Harvey M. Schiller - 133rd Combat Engineers

[Walt's Daughter]

Posting this here for a new friend:

 

Dear Marion-

 

Thanks for your e-mail- I have quite a collection of official photos of Engineers building bridges under combat that I would like to see preserved.

 

Our small 133rd Combat Engineer Bn. spear-headed Patton's 3rd Army from the landing on Omaha Beach thru the final Victory. At various times we were attached to the following Engineeer Combat Groups:

 

1101, 1117, 1134, 1135; 4th & 11th Armored; 5th, 35th, 71st, 76th, 85th Infantry (wherever needed)

 

I wonder if you have any names of survivors of the old 133rd Combat Engineers

 

Harvey M. Schiller, 36 Meadowlark Rd., Rye Brook, NY 10573 9114-939-4417

Army Service: May 11, 1992 to Oct 21, 1995. Rank: Personnal Sgt. Major, 133rd Combat Engineer Bn

 

Brief Resume:

 

1942. * May 11, 1942 - Oct 21, 1945 (3 years, 4 months) Served with 133d Engineer Combat Battalion

United States Army. Army serial number 32 334 223.

* May 11, 1942 - Mar 1944 Served in the US in Fort Lewis, Washington and Calif - Arizona

Maneuver Area (Death Valley).

* Promoted up thru the ranks to Battalion Personnel Sgt. Major with the rank of Technical Sgt.(5 stripes).

He had the responsibility of accurately maintaining the records of all the officers and enlisted men in

the Battalion, and the training and supervision of his squad of nine NCO specialists.

* Mar 1944 - Oct 1945 (1 yr, 9 mon) Served in European Theater of Operations:

North Ireland, England. Participated in third assault landing on “Omaha†Beach, France.

Attached to front line troops of General Patton’s Third Army, pushing thru France, Luxembourg,

(Battle of the Bulge) across the Sauer River into Gilzem, Germany; Austria and Czechoslovakia.

Actively participated in the 5 major battles in European Theater of Operations. (Battle of St. Lo,

Rhine River, Battle of the Bulge, Ziegfried Line, Hertgen Forest)

Personally participated in the liberation of the “Lager - Aham†Germany Concentration Camp.

* Was Certified by HDG USF ETO “by command of General Eisenhower†for appointment

as Temporary Warrant Officer JG, June 7, 1945. Refused appointment as it disqualified eligibility

for prompt discharge, (the war in Europe was over) and made him eligible for immediate transfer to

Japan.

* Honorably discharged Oct 21, 1945 with the following 10 Decorations:

Bronze Star Medal by "executive order of the President of the US, Feb 4, 1944 for meritorious

achievement in ground operations against the enemy", European Campaign Medal with 5 Battle

Stars, American Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Victory

Medal. Also awarded “Marksman†Medals for both M-1 and Carbine Rifles.

* During operations in ETO the 133d Engineer Combat Battalion, consisting of 725 enlisted men and

20 officers, constructed for assault river crossings, enough infantry and tank, “Bailey†steel bridges,

inflated rubber pontoon bridges and wooden bridges, that if put together, would measure

over 4 ½ miles!

They participated in 10 major assault river crossings, under enemy fire from the opposite shore and

strafing by enemy planes.

They experienced many casualties in removing over 8,000 enemy mines.

They had 174 Casualties, 43 of whom were taken prisoners by the Germans.

10 Officers were killed in combat. (50% !)

210 Received Purple Heart Medals and Oak Leaf clusters for wounds received in action. (71% !)

177 Received the Bronze Star Medal for Heroic or Meritorious Service in Ground

Operations against the enemy. (Harvey received this decoration)

16 Received the Silver Star Medal for Gallantry in Action.