My Dad's Anzio Memento: What is it? - Printable Version +- Forums (http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/forumnew) +-- Forum: World War II (http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/forumnew/forumdisplay.php?fid=43) +--- Forum: WWII ENGINEERS (http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/forumnew/forumdisplay.php?fid=9) +--- Thread: My Dad's Anzio Memento: What is it? (/showthread.php?tid=4526) Pages:
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My Dad's Anzio Memento: What is it? - Walt's Daughter - 01-21-2013 Got an answer everyone!!!! YEAH! This was emailed to me by Bob and Kathy Miller:
My Dad's Anzio Memento: What is it? - CaptO - 01-21-2013 Interesting. I don't know if challenge coins were around back then, but seems like it could be for something like it. My Dad's Anzio Memento: What is it? - Peanuts - 01-22-2013 Well, I had to do some googling. According to one story, challenge coins originated during World War I; another story says during the Vietnam War. My thanks to the Millers for their reply. I wonder if Paul was actually in the 1040 Causeway Detachment. Building the Navy's Bases in World War II mentions other Seabee units at Anzio but not the 1040th. So the memento remains a mystery.
At the Seabee museum, http://www.history.n...UnitHistory.pdf, I found this:
CBD 1040 "Formed at Camp Endicott in Jan. 1944, CBD 1040 sailed from Newport News, Va., on Jan. 29, 1944 and arrived at Bizerte in Feb. On March 8 one platoon began operations at Salerno. In May. six platoons were moved to the Naples-Salerno area. On July 31 two officers and 34 men were assigned to LST 525. On Aug. 1 two officers and 34 men wereassigned to LST 997. On Aug. 2 two of-ficers and 34 men were assigned to LST 32. Four platoons were ordered to Mar-seille. Aug. 28 and five more were sent to Toulon, Aug. 31. The personnel re-turned to headquarters at Bizerte in October 1944. On Nov. 9. another group of six officers and 97 men were assigned to duty aboard several LSTs. On Nov. 17, 1944, seven officers and 250 men were Nov. 23. The follnwing Aug. 8, the unit was inactivated." My Dad's Anzio Memento: What is it? - Walt's Daughter - 01-22-2013 So far I'm finding the same thing. The 1040th were at Naples/Salerno, and then were part of the Southern France Invasion. My Dad's Anzio Memento: What is it? - Walt's Daughter - 01-28-2013 Further thoughts by Bob Miller:
My Dad's Anzio Memento: What is it? - Peanuts - 01-28-2013 Here's what my sister said about the Anzio piece: It's an impression stamped into ceramic material that has been glazed. Another sister has the original stamp, which is about 3 or 4 inches long—a metal stamp with a wooden handle.
My hunch is that my father made the metal stamp and ceramic piece. Making a stamp for just one ceramic piece is unlikely, so there must have been more produced. Dad was an experienced machinist and jig maker before the war, and he had access to tools during the war as well. After the war, he worked in a factory that was equipped with machinist tools and kilns to fire ceramic insulators. Unfortunately, anyone in the family that could shed some light on this is long gone.
Sandy (a.k.a. Peanuts) My Dad's Anzio Memento: What is it? - Walt's Daughter - 01-29-2013 Interesting tidbits! Thanks for the input. |