When the sixth of September rolled around the battalion found itself on the move from Rigny, France to Rosee, Belgium, arriving at an airport which became our bivouac area. That was a night to remember… black as the ace of spades, raining to boot, and the Germans raising hell at the proposed bridge site. By 1425 hours on the 7th of September, the far shore at Dinant, Belgium was in our hands and the work had started. Six hours and thirty five minutes later the bridge had been completed and ten minutes after completion, traffic had started to roll.
Next came the “Indian” hunt on the night of 10 September. A report had come in that a ”few” German Paratroopers were holed up not far away. As it developed, there were considerably more than a few end they broke out. One of our men was wounded and one German killed.
Our next move came on the 22nd of September and we moved that time to Les Chemins. Belgium… just out of Verviers. We were to remain there a long time. We were not inactive, however. Not more than a day had passed when we began hauling Engineer Supplies once again, and within four days we started extensive experimental work at Lac de là Gileppe in preparation for the Rhine crossing. This work involved much rafting and storm-boat work and kept us busy for some time. We had ample time on the side, however; to hunt deer in the nearby woods.
The next job to come along involved logging operations. Our job was to get the logs to the mill. Frequently our trucks were under enemy fire and often they were damaged. The battalion kept its lucky streak and there were no casualties.
Along with logging came our first work with LCVP’s and the U. S. Navy. We had the first detachment of them that arrived up front and were to be actively associated with them until after the second Rhine crossing.
Our platoons were again training’ combat battalions in pontoon bridging; one platoon being in Aachen and another in Huy. The Rhine filled our thoughts day and night and the big questions were WHEN AND WHERE?
Another move and we were in Aachen in nice comfortable billets, some of the few buildings that had survived the mauling that the artillery and air force had passed out. These were the first buildings we had lived in since England the previous June. What a pleasure it was to get back to Modern conveniences.
Our first battle star arrived in November — and no ribbon to wear it on — and if we had the ribbon we would have had no place to wear it to — what a life! At this same time Master Sergeants Bader and Dorñiden were awarded Bronze Stars for meritorious service against the enemy.
On 12 December a Buzz Bomb landed in our motor pool in Aachen. This was by far our first acquaintance with these pretty little toys but it was the first that had landed so close. Five men from Company A and one man from Company B were injured but none seriously.
Next came the Ardennes breakthrough. German Paratroopers were all over the place and no one trusted anyone else. The German Airforce played a personal visit to Aachen and dropped flares and bombs around without doing much damage. The brass decided to move us where we would be more useful and so back to the Meuse River we went. Just as we were getting ready to leave a rush call came in for some prime movers and off they went, down into the thick of the breakthrough country. It was a rough trip but all came back O. K.
Finally we had moved back as far as Donceel, Belgium and sat back to wait for our turn at some action. No rest for the wicked, however, and our trucks were soon out moving an Engineer Dump out of the path of the German Spearhead.
1944 ended with no celebration or fanfare. Christmas had been a dismal day and New Years was not much better. One thing was clear, though, now knew that the end was in sight.
We began 1945 assigned to the 1128th Engineer Combat Group, still assigned to hauling Engineer Supplies but shortly a detachment was sent out to drive trucks from a depot to a distributing point. This detachment handled over 1500 trucks in three weeks and despite the cold, snow and ice delivered them all safely.
The Rhine still remained to be crossed however, and the only thing left to decide was when and where. We talked long hours of the time it would take to bridge it — officers, men, and outsiders — estimates ran from 15 hours to three days. Every little advance by First Army caused Our hopes to rise that perhaps this week it could happen but still no call arrived for us.
Finally, while we were stationed just out of Liege, Belgium — still working on lumbering operations — orders were received to alert the stormboat section of H & S Company. That was at 1400 hours. At 1930 hours orders were received from the 1160th Engineer Combat Group to load all equipment and be prepared to move, Eight trucks were to go to LCVP unit 1. Things began to hum… last minute repairs got most of our deadline equipment in condition to move. Our cranes were out so the loads, with the exception of the pontoons, were loaded by hand. Our initial orders said Zulpich, Germany… and finally with the last minute arrival of the cranes and the loading of the pontoons we were off to Zulpich, a sixty five mile drive. On arrival there we found that First Army had seized a railroad bridge, across the Rhine at Remagen and that more bridges were needed to exploit the bridgehead.
