Been trying to figure out why the LOC or National Archives doesn't have a copy.
Spent two hours on the phone today. Hope I made grand progress. Will log in later if it pans out. I don't want to jinx it.
Thinking good thoughts....
Hi Caryl, i see our illustrious, untiring, fearless , devoted & most beautiful leader
of our family forum, Marion has aided you in your quest for information.
Sorry i havent had a lot of time lately for research but here is what i have.
The 311th Inf Reg was part of the 78th Inf Div. It appears from the dates you give that your grandfather transfered to the 280th ECB stateside, The 78thID shipped out to Europe Oct `44.
I dont have their full history, but the 280th Engineer Combat Battalion was a non-divisional unit of the 9th U.S. Army from 5 September 1944 - 5 May 1945.
http://www.twofortyforth.org/9thto.htm
The only copies of the History 280 Engr C Bn [280th Engineer Combat Battalion]
that is available according to a Worldcat search is 1 copy at the:
BRUCE C CLARKE LIBRARY
FT LEONARD WOOD, MO
and 1 copy at the :
US Army, Mil Hist Institute
US Army Heritage & Education Center
CARLISLE, PA
It also shows a copy at the New York Public Library, but a search of the site shows up as unavailable.
http://www.worldcat.org/title/history-280-engr-c-bn-280th-engineer-combat-battalion/oclc/16100831
Ft Wood is busting their hineys for me! I have photos of my grandfather downloaded, and photos of the other three platoons. I'll get them on the blog as soon as I can. (it's searchable)
I can't wait to find out what else they find.
Also, I have NO idea what "non-divisional unit" means! LOL ! Sounds like that new math! LOL.
Thanks for being here ya'll. Sometimes it just helps to be able to "talk" it through.
Great news.
As far as your question about the unit, I had placed some information for you in an above post:
As far as I can ascertain, they were a separate battalion, as were many of the engineer units during WWII. The four main units I cover, including my dad's, were independent units.
This means they didn't belong to a division. They were a separate entity on their own. Trust me, I found this confusing several years ago too, for I thought all units came under divisional control. A the great learning curve...
I have uncovered more in the last two weeks than I ever could have dreamed. I spoke with Marlin, head of the 280th ECB reunion group. Not only does he remember my grandfather, but he has photos and stories, as do the remaining men. Wow, just wow. He is also in the process of reprinting the 280th history. I am also now a member of the group 
I'm HOPING to help out by getting some of this stuff digitied and searchable for the rest of the world before it's gone forever.
Wish me luck!
This rocks!!!! What more can I say, 'cept for you will be in seventh heaven just as I am every time I get to be with any of "my boys".
I wish I could make it up to the reunion in Sept. The military having us 1000 miles a way, me having a school age kid, and Sept being my extra busy season, argh....LOL.
I am over the moon!