Hi everyone. It has been a LONG time since I visited here. Sorry it took so long, but work (new job), studies (picked them up again) and family life (wife is expecting twins any moment now...) have taken my time and I haven't been able to do much WWII research. Hope you can forgive me Marion!

But I am picking that up again and am looking for info on the 74th Engineer Light Pontoon Company. On line I can't find anything at all, so I am hoping people here might know. basically everything I need; What was the history, what unit was it attached to, etc.

I am also looking into the only casualty buried in Europe of this unit; Pfc James S. Lukacs, who was killed on 19 May 1945 in a non combat related incident.

Any information would be more than welcome!

TIA,

Stevin

PS: WOW! I am a Major!

PS2: this topic might have to be moved to another section on the forums here....Things have changed!!!

Here's a great video on the Sopwith Camel flying with a Spitfire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtprTL66-FY

Yes, wouldnt it be great IF a lot of the younger folks got their dads or granddads to

get their dads or grandads WW 2 stories on computer or taped. Too many neglect to find out the ww 2 history until it is too late. And then try to find out when it is too late.

Then they finally go looking for the details instead of getting the facts prior. Why is it so important now instead of back then ? This just drives me up the wall. Why do they wait till it is too late ? Wasnt it important back then? Or just only after their death?

Some wait till many years later and then want histories of them which could have been easily found by talking to them while alive. All they get this way of later checking is a

small bit of history, but no actual stories in first hand.

Received this message today. As with any other post, confidential info has been deleted... This was from a guestbook entry.

Richard Cameron

January 22nd 2007

05:26:24 PM

How did you find my website? Searching for info on my dad

Where are you from? Richland, WA

Please enter your comments?

My Dad, Glenn Cameron of Waterloo, Iowa, served in the 36th Combat Engineers in North Africa, Salerno, Ansio, Southern France, and into Germany. Dad would rarely talk about the war, but the Ansio Beach experience was a defining time of his life. A few years ago, I went with Dad to an Ansio Beach reunion in Colorado Springs where he met up with his buddy from the 36th, Les Worrell. My Dad has passed on and I would very much appreciate any info I can get about him and what he went through in the war.

I don't know why I haven't posted info on this book, as it is a great read for anyone interested in Engineers.

"German Defences in Italy in World War II" by Neil Short, Osprey Publishing, 2006.

A softbound booklet from their Fortress series. 64 Pages.

Describes the German defences used throughout Italy but focuses mainly on Cassino front and GOTHIC Line. Includes photos of some of the gun emplacements, trenches, and dugouts. Has color map of the many defence lines established during their retreat--approximately 40 named defence lines. Includes diagrams of a typical defence line showing placement of trenches, MG dugouts, A-T guns and mines. Another set of nice drawings of gun emplacements for a 88 gun, a Panther tank turrent and a Nebelwerfer. A cross-sectional view of an underground, 2-story Panther Tank turrent.

Also sketches and views of the 2-man MG Panzernest unit. This was a steel bunker that was rolled out on wheels and flipped over into a hole and buried. Two men occupied it with an MG-34. Then there was the PzKpfw II tank turrent(earliest tanks with MG in turrent) that were used quite extensively.

A handy little book about Italy including how to tour the battlesites.

Retail price $16.95.

Steve