Thanks for sending this one too Tony!

Frederick Conrad Woods

Frederick Conrad Woods, 90, of Daphne died Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006, at his home. He was a life-long resident of Baldwin County.

Woods was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, 540th Combat Engineers, and a veteran of World War II who served in the European Theatre.

He was a graduate of Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University. Family members said he was a well-known architect throughout the Southeast. Some of his projects included the Greek Orthodox Church in Malbis, Christ the King Church in Daphne and the Mobile Metro Jail Complex, among others.

Survivors include his wife, Aileen Woods; four daughters, Jahala Woods, Janine Woods and Jan Zietz, all of Mobile, and Stephanie Markey of California; two sons, Erik Woods of Houston and Edward Woods of Seattle; a brother, Erik Woods of Virginia; and two sisters, Inez Gleason of New Jersey and Betty Thomulka of Nevada.

A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Christ the King Church in Daphne.

The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Mobile Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or Bay Rivers Art Guild.

Arrangements are by Cason Funeral Service in Foley.

Source: Mobile Register, The (Aug/17/2006)

Here's another one that was given to me by my friend Tony!

Seaman A. Knapp Jr. — 1/5/2001

DALLAS — Funeral services for Seaman Arthur Knapp Jr., 85, were held Friday, Dec. 29, in Highland Park United Methodist Church.

Mr. Knapp died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2000, in Dallas.

He was a native of Lake Charles and had lived in Dallas for 45 years. He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1937. He was an Army veteran and served in World War II with the 540th Combat Engineers. He received the Legion of Merit for his service at Anzio and retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel. He worked for U.S. Steel's oil well division for 41 years.

He was a member of the Park Cities Lions Club and was a lifetime member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the 540th Combat Group Association, the Dallas Knife and Fork Club and the Park City Club. He was an assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 72 for many years. He was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Marion Gilbert Knapp; one son, William Arthur Knapp of Dallas; and three grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75205; Boy Scouts of America Circle 10 Council, 8605 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75201; or Baylor University Medical Center, 3500 Gaston Ave., Dallas, TX 75246, the family said.

Source: Jennings Daily News (Feb/14/2004)

The 1108th Combat Engineer Group

48th & 235th Battalions

Are announcing their 2007 Reunuion

Same place as last year in Port Huron

August 23 to 26, 2007

Info will be placed here as plans develop

I was looking over some morning reports I obtained from NARA concerning my grandpa and the 417th Inf Reg, and I noticed that it states that he was transferred from the 53rd Replacement Battalion to the 417th Inf Regiment. On another morning report, he was transferred from the 417th to the 54th Rplacement Battalion.

With this info in mind, I figured I could continue filling in the blanks concerning his record.

Did the Replacement Battalions use morning reports like the regiments did?

If so, I think I can find out what unit he went to from the 54th Repl. Batt.

Today I have gone back to read and re-read some of the Veteran's stories here, and the ones about Bastogne in particular, since it's cold and snowy as I look out my window. For some reason a large lump has appeared in my throat that won't seem to go away. Reading Paul Hinkle's and Jim Hennesey's stories...and remembering what those young men did in the Winter of '44, along with all the rest of the guys who have posted their stories here...some days it's just too much.

Dogdaddy