History
The 82nd Engineer Combat Regiment was activated in January 1943 at Camp Swift, Texas. Under the army's reorganization plan of March 1943 the regimentıs battalions became separate units and regimental headquarters became the 1115th Engineer Combat Group.
The 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion shipped overseas on November 23, 1943 from Hampton Roads, Virginia. The convoy sailed south around the Bahaman Islands and then northeast to the Strait of Gibralter. Although initially ordered to India the battalion, upon arrival in Oran Algiers Africa, was assigned to the European Theater of Operations.
On January 5, 1944 the battalion traveled from Oran to Casablanca. There the battalion boarded a converted British liner, "The HMS Andes". The 82nd arrived at Liverpool England on January 20, 1944. In February the battalion was attached to the 1115th Engineer Combat Group, XIX Corps, United States First Army. The battalion, as it prepared for cross channel orders , consisted of 662 men; 28 officers, three warrant officers and 632 enlisted personnel.
First units of the Battalion touched down on Omaha Beach between June 10th and the 16th. Upon arrival, the 82nd was placed in support of the 29th Infantry Division. The battalionıs primary mission was to remove mines, open supply routes, construct bridges, establish water points and a myriad of other engineering duties. Because of the confined area of the beachhead, the battalion was under constant artillery and mortar attacks. The 82nd managed, however, to avoid casualties until July 13-16. During this time the battalion, while in support of the 29th Divisionıs drive to capture the City of St. Lo, took its first battle casualties.
The battalion, attached to different units, fought its way through France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany, removing mines, open supply routes, construct bridges, establish water points, etc.
On April 17, 1945 the 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion received its last combat mission. Company B was ordered to take over security of the 83rd Division bridge at Barby. A and C companies were assigned bridge security on the Salle River.
On May 6, 1945 the 82nd was directed to to cease operations and was ordered out of the line. Two days later came the formal announcement of the warıs end. A total of 326 days had passed since Normandy. Of the 664 men who landed at Omaha, 160 had become casualties. Twenty-one had died, three were missing in action, three were prisoners of war and 134 men had been wounded, many seriously.
(Source and İ: www.82ndengineers.org )
Relevant links82nd Engineer Combat Battalion website
Casualties of the Battalion buried in Margraten or KIA in the Netherlands and buried elsewhere.
2Lt Joseph Paul
November 23, 1944
Pfc William R.
April 13, 1945