right now. Will try later. He was in the Indiana National Guard at the start of the war, then ended up training with the 440th field Artillery of the 7th armored Division. Went to OCS in early to mid 1943. Then ended up in Engineer school and the 292nd as his record says he went in theater in Oct. which was the same month the 292nd went in I believe. I will try to get some of the paperwork up for people to look at. I have just touched the surface, as there is also some of his class work from Engineering school/armored training, and OCS school.
My wife has had more fun reading the letters from a lot of women that happen to be in it, she said my dad must have enjoyed himself while in the army. My father died in 1976 and my mother is still alive but married my dad in 1955 so she really don't know much about his war time. My younger brother and I have started looking into dad's war time records in the last year.
Jon Watson
Welcome to the forum, Jon. So pleased to see you here. As you have discovered, we have a wealth of information on this unit, thanks to all the great people taking part in this conversation.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
My mother moved into a house next to my older brother about 5 mo. ago and my younger brother, knowing what a history buff I am found my father's footlocker. My father I found out was in the 292nd. The Footlocker has a lot of paperwork as he was Lt. Ervin M. Watson and was in Co. A. So if the photo of company A has a Lt. with a dimple in his chin that is my father. I can't tell in the photo, can't make it big enough to see right now. Will try later. He was in the Indiana National Guard at the start of the war, then ended up training with the 440th field Artillery of the 7th armored Division. Went to OCS in early to mid 1943. Then ended up in Engineer school and the 292nd as his record says he went in theater in Oct. which was the same month the 292nd went in I believe. I will try to get some of the paperwork up for people to look at. I have just touched the surface, as there is also some of his class work from Engineering school/armored training, and OCS school.
My wife has had more fun reading the letters from a lot of women that happen to be in it, she said my dad must have enjoyed himself while in the army. My father died in 1976 and my mother is still alive but married my dad in 1955 so she really don't know much about his war time. My younger brother and I have started looking into dad's war time records in the last year.
Jon Watson
Jon,
I believe this information pertains to your father. Hope the information helps in your research. Again, welcome to our 292nd Family! I am sure I can speak for all when I say that we all look forward to many, very fruitful exchanges.
Gary
Gary L. Gates
Proud Grandson of Randall Gates
Mechanic, A and H&S Companies, 292nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 1149th Engineer Combat Group
Miracle of miracle, folks! My sister was going through the multitude of family history tubs that my grandmother, her mother and her grandmother kept that we got when she passed away years ago and lo and behold... she found the originals of my grandfather's WW2 discharge papers! Today was a good day!
Gary
Gary L. Gates
Proud Grandson of Randall Gates
Mechanic, A and H&S Companies, 292nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 1149th Engineer Combat Group
Incidentally, I had a brain freeze and the previous guy's name was Morton Sagan.
