JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 1/44 To: 2400 Jul 1/44 Place: La Victoire, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast, intermittent rain

	1041	0700 July 1/44	Ltr Co’s rest in bivouac area pending further operations

	1042	1100 July 1/44	Personnel make hurried preparations to break cp. Just when all is in readiness for movement to new area, orders received that the unit will remain in its present area. GI’s disconsolately face the tasks incident to setting up cp again, not the least of which is the re-digging of foxholes just filled in

			2 July 44

	1043	1000 July 2/44	Weather: No change Catholic services in bivouac area, many of personnel attend

	1044	1100 July 2/44	Bn Cmdr calls meeting of Co Cmdrs, S-1, 2, 3, 4, & Bn Surg

	1045	1300 July 2/44	Unit moves from this area and arrvs in new bivouac site NW of Fresville at 1430 hrs. Personnel proceed to set up camp & dig in

	1046	1800 July 2/44	Bn Cmdr confers with Co Cmdrs
			(Over)

	1047	2400 July 2/44	Restful slumber of last few nights abruptly terminated by Arty barrage of 8th Corps beginning new push and increased serial activity

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 3/44 To: 2400 Jul 3/44 Place: NW of Fresville, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Heavy rainfall during night and morning, clearing at noon

	1048	0700 July 3/44	Co’s resting in bivouac area; Co “A” constructs CIC enclosure at Montebourg

	1049	1300 July 3/44	SO #86 published rescinding Par 3, SO 83 (trf of Lt Scott to Bn Hq); Lt Radtke trfd to Bn Hq as Asst S-2

	1050	2140 July 3/44	Lt Col Liedike confers with Ltr Co Cmdrs

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 4/44 To: 2400 Jul 5/44 Place: NW of Fresville, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Fair

	1051	0700 July 4/44	Ltr Co’s train with TX bridge

	1052	1030 July 4/44	Ch Shay holds services in bivouac area for Protestants

			5 July 44

	1053	0700 July 5/44	Majority of Bn personnel in bivouac, engaged in routine duties. Co “B” repairing roads & on recon in area assigned

	1054	1000 July 5/44	Repair of bridge at Baupte by Co “B” suspended due to enemy arty fire

	1055	2030 July 5/44	Ch Shay conducts Protestant services in bivouac area

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 6/44 To: 2400 Jul 6/44 Place: NW of Fresville, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Fair & warm; showers during the evening

	1056	0700 July 6/44	Co “B” occupied same as yesterday

	1057	0800 July 6/44	Co’s “A” & “C” tng in combat formations

	1058	1400 July 6/44	SO #88 published promoting 5 EM, Co “A”

	1059	1800 July 6/44	Bn moves to new area near Coigny, arriving thereat 1930

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 7/44 To: 2400 Jul 8/44 Place: NE of Coigny, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Fair, occasional showers

	1060	0700 July 7/44	“H&S” Co engaged in normal duties; “A” Co in bivouac area, held in reserve; “B” & “C” Co’s maintaining roads & bridges in area assigned

	1061	1100 July 7/44	Lt Col Liedike calls meeting of Co Cmdrs

			8 July 44

			Weather: Overcast; showers

	1062	0700 July 8/44	“H&S” Co, “B” & “C” Co’s occupied same as yesterday; “A” Co, guarding equip at this unit’s gravel pit; also making signs for entire Bn

	1063	0815 July 8/44	T/Sgt Schmal & Pvt Buck lv to repair telephone line to “Cactus” damaged during the night by enemy arty fire. Repair made without incident

	1064	1800 July 8/44	S-2 reports bridge at Baupte again under enemy arty fire

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 9/44 To: 2400 Jul 10/44 Place: NE of Coigny, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Rain

	1065	0700 July 9/44	“H&S” Co operating W/P at Vindeloude [sic]; “A” Co repairing roads at Jackstone W/P; “B” & “C” Cos maintaining and marking roads in assigned area

