HEADQUARTERS V CORPS
Apo 305, U. S. Army
Office of the Commanding General
25 April 1945
SUBJECT: Commendation.
To : Commanding Officer, 146th Engineer Combat Battalion.
(Through: 1121st Engr C Gp).
1. It is my desire to express to you, and through you to the officers and men of your organization, my personal thanks and appreciation for the excellent manner in which they functioned during the period they served this Corps as a Provisional Truck Company.
2. The very excellent performance of duty by the Provisional Truck Company Commander, Lt. William J. Kehaly,* reflects great credit upon the state of military training within your Battalion. It was due to the tremendous efforts of this officer and his men that this Corps was enabled to continue the pursuit of an armed enemy from Neuwied, Germany,** to our present area. The large amount of troops and vital supplies moved forward during this critical period by your unit contributed immeasurably to the success of the battle; all of this being accomplished with a minimum of delay and confusion.
* 1st. Lt. Kehaly (affectionately called "Wild Bill") was a platoon leader of Company "A".
** Neuwied, Germany is located on the Rhine River.
3. The cooperative manner in which your Battalion functioned during this phase of operations was such as to bring credit upon the 146th Engineer Combat Battalion and to earn the thanks of every member of this command.
H I S T O R Y
1 April 1945 To 30 April 1945
4. STATIONS
a. Niederelbert ..........., Germany, from 31 March 1945 to 1 April 1945.
b. Homber .................., Germany, from 1 April 1945 to 3 April 1945.
c. Freiehagen ............, Germany, from 3 April 1945 to 11 April 1945.
d. Geisleden .............., Germany, from 11 April 1945 to 12 April 1945.
e. Frommsted ............, Germany, from 12 April 1945 to 15 April 1945.
f. Naumberg, 2 miles NE ........., Germany, from 15 April 1945 to 19 April 1945.
g. Naumberg ............., Germany, from 19 April 1945 to 30 April 1945.
h. Katltenbrunn ............, Germany, from 30 April 1945 to .........................
8. COMMANDING OFFICERS IN IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENTS
a. Command Section of the 146th Engineer Combat Battalion.
Lt. Richard R. Schindler, ADE
Note: No other changes or additions in the Command Section.
HEADQUARTERS
146TH ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION
3 May 1945
MONTHLY REPORT AFTER ACTION AGAINST THE ENEMY
2. ATTACHMENTS.
(a) From 1st of April 1945 to 30 April 1945, the 146 Engineer Combat Battalion was assigned to the 1st
United States Army and attached as shown below:
(1) From 1 April 1945 to 18 April 1945 and from 21 April 1945 to 20 April 1945, the battalion was
attached to V Corps and further attached to 1121 Engineer Combat Group.
(2) From 19 April 1945 to 21 April 1945, the battalion less Company "A" was attached to V Corps and
further attached to 1131 Engineer Combat Group. Company "A" during this time was to 102 Mechanized
Cavalry Squadron for operations.
3. OPERATIONS.
(a) Combat Missions.
(1) Although the battalion had no combat missions during the month of April 1945, it was held as infantry
reserve to protect V Corps Headquarters in the event of an enemy breakthrough. From 19 April 1945
to 21 April 1945, Company "A" was attached for operations to 102 Mechanized Cavalry Squadron, and
it manned four control points on roads leading into V Corps Headquarters.
(b) Provisional Truck Companies.
(1) From 1 April 1945 to 19 April 1945, The battalion furnished V Corps Provisional Truck Company
"A", twenty-four (24) 2-1/2 dump trucks, one (1) 3/4 ton WC and one (1) one (1) 1/4 ton truck with one
officer and fifty-four EM to transport gasoline to forward Corps Class III Dumps.
(2) From 1 April 1945 to 22 April 1945, The battalion furnished V Corps Provisional Trucking Company
"C", twelve (12) 2-1/2 ton cargo trucks and one (1) 4 ton wrecker with twenty-eight (28) EM to transport
the infantry.
(3) From 1 April 1945 to 24 April 1945, the battalion furnished one (1) 8 ton trailer with gasoline rack to V
Corps Class III Dump.
(c) Roads.
(2) The road work was very light due to rapid advance of Corps. well constructed German roads, and good
weather. Actually a total of 50 miles of road were worked.
(d) Bridges.
(1) Unfortunately the tactical mission of Corps prohibited the battalion from completing its primary job for the
month of April. The bridge was 300 feet long, of pile bent timber construction across the river Saale .........
in Weissenfels. All the material were procured locally and on leaving the job the battalion turned both
bridge plans and materials over to the local MG.
(2) Company "B" constructed a 90 foot CL 40. T9 Bailey bridge .................. on 13 April 1945.
(g) Miscellaneous.
(1) Conducted Bailey bridge school. Security school as per Training Memo No. 2, First U. S. Army, dated 4
April 1945, Booby Trap school, and vehicle maintenance school in battalion area from 19 April 1945 to
26 April 1945.
(i) Enemy Activity .
(1) During the month of April the battalion took 195 PW's who were without exception either deserter or
stragglers. The most successful method for collecting deserters, who were invariably in civilian clothes,
was to contact the local Burgermeister and direct him to have all members of the German Armed Forces
report to the battalion CP at a specified time. The results were satisfactory.
