US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Bragg, NC)

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From their base camp, the 36th took part in the VI Army Corps maneuvers for a month. During this time, the 36th received thorough training and experience in anti- tank tactics, road blocks and bridge demolition. To the members of the 36th, the highlights of these maneuvers were the exciting dashes made at night in unlighted convoys under black-out conditions, and the erection of a ponton bridge over the Nassau River one night in a blinding rain. When the Regiment returned to Platts- burg from Fort Devens, Massachusetts, on September 12, they received high commendation for their excellent work onthis maneuver and were already showing indi- cations of becoming a crack outfit. Three days after returning to Plattsburg, the 36th entrucked for the trip to North Carolina to participate in rhe First Army maneuvers. After a four-day drive, the Regiment established base camp at Rubaiyat, North Carolina. For three months they engaged in various problems, climaxed by the 15-day General Headquarters maneuvers. During this time, the 36th built up a repu- tation as one of the hardest-hitting, smoothest-working Engineer Regiments in the Army. Their construction of foot and ponton bridges across the muddy Pee Dee River received especial commendation. An attack across the Pee Dee, in assault boats and ferries made of half- boats was a new and valuable experience to the -36th. The 36th Engineers left North Carolina and began their long trek home on December 3, 1941. At almost the same time that the attack was being made on Pearl Harbor, the 36th was parading through the streets of Plattsburg in full field equipment. Only upon their arrival at the Barracks, at the conclusion of the parade, did they learn of Pearl Harbor, and that war with the Axis was imminent. The return of the Regiment to Plattsburg marked the beginning of a series of losses of experienced and well- liked oflicers and men. First, on December 15, 1941, Ma- jor George Lincoln was de- tailed to new duties at the Bureau of Pub- lic Relations in W a s li i n g- t o n , D . C . .,,'. , Next, Colonel W. N. Thomas was promoted to Corps Engineer, VI Army Corps, and departed for Providence, Rhode Island. With him went Major Albert Boehm and Lieutenant Harold Greene. Colonel Frederic B. Butler succeeded to command of the 36th and after a very short stay was transferred to other duties. Colonel E. Wood commanded the Regiment from january 7 to February 1, and was suc- ceeded by Lieutenant Colonel Paul M. Ellman, the present Regimental Commander. The post of Executive Oflicer, left vacant by the departure of Major Lincoln, was filled by Major George W. Gardes. U Companies C and E were ordered on detached service and left Plattsburg on December 26. Company E was sent to Boston, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire, and Company C to Bangor and Lewiston, Maine. There they worked on Airport Defense construc- tion, often in temperatures 20 or more degrees below zero. They rejoined the Regiment on February 7, 1942. The remainder of the 36th left Plattsburg on January 7 to participate in their first amphibious maneuvers. They served with the First Division as Part of the Atlantic Fleet Amphibi- ous Force. At Virginia Beach, they took part in the three-day landing maneu- ver. In many ways, this was the hardest test the 36th has had. Although chilled by re-

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. 74 rg . ' ,,l1.'ilA,lL 5 Lk,-' M-Qi' Posi' Headquarters ai' PlaH'sburg, New York. EISEEEE EE EEE EEEH EEEIEEEE EEEIEIE E The 36th Engineer Regiment fCombatj was acti- vated on June 1, 1941, at Plattsburg Barracks, New York,,under the command of Lieutenant Colonel W. N. Thomas. L The cadre forming the nucleus of the 36th Engineers consisted of 55 oflicers and enlisted men. The officers were Captain John Danis, Captain Hamilton W. Fish, Captain Francis Bonini, First Lieutenant James B. Chubbuck and First Lieutenant Frank A. Swatta. The enlisted men who completed the cadre were from the Second, Seventh, Seventeenth and Sixty-fourth Engi- neers. Additional officers joined in June, six of whom were sent to the Engineer Replacement Center at Fort Belvoir to bring back troops assigned to the Regiment. These men were part of the first group to complete the three months basic training course in the newly-constructed Replacement Training Center. On June 28, 1941, 954 men arrived at Plattsburg Barracks on the shores of beautiful Lake Champlain, and the formation of the 36th Engineers was initiated. The first task was to weld the various elements of the Regiment into a smoothly-working, cooperative unit. This was accomplished by six weeks of intensive train- ing at the Barracks and at the nearby Macomb Military Reservation, six miles from Plattsburg, a beautiful, heavily wooded undeveloped area where the men were trained in combat and engineering problems. A me- morable feature of this training was the long hikes in full pack from the Barracks to the Reservation, the longest hike being 30 miles. Through this training and toughening, the 36th was quite ready for their first maneuver at Fort Devens, Massachusetts where they went on August 11. The Regiment moved by truck convoy and set up camp about four miles from Shirley, Massachusetts.

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I 54... .nn-,....m4 peated plunges in the icy water unloading shore boats and irritated by the sand that got into their food, blankets and equipment, the Regiment lived up to their fine reputation. Even the experience of sleeping on sand-encrusted snow did not alter their fine record. Upon return to Plattsburg on January 18, the Regi- ment began an intensive program of training in engineer- ing and combat work designed to prepare them for any eventuality of actual combat. During this period, the Band, long a fond dream, became a reality with the addi- tion of a number of talented musicians and the arrival of shiny new instruments. Under the direction of Warrant Officer Olle G. R. Blomfelt, the Band rapidly developed into a fast-stepping unit worthy of the 36th. During March, a cadre of five officers and 47 enlisted men left the 36th to form the 603rd Camouflage Bat- talion. Another cadre of one officer and nine men was sent to form the 640th Camouflage Company. The Regiment also lost Captain Danis and Lieutenant Swatta, sent to Fort Belvoir to, form a water purification bat- talion, and Captain Hiller, Lieutenant McKeefe and Lieutenant Ryan, who were designated as part of the staff of the Engineer School at Fort Belvoir. The training program of the Regiment was suddenly interrupted when it was ordered to proceed to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on a permanent change. of sta- tion. On March ll, 1942, the 36th bid a reluctant fare- well to Plattsburg and to old Lalce Champlain as they entrained. They arrived at Fort Bragg on Friday, March 13. They were attached to the Ninth Division on March 20, as part of the Atlantic Fleet Amphibious Corps under the command of Major General Smith, United States Marine Corps. Although the 36th Engineer Regiment has been in existence for less than a year, it has already established a reputation for hard worlc and fast hitting that marlis it as one of the best Engineer Regiments in the Army. Especially noteworthy is the Regiment's reputation for being Nruggedf' The 36th Engineers has made a fine record and will, in the future, continue to maintain and expand that record in the best traditions of the Corps of Engineers.