A PERSONNEL ROSTER FOR THE 245^th ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION

Note: This information is not considered to be 100% accurate by any means, and is merely a compilation of available information in the battalion history book. I have also cross referenced it with a January 15, 1944 M-1 Garand marksmanship qualification list for the battalion that was made out at Camp Shelby – this was provided by Sgt. John C. Vernon of Company B. A certain percentage of personnel (especially from the Headquarters and Service Company) came and went during the battalion’s existence, transferring to other units to provide leadership cadre or for various other reasons. This confused any attempt to develop a simple timeline as to when they were there and when they were not, hence I can not say that it is complete. Correct spelling of soldier’s surnames and names of European villages and towns in the battalion history book are particularly suspect, as the German typesetter apparently sometimes took liberties in spelling to save space, as the old time type setters, who had to do it all by hand, were sometimes wont to do. Not to mention any clerical errors that may have crept in, from that time and this. In compiling this roster I used the highest rank I could determine a particular soldier reached. The stateside towns listed are generally the place of enlistment, and this normally indicates their hometowns or where they happened to be living or working at the time. I will add to this as time permits.

Greg Wilson

Last updated June 1, 2009.

Battalion Headquarters and Service Company

Officers

Lt. Col. John Hall Livingston – Wounded at Ehrang, Germany 03/07/44.

Major Fredrick W. Thompson – Wounded at Ehrang, Germany 03/07/44.

Major H. B. Carruth – also commanded S-3 Section.

Major Frank B. Garrett

Major H. R. Mardin

Capt. Jacques C. Hubbard

Capt. Alexander H. Alessi – left the battalion July, 1944.

Capt. Maurice J. Morely

1^st Lt. Robert A. Oler – transferred to 1st Platoon, B Company.  Wounded by mine 02/14/44 near Fremersdorf, Germany.

Lt. Michael Bolaski

Lt. Acker

Lt. Gormsen

1^st Lt. Everette E. Findley Jr. – Awarded the Bronze Star.

1^st Lt. Henry N. Lane – Awarded the Bronze Star.

Lt. Johnston

1^st Lt. William C. Hammeran

2^nd Lt. Ivan B. Acker – H/S Co. transferred to 244^th E.C.B. 12/11/44.

2^nd Lt. Joseph F. Lawrence

1^st Lt. J. A. Taylor

Lt. Logan

2^nd Lt. Dobson L. Webster – Transferred to Co. A from 244^th E.C.B. 12/11/44.

Headquarters Company HQ Section

1^st Lt. George N. Bechtold

1^st Sgt. Emil J. Curcione – Newark, NJ.

1^st Sgt. Eugene C. Winchenbach – Waldoboro, ME

S/Sgt. Clyde E. Ashby – Centerville, IA / 1^st Cook

S/Sgt. Robert E. Harmon – Dustin, OK / Mess Sgt.

S/Sgt. J. W. Suggs – Chattanooga, TN / Supply Sgt.

T/5 Edwin Fritz – Lansford, PA / 2^nd Cook

T/5 Edward J. Laskarzewski – New Britain, CT / Jeep driver.

T/5 Ernest J. Pontiff, Jr. – Fall River, MA / Company mail clerk.

T/4 George T. Beasley – Jacksonville, GA / 1^st Cook

Cpl. William J. Brown – Webster, MA / Company Clerk

Pfc. Joseph Konicki – Central Falls, RI / Cook

Pfc. Eddie C. Brown – [No hometown listed] / In charge of maintaining showers for headquarters section.

Pfc. Edward C. Izworski – Cleveland, OH / dispatcher.

Pfc. James R. Cook – Schenectady, NY / Battalion sign painter

Pfc. Howard Cavanaugh – Du Bois, PA / Cook Helper

Pfc. Anthony Lux – LeHighton, PA / Cook Helper

Pfc. Lemuel Higginbotham – Dallas, TX / Kitchen truck driver

Pfc. Ira B. Thrasher – Leslie, KY / Cook.

Pfc. Leo T. Anglin – Dorchester, MA / Company HQ driver.

Medical Detachment

Capt. Jemsek – Battalion Surgeon

Capt. Rau – Battalion Dentist

T/3 Patrick A. Fasano – Batavia, NY / surgical technician.

S/Sgt. Jack R. Richey – Nashville, TN.

T/4 Martin E. Dowse – Hosington, KS / surgical technician.

Hathaway – [No further information listed]

Cpl. Fred J. Cruise – Jackson, MS / water purification.

Flowers – [No further information listed]

Pfc. Ronald L. Gordon – Marton, MS / truck driver.

Pvt. Daniel V. Coates - [No hometown listed] / Co. A Medic / Wounded in action.

T/5 Charlie B. B. Spinner – Petersburg, VA / Co. A Medic / Awarded Bronze Star.

