150th Combat Engineer Battalion of WWII

Bald Eagle with Flag
Engineer Castle
Waving Flag

The 150th Combat Engineer Battalion was formed in New England, back in 1943. Unlike most military groups, it consisted mostly of men drafted in the New England area. They took their Basic Training together at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and served together during the war. They made the first assault crossings of the Rhine River, and did many other notable things to help us in winning the war. They are one of the few small units that received a Presidential Unit Citation (see bottom of page). They also have one of the few American Soldiers who were awarded the British Medal. (Click here)

Camera Cartoon Let me introduce myself, I am Rick Pitts, my dad Robert Pitts was the Battalion Electrician, Battalion Photographer, and a Reconnaissance Scout. To the left is a cartoon drawing of my father during WWII (and what a resemblance too). I am posting pictures from the war, as taken from his camera, as well as others we collected, or have been loaned over the years. There are Stories from the Troops, Daily Logs, and much more. So sit back, relax, and enjoy your time here.
The former soldiers of this group had formed the 150th Combat Engineer Battalion Association. They had Reunions every year. The final formal reunion was held May 11-14, 2005. Their 59th reunion.

Farm House Darkroom This picture is my father in a makeshift darkroom on a farm somewhere in France in Nov. '44. He's developing film of the war, most likely of bridges they were building. This also acted as his sleeping quarters. He's running a roller over the back of pictures. This was the final step in processing pictures. Click on the picture to see a larger view.

FINAL TRIBUTE to Those Who Lost Their Lives for Their Country.
The Changes Look Here to See What Has Changed Since Your Last Visit.
Stories Many Stories From the Troops. Others Can Be found All Around the Site With Pictures.
The Pictures;
Rivers Crossed Stories, Pictures, & Commendations of Rivers Bridged.
Basic Training Basic & the Mock German Village They Built.
Troops Pictures of the Men by Company.
The PTA Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
Front Lines German Front Lines & Bombed Out Buildings.
Carnage Various Picture of Death, Destruction & German Equipment.
The Dogs The Dogs and Other Animals of the 150th.
Miscellaneous Miscellaneous Pictures, USO Show & Low Quality or Unidentified Pictures
Letters, Papers, & Cards Letters, Fliers, Newspaper Articles, Christmas & Postcards from the War.
Paris Aerial Views 12 Large, High Quality Aerial Views of Paris on September 4, 1944, 10 days after the Germans garrisoned there surrendered.

Post War Activities of the Men of the 150th

After the war had ended, the men decided to keep getting together. So they formed the 150th Combat Engineer Association. Since 1947 the men have got together each year for a reunion. In 1984 they took a trip back to Europe to retrace there steps from 40 years earlier. They also went to Mississippi, to the Activation of the new 150th Combat Engineer Battalion. Some members went to the dedication of a memorial for Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. All this information can be found here in this section of the website.
Reunions Reunion & Association Information, including pictures, news articles, newsletters, and more.
Trips Trip Taken to Retrace their WWII Steps, & Reactivation of the 150th.
Bulge  Dedication of a Memorial in Hyannis, Ma for Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.
Reaping the Reward - 50 Years Later, French Honor World War 2 Vet
Reports Daily History, After Action Reports, History with XII Corps & More of the 150th's Unit Commendations.
Decorations A List of the Purple Hearts, Silver & Bronze Stars, etc.
The Insight Behind the Website and a Little Bit About Me.
What 56 Men Gave Up For YOUR Freedom
History and Traditions History and Information on the Army & Engineers.

email
Click Here on How To Email Me
Click Here to View Some E-mail's About the Website

Free Guestbook
Click Here to View or Sign Our Guestbook
Click Below to View Our Past Guestbook's - They are LARGE
Sept. 22 '97 - Dec. 31 '99
Jan 1 '00 - Dec. 31 '02
Jan 1 '03 - Dec. 31 '08

We had our 3000th Visitor August 21, 1998, 6000 on Christmas 1998, 9000 on March 16, 1999.
10,000th April 10, 1999, 15,000th September 12, 1999.
20,000th Visitor!!! February 1, 2000 (a great birthday gift for me!)
30,000th December 20, 2000, 60,000th September 22, 2004
70,000th November 26, 2005, 76,171 October 9, 2006!
Since then companies providing a counter keep disappearing. So we gave up on them.
Thank you all for continuing to come back


Made In USA

Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
HEADQUARTERS XII CORPS
Office of the Commanding General
GENERAL ORDERS
APO 312, U.S. Army NO. 124
21 AUGUST 1945
UNIT CITATION