	1066	1600 July 9/44	Ch Kremer says Mass and grants General Absolution to personnel attending. Protestant services, scheduled for 1700 hrs, not held because of heavy rain and lack of suitable shelter to accommodate personnel desiring to attend

			10 July 44

			Weather: Overcast; showers

	1067	0630 July 10/44	“B” rations served by kitchens, a welcome change from the “10 In I” and “K” rations which has been the diet of this unit since arrival on the Continent

	1068	0700 July 10/44	“H&S” Co engaged same as yesterday; Ltr Co’s, maintenance of roads in assigned area. S-2 goes on recon for new bivouac site; also recons bridges in vicinity of Vindefontaine and Pretot on request of Gp

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 11/44 To: 2400 Jul 12/44 Place: NE of Coigny, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast, showers

	1069	0700 July 11/44	“H&S” Co still operating W/P at Vindeloude [sic]. “A” & “B” Co’s engaged in road maintenance; “C” Co held in bivouac area as Bn reserve

	1070	2000 July 11/44	W/P at Vindeloude [sic] closed

			12 July 44

			Weather: Fair

	1071	0845 July 11/44	Bn moves to new bivouac area 1 mi S of Le Moulinet. Unit spends day in setting up cp and maintenance & repair of roads. “B” Co held as Bn reserve

	1072	1400 July 12/44	SO #90 published promoting 2 EM

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 13/44 To: 2400 Jul 13/44 Place: 1 Mi S of Le Moulinet, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Fair

	1073	0700 July 13/44	“A” & “C” Co’s engaged in road repair & maintenance. “B” Co held as reserve. Sch in repair & Maintenance of roads & bridges

	1074	1100 July 13/44	Bn Comdr sends ltr to Capt Sewell, Co “C”, commending 1st Lt Watson, 2d Lt Switney, S/Sgt Sawicki & S/Sgt Russel and all men in their respective platoons “for the excellent Engineer work executed on Route N803 during the evening hours of 12 July 44”

	1075	1800 July 13/44	S-2 reports recon of roads south of this area; possible bivouac sites for Bn & Gp Hq selected

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 14/44 To: 2400 Jul 14/44 Place: 1 Mi S of Le Moulinet, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast

	1076	0700 July 14/44	“A” Co maintaining and marking roads in assigned area. 1 Pltn Co “B” constructing ASP at VII Corps. 2d Pltn Co “C” repairing & maintaining road N of Cantepic [sic]. Rest of personnel devote their attention to personal equipment and vehicles

	1077	1100 July 14/44	Shower head set up in Co “C” area. Schedule for respective companies published – each man allotted 5 min under shower

	1078	1800 July 14/44	S-2 reports bridge at Blehou said to have been mined last night by enemy patrol. Not confirmed as yet

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 15/44 To: 2400 Jul 15/44 Place: 1 Mi S of Le Moulinet, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast

	1079	0700 July 15/44	Co “A” engaged in maintaining & marking of roads in assigned area. Co “B” & “C” attend mine warfare school

	1080	1100 July 15/44	Lt Devlin injured about the eyes by exploding firing device while conducting class in mine warfare in Co “C”. Injury not serious

	1081	1330 July 15/44	Lt Manspeaker lectures “H&S” Co on German booby traps, grenades, and mines, explaining their construction and operation. Lt Manspeaker illustrates his talk with several of the above named types of captured German equipment

	1082	1400 July 15/44	GO #2 published awarding the Purple Heart to the following named EM wounded in action against the enemy: Pfc Rudolph G. Cook, Pfc Charles J. Welzien, Tec 5 Albert A. Digiovanni & S/Sgt Rock R. Allard

	1083	1800 July 15/44	S-2 reports bridge at Blehou demolished by the enemy. Necessary to construct new bridge
			(Over)

	1084	2030 July 15/44	Co “C” moves out to build bridge at Blehou; work suspended at 2300 hrs due to enemy arty fire

