Transcribed by Bob Kipke TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: Pages have been transcribed as close as possible to the original with the exception of page numbering/format. Punctuation, and capitalization follow the original (in many cases the format was not consistant).

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KEY PERSONNEL
BATTALION HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY

Battalion Commander.......................Lt. Col. Ray R. Liedike
Battalion Executive Officer...............Major Earl D. Foster

S-1 SECTION
1st Lt. J. K. Sitterding
W.O.J.G. Edward Bielewicz
M/Sgt. Stewart L. Traines
Tec. Sgt. Clarence E. Bret

S-2 SECTION
Capt. William J. Forsythe
1st Lt. Creighton F. Lawson
1st Lt. Frederick A. Scott
Tec. Sgt. Lionel J. Willett
S/Sgt. Leo B. Wortman
S/Sgt. James E. Crotty
S/Sgt. Dean G. Ricketson Jr.

S-3 SECTION
Major Bruce E. Pettit
1st Lt. Frank J. Oggioni
M/Sgt. Richard W. Cackley
Tec. Sgt. Gurney W. Sikes

S-4 SECTION
Capt. William Cohen
C.W.O. Lennart F. LaGreen
Tec. Sgt. Edwin C. Pruessing
Tec. Sgt.Charles R. Mount

MEDICAL DETACHMENT
Capt. Samuel R. Millen
Capt. Edward R. Bien
S/Sgt. Henry S. Janick
T/3. Wayne D. Hotaling

MAINTENANCE SECTION
1st Lt. Norman C. Koehler
M/Sgt. Theodore F. Snay
S/Sgt. Milton L. Stover

COMPANY HEADQUARTERS
1ST Lt. Dexter M. Sweet
1st Sgt. Lloyd F. Donaldson

A.D.E. SECTION
Capt. W. R. Elden
Sgt. John R. Mehall
T/4. Charles M. Atterbury

COMPANY "A"

Company Commander.........................Capt. Arthur R. Watson
Company Administrative Officer.........1st Lt. William S. Loth
First Sergeant.......................................John A. McCarron

1st Platoon
1st Lt. John W. Siebert
Sgt. William A. Wiltsie

2nd Platoon
2nd Lt. Frank A. Domingoes
S/Sgt Steven Moraski

3rd Platoon
1st Lt. Richard H. Lekberg
S/Sgt John F. Schaeflein

COMPANY "B"

Company Commander.........................Capt. Jerome B. Dwyer
Company Administrative Officer.........1st Lt. Maurice C. Switney
First Sergeant......................................Allen F. Warner
S/Sgt Wilmer A. Schaaf

1st Platoon
1st Lt. Frank J. Hollis
S/Sgt Herbert W. Rauch
2nd Platoon
2nd Lt Bertram Rockoff
S/Sgt Armand J. Berthiaume

3rd Platoon
Lt Bernard L. Stafford
Sgt Stephen Kovacs

COMPANY "C"

Company Commander.........................Capt. Joe F. Sewell
Company Administrative Officer..........1st Lt. Daniel A. Manspeaker
First Sergeant....................................... Robert F. Sawicki

1st Platoon
1st Lt. Harold J. Grosch
Sgt Elroy M. Rulseh

2nd Platoon 1st Lt Stephen E. Kahofer
S/Sgt Robert J. Overbeek

3rd Platoon 1st Lt Michael J. Bruno
S/Sgt Louis J. Spinozzi

FROM
1. LIEUTENANT GENERAL J. LAWTON COLLINS
COMMANDING GENERAL, U.S. VII ARMY CORPS
2. COLONEL JOHN C. MACDONALD
COMMANDING OFFICER, 4TH CAVALRY GROUP

HEADQUARTERS VII CORPS
Office of the Engineer
A.P.O. 307, U. S. Army

11 June 1945
SUBJECT: Commendation

TO : Lt Col. Ray R. Liedike, C.E.
Commanding Officer, 298th Engineer Combat Battalion,
A.P.O. 339, U.S. Army.
THRU: Commanding Officer, 1120th Engineer Combat Group

The members of the 298th Engineer Combat Battalion will be happy to read the following commendation of the VII Corps Engineer Units to which the 298th had contributed greatly.

