Look what a friend of Gilles found in Europe; old photos of the 36th Engineers in Vesoul. Gilles thinks one of the GI's looks like Captain John Fallon. I have to agree.
This was sent to me by Jim Hennessey, who would like to share it with all of us. William sounded like one hell of a guy. Rest in peace and my condolences to the family.
Subject: William H. Smoyer ~ Battle of the Bulge (recently passed)
Good afternoon,
I wanted to contact you as I am the grandson of William H. Smoyer who recently just passed away on Friday night. He fought in WWII and in the Battle of the Bulge. I wanted to let you know he thought of his comrades as family up until the day he died. He went to every WWII battle ceremony, every Battle of the Bulge ceremony, stayed in contact with the remaining people of the battle and constantly talked about the brotherhood that was created in those cold days. He was the best grandfather a kid could ask for and my entire family was truly blessed to have him with us for so many years. If possible, could you just leave a comment on his funeral guest book and pass the link around? His mass is this Wednesday in Havertown PA and I know he would really appreciate people associated with the Battle of the Bulge writing something on his guestbook. He loved all of you. I appreciate your time and hope to hear from you.
I had the honor of meeting and getting to know Claude Gregory. I shall miss you at this year's reunion. Rest in peace, my friend.
=============
The following was sent to me this morning by John Fallon. He received this email from the son of Claude Gregory. John's reply follows:
-------------------------
Subject: Death of Claude William Gregory, Jr. 2nd Lieutenant 36th Combat Engineers (ret.)
Dear John:
I regret to inform you that my father, Claude William Gregory Jr., passed away at 6:54 am on Sunday, July 26, 2009 at the Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care in Towson , Md. He was 86 and had been briefly ill with lung cancer. He was buried with military honors and a live bugler from Bugles Across America at Lorraine Park Cemetery in Baltimore , MD on Friday, July 31 at 11 am. He is buried next to his wife, Mildred, and with his parents. I also buried him with a 36th Combat Engineering red cap and presented the one he wore all the time to my son to preserve for my grand son and to pass through the generations to come. He had about 6 of them!
My father always told me about the reunions in Lebanon , PA. I know he attended his last one just last September and he looked forward to it every year. I know he will be missed and I know he must have had regrets that he would not be able to make it this year during his illness. I know my wife and I will miss him terribly as will his grand children. He led a good life though and he was blessed by being able to meet with his veteran friends well into his eighties.
He never talked too much about the war, but in his later years he did reveal more about the campaigns in North Africa , Sicily and the Italian mainland. He did tell me more about Salerno and Anzio in recent months and did share more with me and his grand children recently about his wounding at Anzio. I have been reading Rick Atkinson's book The Day of Battle in his honor and intend also to read An Army at Dawn. There was a nice quote from the book that I used at his brief graveside funeral service “…AND IT SOON BECAME EVIDENT THAT ITALY WOULD BE A BATTLE OF ENGINEERS….” .
I hope this message will find you well. Please extend my thanks and salutations to all of those veterans who will be in Lebanon this year. Please let them know that my father treasured their company and their friendship and that he wore the Regimental cap with pride. When we took him to see the World War II Memorial on the national mall he wore his cap. Many people stopped him and had his picture taken with their children so these children would know what you all accomplished during World War II.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at (removed for privacy)
My wife and I have a house in Cape May , NJ . I had been trying to get Dad to make another trip to Cape May and contact you so we could all have dinner some time. We just never made it. Perhaps my wife and I can still do that with you some time in his memory. I will also send you a copy of this note by regular mail.
Best wishes,
Eric Gregory
==============
I am deeply sorry to hear about you dad's death. He was a regular attendant at our annual reunions an added much to them. You mentioned Atkinson's book about Anzio but there are better ones. In fact I wrote to Atkinson protesting the inaccurate maps which did not show our regiment in position, the book by Carlos D' Este is far superior and he gives the 36th its due.
I don't know if your dad had any records of the Regiment but if you would like to get more information about any of the campaigns I will be glad to make copies and send them to you. We will toast him and pray for him next month in Lebanon and may he rest in peace.
36 Engineers are rugged......John Fallon II. Capt. USA Ret.
==============
First photo is of John and Claude - 2008
2nd photo is of the group - 2007 - Claude is top row, fifth from left
Attempting to obtain assistance locating family member(s) of a former member of the 803rd. He was KIA in the Philippine Islands 9 October 1942. He was not posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