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 16/44 To: 2400 Jul 16/44 Place: 1 Mi S of Le Moulinet, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast, clearing at noon

	[sic – NOTE: Next Serial No. should be 1085 (not 1079)]

	1079	0100 July 16/44	Cpl Pesek, S-1 messenger, in accident while returning from 4th Div. Cpl Pesek was struck by an ambulance driven by C.J. Walsweer (rank unknown), Med Det, 70th Tank Bn. No one injured. Cpl Pesek’s motorcycle sent to Ord for minor repairs

	1080	0530 July 16/44	Co “C” again moves out to Blehou and this time successfully completes construction of a 40’ DS Bailey Bridge. Work completed at 1500 hrs

	1081	0700 July 16/44	“A” Co working on roads in assigned area. Co “B” cleaning & maintaining Engr equipment

	1082	1030 July 16/44	Ch Kremer conducts Catholic services in Bn area
			(Over)

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 16/44 To: 2400 Jul 16/44 Place: 1 Mi S of Le Moulinet, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken

	1083	1800 July 16/44	Hitler broadcasts ultimatum to the Allied forces to the effect, unless Allied troops prepare to evacuate that portion of France which they now hold within the next 48 hrs, he will launch an attack which will sweep them into the sea. Since it takes some time to pack our personal equipment, Adolph, we think we’ll stay awhile.

	1084	2100 July 16/44	Lt Col Liedike calls meeting of Staff 0’s and Co Comdrs and informed the officers of contemplated plans on forthcoming operation. So far as the 296th Engrs is concerned they will be dropped from assignment to the 1120th Engrs and attached to the 3d Armored Div for the next phase of the operation. Tentative assignments for the 298th Engrs were discussed and inasmuch as the next phase has not yet started, no mention is made now of the contemplated assignment for this unit. It is sufficient to say at this time that the 298th Engrs will probably draw the most important mission since activation.

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 17/44 To: 2400 Jul 17/44 Place: Tribehou, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Fair and warm

	1085	1006 July 17/44	Bn moves to new bivouac area at Tribehou, arriving 1040 hrs. Day spent in setting up cp. “A” Co patrols roads in assigned area; “B” Co engaged in maintenance & repair of roads; “C” Co held as Bn reserve

	1086	1700	Another meeting of Staff 0’s & Co Comdrs called by Lt Col Liedike, at which time discussion is continued on the assignment for the 298th Engrs in the forthcoming phase of this campaign

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 18/44 To: 2400 Jul 18/44 Place: Tribehou, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast; showers

	1087	0700 July 1844	Leaflets, dropped by U.S. planes, intended for German troops, found in area this morning. The leaflets are a reproduction of the front page of the German newspaper “Volkischer Beobachter” of 10 Oct 41, in which it is stated Russia is practically annihilated as a military force. On the reverse side there is shown a map indicating the nearness of the Russian Army to East Prussia at this time, now a matter of some few miles

	1088	0700 July 18/44	“A” & “C” Co’s maintaining Engr & individual equipment. “B” Co continues maintenance of roads in area assigned

	1089	1100 July 18/44	Ch Shay conducts Protestant services in bivouac area

	1090	1500 July 18/44	The following named 0 & EM, this unit, are authorized to wear the Distinguished Unit Badge per GO 26, Hq FUSA, dtd 17 June 44, for “extra ordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty in action in the initial assault of the northern Coast of Normandy, France, 6 June 1944.” These men
			(Over)
			were atchd to the 237th Engr C Bn at the time for which the citation is awarded: 2nd Lt Bernard L. Stafford, Cpl Nicholas Seguar, T/5 Walter G. Hellwig, Pfc Leon R. Bembenek, Pfc Edward W. Kudlaty, Pfc Rudolph G. Cook, Pfc Richard F. Geigner, Pfc Harry F. Broda, Pfc Marion Z. Kurczewski, Pfc Henry M. Pietrucci, Pfc Gerald M. Rehfeldt, Pfc Charles J. Welzien and Pvt George W. Mackeigan.

