In December of 2012, I took a trip to Abilene, Kansas to visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library. The purpose of my trip- to view records of the 24th Armored Engineer Battalion.
After the talk with the archivist, I open the box which is waiting for me on a cart. I put the "out" marker in the place the folder resides, and pull the folder out of the box. As I open the folder I see the words, "Headquarters 24th Armored Engineer Battalion." The papers are bound to the folder the exact way the commanding officer handed them in- this is the first time they have been opened since the war.
About two months before this, I purchased a large map that depicted the 4th Armored Divisions trek though Europe. I thought it was very cool because it had dates, and routes taken. At the bottom, it said "24th Arm'd Engr Bn.". I had never heard of them before, so I looked them up on the internet. I found nothing of any substance, nothing at all. I was bound to see who these men were. How can they be forgotten? Someone has to bring their story back to life.
When I get to the first report, I see a name and signature at the bottom. I read the name and see "commanding" as the title; I just found out who the C/O was. I write the name down with hast.
As I look through the records, which are all after-action reports, I can not believe what I see. I see enlisted men and officers earning dozens of Silver Star Medals and countless Bronze Star Medals. And plenty of men are getting Oak Leaf Clusters for such awards.
These men helped push the Germans from the vicinity of Normandy, fought their way through France, rushed to relieve Bastogne, crossed the Rhine and ripped onto the German Army's Fatherland, liberated a Nazi concentration camp, and fought their way into Czechoslovakia.
Join me in telling their story. One of sacrifice, heroism, and a willingness to do more than the job of an infantryman.
Join me in telling their story. One of sacrifice, heroism, and a willingness to do more than the job of an infantryman.
To these men, this site is dedicated.
WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
Ah, I share your enthusiasm. It's contagious, is it not? Once you start and the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, you can't help but going back for more.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this and thanks for becoming a member of my VI Corps Combat Engineer forum.
Marion Chard
Proud Daughter of a 540th Combat Engineer WWII
It is contagious. Thank you for the kind comments.
DeleteI'll look forward to participating in the forum.
I am curious to learn more about the 24th Armored Engineering Bn. Do you know when and where they landed in France?
ReplyDeleteJean J
I am currently working on that part of their actions in Europe. Each company landed on a different day. "B" Company landed on 13 July, and "C" Company landed on 14 July. Both on Utah. I am unsure (as of now) what day "A" landed, but it seems they landed in alphabetical order. I am also unsure where they landed. They may have landed on the 12th. The 4th Armored Division started landing on the 11th and last elements landed on the 16th, elements of the divisions were landed on both beaches.
DeleteFor years I have been looking for a site such as this. My father was 1st lieutenant William A. Horberger of the 24th Armored Engineer Battalion B company. He was awarded a Bronze Star Metal for clearing road mines while under fire in Baerendorf on 11/22/44 and was wounded during this operation. He was awarded the Bronze Oakleaf Cluster for reconisense of a bridge 3 miles within enemy territory near Leina, Germany on 4/4/45. After traveling the Autoban on foot, passing numerous Allied jeeps with dead soldiers, he and his men hid behind bales of hay near the bridge while Germans fired at them from one side of the bridge as the Allies fired at the Germans not knowing my father and his men where in there.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with my father's war stories which he always made interesting never horrifying. It wasn't until I had grown children did I again start asking him about the war. It was during this time which I learned that he was involved in the liberation of a Nazi concentration camp. I do not know its name or the area in which it was located but I do know that when the mayor of the town was confronted about the camp both he and his wife committed suicide. My father said the people of the town where forced by the 24th to bury the dead inmates.
Shortly before my father died he gave me his book on the 4th Armored Division. I have a 10 year old grandson named after my father who enjoys reading this book and hearing some of the stories I remember being told by my father. William is currently writing a paper on my father.
William and I would enjoy learning much more about the 24th Armored engineer Battalion and its actions. I wear the engineer pin on my coat and have been stopped several times by men who recognize it.
Thank you. And thank you for your fathers service. It is my honor to run this site to honor these men. Could you email at bloodontherisers2@gmail.com? We can discuss further about your father. I would be honored to share some of the stories on this site, and the sacrifices your father made for me, and every American.
DeleteSorry one more thing I do know about the 24th...they were the ones that captured the 4ths first German prisoner @ Normandy.
ReplyDeleteThe Death Camp They Liberated was "Ohrdruf" a subcamp of Buchenwald. That's where Eisenhower,Bradley,and Patton toured the camp. (they didn't need to tour any of the larger camps after Ohrdruf, it was the first one liberated by the allies.) Sorry to post in 3 different places....I read more of your blog then I find I have a few answers to some of the others questions.
ReplyDelete