T/5 Joseph De Palma – Bristol, CT / Co. A Medic

T/5 Kenneth J. Kuhn – Hundred, WV / Co. B Medic / Wounded in action.

Pvt. Moncreath Kennedy – [No hometown listed] / Co. B Medic / Wounded by mine 02/14/44 near Fremersdorf, Germany.

T/5 Millard Maienthal, Jr. – Nashville, TN / Co. C Medic

Maintenance Section

1^st Lt. Robert E. Shanor – Battalion Motor Officer.

Mr. A. M. GeBauer –Warrant Officer junior grade / Assistant Battalion Motor Officer.

Master Sergeant Victor Schultz – Chicago, IL / Battalion Motor Sergeant.

S/Sgt. Edward W. Evans – Pechvilla, PA / Headquarters & Service Company Motor Sergeant.

T/5 Eldon L. Brown – Charles City, IA / Mechanic

T/5 Kenneth L. Ebbert – Reno, PA / Mechanic

T/5 Richard A. Coombs – St. Louis, MO / Mechanic – Wrecker Driver

T/4 John E. Robinson – South Portland, ME / Mechanic

T/4 Harold E. Alcott – Garrison, IA / Mechanic / Awarded Bronze Star.

T/4 John W. Baty – Troup, TX / Mechanic

T/4 George N. Meredith – Richmond, VA / Mechanic

T/4 Virgil R. Rader – Chattanooga, TN / Construction Equipment Mechanic

T/5 Rager – Tinsmith/ transferred to 44^th Engineer Combat Battalion.

T/5 Newman – [No hometown listed] / Electrician / left the battalion at Mattighofen, Austria due to a physical ailment.

T/4 Joseph F. Rusin – [No hometown listed] / Welder/ broke leg in accident – lost to battalion.

T/4 Edward W. Chandler – Knoxville, TN / Machinist

Cpl. William J. Charlem – Pittsburgh, PA / Armor

T/5 John Tarasuik – Malden, MA / Blacksmith

Pfc. Rems C. Hieney – Lincoln, NE / Assistant Welder / transferred to S-4 while battalion was stationed in England.

T/4 Herbert H. Vines – Tampa, FL / Tinsmith

S-1 Communications Section

Tech/Sgt. Jack W. Phillips – Anderson, IN / Message Center Chief

T/5 Clarence J. Burgher – Malden-on-Hudson, NY / Radio Operator

T/5 Darl R. Guntrum – Cheswick, PA / Radio Operator

T/5 Adolph F. Zamorski – Salem, VA / Radio Operator

T/5 Edward F. Kaminski – Philadelphia, PA / Radio Operator

T/4 Harry R. Bliss – Lincoln, NE / Radio Operator

T/4 Marvin Gast – Chester, PA / Radio Operator

Pfc. Paul C. Flynn – York, PA / Radio Repairman

S-1 Personnel Section

Mr. T. R. Rush – Warrant Officer junior grade / in charge of S-1 Section.

Master Sgt. John L. Chinworth – Warsaw, IN / Classification Specialist [also referred to as Personnel Sgt. Major].

Master Sgt. Vito Melillo – East Haven, CT / Classification Specialist / Awarded Bronze Star.

Master Sgt. Elmer V. Ballhiem – Eustis, NE / formerly H&S Co. Clerk / Classification Specialist

T/4 George E. Crego – [No hometown listed] / Classification Specialist / accidentally wounded at Erlangen, Germany.

T/4 Butler Huntington – Liberty, IN / formerly Battalion Clerk / Classification Specialist.

Pfc. Otis A. Jones – Bremen, KY / Asst. H&S Co. Clerk / Co. C / billeted with H&S Co. / Awarded Bronze Star.

Cpl. Michael W. Lukasonek – East Brunswick, NJ / Co. A Clerk / billeted with H&S Co.

T/5 Hugh M. Morrison – Associated, CA / Asst. Co. A Clerk / billeted with H&S Co.

Cpl. John T Fitzsimmons – Hailowell, ME / Co. B Clerk / billeted with H&S Co.

Cpl. Wilbur W. Winslow – South Portland, ME / Co. C Clerk / billeted with H&S Co.

Pfc. John W. Dalton – Assistant Co. C Clerk / Co. B / billeted with H&S Co.

Cpl. Miller – [No hometown listed]

T/5 Robert L. Shoemaker – Lehighton, PA / Stenographer

T/5 Matthew Santora – Worcester, MA / Driver

T/5 John R. Hall – Annapolis Junction, MD / Driver

T/4 Vernon E. Awbrey – St. Joseph, MO / Battalion Mail Clerk / Awarded Bronze Star.

Pfc. Antonios Malakis – Verona, PA / Orderly

S-2 Intelligence Section

Captain Richard H. Knowe – S-2

2^nd Lt. Eugene C. Manske – Asst. S-2

Tech/Sgt. Dowd – [Unable to find full name] / Intelligence Staff Sergeant / left battalion in February, 1944 to attend OCS.