HEADQUARTERS VII CORPS
Office of the Commanding General

4 June 1945
Colonel Mason J. Young
Commanding Officer, VII Corps Engineers
APO #307, United States Army

Dear Colonel Young:

With the cessation of hostilities in Europe, I wish to convey to you and to the officers and men of the VII Corps Engineers my great appreciation for the splendid job done by you and your engineers throughout our European campaigns.

The need for military engineer support reached new heights in this war. The demand for accuracy and speed of performance has been greater than ever before. This has been particularly true of the campaigns of the VII Corps, whose varied operations have called for every type of engineering skill.

The VII Corps Engineers distinguished themselves from the first moment when they landed with the initial waves on Utah Beach, and with the assistance of naval demolition parties began the removal of the beach obstacles and the preparation of passages through the sea-wall that ran the length of the beach. So well was this done, that the assault troops received no check from these obstacles, and the invasion was off to a flying start. Other engineer teams assisted in the demolition of pillboxes and defensive works, the clearing of mines and the opening of causeways across the inundated area back of the beach.

Thereafter, throughout the Cherbourg Campaign and the subsequent operations of the VII Corps across France, Belgium and Germany, the VII Corps Engineers played a vital role. This was particularly true following the breakthrough at St. Lo Marigny, when roads had to be cleared quickly of the debris from the heavy bombardment, and the way opened through devastated villages in order to permit rapid exploitation by armored columns and motorized infantry. Five divisions, including two of the big armored divisions, were passed through this narrow gap without a pause in record breaking time, thanks to the superb work of the VII Corps Engineers. A somewhat similar condition developed as we drove through the Siegfried defenses east of Aachen, and fought our way to the Roer; and again following the crossing of the Roer River when Duren and its environs had to be opened rapidly to permit the movement of the 3rd Armored Division.

Perhaps the most spectacular achievement of the Corps Engineers came in their many river crossings, commending with the first such operation in Europe by our forces, the crossing of the Douve near Carentan and Etienville. The Sienne, Mayenne, Seine, Aisne, Meuse, Roer and finally the Rhine and the Weser, all had to be bridged, usually under fire, with the restless speed demanded by the pace of modern operations. This was exemplified in the bridging of the Rhine in the remarkable time of 10 hours 17 minutes with a Class 40 bridge, But the toughest of all these river crossings was that over the Roer, where the VII Corps Engineers proved that they could not only build fast but could do so with steadfastness and courage under devastating enemy fire.

After the initial penetration of the Siegfried Line when the corps was dangerously extended over a great frontage in the vicinity of Aachen, the Corps Engineers were called upon to do service as infantry in the Hurtgen Forest and in the hills south of Aachen. Here again they demonstrated their well rounded training and versatility by holding extensive fronts in this difficult terrain, thus permitting the concentration of infantry combat units for the assault on Aachen.

It is one of the unfortunate characteristics of war that whose who labor in unspectacular roles frequently do not receive the proper recognition that they justly deserve. Thus you have assimilated yourself so smoothly into the operations of the VII Corps that we have come to accept exceptional engineering performance as a normal routine. The quiet efficiency, skill, and devotion to duty of yourself and the officers and men of the corps engineers under you have contributed greatly to the success of this corps in its European campaigns. I wish to express not only to you, but to every officer and man under you, my great admiration and appreciation for what you have done and extend to you all the very best wishes for the future.

Faithfully yours,
/s/ J. Lawton Collins,
/t/ J. LAWTON COLLINS
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army,
Commanding

Let me add my personal commendation to that of General Colins for the splendid record made by the 298th Engineer Combat Battalion throughout the campaign in Europe. I have in mind, particularly, the clearing of the north-eastern portion of the Cherbourg Peninsula in the vicinity of St. Vaast and Barfleur, the infantry support and heavy pontoon crossings at Melun, the crossing of the Meuse River at La Hastiere, the long period of action as infantry and serious personnel losses in the Hurtgen Forest, the successful infantry action and engineering during the bitter weather of the Battle of the Ardennes, the successful ferrying operations of the Rhine River. The fine record of the Battalion with the VII Corps has been continued subsequently under the command of another corps during the reduction of the Ruhr Pocket. Every member of the Battalion may be proud of its achievements.

/s/ Mason J. Young
/t/ MASON J. YOUNG
Colonel, Corps of Engineers,
Corps Engineer

HEADQUARTERS 4TH CAVALRY GROUP
APO 230 United States Army
5 May 1945
SUBJECT: Commendation

To : Commanding Officer, VII Corps Engineers, APO 307, U.S.Army.

