Charmes Bridge over the Moselle
#11

Great info here, Marion ..... you never cease to amaze me. :armata_PDT_37:

 

Erwin

Reply
#12

Well thanks. Let's not forget to thank the Army for their meticulous record keeping during wartime. I am astounded by each document I read. Consider the fact that the 540th were almost constantly on the move, and either just behind or right at the front. When you ponder on these factors, it's a wonder we have the documentation we do!

 

I am thankful to have all these in my possession so I may share them with all of you. So here's to the National Archives and my personal researcher, Carolyn Billups, for all their dedication. :armata_PDT_37: I am but one cog in the wheel. :blush:

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Reply
#13

I would love to offer these to you and your father. Would you be interested in obtaining copies? Let me know.

 

Are you kidding?!

I absolutely would! My father and I would love to see them! Many thanks!

Maj Todd O. USMC, Retired
Grandson of LTC John O'Brien
Reply
#14

No kidding!! Would I pull the leg of a marine? :lol::usa:

 

Email me your address, please.

 

If I come across other pages from NARA which mention your grandfather in the future, I will make copies when I can and at least post them if not copy them. :drinkin:

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Reply
#15

Thanks again!!

 

As far as record keeping is concerned, the army did a much better job of that then the Marine Corps did. A major who wrote a great book, Ghosts of Iwo Jima told me that doing the research for his book was much easier when he was looking into army docs. Not sure why that is but I guess it works out for you. Following this tour (about two 1/2 more years to go) I will be going to "Command and Staff" college in Quantico which will make available a lot of records to me. I may go up there for a weekend for my class I'm taking right now if I get the chance.

 

I'll post another of my grandfather's notebook pages after your wrists get some rest from typeing!

 

And hey! I'm a Lieutenant now! Only 20 more posts and I'll be at my actual rank. I suppose at that time I'll have to slow down for a while.

Maj Todd O. USMC, Retired
Grandson of LTC John O'Brien
Reply
#16

Here's the document showing the CIB's which were awarded in October of 1944.

 

 

Note name on first page towards bottom - Major O'Brien, John C

 

:armata_PDT_37:

CIBsAwarded540thOct44.pdf



Attached Files
.pdf   CIBsAwarded540thOct44.pdf (Size: 1.48 MB / Downloads: 0)
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Reply
#17

Cool!

Thanks!

Maj Todd O. USMC, Retired
Grandson of LTC John O'Brien
Reply
#18

Here's the document showing the CIB's which were awarded in October of 1944.

Note name on first page towards bottom - Major O'Brien, John C

 

:armata_PDT_37:

 

I saw the lists and I noticed, all were officers, there must be another list for

the personell. Rocky

Reply
#19
Rocky, so far this is the only report I found regarding the actual awarding of CIB's within the 540th. However, I have NOT read all the over 2000 pages in my folders, so there could be other recorded instances. At least there IS documentation with was recorded within the 540th Regiment and at 7th Army HQ.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
Reply
#20

My sentiments only,the Men of the Combat Engineers should have gotten the

C.I.B. first. They were the ones that had their M1s' strapped on their backs

while THEY worked or swept for mines. No one told me and I didn't read it.

Iwasthere. Rocky J. Squirell.

Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  The Bridge in the Sky. colinhotham 1 5,179 10-21-2011, 02:06 PM
Last Post: Walt's Daughter
  Gilsdorf Bridge, April 1945 and Christmas, 1944 CaptO 9 12,716 04-21-2008, 11:23 AM
Last Post: Walt's Daughter



Users browsing this thread: 2 Guest(s)