Sgt. James E. B. Sandage – St. Joseph, MO / Camoufleur (Camouflage Specialist)

T/5 Albert H. Donigian – East Lynn, MA / Draftsman

T/4 Leonard C. Smith – Cocburn, VA / Driver

2^nd Lt. Walter R. Hofmann – Recon Officer / Awarded Silver Star posthumously / Killed in action near Bad Sulza, Germany, April 11, 1945.

S/Sgt. Kenneth Alberry – Recon Sgt. / Killed in action near Bad Sulza, Germany, April 11, 1945.

Pfc. Richard Holt – Lt. Hofmann’s Jeep Driver / Co. B / wounded near Bad Sulza, Germany, April 11, 1945.

T/4 Harvey Dale – Nielsville, MN / Radio Operator

T/5 Raymond Johnson – Philadelphia, PA / Radio Operator / wounded near Eschwage, Germany, April 7, 1945.

T/5 Norman Desrosiers – Fall River, MA / Radio Operator / Jeep Driver

T/5 Mc Guiness – [Unable to find full name / hometown not listed] / evacuated with combat fatigue April 10, 1945.

T/5 Thomas F. Mausolff – Stowe, VT / Photographer / transferred from Co. A.

T/5 Eugene J. Berg – Minneapolis, MN / Jeep Driver / Awarded the Soldier’s Medal.

S-3 Operations Section

Capt. William W. Wieme – S-3 also served as S-4 and commanded HQ Co. HQ section.

Lt. R. McGaw – Asst. S-3

Tech/Sgt. W. T. Loman – Chelsea, MA / Construction Foreman / also served in S-2.

S/Sgt. Arthur M. Glidden – New Britain, CT / Platoon Sergeant - Mechanical Foreman

T/4 Herbert H. Kornbliet – Roxbury, MA / Demolition Foreman

Cpl. Edgar G. Carson – Nutley, NJ / Gas NCO - Draftsman

T/5 Norman W. Peterson – Cambridge, MA / Electrician

T/5 Glen D. Danforth – Lyons, OR / Carpenter

T/5 Bernard E. Alderman – Willsville, PA / Carpenter

T/5 Charles E. Klein – Elk Rapides, MI / Driver

S-4 Supply Section

Capt. Tellesphore Girard – S-4

Mr. Lawrence W. Oliver- Chief Warrant Officer.

Mr. Randy Dowick –Warrant Officer junior grade.

S/Sgt. Lemuel L. Yarborough – Tylertown, MS / Asst. Battalion Supply Sergeant.

S/Sgt. J. W. Suggs – Chattanooga, TN / Clerk – Supply Sergeant.

S/Sgt. Harry J. Henderson – Plula, PA / Supply Sergeant – Truck Driver.

Sgt. Daniel E. Courley – Nashville, TN

Sgt. Herman Pudeler – Clinton, CT / Awarded Purple Heart.

T/5 Robert L. Dessecker – Canton, OH / Supply Sergeant.

T/5 Harry J. Heck – Wilkes Barre, PA / Rations

T/5 Kenneth J. Vester – Terre Haute, IN / Driver.

T/5 Chester W. McDowell – Central Lake, MI / Water Purification – Driver.

T/5 Fred W. Poore – South Portland, ME / Tool Room Keeper.

T/5 Frank T. Cozzi – Rahway, NJ / Water Purification / Awarded Purple Heart.

T/5 Elijan H. Hand – Birmingham, AL / Rations.

T/5 Snowman W. Doe – Worcester, MA / Truck Driver.

T/5 Henry E. Fairwood – New Britain, CT / Water Purification.

T/5 Joseph V. Peters – New Bedford, MA / Driver.

T/5 Willard B. Tidwell – Albertsville, AL / Driver – Mechanic.

T/5 Jamie C. Miller – Altoona, AL / Water Purification.

T/5 Frank Merola – Camden, NJ / Water Purification.

T/4 Howard V. Neely – Toysville, PA / Water Purification.

T/4 Daryl W. Pelletier – Caribon, ME / Water Supply.

Cpl. Myron G. Johnson – Riverside, CA / Supply Clerk.

Pfc. Arsilio R. Brandi – [No hometown listed.]

Pfc. Vernard I. Moffet – Mexico, ME / Water Purification.

Pfc. Edward C. Berger – Muscoda, WI / Truck Driver.

Pfc. Lawrence C. Brautigam – South Hadley, MA / Water Purification.

Pfc. Thomas M. Mansur – Baton Rouge, LA / Water Purification.

Pvt. Ralph J. Cline – Vale, N.C. / Water Purification.

Pvt. Jenaro T. Cisneros – Depue, IL / Water Purification.

Pfc. Carl J. Roper – Gainesville, GA / Water Purification.