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 19/44 To: 2400 Jul 19/44 Place: Tribehou, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast; clearing late afternoon

	1091	0345 July 19/44	Bn alerted for immediate movement as enemy gunfire is heard to our West. Liaison 0, Gp, reports that 83d Div launched attack in that vicinity early this morning. Report unconfirmed. Movement orders not issued

	1092	0700 July 19/44	“A” Co guarding Tribehou from North, West and South; “B” Co continues maintenance of roads in asgd area; “C” Co repairing road vicinity of Jayhawk CP, La Gucherie [sic]

	1093	1545 July 19/44	Personnel dive for foxholes as German Messerschmidt speed over bivouac area closely pursued by U.S. fighter, its MGs spitting bullets

	1094	1800 July 19/44	S-2 reports enemy minefields at 430772 and 428786, north of this area. No sources of gravel or gravel pits located this vicinity

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 20/44 To: 2400 Jul 20/44 Place: Tribehou, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast; clearing at noon; heavy rainfall at 1800 hrs continuing through the night

	[sic – NOTE: Next Serial No. should be 1095 (not 1094)]

	1094	0700 July 20/44	“A” Co guards Tribehou from North, West and South. “B” Co engaged in maintenance of roads in asgd area; Co “B” Mine Team atnd Mine Sch. “C” Co held as Bn reserve, spends day caring for Engr tools, equipment & vehicles

	1095	0700 July 20/44	Cpl Pesek, S-1 Msgr, reports having been strafed by enemy plane while enroute to VII Corps Hq. By luck coincidence, Cpl Pesek had just left the road due to breaking of chain on his motorcycle, otherwise he would undoubtedly have become a casualty

	1096	2000 July 20/44	Lt Col Liedike calls meeting of Staff 0’s and Co Comdrs, at which time the present military situation is outlined and future work assignments for this unit discussed. Description of action for next phase are given by the Bn Comdr and supplementary remarks made by Capt Pettit, Operations O.

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 21/44 To: 2400 Jul 21/44 Place: Tribehou, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast

	1097	0700 July 21/44	“B” Co continues maintenance and patrol of roads in asgd area; “C” Co, guard of Tribehou from North, West and South, and also Bn reserve Co

	1098	1330 July 21/44	Co “A” (now stchd to 23d Armd Engr Bn) moves to Omaha concentration area near le Desert, France, and begins work on roads in that area

	1099	1800 July 21/44	S-2 reports recon for new bivouac site

	2000	1905 July 21/44	German arty barrage in 6 & 8 150mm shell bursts falls on this area, terminating at 2020 hrs. Personnel ordered to evacuate area immediately, the area being particularly hazardous due to the fact there were 10,000 lbs of TNT stored in a bldg. in the area, and its explosion was momentarily expected. Personnel travel to assembly point 3 mi east. Recon teams return to area to collect blankets, rations, and water. The unit then moves to temporary bivouac site 3 mi Northwest. The ensuing TNT explosion destroyed the bldg. in which it was stored and 2 other
			(Over)
			buildings in the immediate vicinity, leaving a crater 50’ in diameter and 20’ in depth. Debris was tossed ½ mi. Casualties: 2 EM killed (Pfc Steve J. Kish & Pvt William H. Creech, both Co “B”) and 14 EM wounded. Casualties of equipment: 7 2 ½ T cargo trucks; 2 2 ½ T Dump trucks; 2 ¾ T C&R cars; 1 ¼ T Prime mover; 1 Tractor, R-4; 1 Compressor; 1 Arc Welder; 1 Low Bed Trailer, 8T; and some personal equipment of approximately 200 men

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 22/44 To: 2400 Jul 22/44 Place: 2 mi N of le Desert, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast

	2001	0700 July 22/44	Co “C” continues work same as yesterday

	2002	1315 July 22/44	Bn moves from bivouac site to area 2 mi W of le Desert France, arriving 1400 hrs, and joining Co “A”. Unit sets up camp and prepares to reorganize & re-equip

	2003	1700 July 22/44	Some repls of trucks and other equip destroyed in the shelling yesterday received

	2004	2335 July 22/44	3 gas alarm attacks sounded within the hour; all prove false. This is a particularly trying experience for those men who lost their gas masks due to enemy action yesterday

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 23/44 To: 2400 Jul 23/44 Place: 2 mi N of le Desert, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast

	2005	0700 July 23/44	Some German shells lobbed into vicinity of this area last night and early this morning

	2006	0700 July 23/44	Co “C” relvd of road work by Co “C” and begins loading for future operations; Co “B” also loading for future operations

	2007	1830 July 23/44	Ch Kremer hears Confessions and says Mass in bivouac area

	2008	2100 July 23/44	German recon plane appears over bivouac area

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 24/44 To: 2400 Jul 24/44 Place: 2 mi N of le Desert, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast until noon; warm & hazy in the afternoon

	2009	0700 July 24/44	All Co’s preparing for future operations; Co “C” still working on roads in assigned area

	2010	1800 July 24/44	S-4 reports practically all casualties of equipment replaced

	2011	1900 July 24/44	Bn placed on 30 min alert after 1800 hrs tomorrow

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 25/44 To: 2400 Jul 25/44 Place: 2 mi N of le Desert, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Hazy

	2012	0700 July 25/44	Personnel continue preparation for future operations

	2013	0930 July 25/44	Unit witnesses first phase of operation as swarms of U.S. bombers of all types, escorted by P-38’s & Thunderbolts, bomb German positions. 2 bombers are seen to go down in flames, victims of German flak

	2014	1100 July 25/44	Opns Memo No. 46, Hq VII Corps, dtd 23 Jul 44, subj: “False alarms of Gas Attacks” read to all personnel. Lt Loth, Bn Gas 0, designated as responsible officer to give gas attack alarm

	2015	1900 July 25/44	Bn de-alerted until 0700 hrs tomorrow

	2015½	1900 July 25/44	This unit atchd to 3d Armd Div as of 1300 hrs, this day

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 26/44 To: 2400 Jul 26/44 Place: 2 mi N of le Desert, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Overcast; clear at noon

	2016	0700 July 26/44	Bn again placed on 30 min alert

	2017	0700 July 26/44	Bn continues preparation for future operations

	2018	1300 July 26/44	Report received Lt Radtke admitted to hospital yesterday suffering from acute attack of appendicitis

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 27/44 To: 2400 Jul 27/44 Place: 2 mi N of le Desert, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Intermittent light rain; clear at noon

	2019	0700 July 27/44	Vicinity this area bombed by enemy planes at about 0145 this AM. It is reported there were 67 fatalities among the casualties; no losses suffered by this unit

	2020	0700 July 27/44	Bn still preparing for future operations

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 28/44 To: 2400 Jul 28/44 Place: 2 mi N of le Desert, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Clear

	2021	1510 July 28/44	Bn moves from this area, traveling over dusty, traffic chocked roads, to bivouac site 2 mi SW of Carantilly, arriving 1915 hrs. Unit forced to halt several times on march due to traffic congestion. En route we passed through area which was the object of the heavy bombing by US bombers last Tuesday. The area is now nothing but a shambles of demolished buildings, overturned vehicles, up-rooted trees, and huge craters. We also passed 2 jeepfuls [sic] of German P/W who seem very happy that the war is now over for them

	2022	2300 July 28/44	German bombers appear over area, 2 of which are brought down by AA fire. A 100lb bomb lands in Co “B” area, destroying 1 2 ½ T dump truck & 1 C&R car. No personnel casualties

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 29/44 To: 2400 Jul 29/44 Place: 2 mi SW of Carantilly, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Fair

