1stSGt Reed Buchanan US Army (ret)

and here is the German POW in a photo dated 1943 His name is lost to history however. His lapel pin is crossed cannons so he was a "cannon cocker" (Artilleryman) View attachment 17334

 

a welcome relief-a shower! SSGt Reed Buchanan Guadlcanal 1943 View attachment 17335

 

Christmas Day Guadalcanal 1942 _some of the men of the 65th Engineers Dad is kneeling, 1st on left View attachment 17336

 

Dad in a late 1930' pic View attachment 17337

 

Dad in uniform View attachment 17338 cir 1950

 

the cover of one of Moms ration books 1943 View attachment 17339

 

a solider of the 65th Engineers and a native child New georgia Is 1943 View attachment 17340

 

WAR PRIZE New Georgia IS 1943 View attachment 17341

 

This was painted on the wood lid of a K Ration box by a german POW for my father in law SGT Ewald Hessinger 407th AAA Gun BN (SM) C Battery. The 407th was station outside the of Antwerp Belgium and were the Buzz Bomb Kings with 200 confirmed V1 "kills" C battery got 94 has shown below the V1 on the painting. Unusual during the war, 74 men of 100 or so men of Charlie Battery were from Dads home town of New Haven View attachment 17342 CT

 

Here is a late war pic of my father in law SGt Ewald Hessinger C battery 407th Gun BN (SM) At age 89 Dad is alive and kicking and only just retired a a couple of years View attachment 17343 go from owning his own business. He was a furinture maker/refininsher

 

I wish I had a dollar for every war vet who has said that. I'd be a millionaire. Those guys are so humble, God bless them.

Thanks for the great photos and stories. As others have said, you are doing a great job of honoring your father by telling his story here.

 

Excellent photos and stories, pre-war campaign hats and all.

I recently learned the Army wasn't sure it needed caterpillar tractors let alone with bulldozer blades, but they became almost a symbol of Army Engineers.

Did your father and father-in-law ever meet, post war?

 

I missed a few pages:

While the palm groves look lovely for camp I understand they could be deadly with falling coconuts.

HBT fatigues faded to almost white by tropical sun and sweat.

Surprised to see the coveralls, I thought they were universally hated. Common field modification was to cut a slit in the rear.

Engineer officer training was at Fort Belvior, Virginia. Any samples of red and white engineer cord/piping in that trunk?

Salute to your father and all the vets of the Canal as we commemorate the 70th anniversary.

 

thanks yes, it was ft belvior. the only red and white that I have is ribbon on the seal embossed on his promotion to SSGT in oct 41. I will try to post but i think the file is too big

 

"on the line" with c company 65th combat engineers View attachment 17377 New Georgia IS 1943

 

65th combat engineers making a road out of the jungle = View attachment 17378 New Georgia is 1943

 

Great photos.

I wonder what is in the center of the photo above (post #36) beyond the "road". Looks like an above ground swimming pool, Gilligan's Island style.

 

Im not sure what that was in the pic- here is one of a few of the guys of the 65th goofing around with a AAA gun they ran into on New georgia Island........ View attachment 17383

 

A hand grenade brings up a fish dinner for some of the guys of the 65th Combat Engineers-New Georgia Island 1943 View attachment 17384

 

65th Engineer Camp- New Georgia Island 1943 View attachment 17385