I came across this .pdf file while surfing around this morning.

How to Keep House in a Foxhole

when the page opens, click on the .pdf link in upper left, the file may be slow to open.

I have my father's 1942 pocket "Military Missal"which he carried throughout

Africa, Italy, and France. It's well worn and clearly got much use during those years,

especially the section: "Mass In Time Of War"( Also the section "special prayers"). I thought it might be appropriate - especially during Holy Week - to reprint 2 of them here and

remember all our brave soldiers & their families (living & in Heaven).

PRAYER FOR SOLDIERS( St Sebastian was the "patron" of soldiers because he was a soldier in the Roman praetorian guard & ultimately executed when it was discovered that he was Christian):

St Sebastian, brave in battle and strong in faith, who gave an example of courage in fighting for your country and your God alike, through thy intercession help the soldiers who like youfight for the country they love. Help them, that it can be said of them, as it was said of you, "He was a good soldier." Make them strong and brave, ready to give their best for that cause for which their country fights. You were found perfect in the testimony that you bore of your faith in Jesus Christ. Grant that the same may be said of those who wear our country's uniform, that they too, strong in battle, may be strong in faith. Preserve them from wounds and dangers of battle and bring them safely home. Amen.

PRAYER FOR RELATIVES OF SERVICEMEN:

Grant, O Lord, to those homes from which have come our country's defenders, the peace which You alone can give. Make those homes strong to meet their trials, to overcome the pain of loss, to meet bravely whatever You have in store for them. Make them proud that they are giving their own to fight for what they think is right. Grant that all the graces that they stand in need of may be theirs, that they may serve as best within them lies. Make them see Thy good and gracious purpose working in all the trials which Thou wilt send upon them. Grant that whatever sacrifices you have in store for mothers and fathers, wives and sweethearts, sons and daughters, may be as well and bravely borne as Your Own Mother bore her loss at the foot of the Cross. Amen.

Marion,

It is with a sad heart that I have to tell you and all of the 540th that my father Robert G. Breitbach passed away this past Sunday the 16th. Dad was 88 years old and for most of his remarkable life he was in good health except for the last month.

Dad lived most of his life in Montana until his retirement in 1986 when he moved to Powder Springs Ga. Dad and Mom were married 60 years next month.

My father was very proud of his service in world war II and especially with the 540th. He talked often to his children, grandchildren and even his great-grandchildren about it and the friends he made there.

Thank you and God bless,

Brad Breitbach

Marietta Georgia

My condolences to you and your family Robert. I am very saddened by the news. I wished he could have seen HIS documentary before he moved on to the big engineer camp in the sky...

Received this letter from Captain John Fallon, the other day. Sent his question to our historian, Michael Brodhead for illucidation.

Subject: answer to a vet's question

Good morning Mike:

Hey, would you know off the top of your head, how many engineers served

during WWII? One of my vets wrote to me over the weekend and was curious to

know the numbers of those who served in each branch of the army. He believes

there were more engineers than any other, but I would have to believe there

were a lot more infantrymen.

Anyway, this is certainly not a pressing issue, but if you come across this

in the future, please pass it along to me.

Have a wonderful day,

Marion

Hi Marion,

A volume in the Army's official histories of World War II series, The Corps

of Engineers: Troops and Equipment, by Blanch Coll, et al., gives the figure

of 596,567 Engineer soldiers as of 30 June 1945 (page 239). The preface

states (p. ix) that this accounts for "about 8 percent of the Army."

I hope this is the information wanted. You are probably right in thinking

that there were more infantrymen.

All the best, Mike

This is my editor's personal blog. I have posted his entries here before. Col Mike Morgan, Editor, AE Magazine

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Remember history before declaring victory

Those in the media who are saying (more and more lately) that things are going so smoothly in Iraq that we can "bring the troops home" may want to consider some key events in history. Just when those back home before Christmas in 1944 were saying the war was won in Europe, the Germans unleashed what would be called the Battle of the Bulge. Later in 1968 when politicians and others back home were saying we'd won the war, the North Vietnamese attacked all over South Vietnam in what was called the Tet Offensive. The remainder of this year is going to get real interesting while we ponder and debate who is going to lead our nation next, and whether or not our mission in Iraq is finished. Then there's Afghanistan, which is not getting easier. And what's on the horizon we aren't aware of yet? It's wise to remember history before making any declarations of victory.

To read more of his entries read on:

http://ae-editor.blogspot.com/