Marion,
I have just read with interest the letter from Alice Knudson. As you know my research into the US 7th Army in Sicily 1943 (Husky) continues. The 39th served in Sicily and you mentioned John Wack, did he serve there? Also would Alice be a contact who could help in my quest?
I find it difficult to place the various outfits that took part in Husky. D'Este's "Bitter Victory" lists the following:
1st Engineer Combat Battalion.
1st Battalion, 39th Combat Engineers.
1 Battalion, 531st Engineer Shore Regiment.
120th Engineer Combat Battalion.
10th Engineer Battalion.
36th Combat Engineer Regiment.
Survey Platoon, Coy B, 66th Engineer Battalion (Topo) ??
17th Armoured Engineer Battalion.
540th Engineer Shore Regiment.
18th Infantry Regiment (1st Division) 1 Engineer company.
Seeing the above you may understand how a "limey" might find it hard to see how each fitted in to the operation.
By the way in Daniel D Dancock's "The D-Day Dodgers", in the photographs after page 308, is a photo of a bulldozer driver wearing a top-hat. A Canadian engineer though. Perhaps wearing a top-hat signified a special qualification!!!
Colin.
