History of the 337th Engineer Combat Battalion

[Walt's Daughter]

Janis (and everyone):

 

I received this email this morning and you won't believe it. This is so exciting. Janis, the name he mentions, is in the document you provided. Read on...

 

Good morning Mr(s) Chard,

 

My name is Enrico Pedrini, and I write you from Italy (Bologna). I am 29 years old and I am passionate about history of World War II, a collector and I love recover remnants of war with the metal detector on the battlefields.

A few years ago, I recovered (in the landfill of the 8th EVAC hospital in Pietramala (Firenze)) the dog-tag of an American soldier, whose name was Ernest L. Rowell Jr. serial number O-293486.

I knew from the O of the serial number, that it was an officer, but research on the NARA and Footnote not brought me anywhere!

Some time ago, I have tried entering the name of the dog-tag directly on google and to my surprise I found a pdf file from your site, 337th, containing exactly the same name as the dog-tag!

I am almost sure that the dog-tag in my possession belonged to Major Ernest L. Rowell Jr. of Combat Engineers!

I wanted to know if you had other information about him, because apart from the pdf, I have not found any information about him!

 

Thanks for any help

Enrico Pedrini

 

Here is my reply:

 

Dear Enrico:

 

Wow, what a thrill to receive your great letter.

 

I went back and re-read the link you embedded, and yes, there can be no question; it is him. How exciting.

 

BTW, the "O" on his dog-tag is his blood type. This enabled medics to immediately determine the blood-type out in the field, and was stamped on every serviceman's dog-tag. The other letter on lower right is the faith of the man. In his case "protestant".

 

I can't wait to post your letter on the site, so people will know of your great discovery. Maybe we can find out more information now, thanks to you. Janis (those were her documents), will be so pleased to hear about this.

 

I look forward to your next letter.

 

Warmly,

Marion