Here is a copy of Captain John Fallon's letter to me regarding the CIB. I am also attaching my reply to him which I also sent to David Wagner of the 39th.
Some years back I got the CIB without much trouble mostly because I had sent for a copy of the Company Morning Report for the day I was wounded the first time. It said very clearly "wounded while fighting as Infantry". I sent along a copy of the Purple Heart Order and I promptly got the CIB and my congressman offered to make an award at a ceremony which I quickly refused.
Since then for a long time I have been trying to get the award for others in the 36th and I finally had to realize tht this is a personal and not a unit award. I tried to get around that by writing to several congressmen to try to get an ordinance passed that would state that the 36th Engineers were an Infantry Regiment during certain periods but mainly I laid on the 45 days at a stretch at Anzio.. This went no place.
I am going to give this one last chance. Marion tipped me to a researcher who found a copy of an Army Bulletin of 1944 that had been used to get the awrd for soldiers in the 540th. It appears to me that one of our Regimental Commanders could have used this Bulletin to get the CIB for our fellows but it never happened. There is one paragraph, the last one which gives us some hope where it states that if the applican believes himself entitled to the CIB etc. This can also be attached to the last paragraph in the Army Regulation governing the CIB which states that the CIB can be awarded to remedy an injustice.
All this can get pretty wordy to send to all of our people so I decided that in the newsletter which will go out in just about a month I will tell the fellows that If they want to follow up on this that they should write to me, even a postcard, and I will send the best instructions I can think of. It's surely a long shot but I certainly think it is worth the effort.
Have you any comments on this approach?
36 Engineers are rugged......John Fallon II. Capt. USA Ret.
My reply which I sent CC to David:
John and Dave:
I am putting you in touch with my buddy whose name appears in the CC of this email to you. So gentlemen I am introducing you to each other. John Fallon this is Dave Wagner of the 39th. John's letter is below and he is a member of the 36th.
I have a copy of the circular which I am enclosing.
John, I can also write something from my father's perspective, so let me know.
With hugs to you both.
Essayons,
Marion
Attached document is War Department Circular 186 - May 11, 1944
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"