My grandfather was a Sgt. in the Army Corp of Engineer 344th combat engineers. My mother has been trying to gather information about his unit. She has some of his personal documents and photos. We think his unit started out in the 6th army and was moved to the 7th. Any information or if you know anyone who served in the 344th a response would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.:patriot[1]:
Joe, some basic, info but more importantly a link to the source forum. This is during December of 1943 in Italy. Bridge building was very difficult at this time due to enemy fire and the weather. Some of the engineering companies tried building bridges at night, while some still preferred the daylight so they could be protected as much as possible by counterbattery fire that aerial reconnaissance directed. The winds and floods were causing havoc on December 30 and a company of the 344th Engineering General Service Regiment was building a Bailey bridge across the Volturno near Raviscanina. While the engineers were putting concrete caps on the stone piers of the demolished span, a high wall of water plunged down the river and quickly washed away concrete and equipment. On the 31st, high winds and subfreezing temperatures ended all the work for several days. The gale ripped own company tents and blew away, buried and destroyed personal equipment. NEXT During June and July much of the 5th Army forces departed to prepare for the invasion of southern France being planned for mid-August. The army lost VI Corps and the French Corps. That loss amounted to seven full divisions and also the loss of non-divisional engineers units that included the 540th Engineer Combat Regiment, the 48th Engineer Combat Bn and the 343rd and 344th Engineer General Service Regiments. These units would now be under 7th Army control. NEXT This takes place in southern France on October 2, 1944. The 344th repaired a 410-foot single-track structure over the DOUBS River at Dole, using thirty-foot high timber bents, with standard Bailey forming the the span. Opening the Dole route brought railheads north to Vesoul and Bescanon. NEXT Seventh Army engineers divided the responsibility for rail rehabilitation after October 30th. At various times, the work continued to involve the 40th, 94th, 343rd, 344th and the 540th Engineer Regiments and also the 1051st Engineer Port Construction and Repair Group. The following info is in regards to the 334th General Service Engineer Regiment This takes place in North Africa in January of 1943. The newly formed 5th Army was operating eight training schools. The 17th Armored Engineer Bn, the 334th Engineer Combat Bn, the 39th and 540th Engineer Combat Regiments, and two separate engineer battalions, the 378th and the 384th, took part in training exercises with live fire, the object being to make men battle-wise in the shortest time frame possible. Phil 344th or 334th Engineers? - VI CORPS COMBAT ENGINEERS WWII
Joe, I'll have to see what I can find, I don't think the 344th would have been transferred from the US 6th Army to the US 7th Army. The 7th was in Europe and the 6th was in the Pacific. Such transfers were highly unlikely. I am willing to bet that the 344th was transferred from the 6th Army Group to the 7th Army. The 7th Army was part of the 6th Army Group in France. Probably the 344th arrived in theater under command of the 6th AG and was later parcelled out to the 7th Army when it was needed.
A Co. 344th engineer Reg. WW2 July 1,1942- July 1, 1945 My grandfather was able to outline the path of his company through WW2. This is where he went in his own words. Sorry if I butcher some of the names his handwriting isn’t the best. England A Company 344th Engineer port of debarkation July 1, 1942 arrived Greenock, Scotland via S.S. Monterey July 14, 1942 train to Tidworth, England (due west of London) staging to go to Aschurch-midlands laid 31 miles of RR track and switches @ quarter master depot [*]laid sewerage pipe & devices @ U.S. Field Hospital in Salisbury [*]WW1 Army camp to train for Africa Invasion Africa Shipped out Jan 1943 to Oran, Africa via H.M. Strthanaver ( I have no idea if this is anywhere near the right spelling, maybe one of you Brits knows about naval vessels. He notes it was 33,000 tons) Italy Naples Bagnoli Capua Sparaise Capriotti Fornelli Iserna Roccamonfia Castleforte Coreno Vallecorsa Pastena Capenito Frascotti (Rome) Isole Farness San Lorenzo Pitigliano Radicofiani Civitavecehia Teano Pasestum Aversa France- August 15, 1944 Agay East of Calais [*]Lis Puget [*]Draguignan [*]Sisteron [*]Romans [*]La Nerpilliere (Lyon) [*]Poligny [*]Basancon [*]Arches (paper plant) [*]Ramelevieres [*]Mariarville [*]Reding [*]Marseille ( to Southern France staging area to go to U.S.) Germany Homburg Saussenheim Oggesheim
Joe, Try this link: The White Sisters - RMS Strathnaver 1931 and RMS Strathaird 1932 RMS Strathnaver looks a possible. Tonnage is wrong, at 22,000, but history of service and similarity of name make it v possible. Hope this helps. All best, blackdubh.
I posted some photos of my grandfathers regiment on my profile. I have more candids at home but I can't upload them yet.
Joe, My Grand Uncle was in the 344th, Company C. I'd be interested in sharing what information I have. I see your grandfather was in Company A. The regiment traveled together, and I appreciate your posting what information you know about their movements. best, Brock
