1142nd Combat Engineers - WWII Pictures (1 Viewer)

[mk26gmls]

Hello Everyone,

For those who haven't seen the 1142nd Combat Engineers Headquarters Company website in the King & Country section of the forum where I usually hang out, I have posted the link below. My grandfather served in this unit until November 1944 when he was hit by shrapnel from a V-1 German rocket in Zichen, Belgium. He continued to serve after that, he was caught up in the retreat of the Battle of the Bulge, where he got his frostbite. You can see his bio on the "Unit Members" page.

There are personal histories on the site, roster, documents from the National Archives on the unit's service, and on the "Photos" page, two galleries full of pictures of the unit during the war.(over 500 pictures) The Willy Willems gallery is of Zichen itself.

Please feel free to take a look around.

http://www.1142combatengineers.com/

My grandfather William Alga Pace - still living at 93 years old


School house he was wounded in around 1950.


School house today.

 

[jazzeum]

Fascinating. Thanks for the link. From the photo of the schoolhouse, I assume you've been there.

 

[mk26gmls]

I wish, but I haven't. The picture was taken by Willy Willems. He was 10 years of age at the time when the 1142nd was in his village. He got to hang out with the men since there was no school at that time. Willy has just been great to work with. The men of the 1142nd had a huge impact on him.

 

[sceic2]

The US Army did get one thing right. They properly named them in the correct order "Combat" Engineers. These guys were usually the first in and had to overcome the greatest objectives to let the "other" guys come up.

 

[mk26gmls]

I just got a first person account of the 1142nd from Belgium. Can anyone here translate Dutch to English?

 

[mk26gmls]

Today at 4 AM, my grandfather William A. Pace, passed to the other side. Another great man from that generation is no longer with us. He leaves behind his wife Annie May who he married on December 20, 1941.

William A. Pace 1913 - 2009.

http://www.1142combatengineers.com/index2.htm

 

[jazzeum]

Darrell,

Sorry to hear about your Grandfather and condolences to you, your Grandmother and your family. I'm sure you will take solace that he lived a very full life. We should all be so lucky to live a full life to the age of 96.

 

[Louis Badolato]

My condolences, Daryll. We are all lessened by his passing. Sounds like he had a full life, living to be 96 and getting to know the love and respect of his grandchildren, but I am sure you will miss him terribly. I know I miss my grandfather, who passed away 4 years ago at age 96, while my wife was pregnant with my first child. I wish he could have been with us long enough for my son to get to know him.

 

[OldDragon]

Hello

My condolences to yourself and your family.

OD

 

[Njja]

Sorry to hear of your grandads passing. My condolences to you and your

family.

 

[mk26gmls]

Thank you gentlemen for your kind words.

It was quite the long day yesterday. My wife and I left here Sunday morning at 11 AM for the drive to Siler City. We left our 18 month old girl with relatives knowing she would not do so well on such a long day ahead. After we got there, the pall bearers of which I was one took grandpa in a flag draped casket into the church at 2 PM. The family got to spend 30 minutes talking around the casket before friends arrived. My family had also put together a slide show of his life to music that played until the funeral started late that afternoon. There were many pictures of him and his unit in WWII that were included. The friends starting arriving at 2:30 and a lot of people came by. For a man who out lived every friend his own age, the church was packed by the time the funeral actually started. The visitation last until 4 PM. Also in attendance were four men from grandpa's unit. Harvey Horne, Bill Stephenson, Gene Pickard and Jack Frank. I was really glad to see the guys. We chatted for a while together and I introduced them all to my family. My grandmother already knew them from all of the unit reunions in the past. At 4:30, the funeral began and it was really good. It was about 30 minutes in length. At the end of the service, a woman came up and sang a song I had never heard before. It was titled something along the lines of "A Soldier Going Home" or "A Soldier Coming Home". It was clearly penned about someone who had fought in a war and was now going to heaven. That song was just awesome. I think it caused most of the church to cry. My brothers and I loaded up grandpa afterwards and off we went to the cemetery, which was about 5 miles away. When we were pulling in, the honor guard was there with an actual bugler. I know the military is stretched thin with them so a lot of funerals are done by a tape recording of Taps. The graveside service with the military honors was just fantastic. I loved it. I felt so proud of my grandpa. The guy that played Taps did about the best job I have ever heard. My grandfather was a very good Christian man and I look forward to seeing him again. It was a very fitting day for a rare breed of a person.

This generation is going to be sorely missed.

 

[Evzone]

My condolences to you and your family. The written word is never much solace in such circumstances, however it must be a comfort to know that your grandfather lived the life of a good decent man who served his family and country with honour. You must be very proud of him.