What is a Buddy?
by Sam Brown, September 11, 2002
We, that are here today, are very fortunate. Many of our members couldn’t make it for a variety of reasons. Some veterans of the 167th never made it home from the war, others made it home but left us early in life and some just faded out of the picture. They were all our buddies.
What is a buddy? Websters’ Dictionary says a buddy is a close friend, companion, comrade in arms, or any other description you may wish to use.
The 167th Engineer Combat Battalion was born in Camp McCain, Mississippi in May of 1943. The men of the Battalion were taught to build bridges, lay and remove minefields, fight and master the other skills of war.
By June of 1944 they were on the high seas. This Battalion was trained in Mississippi but with representation from all over the United States. This group consisted of mature leaders and of schoolboys who were now men and had no idea of how much they would be asked to give.
They reached Liverpool, England and eventually sailed out of Southampton, for France. Their LST landed at Utah Beach on August 5, 1944.
From this day forward, the focus was clearly on the 167th to show what they were made of.
I was a replacement. I wasn’t part of the unit’s beginning. I didn’t even know that Winona, Mississippi had a Main Street until I saw it in Bob Tykol’s history.
I joined the 167th in February 1945. According to the record, in that month and the month before, the Battalion had 10 killed and 17 wounded so I assumed they needed some replacements and that’s why I was sent up.
I don’t think I was the only replacement and I know I wasn’t the last. The first day I was assigned to the 167th I was put on guard duty. Believe me, not like stateside guard duty.
I had my M1 rifle with a real live clip, a belt with clips, and 2-band de leers (bandoleers) over my shoulders and looked like a Mexican Bandit. I was scared as hell and had a lot of questions to ask somebody, anybody. I was now a full-fledged member of Company A, 1st Platoon, 1st squad but no obvious buddy.
Then my first buddy showed up. He was a fellow squad member and had graduated from Camp McCain, landed at Utah Beach and crossed the Moselle River among other things. It wasn’t long before I realized how important it was to have a buddy.
I was not a part of the beginning of the 167th. So my “buddy” memories were confined to my squad but since the reunions my buddy list has greatly expanded.
In situations where, people must depend on each other there is an unexplained closeness that develops. If there ever becomes a way to bring the buddy system to the world it may set the foundation for an everlasting peace.
We will always remember our buddies. Those that died defending our country and those that have passed on after returning home from the war and those that just faded away.
I have a feeling of pride when I recall the dedication ceremony of the 167th Engineer Combat Battalion Plaque in Fort Leonard Wood. This, in a small way, memorializes the 24 men killed in action; 3 Silver Stars; 51 Bronze Stars, 73 Purple Hearts and the hundreds that served this distinguished unit.
The 167th was only 2 years old when it was retired. It had 14 months of training and 10 months in the European Theater of Operations serving with the Third, Fourth, Seventh and Ninth Armies. This is an example to those that might challenge our freedoms remember!
In the United States of America we have the ability to move fast and strike hard, I guess that comes naturally when you have so much to protect.
Among the places to remember In France, Utah Beach, Bellegrade, Orleans, Lavel, Troyes, Moselle, Pont-A-Mousson, Sarralbe, Sarriguemines, The Maginot Line, and Epernay. In Germany we remember, Achen, Roer River, Wesel, Rhine River, Munster, Braunschweig, and Fallerslaben and others.
If I (Sam Brown) can take the time, I would like to mention the names of a few of my buddies from Company A, 1st squad 1st Platoon on May 8, 1945. Some of these names may be familiar to you. Joe Maggie, Roland Cassel, Leo Kalat, Melvin Skrukrud, Tommy Lynch, Jerry Berman, Liston Bowmen, Henry Chitwood, James O’ Brian, Don Coe, Ed Mayer, and Pete McNally.
Take it easy guys wherever you are.
We have been remembering each other for 57 years. Those memories will last forever!