The Misses and I drove over to Gatlinburg for a few days or R&R before school started. She begins teaching 3rd Graders tomorrow morning. My first stop was the Veteran's Memorial Musuem in Pigeon Forge. It is built and arranged very similiar to the one in Branson, MO, but this one was not as complete and filled out--- a few empty display cases and walls.
The museum had this Dozer in it. I didn't get any info on it and know nothing about it. I'm not sure if it was even the type used in Europe---maybe only the Pacific. But I thought of you and took these photos. One photo is a shot at the controls---but looking backwards from how the operator would see it. This might bring back some good memories for some of your Veteran friends.
The picture above, was taken in 1946 and shows me with my 3 best buddies from Boy Scout and high school days:
From left to right, they are Russ Cloer (me), Harry “Beege†Conrey, Don “Manuel†Valdes, and Ralph “Newt†Lewtas.
Harry volunteered for the Navy and applied for the Naval pilot training program. He washed out and spent the rest of the war aboard ship as a radio operator.
Don volunteered for the Army air force, got his wings and became a flight instructor for bomber pilots. After the War, he went back to college and became a PhD professor..
Ralph was a nose turret gunner on B-17s over Europe. He was WIA in action twice.
All but Ralph are still alive. Ralph died of a heart attack about 10 years ago.
The following links contain technical facts of building the Bailey and also soldier's recollections and photos of Bailey Bridges. I'm sure you'll find them interesting. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and I will add more as I go.
If this is a duplicate of something I posted before, I offer my apologies. I haven't been diligent in keeping records and I couldn't find it on the site.
The picture is one I took in Southern France of my recon jeep and my driver PFC Norman Steele. As platoon leader of the I & R platoon, I had 4 jeeps and 4 good drivers, but Steele was the best! When I was assigned as I & R platoon leader on the Anzio Beachhead in Italy, I was brought up to date by the staff sergeant who had been in acting command since my predecessor was KIA. He told me that the platoon had 4 jeeps and drivers assigned, but they were kept back at service company until needed. He said his driver was PFC Steele and he recommended that I use PFC Perrault. They were the best two drivers. I thanked him and told him I would use PFC Steele and he could use PFC Perrault. Just to get things off on the right foot! It's an action I never had cause to regret!
Flat tires were frequent because the roads and especially intersections, were shelled by the enemy every night. . The razor sharp shell fragments left on the road were very hard on tires. Jeeps were small vehicles and had room for only one spare tire bolted to the back of the vehicle. If you had a second flat, you were stranded as this picture shows.
