, which can serve as a finding aid to the records. Muster rolls are lists of naval personnel attached to a ship, station, or other activity. Other nations recognized their effectiveness and eventually followed suit. A number of deck logs have been digitized and are now available online in the National Archives Catalog. Without troops like Buenagua to lead the way, there would be no clear path to victory. The Textual Reference Archives II Branch at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland, has custody of several series of records related to World War II Army units: The main series of WWII Army unit records is the World War II Operations Reports, 1940-1948 in Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1917- (Record Group 407). World War II Marine Corps records are also in the custody of the Textual Reference Archives II Branch, National Archives at College Park, MD in the Records of the U.S. Marine Corps (Record Group 127). More detailed information about deck logs is available on NARAs The Text Message Blog, Know Your Records: U.S. Navy Deck Logs and 1941-1959 Deck Logs, including World War II and the Korean War. Generally, the files do not include any personnel or medical information. F-h4I-L\I Combat Engineers played important roles in numerous World War II battles, especially breaching the heavily fortified Seigfried Line protecting the German border and numerous defensive lines established by the Wehrmacht in Italy, including the Gustav Line. A separate series of War Diaries, World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories, ca. Unit records are useful in piecing together stories about a unit or group, as well as about individuals who served in them. has been digitized through a partnership with Fold3 and is available on the Fold3, World War II Marine Corps records are also in the custody of the Textual Reference Archives II Branch, National Archives at College Park, MD, Records of the U.S. Marine Corps (Record Group 127). *hU@TQDTx' The dates covered by an individual file are listed within the file units description under Details -- it will note, This file unit documents the time period, followed by a date range. Also shown are unit strength, the location of the unit, and sometimes a Record of Events. The WWII muster rolls have been digitized through NARAs partnership with Ancestry, and are available to search and view on Ancestrys website at, US World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949. , includes a variety of records, including select action reports, war diaries, rosters of officers, unpublished histories, correspondence, and more. The League of Wives Memorial will be the first public memorial in the country to recognize military spouses, its planners say. The two primary record groups are the Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel (Record Group 24), which includes World War II-era deck logs and muster rolls and the Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 1875 - 2006 (Record Group 38), which includes War Diaries and Action Reports. Muster rolls list personnel attached to a unit or command, while personnel diaries list significant personnel status changes, such as transfers, promotions, leave, or temporary duty. They can construct bridges capable of bearing the weight of entire armored units, defensive fortifications that can withstand complex enemy attacks, and berthings to house even the most forward-deployed troops. Deck logs consist of journal-style entries of the ships administrative activities; location and course of travel; disciplinary procedures; and any unusual events. There are copies of, of the monthly rosters from 1912-43 and 1947-59 for Army units (including Army Air Corps) in the custody of the National Archives in St. Louis, MO. Combat engineers are also the go-to experts when enemy obstacles need to be cleared or destroyed. Sramek, Frank J. 19th Engineer Combat Regiment . The 1317th entered France and then Belgium in February 1945 and Germany on April 2. These included, but were not limited to: [1] Bridge ( mobile, floating, fixed), rail, & road construction and maintenance Conducting river crossings by pontoon/raft, motor-powered assault boats Demolition Placing/de-arming munitions, including mines These records are also arranged in several subseries, generally by command and thereunder roughly hierarchically. For information about how to add references, see, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Military units and formations of the United States in World War II, Engineer Regiments of the United States Army, 368th Engineer General Service Regiment north africa norther france adrenness and rhineland, 375th Engineer General Service Regiment in Belgium from Sept44 to the end of the Battle of the Bulge. Graduates are authorized to wear the coveted Sapper tab on their uniform and rank among the most elite combat engineers in the world. While British engineers were perfecting their tunneling skills in World War I, German engineers were forming experimental units of combat engineers known as pioneers. Armed with explosives and flamethrowers, these pioneer units specialized in destroying enemy fighting positions. List of battleships of the United States Navy, This article does not contain any citations or references. This post highlights and describes the primary series of World War II unit records in NARAs custody for each branch of