Here is something I ran across just a few minutes ago.

Thought it would be good for the rest of us to see it.

"ESSAYONS"Is a French word meaning-"Let Us Try"

It's History: THE ENGINEER BUTTON: The Corps of Engineers' oldest and most time honored insignia is the exclusive Essayons Button. It has not been changed in the basic design since the war of 1812. It is still the required button for the Army Engineers' uniform. Evidence which could establish the actual facts concerning the designing and adoption of the Essayons Button probably burned at West Point in 1838, when the building containing the library and earliest official Corps of Military Academy records caught fire. However, while early Army regulations mentioned the "button of Engineers... with only the device and motto heretofore established", apparently no authoritative detailed description of the button appeared until 1840. The Army prescribed new uniforms on February 18, 1840, in General Orders 7, AGO, which officially described the button as follows: An eagle holding in his beak a scroll with the word, 'Essayons,' a bastion with embrasures in the distance, surrounded by water, and rising sun; the figures to be of dead gold upon a bright field." In 1902, when the Army adopted "regulation" buttons, it allowed only the Corps of Engineers to retain its own distinctive Essayons Button in recognition of the distinguished traditions that it symbolized.Song:

THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BRANCH SONG:

"ESSAYONS" Essayons, sound out the battle cry Essayons, we'll win or we'll die Essayons, there's nothing we won't try.. We're the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.. Pin the castle on my collar I've done my training for the team. You can call me an engineer soldier, the warrior spirit has been my dream We are builders, we are fighters! We are destroyers just as well There've been doubters who met with the sappers..

We know our sappers will never fail OR

And then we blew them all straight to hell Our brothers fighting on the battlefield Look to us to point the way We get there first and then we take the risks To build the roads and the air strips And bridge the mighty river streams We don't care who gets the glory We're sure of one thing, this we know Somewhere out there an engineer soldier Designed the plan for the whole darn show Essayons whether in war or peace We will bear our red and our white Essayons we serve America And the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.. Essayons!! Essayons!!

THE ENGINEERS HYMN

Men of honor, stop your dreaming, Can't you see their bayonets gleaming, See their warrior pennants streaming, To this battle field. Men of honor, stand ye steady, It can not be ever said ye, For this battle were not ready. Sappers will not yield. Hear the cannon pounding, pounding. From the hills resounding, sounding. Sound the horn, and forward toward, The mighty force surrounding. Men of honor, stand ye steady, Ye shall ever be at ready, To the frightful foe afore Ye. Sappers will not yield. Men of honor, start replying, On courage and strength relying, To the fray ahead be flying. Sappers will not yield. Men of honor, those before ye, Fought and died as Engineers for the Nation that we hold so dearly. Sappers will not yield. Hear the cannon pounding, pounding. From the hills resounding, sounding. Sound the horn, and forward toward, The mighty force surrounding. Men of honor, on to glory, This will ever be your story, Keep these stirring words before ye. Sappers will not yield.

A well earned SALUTE for all you guys

Sent to me by a friend:

RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority". We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that.. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly mo re than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is...We need your support and your prayers. Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear some thing red every Friday.

My uncle, Harry H. Birkby, was a member of the 36th from the time he was drafted in '41 until he mustered out in '46. I grew up hearing a lot of stories about the guys he served with, but nothing about combat.

After I grew up, and went into the Navy, I found out about what combat engineers do. My time in the service confirmed a conviction I had already formed that the more war stories, the more likely you're talking to a REMF.

If anyone knows anything about my uncle, I'd love to hear it.

Received this from Juanita last week:

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Hello,

I’m trying to find information on my grandfather that served in WW II on his death record it shows the below information. I hope that you, or someone you know, will be able to help me in my research. I wrote to the office of National Personnel Records, they stated to me that it looks like his unit number was 36 (?). I have no further information on him. He did not die in the war. Please help me, thanks so much for your time in this matter. God Bless.

Name: Anthony J. Stellato

U.S. Army I.D. 33830113

Tech/5 348th Station Hospital

In 7/26/1943 New Cumberland PA

Out 2/17/1946, Indiantown Gap, PA

I have been looking for any information on the 472nd engineer maintenance company that my great uncle I think was a part of. The only scrap of evidenance is a letter from the CO of the 472nd engineer maintenance company (Capt. Burton N. Pinkham) to the CO of the 973rd engineer maintenance company declaring that my uncle was entitled to a battle credit for his participation in the Guadalcanal campaign. I am trying to research his military history and the units he was in. So far I have found out he was in both the europian and pacific theaters. I am having a hard time tracking down any information on the unit he was in while in the pacific. He was associated with the army air force engineers as a mechanic fixing large construction equipment that built runways and airodromes. If any one out there has any information I would appreciate it. Thank you.