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During the month of July our Battalion underwent drastic personnel changes, with low point men of the original group of men who had been with the battalion at Camp Polk, Louisiana, maneuvers, 'D' Series, Tidworth Barracks, England and then thru the battles in the European Theater of Operations leaving and high point men of other units coming in to replace them. Our old friends were transferred to the 990th Treadway Bridge Company, 20th Engineer Combat Battalion, 26th Infantry Division, 117 1st Engineer Combat Group, 1340th Engineer Combat Bn and replacement depots, while the newcomers came from the 26th Infantry Division, 94th Infantry Division, 20th Engineer Combat Bn. and 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion.
The officer personnel suffered a greater turnover than did that of the enlisted men, as all the original group was transferred out with the majority of them going to the 20th Engineer Combat Battalion, while others went to the 26th Infantry Division and 990th Treadway Bridge Company. Our Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Edward P. Podufaly was transferred to the 20th Engineer Combat Battalion and assumed command of that unit. Major Henry J. Anderson assumed command of this battalion.
Company 'C' completed the Division Recreation Center at Babylon Czech. The early part of the month. This area had previous been an expensive summer resort before the German invasion.
Company 'C' first task there was to build a large dance hall for outdoor dancing. The job was given to the Third Platoon and they had three days in which to do the work, that included making arrangements for all the materials, etc. So through three days and nights of rain, the platoon worked and needless to say the job was finished in time for the fourth of July dance which was cancelled due to bad weather.
The second platoon had the job of building two large piers in the lake and it finally wound up to be a beautiful piece of work. Some of the brains of the platoon got together and built a hand operated pile driver on a raft and with it succeeded in sinking many a strong pile into the lake bottom.
The first platoon also had a rush job to build a large outdoor platform and repair all the bathhouses. The company had the help of 50 or 60 German SS troops daily.
After completing this operation Company 'C' moved to the airport at Pilsen where they took over its operation. They are maintaining the grounds, a hotel, and also have a peep placed on the taxi strip to guide planes to their respective parking areas.
Furloughs to the Riveria and England and passes to Paris were increased a good deal this month and many of the old and new boys took advantage of it.
Officer Changes During Month:
Asgd to 26th Infantry Division, 4 July
1st Lt. Willard A Burton, Jr.
1st Lt, Marshall J. Santy
Capt. James T. Jones
1st Lt. Nelson Sapp
WOJG Henry J. Midles
1st Lt. James H. Smith
1st Lt. Warren Baker
1st Lt. John S. Atkins
2nd Lt. Donald B. Oliver, Jr.
1st Lt. Roger E. Sheridan
CWO Adam Praisner
1st Lt. Richard J. Symonds
1st Lt. Clarence W. Parker
Asgd and jd 6 July
Capt. James R. Horner
Capt. Harold J. Helbling
2nd Lt. Michael P. Clayton
2nd Lt. Darrell C. Holmes
Asgd and jd 5 July
Major Charley Lockhart, Jr.
Capt. Edward J. Otero
Capt. Carson Pappenfort
Capt. Roger Q. Spencer, Jr.
1st Lt. John Light
1st Lt. Charles A. Steinkoening
WOJG John R. Christy
Capt. James Antonice
1st Lt. Kenneth W. Cunningham
Asgd to 990th Engineer Treadway Bridge Co., 7 July
Capt. Homer R. Eddy
Asgd to 20th Engineer Combat Battalion
Capt. Henry Womastek
Asgd to 20th Engineer Combat Battalion, 6 July
Capt. James J. Gettings
1st Lt. Michael T. Sands
1st Lt. Rino Bei
1st Lt. John Delpha
2nd Lt. Russell J. MacDougall
Asgd and jd fr 20th Engineer Combat Battalion, 6 July
1st Lt. Vincent J. Asmutis
1st Lt. Daniel Webster
Capt. Joseph A. Ballard
Capt. Walter C. Mahaley
Capt. John Welch
1st Lt. John O. Webster
WOJG Verl Coons
Asgd to 20th Engineer Combat Battalion, 11 July
Lt. Col. Edward T. Podufaly
Major J. E. Vick, Jr.
Capt. Chester P. Davis, Jr.
Capt. Charles C. Caserio
1st Lt. Alvin C. Canuteson
1st Lt. Hugh D. Pierce
1st lt. Vesper M. Sheeley
Asgd to 1171st Engineer Combat Group, 11 July
Capt. Duane P. Tenney
Asgd and jd fr 20th Engineer Combat Battalion, 11 July
Major Clarence O. Magee
Major Bernard P. McDonnell
Asgd to 1340 Engineer Combat Battalion, 11 July
Capt. Edward J. Bielecki
Asgd fr 990th Engineer Treadway Bridge Co., 10 July
1st Lt. James R. Parker
Asgd to 79th Inf. Div., 11 July
1st Lt. Fred C. Stoughton
2nd Lt. Frederich Cohen
Asgd to 1340th Combat Engr. Bn., 12 July
Capt. Robert E. Garrett
Asgd fr 1171st Engineer Combat Group, 6 July
Capt. Ralph P. Miller, Jr.
Asgd from 26th Inf. Div., 6 July 1945
Major Henry J. Anderson
Atchd unassgd 14th Reinf Dept. 17 July
Major Clarence O. Magee
Capt. Walter C. Mahaley
Capt. Henry R. Doherty
Asgd fr 26th Inf. Div., 6 July
Capt. Morrison Beers
Capt. Earl C. Kimbell
Asgd and jd fr 80th Amph Tractor Bn. 24 July
1st Lt. William C. Schroeder
1st Lt. William F. Yurek
1st Lt. Ralph C. Reary
1st Lt. Walter F. Williams
1st Lt. Leonard Schwartz
1st Lt. Martin P. Corracio
1st Lt. Teddy S. Witowski
1st Lt. Kenneth R. Smitiey
Asgd to 20th Engineer Combat Battalion, 26 July
WOJG Joseph Balitza
Asgd to 701st TD Bn, 28 July
1st Lt. John O. Webster
Battalion strength 1 July 1945:
32 Officers, 3 Warrant Officers, 650 Enlisted Men
Battalion strength 31 July 1945:
33 Officers, 2 Warrant Officers, 501 Enlisted Men
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