service, with links to the series descriptions in the. i* Morning reports for Army units from November 1, 1912 to 1959 and Air Force units from September 1947 to June 30, 1966 are in the custody of the National Archives at St. Louis, MO. This post highlights and describes the primary series of World War II unit records in NARAs custody for each branch of service, with links to the series descriptions in the National Archives Catalog where available. If you have additional questions after reviewing this post, we encourage you to contact the reference staff at the NARA location that has custody of the records you are interested in. At a minimum, these records, prepared daily, describe the daily actions of the unit (typically a Division or a Regiment), including intelligence information on the enemy forces faced, the geography of the area, weather conditions, and the success or failure of the days fighting. African American, The records are arranged according to an alphanumeric filing system based on military hierarchy. Mary, Combat Engineers ferried infantry and special forces troops in craft such as this M2 assault boat boat in Europe in World War II, Infantry support bridge over the Saar River erected by 289th Combat Engineers at Volklingen, Germany, A WWII era combat engineer battalion had possessed both combat and combat support capabilities. 10th Engineer Combat Battalion; 3d Medical Battalion; 3d Division Artillery; 10th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 39th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 41st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer) 9th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer) Special Troops; 703d Ordnance Light Maintenance Company; 3d Quartermaster Company repairs, maintenance, encounters with other ships, search and rescue operations). This is a list of known United States Engineer Regiments in existence at the time of World War II . Army Air Forces World War II Combat Operations Reports, 1941-1946, also known as Mission Reports, are located at the National Archives at College Park, MD in the Records of the Army Air Forces (Record Group 18). The Coast Guard Logbooks, 1942 - 1947 are arranged by year, thereunder by type of unit or station, thereunder alphabetically. endstream endobj 3830 0 obj <>stream Tracing the men who fought in the Burma theatre of WWII. 1312, during WWII ], [ 16th Infantry Division - Did not exist Washington , during WWII ], [ 18th Infantry Division - Did not exist The locations of military personnel records depend on the branch of service and time period --. (WIoM0zgJSkPz'?fi[L3 aSV,4rG>|Q,KNo~H'Fwr` S~ Matthew Teutsch. Combat Engineer: The Unsung Hero of the Battlefield, Troops Who Refused COVID Vaccine Still May Face Discipline, New Statue Will Pay Tribute to Vietnam-Era Military Wives Who Took on the US Government, Heroism & Guts What It Takes To Earn the Navy Cross, From the Silent Service to the Presidency: The Life of Jimmy Carter, Nolan Peterson, Coffee or Dies Ukraine Reporter, Addresses DC, Prosecutors: Marine Threatened To Chop Wife With Machete, Eddie Rickenbacker: Americas Most Decorated World War I Ace. This series consists of the original mission reports pertaining to specific targets. A combat engineer (also called pioneer or sapper) is a type of soldier who performs military engineering tasks in support of land forces combat operations. Most war diaries provided a day-to-day record of operational activities and sometimes administrative activities as well. US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Free shipping for many products! 13th Engineer General Service Regiment 38th Engineer General Service Regiment 41st Engineer General Service Regiment 42nd Engineer General Service Regiment 43rd Engineer General Service Regiment 44th Enginee General Service Regiment Reports may also contain statistics, photographs, or maps. Most war diaries provided a day-to-day record of operational activities and sometimes administrative activities as well. 1518, They document events that occurred and may contain information such as courses steered, distance run, compass variations, sea and weather conditions, ships position, principal headlands passed, names of lookouts, and a any unusual occurrences. The series is arranged by organization and includes records of naval commands, and select naval units and ships, as well as records of other non-Navy agencies, including Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Army Air Force, among others. 20th Engineer Combat Regiment . The casualties suffered by a typical American infantry regiment serving in World War II were horrendous. This site contains a list of those who served in this Company, along with pictures. in Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) (Record Group 338). The records are not yet described at the file-unit level in the National Archives Catalog, but you may request a search of the records by e-mailing the reference staff at. During World War II, U.S. Army combat engineers were at the spearhead of fighting in all theaters, whether the battlefield was North Africa's desert sands, Normandy's fire-swept Omaha Beach, the Ardennes' snowclad forest, or the Pacific's jungle-covered islands. reconnaissance, 1322, This series consists of the original mission reports pertaining to specific targets. :k}g #30Fh~@H.V,HFH#j#'^h0m6:Bza l.bU_EG&(S1?121Ff_0:y*kX>1xGU^9\Zi h0[9wBI!nDb\3x