Editor’s Note: This is a 4 page excerpt from the =
book “History
of the 167th Engineer Combat Battalion” regarding Silver a=
nd
Bronze Star awarded in October 1944 by Major General Manton S. Eddy to memb=
ers
of the battalion.
October 1944 - HISTORY OF THE 167Th ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION
The strength of unit was bivouacked at Ferme Ste Pierre, France. At this time the unit was en= gaged in several kinds of Engineer work. Co A was assisting the 8Oth Infantry Division in setting up defense areas in the vicinity of Pont a Mousson. Co B was with Co A and had a platoon on comb= at patrol. Co C was maintaining roads.
On 5 October Major Manlon =
was
relieved of his command and Major Leonard W. Peterson assumed command from =
Hq lll7th Engr
Combat Group. Before assuming command, Major Peterson was S-3 of lll7th
On 7 October 1944, Company C while engaged in removing= mine fields had one EM killed and one wounded due to a mine explosion. Pvt Richard Martin was killed and Martin F Roop, Pfc, was seriously wounded.
On 9 October 1944, Company A while engaged in removing=
an
enemy mine field in the vicinity of Landremont,
France, had 2 EN killed and I seriously wounded. Tec 5 Victor L. CaIdwell and Pfc Vito
For the following days, the battalion continued mainta= ining roads, clearing mine fields in the vicinity, repaired several bridges, and constructed barbed wire obstacles.
On the 14th of October the battalion was honored with a distinguished visitor, Major General Manton S. Eddy, X= Il Corps Commander. The occasion was to present to EM of this battalion the following awards. Citations were also read during the presentation as follo= ws:
A Silver Star Medal is awarded to LEO KALAT, 36857991,= Private Corps of Engineers, Co A, 167th Engr Combat Bn., who while serving with the Army of the United States distinguis= hed himself by gallantry in action on 21 Aug 44 in the vicinity of BELLEGARDE, FRANCE. PRIVATE KALAT was a member of an important combat reconnaissance pa= trol which came under heavy machine gun and small arms fire from an enemy ambush. The overwhelming superiority in fire-power and numerical superiority of the enemy caused the platoon to effect a withdrawal leaving PRIVATE KALAT and a squad as a rear guard. The squad dispersed and took up defensive positions while PRIVATE KALAT with utter disregard for his personal safety remained o= n the vehicle and opened fire with his machine gun, killing and wounding several = of the enemy. His concentrated fire was so effective as to enable his squad to dismount their vehicle and effect their escape. Throughout this action, his first combat mission, PRIVATE KALAT’S gallantry, devotion to duty and disregard of his personal safety reflect gr= eat credit on the military service.
A Silver Star Medal is awarded to JAMES DUNN, 35631366, Pvt., Corps of Engineers, Co C 167th Engineer Combat Battalion, who while s= erving with the Army of the United States distinguished himself by gallantry in ac= tion on 12- 13 Sept 44 near Dleulouard France. With complete disregard of his own personal safety, <= span class=3DSpellE>Pvt Dunn twice removed wounded under fire and careful= ly brought them down the hill to the aid station. When telephone communication= failed, Pvt Dunn drove up the hill under particularly h= eavy fire to reestablish contact with Captain Bell and coordination with higher headquarters, During a lull In delivering messag= es, he crawled over to a machine gun position and relieved the EM there by firing = thousand rounds. Then he crawled 50 yards to the next machine gun position. The concussion of a nearby falling artillery to expo= se himself in the execution of his work. When the order was given relieving the company, Pvt Dunn again was an inspiration to a= ll in helping evacuate the weapons arid EM from the hill. Throughout this action,= Pvt Dunn displayed exceptional coolness, courage, and attention to duty according to the highest traditions of the military servi= ce.
A Silver Star Medal is awarded to DEWEY W. BENNETT, 36= 688061, Tec 5, Medical Department, Medical Detachment 167th Engineer Combat Bn., who while serving with the Army of the United States distinguished himself by gallantry in action on 12 Sept 44 near Dieuiouard, France. During enemy artillery shelling of the area, where his battalion was bridging the Moselle, he heard the cry of “Medics I “from across the first branch of the Moselle. Voluntarily and without regard for his personal safety, he waded the river during the shelling. He found one man with a large “sucking” wound of the chest and both arms badly broken. He app= lied a dressing to the chest wound at once and held It firmly in place during the remainder of the barrage, an interval of about ten minutes, with shells lan= ding in close proximity of him, He made no attempt to protect himself as that wo= uld have necessitated his release of pressure on the dressing and thus reducing= the man’s chance of living. When the ambulance arrived, he helped place t= his man arid two other seriously wounded men in the ambulance and helped bring = them to the 553rd Engineer Battalion Aid Station. His action displayed skill, exceptional coolness and courage, and was an inspiration to those who witne= ssed it. His action together with that of the ambulance driv= ers, undoubtedly saved the lives of the three seriously wounded men, The skill. = coolness, and courage of Tec 5 Bennett reflect great c= redit upon his character as a soldier and is in accord with the highest tradition= s of the military service.
