I received this letter this morning and had to share with you. I will translate later for those who do not speak French, but basically it says that this gentleman is a researcher and found an army camp in France, and discovered dogtags of a 540th engineer. He found the name on my site and says this soldier received a purple heart. He asks if I want photos of the camp. You bet! Here's the letter. I will post photos of the dogtags in a bit, but have to open the store right now...
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Bonjour,
Je suis collectionneur de militaria de la seconde guerre mondiale depuis assez longtemps.
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"
I am collector of militaria of the second World War for a long time. I live in France, in the country East to the border with Germany, I do research.
I discovered a former camp of the American army and I found five sets of GI dogtags.
The one is the name of WILLIAM COX, (N° 14020473) thanks to your site I learned that this soldier had been decorated with a PURPLE HEART and that it belonged to the 540th combat engineer. Thanks to you!
I have not any other iinformation on this soldier. Do you have other information on WILLIAM COX? I am researching the photos and of all pieces of information, thank you.
Do you want photos of the camp US I found in the forest?
Sorry for the text in English but I not versed in your language.
Greetings,
Damien
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"
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"
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"
Real interesting info regarding his date of injury, which was D-Day for Operation Shingle, which was the Anzio landing, January, 22, 1944.
I am going to look through my paperwork when I can, to see what else I can find out about S/Sgt Cox. How did he come to lose his dogtag in France. I just love this kind of detective work!
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"
This has NOTHING to do with S/Sgt Cox, but this happened a few days later at Anzio. I found this when reading the daily journal reports from Jan 44.
This excerpt is taken from 29 January 1944:
...At approximately 0330A, Pvt Zerface, Co. "E" fatally wounded when accidentally run over by dukw, while asleep in his tent.
Jesus, what a hell of a way to die; in your tent in the middle of the night, fast asleep. Poor guy didn't know what the hell hit him. It wasn't Anzio Annie, or bombs, or rifle fire, or a grenade. The poor soul gets run over by one of our own vehicles. Whew!
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"
Thought I'd place the info in the research section.
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"
Wouldn't it be great to locate S/Sgt Cox's people!
m2
Sure would!!!
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"