THRU : Commanding General, VII Corps, APO 307, U.S.Army.

1. It is desired to commend the following organizations of the VII Corps Engineers for outstanding performance of duty while attached to the 4th Cavalry Group at various times during the Campaign of Northern France and Belgium, the Campaign of Germany and the Battle of the Ardennes:

Company A, 298th Engineer (C) Battalion
Attached from 16 March 1945 to 2 April 1945

Company C, 298th Engineer (C) Battalion
Attached from 2 January 1945 to 23 January 1945
and from 23 February 1945 to 10 March 1945

Company B, 237th Engineer (C) Battalion
Attached from 18 August 1944 to 24 August 1944

Company A, 297th Engineer (C) Battalion
Attached from 11 September 1944 to 17 October 1944

Company B, 297th Engineer (C) Battalion
Attached from 17 October 1944 to 7 December 1944

Company C, 297th Engineer (C) Battalion
Attached from 15 September 1944 to 11 November 1944
and from 7 December 1944 to 2 January 1945

Company B. 238th Engineer (C) Battalion
Attached from 2 April 1945 to 24 April 1945

2. During the aforementioned Campaigns the Engineers were assigned the task of removing numerous road blocks, obstacles and minefields hindering the advance of our leading elements. This task was often accomplished under intense enemy artillery and small arms fire, and with only limited protection from our widely dispersed reconnaissance units. Day and night, in spite of all obstacles and enemy interference, the Engineers speedily cleared roads and bypasses to facilitate the forward movement of our troops. On numerous occasions the Engineers were required to construct fords and temporary bridges under fire, and they never failed to get the job done skillfully and with minimum delay.

BASIC: Commendation VII Corps Engineers.

3. On several occasions in the Siegfried Line and the Hurtgen Forest it was found necessary to employ the Engineers as infantry to hold a sector of the line. On each of these occasions they fought gallantly alongside our own troops, often taking heavy losses, but never giving up one inch of ground. Furthermore, their skillful construction of minefields and booby-traps was of great assistance in strengthening the defenses of our entire sector on numerous occasions.

4. The esprit, courage and technical skill demonstrated by every officer and man of the Corps Engineer units with which we have been associated reflects great credit upon the leaders who trained and led them, and furthermore these soldierly qualities have been a source of inspiration to the officers and men of my own command. The uniform excellence of all Engineer support furnished to the 4th Cavalry by the VII Corps Engineer support furnished to the 4th Cavalry by the VII Corps Engineers merits the commendation and gratitude of the entire Group, Reinforced.

5. It is expecially [sic] desired to commend the Corps Engineer, Colonel Mason Young, for his keen interest and skilled advice, his careful planning of the employment of Engineers, and his frequent and helpful visits to our supporting Engineers during combat.

/s/ John C. Macdonald
/t/ JOHN C. MACDONALD
Colonel, Cavalry,
Commanding

201.22- 1st Ind.
(5 May 45)
HEADQUARTERS VII CORPS, APO 307, U. S. Army, 13 May 1945.

To: Corps Engineer, Headquarters VII Corps, APO 307, U. S. Army.

I desire to add my appreciation for the outstanding performances of duty exhibited by the engineer units listed in basic communication during the periods of their attachment to the 4th Cavalry Group. It also affords me the pleasure to transmit this tribute to the efficiency and high professional attainments of the Corps Engineer, Colonel Mason J. Young.

/s/ J. Lawton Collins
/t/ J. LAWTON COLLINS
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army,
Commanding

A TRUE COPY:
/s/ Robert M. Gillespie
/t/ ROBERT M. GILLESPIE
Captain C.E.

C A M P A I G N S

THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN: June 9, 1944 to July 24, 1944.
THE CAMPAIGN OF NORTHERN FRANCE: July 25, 1944 to Sept. 14, 1944.
THE CAMPAIGN RHINELAND: Sept. 15, 1944 to March 21, 1945.
THE ARDENNES CAMPAIGN: December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945.
THE CAMPAIGN CENTRAL EUROPE: March 22, 1945 to May 8, 1945.

D E C O R A T I O N S

SILVER STARS - 7
BRONZE STARS - 49
PURPLE HEARTS - 162
FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE - 1
DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGES - 13
ARROWHEADS FOR ASSAULT LANDINGS - 13

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