A Silver Star Medal is awarded to SAM FREEMAN, 1812847= 9, S/Sgt., Corps of Engineers, 167th Engineer Combat Battalion, who while serving with= the Army of the United States distinguished himself by gallantry in action on 16 Sept 44 in France. Sgt Sam Freeman while in the performance of his duties w= ith his platoon, was given the task of laying a minefield with one squad of men above the town of Bezaumont, France, in order to defend the road approaches to the bridge over the Mose= lle River against an imminent enemy counterattack. After reaching the town and unloading the mines, his squad was exposed to murderous enemy counter-attac= k. After reaching the town and unloading the mines, his squad was exposed to murderous enemy shell-fire which acutely endangered the men both from the bursts and from the likelihood of all the mines being set off by the fire. Despite this, Sgt Freeman kept his squad intact, did not withdraw, and prep= ared to lay the minefield even when all remaining escape vehicles had been used = to carry off wounded. Sgt Freeman did not move from that site under his supervision. Throughout this action, Sgt Freeman displayed courage, determination, and an unflinching attitude, which reflect the highest credi= t on his character as a non-commissioned officer and upon the military service.<= /p>
A Bronze Star Medal is awarded to ROBERT J WARGOWSKI, 36858591. S/Sgt., Corps of Engineers, 167th Engineer Combat Battalion, who while serving with the Army of the United States distinguished himself by meritorious service during the period 7 Aug 44 to 21 Sept 44 in France. Dur= ing this period Sgt WARGOWSKI faithfully and courageously carried on advance engineer reconnaissance, frequently well beyond our own front lines. Despite personal hardships, great risk of life, arid often under intense hostile fi= re, Sgt Wargowski successfully brought back the reconnaissance information so necessary for future operations by our forces against the enemy. The courage and devotion to duty of Sgt Wargowskl reflect great credit upon his character as a soldier and upon the military service.
A Bronze Star Medal is awarded to WALTER P. KOEPPEN, 36822890, S/Sgt, Corps of Engineers, 167th Engineer Combat Battalion, who w= hile serving with the Army of the United States distinguished himself by meritor= ious service during the period 7 Aug 44 to 21 Sept 44 in France. Sgt Koeppen faithfully arid courageously carried on advan= ce engineer reconnaissance frequently well beyond our own front lines. Despite personal hardships, great risk of life, and often under intense hostile tir= e, Sgt Koeppen successfully brought back the reconnaissance information so necessary for future operations by our forces against the enemy. Sgt Koeppen’s courage = and devotion to duty are in accord with the highest traditions of the military service.
A Bronze Star Medal is awarded to WILLIAM J. LA VEAU, 36822999, Tec 5, Corps of Engineers, 167th Engineer Combat Battalion, who w= hile serving with the Army of the United States distinguished himself by meritor= ious achievement during the period 7 Aug 44 to 22 Sept 44 in France. Tec 5 LaVeau faithfully and courageously accompanied reconnaissance sergeants on advance engineer reconnaissance as driver and r= adio operator frequently well beyond our own front lines. Despite personal hardships, great risk of life, and often under intense hostile fire, Tec 5 = LaVeau successfully brought back reconnaissance infor= mation so necessary for future operations by our forces against the enemy. Tec 5 <= span class=3DSpellE>LaVeau’s courage and devotion to duty are in ac= cord with the highest traditions of the military service.
A Bronze Star Medal is awarded to DONALD C. SCHRADER, 36859896, Pfc. Corps of Engineers, 167th Engineer Combat Battalion, who whi= le serving with the Army of the United States distinguished himself by meritor= ious achievement during the period 7 Aug. 44 to 22 Sept 44 in France. Pfc. Schradar faithfully and courageously accompanied reconnaissance sergeants on advance engineer reconnaissance as driver and r= adio operator frequently well beyond our own front lines. Despite personal hardships, great risk of life, and often under intense hostile fire, Pfc. S= chrader has successfully brought back reconnaissance information so necessary for future to duty are in accord with the high traditions of the military servi= ce.
A Bronze Star Medal is awarded to CHARLES A KIRWIN,
36671369, Private, Corps of Engineers, 167th Engineer Combat Battalion, who
while serving with the Army of the United States distinguished himself by
meritorious service during the period 7 Aug 44 to 22 Sep 44 in France. Pvt Kirwin faithfully and
courageously accompanied reconnaissance sergeants on advance engineer
reconnaissance as driver frequently well beyond our own front lines. Despit=
e personal
hardships, great risk of like, and often under intense hostile fire, Pvt. <=
span
class=3DSpellE>Kirwin successfully brought back reconnaissance infor=
mation
so necessary for future operations by our forces against the enemy. Pvt.
JOSEPH B. CIURA, 36668141, Private, Corps of Engineers= , United States Army was awarded the SiLVER STAR MEDAL, POSTHUMOUSLY for gallantry in action on 9 Sept 44 in connection with military operations In France, against an enemy of United States. Entered military service from Illinois.
For the following days of October there was no change.= The battalion was engaged in sweeping roads for mines, road maintenance and security, and other Engineer tasks.
On 31 October, the nine platoons of the battalion were engaged in preparing to attend the XI! Corps Bridge Sch= ool.