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Need info: 16TH ENGINEERS BATTALION COMPANY B - 1ST ARMORED DIVISION North Africa

Discussion in 'North Africa: Operation Torch to Surrender of Tuni' started by Konrad Rutten, Jul 28, 2017.

  1. Konrad Rutten

    Konrad Rutten New Member

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    I’m researching my uncle who was an Armored Engineer who was apart of Operation Torch and Tunisia Campaign.


    16TH ENGINEERS BATTALION COMPANY B - 1ST ARMORED DIVISION


    I’m looking for information about his unite.

    What battle they fought in and the nature of their duty.


    Leo died APRIL 13, 1943

    He was removing Teller Landmines in a small pass 10 MILES NORTH OF FAID, TUNISIA… They had pursued the Enemy through the Rebaul Pass and where on their way back to Sidi Bon Zid.


    LEO WAS POSTHUMOUSLY CITED

    CITED FOR EXCEPTIONAL AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE

    3 JUNE 1943


    Date of incident March 24, 1943


    Citation reads : Leo J Rutten was a member assigned to clear a minefield during daylight and under direct enemy fire. His squad was wiped out except for Sergt.Earl F.Gillis & Loal Leon Riggs whom Leo pulled from the battlefield. Gillis died but awarded the Silver Star. My Uncle who pulled his men out, nothing. The only survivor was Leon Riggs was was brain damaged and sent home. I have a letter from Leon Riggs citing Leo’s bravery ( Karval Lincoln County Colorado).


    His commanding officer : 1st Lieutenant Humphrey Ireland.


    1st.Lt.Humphrey Ireland went on to become a journalist with a rather interesting background. I haven’t found much information pertaining to his WW2 career.



    Your help will be greatly appreciated,


    Sincerely,


    Konrad
     
  2. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    Konrad Rutten likes this.
  3. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Here is a brief snippet from their Facebook page
    THE BATTALION ENTERED WORLD WAR II AT 0430, ON 08 NOV 1942, WITH BRAVO COMPANY “MADDOGS” PARTICIPATING IN THE AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS OF THE 1ST ARMORED DIVISION IN ORAN, ALGERIA. THE COMPANIES OF THE BATTALION SUPPORTED VARIOUS UNITS OF THE 1ST ARMORED DIVISION AND WERE USED IN THE RECONNAISSANCE, ROAD DEMOLITION, CREATING ROAD BLOCKS, THE INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF MINEFIELDS, OBSTACLE CLEARANCE, VEHICLE RECOVERY, AND ROAD BUILDING THROUGHOUT ALGERIA, TUNISIA, AND THE ITALIAN PENINSULA. THE BATTALION CONDUCTED TWO MORE ASSAULT LANDINGS AT SALERNO, ITALY FROM 9-10 SEPTEMBER, 1943 AND ANZIO, ON 22 TO 23 JANUARY 1944, ULTIMATELY RECEIVING CAMPAIGN CREDITS FOR TUNISIA, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ANZIO (WITH ARROWHEAD), ROME-ARNO, NORTH APENNINES, AND PO VALLEY DURING WORLD WAR II.

    BATTLE HONORS TO THE BATTALION ALSO INCLUDE THAT OF ALPHA COMPANY “GATORS”, WHICH IS CITED FROR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM AND OUTSTANDING PEROFORMANCE OF DUTY IN ACTION AGAINST THE ENEMY AT MT. PORCHIA, ITALY, WHERE IT WAS ASSIGNED THE MISSION OF SEIZING AND HOLDING MT. PORCHIA WITH THE 6TH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT.
    16th Engineer Battalion

    [​IMG]
     
  4. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Found this as well

    • Redesignated 15 July 1940 as the 16th Engineer Battalion; concurrently assigned to the 1st Armored Division and activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky
    • Redesignated 1 January 1942 as the 16th Armored Engineer Battalion
    • Unit deployed from the New York Port of Embarkation on 11 May 1942
    • Unit arrived in Northern Ireland on 18 May 1942.
    • Unit arrived in North Africa on 21 December 1942. It immediately participated in the Tunisia Campaign.
    • The Tunisia Campaign concluded on 13 May 1943.
    • Unit arrived in Sicily on 10 July 1943, and participated in Operation Husky.
    • The Sicily Campaign concluded on 17 August 1943.
    • Unit arrived in Italy on 10 November 1943, and participated in the Naples-Foggia Campaign.
    • The Naples-Foggia Campaign concluded on 21 January 1944.
    • The Battalion took part in the Anzio Campaign from 22 January 1944.
    • The Anzio Campaign concluded on 24 May 1944.
    • The battalion participated in the Rome-Arno Campaign from 22 January 1944.
    • (Companies D and E disbanded 20 July 1944 in Italy)
    • The Rome-Arno Campaign concluded on 9 September 1944.
    • The battalion participated in the North Apennines Campaign from 10 September 1944.
    • The North Apennines Campaign concluded on 4 April 1945.
    • The battalion participated in the Po Valley Campaign from 5 April 1945.
    • The Po Valley Campaign concluded on 8 May 1945
    • The battalion was located at Salzburg, Austria on 14 August 1945.
    • Battalion arrived back in CONUS at the New York Port of Embarkation 10–13 April 1946.
    For a more detailed look at the North African Campaign and the 16th look at HyperWar: US Army in WWII: Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative In the West
     
  5. Konrad Rutten

    Konrad Rutten New Member

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  6. Konrad Rutten

    Konrad Rutten New Member

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    Also, Thanks LRusso!
     

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