How many were there?

[Walt's Daughter]

Received this letter from Captain John Fallon, the other day. Sent his question to our historian, Michael Brodhead for illucidation.

 

Subject: answer to a vet's question

 

Good morning Mike:

 

Hey, would you know off the top of your head, how many engineers served

during WWII? One of my vets wrote to me over the weekend and was curious to

know the numbers of those who served in each branch of the army. He believes

there were more engineers than any other, but I would have to believe there

were a lot more infantrymen.

 

Anyway, this is certainly not a pressing issue, but if you come across this

in the future, please pass it along to me.

 

Have a wonderful day,

Marion

 

 

Hi Marion,

 

A volume in the Army's official histories of World War II series, The Corps

of Engineers: Troops and Equipment, by Blanch Coll, et al., gives the figure

of 596,567 Engineer soldiers as of 30 June 1945 (page 239). The preface

states (p. ix) that this accounts for "about 8 percent of the Army."

 

I hope this is the information wanted. You are probably right in thinking

that there were more infantrymen.

 

All the best, Mike