This was supposedly taken in 1945. I can't see it real well, but the emblem on the helmet of the soldier in glasses does look like a Corp Engineer Emblem. Haywood E. Waters is on the Far Left.
Hey, they don't call me super sleuth for nothing! :lol:
Great photo, btw.
Hello everyone! I came across this discussion recently and thought I would toss in a few cents worth on the 358th Engineer General Services Regiment. My Father was in Company A of the 358th during WW2. I have been trying to piece together information on the unit as well. One of the difficulties was that they seemed to be spread out over an area and different detachments worked on different projects. They moved a lot trying to keep up with the advances of the supply lines through France and Dad was not sure about what towns or places they had all been. He liked to remind me that it wasn't a "tour" where they told you exactly what little town you were near all the time. The places he was very sure about was Antwerp. His citation from the City of Antwerp hung on the wall in our hallway the whole time I was growing up. It was the only item from the war that dad displayed. (He also cussed Werner Von Braun every time he saw him on television during the "space race" too!)
Dad took pictures while he was in Europe so I have some of them that I would share as well. I would also appreciate any information.
UPDATE TO THE "MYSTERY OF THE 358TH ENGINEERS" 10/29/2017
Well, finally got to the bottom of the mystery and as promised, I'm reporting the findings to close the question.
It was as many had suspected... HAYWOOD WATERS did not transfer to the 358th Engineers until November 1945. The sole purpose of that transfer was to try and speed up the process so he could get back the States.
Haywood Waters was an infantry soldier in the 99th ID, 395th IR, 1st Btn, Co. "C"... aka Known as "The Battle Babies"!!! Look it up on Google. They have an interesting beginning.
I apologize to everyone that tried to help solve this mystery but it was all we had to go on and I do appreciate everyone's help very much. Unfortunately, Haywood Waters' service records did indeed burn in the Fire of 73 but Geoff was able to locate the real Regiment Haywood was with and produced 205 pages of morning reports. Some had Haywood Waters listed and others were pertaining to the Company unit itself and what it was doing.
Geoff did a fantastic job and that's the 2nd time he has come through for me on things I couldn't unravel on my own.
If you ever need a research professional, give Geoff a shot at helping you. His website is: GoldenArrow
I'm sorry everybody.... that post from 10/29 apparently did not "post" after all.... when I saw the new comment today, I clicked the link and started to reply. When I did, I found my post from 10/29 still sitting there.... sorry....
@ Eric
I need to get off this "smart phone" and post only from my computer. Obviously, I am not as smart as my phone.
I found very little on the 358th when I was searching for them but what little was found indicated they stayed up to 2-3 miles behind the line.
What do you have that shows your Dad was with the 358th? In my Brother in Laws case, be merely transferred to the 358th in November of 45 just to get back home faster.
Are you going solely by his discharge papers?
Pthompson38,
I apologize for causing confusion about the different units mentioned in this discussion. While this site is clearly concerned with the combat engineers, some of the links posted above by "Walt's Daughter" point to information about the 358th Engineer General Services Regiment. It is not a unit of the combat engineers. I am not sure which link you are referring to in your post above. I did not mention nor reference the combat engineers anywhere in my post. The photograph I included with my post is not linked from another source. It is a lower resolution scan (to keep the size down) from the original in my files. It was taken by my father of members of Company A of the 358th Engineer General Services Regiment while they were in England prior to D-Day engaged in building airfield infrastructure for the 8th Bomber Command. (I have their names and even the name of their dog! Check the lower right hand corner.)
I read the following posted above...
On 9/10/2017 at 7:52 AM, Walt's Daughter said:
your friend that is doing further research for you, needs to tell NARA in Maryland (they have all the declassified records for units) that he needs the records for the 358th General Service Regiment in Europe,
My father was in Company A of the 358th Engineer General Services Regiment in Europe. Not the combat engineers. I was just wondering if anyone had information on the 358th Engineer General Services Regiment that could enhance the history that I already have compiled from my father's photos and recollections and the records of the unit found in United States Army in World War II: The Technical Services, The Corps of Engineers: The War Against Germany by Alfred M. Beck, Abe Bortz, Charles W. Lynch, Lida Mayo, and Ralph F. Weld 1985 and the Unit History of the 1st Battalion 358th Engineer General Services Regiment by C. Hanburger Lt. Colonel, C. E. Commanding - 24 May 1945 and correspondence and reports of the company clerk S/Sgt. Russel F. Wampler during the movements of the 358th Engineer General Services Regiment from Antwerp into Germany in 1945.
A google search led me to this site, perhaps this was the wrong place to seek information on a unit that is not the main concern of the site. I apologize again for confusing the issue.
Eric,
Go back and refresh... it's my bad.. I changed the reply
While the name of the site is VI Corps Combat Engineers (in honor of my father), nowhere on this forum (or main site) does it indicate that this is strictly for combat engineers. Anyone perusing my site will see dedication to and information regarding any type of engineer from WWII. Not only that, but we also keep data on units with ties to the engineers. It's all one big happy family. :-)
It is interesting to note my data sheet on types of engineers from WWII. ;)