Hello Ms. Chard,
I am trying to locate records of my father's units with the Engineering Corps during WWII, especially in Europe, later Phillipines.Anything you can tell me is more than I know.
He is Leo Walter Zimmer, 36 895 965, 1-20-1943-12/22/1945. US Corps of Engineers. Pvt to t/5.
I am hoping you can give me info on the applicable forestry units that my father served with in WWII. I have only snippets of his units, although his over-riding role was with a forestry company in France. He drove heavy truck for 12months and was a carpenter for 9 months per service record. Here is what I know of the units for which I seek info:
796th Engineering Forestry Battalion. He was with them when he made t/5. I think in France.
1391st Engineering Forestry Division at one point. I think in France.
1063D Engineering Forestry Division at discharge. He was in the Phillipines with some (this?) unit after VE Day.
At discharge per DD-214 he wore 3rd Army patch on right shoulder; 6th Army patch on left shoulder.
Locations/timing I know of:
Jan 24, 1944 with the 1532nd S.U., Fort Sheridan, Ill.
May 1, 1944 - end of basic, early June. Camp Clairborne, LA per photo.
June - July 3/4 1944 Camp White on Rogue River, Medford or Ashland, Oregon per photos.
July 20, 1944 in England. Worked on pontoons for D-Day follow-up. Do not know when he got to England, but sometime in July, after the 4th.Per letter home.
Early August 1944 went to Cherborg, France.His first night in France was in Cherborg.Per letter home.
Sept 1944 wrote home from France.
October 1944 per a local radio announcement, "Zimmer is with the sawdust commandoos in France, under CO 1st LT Morris C. Reeve CE of Edwardsport, Indiana". It was labeled "Black boots deliver logs to Engineers to build."
October 23, 1944 in France with a Sgt Zumwalt per photo
December 1944 in Nancy, going up to Bastogne-area attached to Patton's 3rd Army per Dad.
Spent two months in Belguim, with Engineers staying/based at a monestary per Dad. Not sure if this was in 1944 (pre Nancy) or early 1945 after Bastogne.
Medals per DD-214 and letter from 1st LT James D. Barclay CE dtd 11Nov1945: Legion of Merit; Unit Meritorious Service Plaque; American Campaign w/star; Asia/Pacific Campaign; European/Africa Campaign w/4 battle stars (Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Germany); Phillipine Occupation Medal w/star.
No idea whatsoever about Legion of Merit but it was a well-worn ribbon so think it came from Europe, not Phillipines where he was training to clear mines on Japan's beaches.
If you can fill in any blanks it would be more than I know now. His units must have been small enough that they don't pop-up on searches for them. I do think they wee TAD to other units.
Thank you,
Bob Zimmer
Like my father, a proud combat veteran,
Mobile Riverine Force Vietnam, USN
as XO, USS Mercer (APB-39)
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"