During the First Jewish-Roman War, Roman engineers spent two months constructing a giant ramp in order to ascend a mountain and sack the fortress of Masada. Army Air Forces World War II Combat Operations Reports, 1941-1946, also known as "Mission Reports," are located at the National Archives at College Park, MD in the Records of the Army Air Forces (Record Group 18). Another large series that contains WWII Army unit records is Unit Histories, 1943-1967 in Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) (Record Group 338). The WWII Marine Corps muster rolls list both officers and enlisted. There are several records groups containing WWII Navy records in the custody of the Textual Reference Archives II Branch at the National Archives at College Park, MD. They are arranged in several subseries, by command, and then roughly hierarchically. Nearly 2,000 years later, British engineers tunneled across no-mans land and set off a series of bombs underneath the German trenches. The dates covered by an individual file are listed within the file units description under Details -- it will note, This file unit documents the time period, followed by a date range. Arden Buenagua understood the risk he was taking when he extended his green, plastic metal detector and assumed the position at the head of the single-file patrol. Many thanks for the commentary, Captain Oliver was, in fact, killed by a concussion, but the actual cause of his injury was that he that he stepped on one of the mines. In this role, engineers cleared paths for other soldiers, sailors, and Marines to follow on foot and in vehicles and engage the enemy without their movement being restricted by the additional risk of concealed bombs. The 339th Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the United States Army, raised for service in World War I, that served in the North Russia Intervention and World War II. The logs sometimes include information related to operational activities, although the level of content and detail can vary. The files are arranged by type of unit and thereunder numerically by unit designation. The other. |&Axwn]>b\|7E/FyNMvO>@] GrzGXNH@K -V@rCbWri RHe 3sHe T=@*%.n7eF =c$cp~B{]1-X "VVVdb V5b5b9#jX@F# `,!h\Fls#ap{*H?'|>N>A3~X;8bmU-~BWb:]~! Related: How the Special Operations Combat Medic Course Provides Real-World Training. They followed in his footsteps as he walked the lonely road so often traveled by combat engineers, knowing, as he did, that if there were a hidden bomb waiting for them hed probably be the one to trigger it. During the Battle of Tarawa in 1943, for example, a Marine pioneer unit led by Lt. Alexander Bonnyman did what naval gunfire, aerial bombardments, and the infantry had already tried and failed to do: He successfully cleared the islands largest enemy bunker. The files are arranged alphabetically by geographic area. The site contains a list of battalion members, and some information on many of them. Each branch of the military kept different types of unit records, and these records are dispersed throughout various record groups and series at NARA. They are exception based reports, meaning that a soldiers name will on appear on the report only if his status has changed from the previous report (e.g. SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces) Like so many other combat engineers killed in the line of duty, he died doing what he was trained and expected to do. Before and after his presidency were some of the greatest contributions Jimmy Carter made to the world we know today. 1317th Engineer General Service Regiment: The 1317th Engineer General Service Regiment, manned by black soldiers, was assigned as support for George Patton's 3rd Army. If the IRISREF number in the Document Detail page begins with an A, B, or C, the National Archives may have the document on our accessioned microfilm. On 5 June 1953 the unit was designated once again as the 35th Engineer Battalion (Combat). This is a list of known United States Engineer Regiments in existence at the time of World War II . 1225, These included, but were not limited to:[1], Pontoon bridge built by the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion across the Rhine, downstream from the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen. The Japanese Americans, known as Nisei, served in the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team (442nd). If you are researching the military service of a specific individual, we suggest you start by requesting their military personnel records. Mountain Warfare Training Centre, Cedars, Lebanon, WW2. The battalion, which was composed mainly of African-American troops, served in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, when it was known as the 91st Engineer General Service Regiment. Related: Peaky Blinders: Inside the Real World War I History That Made the Characters. More detailed information about deck logs is available on, NARAs The Text Message Blog, Know Your Records: U.S. Navy Deck Logs. They departed France on August 7, 1945, with designation of Shipment #R5218-S. 1941-1959 Deck Logs, including World War II and the Korean War. 105: Engineers Played an Important Role in Europe During the Cold War : No. 6/1/1946, has been digitized through our partnership with Fold3 and is available on the Fold3 World War II Diaries website. Digitized copies of rolls, casualties, regimental