|
The month of may 1945 saw the 53rd Armored Engineer Battalion taking a new role, one of occupying and governing, although much Engineer work was accomplished during the month. It was a month during which our traveling was cut down somewhat, only one major move being made and that turned out to be a short one. For the purpose of this history the month may be divided into two periods, the first week making up the first period and the remainder of the month making up the second
The first day of May found the companies located as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Company at Eisdorf; Company "A" at Badenhausen; Company 'B' at Oldershausen; and Company 'C' at Berka. Our task was to patrol and screen these towns and the area immediately surrounding them, to occupy and govern tehm and to perform any Engineer work that might make our job easier, and at the same time, help the county get back on a paying basis once again. During this first week of May headquarters Company completed two air strips near the Battalion Headquarters for the use of the Division Liaison planes. A reconnaissance of railroads in the Division area was undertaken and rehabilitation of these railroads was started, German labor and materials being used with the Engineer Battalion being in a supervisory capacity. Many enemy weapons, demolitions, ammunition dumps and other materials were discovered and duly destroyed by the Battalion Headquarters demolition specialist during this first week. Some of the weapons brought in were found to be in fair shape and accordingly were turned over to higher headquarters from whence they were shipped to some of our not so fortunate allies.
The efficiency of our communications was greatly increased during this first week of May when the battalion Communications Section strung telephone wire between battalion Headquarters and all the lettered companies. Company "A" undertook the construction of two bridges in their area, one being north of Dorste and the other one south of Oker. Company "B" was assigned the task of removing documents from a mine shaft near Reyershausen, a job which kept them busy most of the first week. Company 'C' did a lot of Engineer work during this period, building a bridge and destroying explosives near Goslar, repairing road in the vicinity of Bad Grund, filling a crater near the same own and also removing various road blocks and mines. All of the line companies screened the town in their respective areas during the period, and many characters were turned up in the process. The screening was quite a job, each house being entered and the occupants interviewed. A list of the people along with their status, the radios, cameras, and field glasses was made and filed at Battalion Headquarters.
Many of the Displaced Persons in the Area were evacuated among them being approximately one thousands Russians which were transported by rail eastward toward the Elbe and the Russian lines. Just as the situation was becoming stabilized we received orders to move, accordingly on the 8th, Headquarters and Headquarters Company moved to Norten-Hardenburg and Company A moved to Sudheim. The next day, May 9th, Company "B" moved to Katlenburg-Duhm and Company 'C' went into Gillersheim. The set up in the new areas was approximately the same as previously with partolling going on 24 hours per day and Engineer work being done where needed. The responsibility of governing our area was considerably reduced when a regular Military Government detachment took over the entire Kreis of Northeim. The Battalion Headquarters turned out some nice work in the way of special service aids during the latter part of the month. A band stand was built as was a number of bulletin boards to be used for orientation purposes by the Special Services section of the Division. Each of the line companies built bridges in their area, this taking up a great deal of their time.
Company 'B' also built a very nice rifle range for use by the Division troops. The war officially ended on the 9th of May, and there being nothing else to do in the way of combat duties, a limited training program was started by all to refresh us on certain subjects that should be known by all good soldiers. An expanded and interesting special service program was initiated by LT BALDWIN, this program including horseback riding, ping-pong, badmitin, soft ball, motor trips, free beer and many other attractions. During the latter part of the month, the Engineer Battalion reconoitered the Division area in search of Construction material. Much of this material was found and as the month ended, preparations were being made to ship it to central depots for use by the American Army. On the last day of the month, the S-3 Report said, 'All companies occupying and governing assigned areas' which summed up in a very few words our activities. All agreed with one soldier who said, 'For the first time since coming to the continent, a month ended in peace and quiet.'
Many members of the Battalion distinguished themselves in one way or another during the month of May. Not the least of these was T/Sgt Deverman of the S-2 Section who became quite adept at leading raiding parties during the month. The first time out he succeeded in capturing a Major General of the German Army, this being done single handed. There were very few Major Generals captured in this war and certainly this is the only one that we have heard of that was brought in by one man. Later Sergeant Deverman led a party in search of chicken thieves that had been praying on the people of Norten-Hardenburg and again he was successful, bring in and throwing into the local lock-up, three very rough looking characters who were caught with the evidence. Still later in the month the sergeant raided another house where a disturbance had been reported but this time did not bring anyone in as the disturbance had rendered the guilty party incapable of further action. Weapon used was a rolling pin or as the official report reads, 'a blunt instrument'.
Company 'A' during the month had a perfect example of the old adage that 'Good work will always be rewarded' when Sergeant Tony Silvera, the only man in the Company to wear the World War I ribbon left for the states and a discharge. Tony was in the occupation army last time. Company 'A' also had another lucky man, T/5 Shutacawski, the boy who had engineered the blowing of the tank out of the street in Nennig, left the company for a furlough back in the states. One and all agreed that he deserved it as he had been in the thick of things many times. Practically the whole of Company 'B' distinguished themselves while at Oldershausen Castle, each member of the company taking pride in this fine billeting place, and doing everything possible to keep it in good shape. T/5 Zappala and T/5 Stephens did an excellent job of plumbing and installing a shower room and the electricians, Pvt Campbell, Cemons and Davis did likewise on the wiring, replacing fuses during all hours of the night.
Company 'B' dedicated their flag to the men of the company who had been killed in combat and this was observed at a flag raising ceremony on the 6th of May. Company 'C' also did all right in providing the necessities of life for themselves, every member of the Company doing his part in this work. After the discomforts of combat conditions every one appreciates the better living conditions and is striving to improve them still further. As the month ended rumors of an impending move were flying thick and fast and the battalion was preparing to take to the road once again.
Battalion strength 1 May 1945:
30 Officers, 3 Warrant Officers, 622 Enlisted Men
Battalion strength 31 May 1945:
31 Officers, 3 Warrant Officers, 631 Enlisted Men
Officer changes during the month:
2ND LT SANTY appointed 1st LT - 1 May 1945.
2ND LT SHERIDAN appointed 1st LT - 16 May 1945.
1ST LT WOMASTEK appointed CAPTAIN - 16 May 1945.
Sergeant Cohen accepted direct commission as 2ND LT - 19 May 1945.
CAPT KOPLIN lost to 108th Evacuation Hospital - 13 May 1945.
LT ATKINS transferred from Hq Co to Co 'C'. - 8 May 1945.
LT DELPHA transferred from Hq Co to Co 'B' - 8 May 1945.
LT SMITH transferred from Hq Co to Co 'B' - 8 May 1945.
LT BAKER transferred from Co 'A' to Hq Co - 8 May 1945.
LT BALDWIN transferred from Co 'A' to Hq Co - 8 May 1945.
LT OLIVER transferred from Co 'C' to Hq Co - 8 May 1945.
LT PARKER transferred from Co 'B' to Co 'A' - 8 May 1945.
LT SHERIDAN transferred from Co 'B' to Co 'C' - 8 May 1945.
|
