Several weeks ago I found this entry in our guestbook:

This is a wonderful site full of a wealth of information. My grandfather is Ernest Joy from the 540th. Like he, I joined the army and am also a combat engineer. I leave for Iraq in a couple of weeks. Thanks for you dedication to our veterans that gave the most. ESSAYONS!!

Yes, the grandson of one of the men in this photo.

I replied with this:

Dear Benjamin:

 

I always take a moment to thank each and every person who signs the guestbook and I must say what a  pleasant surprise it was hearing from you.  I plan on having a page for your grandfather in the very near future, so stay tuned for more developments.  Please stay in touch and of course my best wishes go with you in Iraq. 

 

I'm sure your grandfather is very proud of you.  It is quite an honor to be a combat engineer.  I'm more than happy to share my dads history, along with the history of all his buddies and fellow E-men.  Unfortunately the public has very little awareness of the combat engineer's role in war and it is my job to make sure that I educate them regarding your role past and present.  I find all to often while reading history books that combat engineers don't get the justice they deserve.

 

I would be honored to have you join our message board and keep us posted on events in Iraq, especially from an E-Mens perspective.  I think the public needs to hear more from the soldiers stationed there and get a birds-eye view of the war whether good or bad.  Hey, what the heck, let's do a page on you.  What would you think about that?  It would be great to have a modern-day engineer featured on our site.  Grandfather and grandson.  That would be awesome.  Let me know what you think.

 

Take care and may God keep you safe.

Ben's reply to my letter:

The web page idea would be fine with me.  I have emailed you from my wifes email address because my time at home is short.  She can cordinate any information and pictures you need.  I'll do my best to stay in touch over the next 18-24 months while I am away.  My wifes name is Lynette.  She is very involved with our family support group.  She is a prior service MP.  She said she would love to help out.  Thanks for the compliments and warm wishes.

 

SSG Benjamin Joy

B Co.  113th Engr. Bn

I heard from Lynette. Ben's address is left off for privacy:

Here is Ben's address while he is at Camp Atterbury.  He will be there for approx.  4-6 weeks.  I will let you know when to stop sending mail there and then as soon as I get the new address for him I will pass it along to you.

And today, Lynette sent me these photos that were taken in Iraq. You may have seen these before, but they are very touching.

God Bless our boys!

Hi:

If any of you have read Al Kincer's latest entry on his page, then you will know how strongly he feels about trying to give his men the credit they deserve. If you haven't read it, I will let you read it now:

Marion...I noticed under "Links" A paragraph re. Anzio 1944  Army Military History that is printed as follows.

Earlier on 25 May, at 0730, troops of the 91st Reconnaissance Squadron, 85th Infantry Division, U.S. II Corps, racing north from Terracina across the Pontine Marshes, met soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 36th Engineer Combat Regiment, from the Anzio beachhead, effecting the long-planned and longer-awaited link-up between Fifth Army forces. With the physical juncture of the II and VI Corps, the beachhead ceased to exist and the formerly isolated soldiers became the left flank of the Fifth Army. Clark personally greeted the II Corps troops three hours later. What a shame that history is sometimes written so badly. The 91st was sitting ion their butts in Terricina. Of course the 5th Army troops was Co B 48 Engrs. I wish I could right this wrong so my guys could get the credit they deserve. AL

I wrote back to Al and said,

Amen to that my friend.  Oh if we could only go back.  Well, we do have some say Al, I can "sort of" right a wrong.  No I can't change that danged history books, but I do have the Internet as a strong ally.  We can make quite a few people aware of mistakes that were written and tell them what really happened.  So even though I can't FIX things, I can attempt to make some minor repairs.

 

Trust me, now that I have begun my life long journey into my father's history and the history of the 540th, I realize how little recognition they received.  Seems now that I have accepted the assignment to educate the masses.  But, it is not only the history of the 540th, but the gleaming history of all combat engineers.  I have taken on quite a job, but it is one that I am happy to be a part of.  So with you and the other combat engineers veterans behind me, maybe we can show the world what you guys were (and are) made of.  So I am counting on you and them to tell me everything you possibly can so I can share it with all those interested.  You and I are already off to a good start. 

 

My best to you.  We make a good team.

So while I can't rewrite the history page for him, I can give it my best shot and write about it here so that other people can see it. Let the truth ring out!

Vet Recalls Stalag 17

Russel Reetz, a sailor aboard the USS Ward which was credited with firing the first American shots of World War II at Pearl Harbor, has died. The Maplewood resident was 88.

He died of complications related to lymphoma and heart and lung problems.

Reetz was 25 years old when his fellow crew members, including 82 reservists from St. Paul, fired two shots at a Japanese two-man submarine trying to sneak into Pearl Harbor a little more than an hour before the attack on Dec. 7, 1941.

One shot sunk the submarine, but it wasn't until two years ago that the wreckage was found by the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory.

Reetz was elated by the discovery, said his daughter, Cindy Tritz. He asked her to write a letter to a skeptical admiral he met, because the admiral told him he didn't think it was possible that the Ward's shells could sink a submarine, she said.

``The letter said, 'Have you heard that they found it?''' Tritz said. ``He got a very nice response from the admiral that said, 'I'm glad to believe the impossible can happen.'''

In his later years, his involvement with the Ward become more important to him, said his widow, Loretta Reetz. ``That was what kept him going,'' she said.

He became the secretary-treasurer of the First Shot Naval Vets, a club formed in 1947 by the men of the Ward. The group also helped get the gun from the Ward brought to St. Paul in 1958, where it now sits on the Capitol grounds.

Born and raised in West St. Paul, Reetz joined the Naval Reserves in 1940. After the end of the war, he became a pipe fitter, taught courses at a technical school and worked at a wastewater treatment plant. He retired about 20 years ago.

Reetz is scheduled to be buried Tuesday at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Check out this site the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Association. One of the veterans I just met yesterday told me I could go to this site and submit an application to get a certificate for my father. Anyone who participated in the Ardennes/Alsace Campaign can apply for this beautiful certificate. If you are interested go to the site and click on the Bulge Certificate link. Just print it, fill it out and mail it in. Pass it on!