Until 1 April 1943, the 146th Engineer Combat battalion was the 1st. Battalion of the 146th Engineer Combat Regiment which was activated 25th January 1943 at Camp Swift, Texas.
On 31 March 1943, the regiment was reorganized and redesignated into three separate groups. The Regimentral Headquarters becoming the 1116th Engineer Combat Group, the 1st. Battalion becoming the 146th Engineer Combat Battalion and the 2nd. Battalion becoming the 206th Engineer Combat Battalion.
It was on 1 April 1943 that Lt. Col. Carl J. Isley (then Major) assumed command of the organization, bringing with him ability and understanding leadership of his men that later culminated and reached a high point during the severest test of all - - action against the enemy - - as he led the 146th Battalion in its special operation during the early stages of the Allied assault on fortress Europe, June 6, 1944.
No maneuvers were engaged in by the unit and its attachment was changed from the 1116th Engineers Combat Group to the 1115th Engineer Combat Group, VIII Corps, for the period 9 August 1943, and subsequently to the 1117th Engineer Combat Group for the period 26 August 1943 to 24 September 1943. All groups were at Camp Swift, Texas.
However, these rapidly changing attachments did not serve to stabilize either the training or administrative procedure of the unit. Policies, on both matters, of each group differed and interpretations of matters by VIII Corps differed from that of Third Army.
Conforming with differing procedures, therefore, created hectic and trying days, but these hurdles were passed fairly well and faded into the background on the eve of the battalion's departure for an overseas station.
It was while the battalion was attached to the 1117th Engineer Combat Group that the Intensive Training Program was entered upon by the unit. Third Army Headquarters had alerted the battalion for overseas service. Thus on 24 September 1943, the Battalion entrained for the Staging Area prior to going to the Port of Embarcation.
Arriving at Camp Miles Standish, Mass. on the morning of 28 September 1943, the Battalion was thrown into the activities of last minute replacements of personnel, equipage replacement and other procedures of the staging area. Then on the afternoon of 9 October 1943, the Battalion again entrained and this time the destination was the dock at Boston.
1 June 1944
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The unit sailed on the morning of 9 October 1943, aboard the SS Mauritania, and the staff of the Battalion was appointed to act, also, as the staff to the transport commander, Major Jacob Rubinoff. Col. Isley (then Major) acted in the capacity of executive officer for the transport commander. The crossing was uneventful although flourishing were the usual transport rumors regarding enemy plane and submarine action as well as speculation on the final destination of the vessel.
Food and quarters for the officers were good. However, the men did not fare as well, due to the croweded condition of the ship.
Arriving at Liverpool, England on the evening 17 October 1943, the Battalion spent the next twenty-four hours in being transported by train to their first camp on English soil. The camp was Lincombe Camp, North Devon, England, located on a grassy hillside. Tents were erected by the Battalion personnel, but were without floors and heat. The ground was very wet and was made more so by the constant rains of the season.
Gradually during the first week extra equipment (blankets, stoves and overshoes) were obtained to ease housing difficulties and being an engineer battalion the unit was soon getting itself out of the mud.
After a two week period at Lincombe on the 27 October 1943, the Battalion, having been attached to the Assault Training Center at Woolacombe, was then moved to the area of the Saunton Sands Golf Course. Headquarters and Service Company was quartered in and around the Golf Club House itself; Companies B and C set up tent cities just in the area south of the Golf Club. Company A was settled very nearly east of the settlement of Saunton, and in the camp known as Braunton Camp. (Nissen huts there for housing were as yet unfinished and the company did much work to make the area livable.)
The Battalion's function at Braunton was the maintenance and erection of various courses and ranges for the United States Assault Training center. This involved work at Woolacombe, Woolacombe Sands, Saunton Sands, Braunton Burrows, and Baggy Point.
In connection with the work, allocation of heavy equipment to the battalion was made necessary. The Battalion operated rock quarries and water points as well as helping to institute and maintain utilities service at Braunton Camp.
The Battalion earned an enviable reputation for efficient work and members were commended on various occasions by Col. Thompson (Assault Training Center Commanding Officer).
The United States Assault Training Center, being deactivated about 1 April 1944, the 146th Engineer Combat Battalion was attached shortly thereafter by Army Headquarters to V Corps and subsequently attached to the 1121st Engineer Combat Group at Newquay, Cornwall, England. Therefore, for training necessities, the Battalion moved to Newquay on 8 April 1944 and began renewal of training along regular combat engineer lines under direction of 1121st Engineer Combat Group.
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However, due to the exigencies of situation, V Corps recalled the Battalion -- first only Company A and then shortly after, the entire battalion -- to Braunton Camp and the Assault Training Center training sites for intensive training for a specialized operation -- the clearance of underwater and beach obstacles to aid the Allied assault upon the European mainland.
The Battalion's regular organization was radically changed for the proposed operation. The three companies lost their identity and the men were organized into boat teams. Men of each company Headquarters and H&S company were then classified as residue -- they, to join the operational section of the Battalion after the completion of the special mission.
The Battalion at this point was thus a part of the Engineer Special Task Force -- the other Battalion being used similarly and also a Task Force Unit, being the 299th Engineer Combat Battalion. The task Force operated under a Provisional Group Headquarters commanded by Lt. Col. John T. O'Neill. Lt. Col. Isley, as Battalion Commander, continued as leader of the 146th Battalion section of the Special Task Force.
With deep interest shown by Major General Gerow, V Corps Commanding General, the Battalion thus trained, till 15 May 1944 at the old United States Training Center Area, for its specialized operation -- (first, the preparation of (8) eight fifty (50) yard gaps thru all obstacles within the tidal range on Omaha Beach, V Corps Assault Beach on the European mainland, and second, rendering assistance in removal of all obstacles on Omaha Beach).
Then its residue went back to Newquay and the operational "boat teams" traveled to Marshalling Areas D-6 and D-14 in the vicinity of of Dorchester and Portland, England, respectively.
Awaiting the arrival of D-Day the boat teams made last minute preparations of equipment and readied themselves for the assault.
On 1 June 1944, the assault support and NCDU teams boarded the transport Princess Maud at Weymouth and* the Assault Boat Teams started boarding LCT's at Portland Harbor.
Thus, by 1 June 1944 every member of this special force was ready and aboard his proper transport, awaiting the beginning of the greatest amphibious assault yet attempted by man.
FOOTNOTE : Asterics or other footnote alerts are not part of the Official Records. They will point out corrections to events, spelling, or other observations that could have appeared in the Official version, had circumstances allowed.
* should read: primary Assault Teams and their NCDU Teams started boarding LCT"s at Portland Harbor.