   Under the provisions of Section IV, Circular 333, WD, 22 DEC. 43 and 2nd Ind, Hq Third US Army, 3 Aug. 45 to Ltr, HQ 1135 Engr. C Gp, 24 Jun. 45, the 150 Engr. C Bn. is cited for outstanding performance of duty against the enemy from 7 Feb. 45, to 13 Feb., 45, on the Sauer and Our Rivers in Luxembourg and Germany. The 150 Engineer Combat Battalion was assigned the mission of ferrying the assault troops and supplies across the Our River during the 319 Infantry Regiment's assault Troops on the Siegfried Line. Following the attack, which began at 0200, 7 Feb., in the face of withering small arms fire from Pillboxes with heavy Artillery, Mortar and Rocket Fire from the carefully planned positions of the Siegfried Line, this Battalion waged a bitter struggle with the raging torrents of the flooded Our River Repeated efforts were made to construct foot bridges, infantry support bridges, and Treadway bridges. However due to excessively and accurate fire from the fortifications of the Siegfried Line and the torrential water of the Our River, all efforts to construct Bridges or ferries met with complete failure. It was therefore necessary for the 150 Engineer Combat Battalion to rely entirely on the use of assault boats to support the Bridgehead until it could be expanded sufficiently to eliminate the small arms fire and the observed artillery fire upon the only existing Bridge site. On the night of 9 Feb., when it had been decided that additional troops could not be ferried until the 319 Infantry Regiment's bridgehead was further expanded, the 150 Engineer Combat Battalion was given an additional mission of constructing a Treadway bridge over the Sauer River in the vicinity of Dillingen. Despite the mailing casualties and the strain from the continual struggle against the flooded River, and with a spirit of grim determination, the officers and Men of the 150 Engineer Combat Battalion undertook their new mission. Throughout the night of Feb. 9 and the following day, small arms and accurate mortar fire from the Siegfried line repulsed every effort to construct the bridge. Although severely handicapped by the flooded river and the enemy's accurate mortar artillery fire, the battalion was able to complete the bridge on 13 Feb. The admirable spirit and devotion to duty of the gallant officers and men of the 150th Engineer Combat Battalion is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Corps of Engineering.


Assistance Area Are you looking for information on a person, or unit from the military? Please check out the Assistance Area. This includes links to dozens of websites, official and non official.
Dav Logo Click Here to Visit the DAV. As a life member myself, I feel this is a very good organization to help the Disabled Veterans Out.
Awards Awards this Site Has Received.
A BIG Thank-you to the following people for supplying information on the website. I am sure I missed some, and my apologies to them.
A special thanks to Ralph Randlett, "C Co." & his family for making a donation to the website, and for a gift certificate for my son and I.
SargeH, help scanning & pics at 1999 reunion.
Adam Barr, son of Ben Barr
Michael Bondanza, pictures
Arthur Boucher, pictures & other information
Harry Buckner, pictures
Carolyn Buckner, typing
Joe Calve, Story
Honey Carbone, pictures
Carl Ciambrone, pictures
Jeff Chandler, son of Ray Chandler, pictures
Norm Channin, pictures & other information
Carl Ciambrone, pictures
Francis "Red" Copeland, pictures & other info.
Jack Copley, pictures & other information
Dick Cutcliff, Pictures
Jim DeLova, Pictures
John DiSalvo, pictures
James Donaghue, pictures
Charlie Dwelly, pictures
Ernie Deeb, pictures
Kenny Ely, pictures
Grace Feeney, pictures
Michael Fanell, grandson of Pasqualle (Pat) Capparelle, pictures
Richard Gremlitz, pictures & other information
Lawrence Insinga, pictures
George Kimball, pictures & story
Joe Lenza, blueprint of mock village & pictures
Leo LePage, pictures
Pat MacIsaac, pictures
Robert Mahoney, pictures
Linda McMahon & her daughter Jen for typing.
Charles Mone & Curtis Hinson for ETO sections of daily reports & pictures.
Bill Morrissey, stories
Floyd Nickerson, picture identification
Leigh Nokes, pictures
Bob Pearl, stories
June Reagan, Stories by Col. Bruce Reagan
Paul Ruthier, pictures
Henry Poisson, other information
Curt Shaw, pictures & other information.
Norm Southergill, pictures & other info.
Peter Van Atta, son of 1st Co. Commander, pictures
Red Weingartner, pictures
Bob White, pictures, & other information.
Michael Zorbas (and daughter), pictures

© 1997-2021 Rick Pitts