histories: Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI, WWII. The series is arranged by organization and includes records of naval commands, and select naval units and ships, as well as records of other non-Navy agencies, including Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Army Air Force, among others. during WWII ], [ 21st Infantry Division a bureau or an independent agency). None of the forward operating bases or combat outposts that dotted the battlefields of the Global War on Terror would exist without the good work of combat engineers. They are a component of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1918, during WWII ], [ 20th Infantry Division - Did not exist 1954, Memorial website to the crew of RAF Lancaster bomber ED627 (EM-N) of 207 Squadron who died when they were shot down over Germany on August 28, 1943. for the US Marine Corps. At Sapper school, soldiers and Marines learn skills such as minefield clearance, demolitions, and airfield construction. 25th, Thanks, I will have to start researching this information. Be sure to include the unit(s) and date(s) of interest. All of the reels are not available, so please be sure to contact the reference staff (email: We frequently get requests for unit rosters from World War II. This is a list of known United States Engineer Regiments in existence at the time of World War II. The Navy Cross the branchs second-highest award for valor in combat isnt handed out to just anybody. Are you still working on this blog? A paper file list is available for use at the National Archives at College Park, MD. They embody the ethos of doing more with less. 1361, chemical, Unlike most of NARAs World War II Unit records, which are are at NARAs College Park location, the Coast Guard records are located at the National Archives in Washington, DC. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Bravery for action in Germany. He and six others perished while three were able bail out and became POWs. from present for duty to ordinary leave, or from present for duty to sick in quarters, etc.). It turned out that Captain Oliver was working with a group of men to gather the remains of some of the men in their outfit that had recently been killed. from present for duty to ordinary leave, or from present for duty to sick in quarters, etc.). Each, comprises the records of a major government entity (e.g. Some record groups have thousands of entries, so it can be daunting to try to figure out the best place to start. Some also include photographs, reported security violations, cargo data, investigations of alleged sabotage or suspicious incidents, and survivors accounts of sunken vessels. where available. Michel Sauret. This link points to an archived copy]Contains rolls for 35th Battalion, 3rd NZ Division in the Pacific, World War II. The Coast Guard war diaries include Abstracts of War Diaries, 5/1942 - 9/1945, which are arranged by year and thereunder by unit, and include highlights of outstanding activities and operations by Coast Guard ships and shore units during World War II. Caltrider earned his bachelors degree in history and now reads anything he can get his hands on. 1998, Box 19 T/5 Company C Survey . There are also gaps in the muster rolls - we sometimes lack muster rolls, particularly for smaller units and advance bases. Records of non-organic units (units not permanently attached to a division) generally consist of historical reports and some administrative records. The logs sometimes include information related to operational activities, although the level of content and detail can vary. : this series consists of daily operational journals created by various naval commands, shore installations, ships and other activities throughout the Navy, as well as some Marine Corps and non-Navy commands. The WWII muster rolls have been digitized through NARAs partnership with Ancestry, and are available to search and view on Ancestrys website at US World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949. 1932, A California Marine remains in the brig, accused of threatening to chop up his wife with a machete. An example of the closer look we can get from Unit Records is the case of Captain George Oliver. Muster Rolls and Personnel Diaries for the US Marine Corps. 3RD DIVISION , Please improve this article by adding a reference. WWII Navy muster rolls and personnel diaries comprise the series, Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities, 1/1/1939 - 1/1/1949. Hurley, Charles F. Box 19 SSGT Company A Survey 35th Photo Tech Unit of Guam. Kim Woods, Im looking for information on My Great great GRANDFATHER WAS ON A B-24 LIBERATOR CALLED: Camp Claiborne was also home to the Engineer Unit Training Center (EUTC.) Deck logs comprise the series, Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships and Stations, 1941-1983. 