Here's a couple of pictures I have. The man standing alone in the one picture is my father. In the other picture, he is in the back row, 2nd from the left. I have no idea yet who the other men in that picture are. 
OK, as promised: More information. Please forgive me as I was making these notes in a hurry, and they jump around a lot, and are out of order.
My father was drafted 29 March 1944, reported to Camp Bowie for training on 13 April 1944. On 1 May 1944, General George Marshall reviewed the trainees. On D-Day, the 1264th (at least C company, and likely the entire unit from what Rex Pierce has said), was training on the Brazos river. Mr. Pierce told me that the water from the Brazos was undrinkable. He and some others found a spring about a mile east of the river that had fresh water fit for consumption, and set up three pumps to move that water to camp.
I believe the commander of the 1264th was named Lahlum.
From 19 June 1944 - 9 September 1944, those who were studying electrical took a course at a trade school in New York City. I do not have the name at this time.
11 October 1944, they were transported via train to Camp Kilmer, NJ. At Camp Kilmer troops sent personal effects home, received medical injections and the supplies needed before loading onto transport ships for travel to the ETO. Link to postcards from Camp Kilmer: Camp Kilmer Postcards
24 October 1944, the 1264th boarded the Dominion Monarch, destined for the posrt of Plymouth, England, arriving on 2 November 1944. Here's a link with some info about the ship, but the 1264th isn't mentioned: Dominion Monarch History
Training for some of the 1264th's men continued in England. I didn't catch all the information about this, but will try to obtain more later this month.
On 13 December 1944, the troops boarded the Empire Lance. This ship was used on D-Day. It left Southampton bound for Cherbourg, France. From there, they boarded a "40 et 8" (40 and 8), a boxcar so named because it could carry 40 men or 8 horses, destined for Epernay, France. From there, the 1264th became partof General Omar Bradley's push into Belgium - what is commonly known as "The Battle of the Bulge".
For some reason, I wrote down "1260 horse battalion". I have no idea what this is in reference to. I will try to find out this, also.
On 14 March 1945, the 1264th was about 30 miles SW of Cologne, France.
This is a picture of the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, Germany. Many US soldiers died when this span collapsed.
I was told the 1264th helped build 2 spans across the Rhine at Remagen. I have no more info on this.
It is my understanding that the 1264th built a bridge over the Rhine at Bad Godesburg, completing the bridge on 5 April 1945, and 5000+/- vehicles crossed this bridge in the first 24 hours.
On 1 April 1945, many of the men from the 1264th attended Easter services in Rhineland.
Here is where my info gets a lot spottier...
The 1264th was deployed to Eisenach, then relocated from there to Salach, located east of Stuttgart. Apparently, this was sometime in April or May of 1945, as my father was wounded somehow (the stories are vastly different...my oldest brother believes it occured after cessation of hostilities, but I have no proof either way). My father had a gunshot wound to the right knee, and was sent to the 203rd General Hospital, Paris, France. He was there from May until August, 1945. He seperated 19 January 1946 at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO.
Apparently, he spent 2 months as a private, and five months as a Tec5. (electrical) He had experience as a machinist while working at the Curtiss-Wright plant in St. Louis. Apparently, this experience was put to use while he was in the Army. Somehow, he was attached to the Headquarters of the 379th Infantry Regiment...possibly for discharge, I am not sure.
I have a few things that were his from WWII. One is his Class A jacket. It has a 100th ID patch...not sure how he ended up with this. There are a few more oddities about this uniform, as well. I also have a pair of Zeiss binoculars, apparently they once belonged to a German sailor, and were made in 1908. I also have a J.P. Sauer & Sohn model 38h semi-auto. I have verified it was a Luftwaffe version, not the more common police version. My father carried it as a backup weapon (he was a law enforcement officer for 33 years after leaving the army) for many years. It was improperly stored for many years, and was damaged. I cleaned it up, and have fired the weapon several times in the past few weeks. It still works as good as a brand new weapon.
Sadly, my father passed away on November 3, 2004, a victim of Alzheimer's disease. He never spoke much with us about what he did during the war...but from what I have learned about the things these men saw, I can understand. His records were among those lost during the fire at Jefferson Barracks in the 1970's, so I am unable to obtain information through there. I am glad that I found Mr. Rex Pierce, my neighbor, who was also in the 1264th. I have two daughters, 10 and 17, and a son, 26, who can have the chance to speak with someone who lived through the same things as their grandfather. My youngest has even developed a bond with Mr. Pierce...one that I think will be good for them both.
I would still like more information if anyone has it. I have my father's serial number, etc., if anyone can help me search that way.
Thanks,
-Sam
