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The first day of June found the 53rd Armored Engineer Battalion busily packing all equipment in preparation for a move to Czechoslovakia on the second. Several vehicles had been turned in and space was at a premium. This situation was complicated by the order of the CO that our convoy must not have the appearance of a Gipsy Caravan. After much tugging and pulling and tying of ropes and shifting of boxes and bundles some semblance of order was attained although many prized items that had been with the Battalion were sacrificed.
On the night of the first, vehicles were gassed and checked, the drivers listened with a knowing ear to the motors of their various rusty steeds for this was to be a long ride and maybe a long wait beside the road for the unlucky crew that had to fall out of the column. After the very last detail was checked then everybody settled down to drink up the last of the beer and other miscellaneous potables that had not already been consumed. It is quite possible that not a single tear fell into any beer that last night before our trip but everybody did have the feeling that he had a 'good deal' here and that he was going away to something strange and different, which might not be so good.
Early on the morning of the second the men of the Battalion were awakened very early by sounds of activity from the mess halls where the usual hot and appetizing breakfast was being prepared. It was soon ready and as quickly consumed about 7:00 o'clock the battalion began to move. Immediately Co. A took the wrong road but fortunately this road was going in the same direction as the established route and after a few miles this company was able to rejoin the Battalion. The journey proceeded without incident all day, most of it being made on a superhighway which wasn't as 'super' as some we has seen but which was pretty good anyway. Frequent breaks were taken along the way, both scheduled and unscheduled and the day passed rather quickly.
During the afternoon of this first day of the trip the Battalion ran into frequent thunder showers which caused quite a bit of confusion as we had started out with tarps off, but the sun was hot those who got wet took it good naturedly and were soon dry again. Nightfall found the battalion in a rather lonely and uncomfortable looking spot near the town of Blintendorf, Germany. The roads were full of troops and billets were not available so as planned in advance the troops prepared to bivouac for the night. This was the first time in many weeks that the men of the battalion had been compelled to sleep on the ground but most of them took it without a growl. Beer had been brought along, a few fires were kindled, later it came to light that some games took place, and all in all it wasn't a bad night although it was cold and rain threatened all the time. It was a change anyway and proved that the Battalion could still take it.
Early on the morning of the second, the Battalion moved out on the last leg of the trip to Czechoslovakia. About noon the convoy crossed a little creek, which was to all men the boundary between the land of non-fraternization and a country where all men could indulge in a little social activity without having to answer the sixty five dollar question. It was good to be in a land again where the soldier could wave at the people, and throw out cigarettes and gum. There had been none of that for the men of the battalion since we left St Joost last March. The people along the road, most of the girls in their Sunday best, all seemed glad to see the Americans coming in.
Soon our destination was reached. Hq. Co. moving into the town of Stod into what had formerly been a school building but which now looked like a junk pile. Co 'A' moved also into a school a little better one this time in the town of Zbuch. Co 'B' as usual stopped as far away from Bn. Hq. as possible, this time getting just outside the Bn area in the town of Hermanova-Hut. Co. 'C' drew the least desirable billets of all in the town of Ves-Touskov. After the first hectic night in Czechoslovakia, all companies settled down to making their quarters livable. Many improvements were quickly made and life began to take on an appearance of order. One squad from each company was sent back to the town of Bayreuth in Germany for the purpose of repairing and maintaining a portion of the highway that had broken down under the heavy loads that the passage of the Division imposed upon it. This detail was over in a few days and the boys joined the fold, another engineer job in the books.
The battalion soon settled down to the same old routine. Division ordered the usual assortment of signs to stick up around Headquarters. Flag poles were erected, the various companies trying to outdo each other in finding the highest tree from which to makes its pole. The Battalion soon fell heir to a couple of displaced persons camps in the town of Stod and consequently a squad from Co. 'A' and one from Co 'C' were assigned to guard them. Whether to keep the soldiers out or the DP's in has not been determined as yet. Co 'B' drew the assignment of guarding a munitions factory in the town of Nyrany. Along about the middle of the month a squad from Co. 'C' was given the task of building a footbridge over the Raduza River in town of Stod. This was the first time during the war that these men had used a pile driver but they soon mastered it and within a short time had a very nice bridge and one that will be standing for many years.
During the latter part of the month two more jobs were assigned the Battalion. A part of Co. 'A' was sent into Pilsen to work on the runways of the airport there. All of Co 'C' pulled up stakes from the town of Touskov and went to Parezkov where they started improving a recreation center for the use of the Division troops.
During the month more emphasis was placed on the Information and Education Program, and as a result many interesting facts were made as to what the men wanted in the way of education in case we are stuck here for a while. A sports program consisting for the most part of softball and volleyball was begun and enthusiastically received. The officers of the battalion went so far as to play several games among themselves, allowing sufficient time between games for the Charley horses to go down. Of course during all of this a training program was being carried on, the purpose being to refresh the battalion on subject that would be needed in case we were shipped to the Pacific. As the month ended rumors about the disposition of the battalion were flying thick and fast, and it was apparent that some change in the personnel of the outfit was to be the next order of business.
Awards during the month were as follows:
BronzeStar:
Major J. E. Vick, Jr.
Capt. James T. Jones
1st Sgt. Edwin J. Lavell
1st Sgt. Joseph J. Rajchel
S/Sgt. G. D. Buckner
S/Sgt. Charles Moore
S/Sgt. Harold F. Nyes
Sgt. Theodore J. J. Bielfeldt
Officer Changes During Month:
2nd Lt. Rino Bei appointed 1st Lt. - 1 June 1945
Major Henry C. Schrader reld of Comd & asgd as Ass't G-2, 8th Armd Div, 9 June 1945
Major J. E. Vick, Jr. assumed comd. 9 June 1945
Major J. E. Vick, Jr. reld comd. 19 June 1945
Lt. Col. Edward Podufaly reasgd & jd assumed comd 19 June 45
Capt. Chester P. Davis, Jr. reld of S-2, assume Hq. Co. comd. - 19 June 1945
1st Lt. Alvin C. Canutesen assumed S-2 - 19 June 1945
Capt. Homer R. Eddy reld as Hq. Co. comd & aptd Rcn Officer - 19 June 1945
2nd Lt. Richard J. Symonds appointed 1st Lt. - 16 June 1945
1st Lt. Nelson J. Sapp, Jr. reasgd & jd fr Hosp. - 20 June 1945
Battalion strength 1 June 1945:
31 Officers, 3 Warrant Officers, 631 Enlisted Men
Battalion strength 30 June 1945:
32 Officers, 3 Warrant Officers, 650 Enlisted Men
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