This is from the History Channel. It's a virtual tour of the USS Arizona.

Please note that you need the following Plug-Ins installed on your computer to watch the entire program: Flash and QuickTime. I know most of you already have Flash installed, because you wouldn't be able to view our main site properly without it. If you don't have Quicktime installed, or don't want it, then you will still be able to view most of the presentation, but won't be able to click on the the individual movie clips, where provided. To simplify things, they have provided links to both Flash and Quicktime right within the presentation. They also have the video for sale on their site too.

http://www.history.com/ussarizona/tour.html

You can also click on History and Video Timeline links right on that same page.

I can't tell you how many times people ask, what is a division, what is a battalion, how many men in a squad, etc. Well tonight I am going to give you some information on what constituted an US Army Corps. Since this site is about VI CORPS COMBAT ENGINEERS, my readers should be familiar with the framework.

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For the U.S. Army in World War II "the corps was the key headquarters for employing all combat elements in proper tactical combinationS."4 Situated below army and above division in the hierarchy of command, the corps consisted essentially of a commander and his staff, headquarters units, and certain organic elements. The corps controlled a varying number of divisions. While the U.S. Army World War II infantry division was standardized and usually included about fifteen thousand men, the corps, as one commander described it, was an amorphous, elastic tactical unit that "expands and contracts according to the allocation of troops from higher headquarters based on the enemy, the terrain and the contemplated missions."

Combat units moved from one corps to another at the discretion of the army commander. In addition, the corps controlled pools of non-divisional combat units, such as corps artillery, engineers, tanks, and tank destroyers, which were distributed to divisions as dictated by need and availability. As part of a multi-corps army, the corps had few administrative functions. In essence, "the corps became the key headquarters for employing all combat elements in proper tactical combinations."

Twenty-two U.S. Army corps were actively engaged in combat operations at some time during World War II. Successful corps command made a significant, yet largely unrecognized, contribution to Allied victory in World War II. Thirty-four U.S. Army general officers commanded these corps in battle. For a professional officer, corps command was the ultimate position of tactical leadership. Corps commanders who moved on to higher military positions during or after the war, such as Omar N. Bradley, George S. Patton, Jr., J. Lawton Collins, and Matthew B. Ridgway, are well known to military historians, and many have published their memoirs. However, the majority of corps commanders have evoked little historical interest. Innis P. Swift led First Corps in the Pacific for nearly a year and a half, Alvan C. Gillem led Thirteenth Corps for twenty-two months in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), and Geoffrey Keyes commanded Second Corps during twenty-one months of combat in Italy. Despite such accomplishments, these distinguished officers are relatively unknown.

You know me, I don't put anything in the forum unless I check out the validity first. Checked this out on Snopes.com (as we ALL should for anything we receive in our Inboxes), and here it is: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/repya.asp

BY: Joe Repya, Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army

101st Airborne Division

Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour.

I left Baghdad, and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I'm tired:

I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican, who lack the courage, fortitude and character to see these difficult tasks through.

I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough.

I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they 'Support the Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before victory is achieved.

I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are having on the battlefield.

I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy overnight.

I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent Parliament.

I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.

I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen soldiers, a family whose loved ones gave their life in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters is beyond shameful.

I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom -- Vietnam generation, who have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult tasks through to victory.

I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives than they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies.

I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front-page news.

Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation didn't learn from history that there is no substitute for victory.

Sincerely,

Joe Repya, Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army

101st Airborne Division

While searching websites for an answer to a question i had as to whether engineer units had thier own portable sawmills or used any locals mills to supply lumber and timbers for bridges or buildings etc. I came across the website for the 9th Infantry Division. Lo & behold on one of their pages are copies of Field manuals including 4 Engineer FMs:

FM 5-5 Engineer Field Manual, Engineer Troops

Dated: October 11, 1943

FM 5-15 Field Manual, Engineer Corps, Field Fortifications

Dated: February 14, 1944

FM 5-20 Field Manual, Camouflage, Basic Principles

Dated: February, 1944

FM 5-20 Field Manual, Engineer Corps, Comuflage of Bivouacs, Posts, etc...

Dated: May, 1944

FM 5-5 gave me the answer, they used both. This FM layouts the types, organization & operations of all the different types of engineer units. It sure is great to have an online reference for all this info!

Home :: 9th Infantry Division, 39th Regiment, Easy Company

The manual page: Lists Infantry & Engineer manuals they have.

Free Downloadable Manuals

FM_5-5_Engineer_Troops_1943.pdf

FM_5-15_Field_Fortifications_1944.pdf

FM_5-20_Camouflage_1944.pdf

/FM_5-20C_Camouflage_of_Bivouacs,_CPs,_Supply_Points,_and_Med.pdf

hello marion.

... i have attached a few pictures you may likeof my granduncle who

was an engineer in the german army inww 2 in russia. i am trying the

mail again so untill next time be good god bless you and lots of greetings.

karl

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