099: A World War II Officer's Sketches Depict Life in a Black Engineer Unit : No. As a professional researcher and World War II historian, Bill Beigel providesresearch services to genealogists, historians, authors, andcivilians who are looking for information found in WW2 military unitrecords. Unfortunately, rosters for units serving in World War II from 1944-46 were destroyed in accordance with Army records disposition authorities after the war. Information about the missions, the men and the planes of the U.S. Army Air Force 94th Bomb Group (Heavy) in World War II. Related Topics / Keywords / Phrases: The series Ship and Shore Unit War Diaries, 5/1942 - 9/1945 series consists of war diaries submitted by District Coast Guard Officers (DCGO) and ship officers during World War II. World War II Action and Operational Reports: this series consists of narrative and form reports, mostly submitted by Navy commands, although documents by other commands are also interspersed. This post provides a brief overview of some of the predominant series of World War II operational unit records in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 2012, On 15 February 1945, the unit was redesignated as the 36th Engineer Combat Group, and following World War II it reorganized at Fort Lewis, Washington. As an Army reservist, the mix of Anderson's military and civilian careers prepared him for the WWII battlefields as he provided crucial support to the Allied efforts. Reports typically contain narratives about unit activities, descriptions of facilities and locations, and a narrative about organization and administration. series consists of war diaries submitted by District Coast Guard Officers (DCGO) and ship officers during World War II. Megan Dwyre This is a great, succinct explanation. [The original link is broken. 3829 0 obj <>stream Some of these reports, known generally as After Action Reports (AAR), may describe the days combat in as little as a paragraph, or across several pages. Some also include photographs, reported security violations, cargo data, investigations of alleged sabotage or suspicious incidents, and survivors accounts of sunken vessels. HIGHER UNITS. 23rd, American pioneer units proved equally as effective in World War II as their World War I German counterparts. [1] This article does not contain any citations or references. Cavalry, The muster rolls for WWII only include enlisted sailors - officers of ships are listed in the deck logs. World War II recruiting poster for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This is written up the in the book "Bloody Skies: U.S. Eighth Air Force Battle Damage in World War II." The entries show the name of service member, service number/SSN, and rank. Combat engineers are among the most valuable troops on any battlefield. 858th, Marine combat engineer Lance Cpl. In Remembrance of the AIF's 2/15th Battalion. The 35th Engineer Battalion was next activated on 1 April 1951 at Fort Lewis, Washington. 5W^'qO{8am(xQff5cm1jQf5cyc<4yi=ii[McwW?^}s}sY{~{)?k`N7W|w/G~Z9jwaDl#1R0*U7V#mn=q *s|W=qtvsm 0+n4rA7.LRk3$UrbAGX^U"W!wdbn] D!hrXVX-@t@[je*jZh ZhdG|9@BY&gOcA3Q9>0|Am94Xk&bu!hUj~dggAx`#~b=!dAxMD'E4+-B`9LK"(lO6P'" &@j & `5DM`5VoHNE@D|raO M %PDF-1.5 % Records Relating to United States Marine Corps Operations in World War II, 1939 - 1949. , also known as Geographic Files, consist of records related to the principal amphibious assaults and ground combat operations of the Marine Corps during the World War II era, as well as the occupation of formerly enemy-controlled areas. For information on how to access morning reports, please visit the website, There are several records groups containing WWII Navy records in the custody of the Textual Reference Archives II Branch at the National Archives at College Park, MD. For example, by the end of January, 1945, the 47th Infantry Regiment (which fought in France and Germany) had lost well over 100% of their strength to battle casualties, where men were either killed, wounded, missing, or taken asprisoner of war. US Army photo by Master Sgt. While one report of his death disclosed that he was killed by a concussion, the AAR for his unit provided far more detail. repairs, maintenance, encounters with other ships, search and rescue operations). Army World War II 931st Signal Battalion (Avn) (Sp). A brief History of the 472nd Engineer Maintenance Company. Suitland, 1963, Whether one is a member of Special Forces, wears the Sapper tab, or simply holds the military occupational specialty of a combat engineer, there is no question that the soldiers and Marines who serve in this highly important and often very dangerous role are exceptional. Personnel diaries provide compiled monthly and list significant personnel status changes, including transfers, promotions, leave, or temporary duty. h_`'O`k,2X3xHo]Lr]CR6c22+*NUPON'Za;)4seX[aVOao-1G1z18R64|ea8SqGljqZ8am*S+)#oiZ#F\Q2FkG\;b44bwD1/}gG-y[q}Vs)nyg.FqiyGR1eh>m-3Fey1Ra9NAa6NkDYVcE;9mJyh>mbmb}^e1z+fm"DX& 3rd Division, Combat engineers from across the 82nd Airborne Division train for the Best Sapper competition, Feb. 12, 2020, on Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This site remembers the contributions and sacrifices made by members of this Australian WW2 battalion. The Muster Rolls of Coast Guard Ships and Shore Establishments, 1941 - 1949 are arranged by type of ship or station, thereunder by year, and consist of printed forms giving, for each person on board, information concerning his enlistment and whether he was entitled to honorable discharge; a personal description; the date he was received on board; and data concerning his transfer, discharge, desertion, or death. , which are arranged by year and thereunder by unit, and include highlights of outstanding activities and operations by Coast Guard ships and shore units during World War II. These reports were filed by the units and sometimes include encounter reports by pilots, aerial photographs, and loading lists. dates given are day-month-year [e.g.