	2023	0700 July 29/44	“A” Co held as Bn reserve; “B” Co clearing & maintaining roads in asgd area; “C” Co partial guard for Div CP

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 30/44 To: 2400 Jul 30/44 Place: 2 mi SW of Carantilly, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Fair

	2024	0700 July 30/44	Bn placed on 30 min alert

	2025	1300 July 30/44	Bn detached from 3d Armd Div & reverts to 1120th Engr C Gp control but continues to support 3d Armd Div

	2027	1400 July 30/44	“B” Co captures 22 German soldiers; “A” Co, captured 2

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 Jul 31/44 To: 2400 Jul 31/44 Place: 2 mi SW of Carantilly, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: Fair

	2028	0700 July 31/44	Enemy aircraft over bivouac area last night; no bombs dropped

	2029	0800 July 31/44	Bn moves to new bivouac area 1 mi N of Roncey, passing through the towns of Cerissy [sic]la Salle and Roncey, which were heavily shelled during the recent action. Enroute we pass German vehicles and arty pieces of all types, many reduced to junk as a result of strafing by our planes.

	2030	0900 July 31/44	Ltr Co’s clearing, sweeping and marking roads.

	2031	1100 July 31/44	“A” Co squad brings in 4 German P/W

~~S E C R E T~~

HEADQUARTERS 298TH ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION APO 230, U. S. Army
2 Julust 1944

SUBJECT:	Period this organization was attached to 3d Armored Division

TO:	Commanding General, VII Corps APO 307, U. S. Army

THRU:	Commanding Officer 1120th Engineer (C) Group APO 230, U. S. Army

1. The following is a sequence of events of each 24 hour period during which this organization was attached to the 3rd Armored Division.

a. (1) Attached at 1300 hours 25 July 1944, and entire battalion moved to a bivouac area within division sector north of Le Desert, France, and placed on 30 minute alert for movement.
(2) One company began reconnaissance and work on roads within division concentration area.
(3) Battalion de-alerted at 1900 hours but informed of 30 minute alert basis at 0700 26 July.
(4) Continued maintenance of small road net by one company.
b. (1) 1300 hours 26 July battalion still on 30 minute alert basis for movement.
(2) One platoon engaged in small amount of maintenance of roads in concentration area.
(3) No other activity.
c. (1) 1300 hours 27 July battalion still on 30 minute alert basis for movement.
(2) One platoon engaged in maintenance of previous road net.
(3) Restricted movement of tanks and vehicles allowed roads to dry out.
-1-

~~S E C R E T~~

(4) 1100 hours 28 July one company moved south on route “B” immediately in rear of combat command “A” to vicinity of Marigny for maintenance of road to be used by balance of division for movement into area vicinity Carantilly.
d. (1) 1300 hours 28 July balance battalion informed to be ready to move in 15 minutes.
(2) 1610 hours orders received to line up on road leading out of concentration area to route “B” in rear of company “D” “Outlook”.
(3) Battalion less one company closed in bivouac south of Carantilly at 2200 hours, after traveling during entire period not knowing definitely where new area was located.
(4) 0600 29 July reconnaissance started on road southwest from Carantilly toward Ceriay La Salle. One company began work on roads in immediate vicinity of Carantilly on division order. Roads were expected to be used for movement of division and trains.
e. (1) 1300 hours 30 July battalion detached from 3rd Armored Division reverts to Group control but continues in support of 3rd Armored Division
(2) 1600 hours 30 July battalion assigned a work area by 1120th engineer (C) group in rear of 3rd Armored Division and to continue in support of 3rd Armored Division.
(3) 0700 hours 31 July battalion moves to vicinity of Roncey and all three lettered companies engaged in sweeping, marking and clearing of roads in vicinity of Roncey.
(4) The above continues thruout [sic] day until 0100 hours 1 Julust.
(5) 1100 hours 1 Julust informed no longer supporting 3rd Armored Division and battalion continues road work in assigned area.
2. During the period of actual attachment to 3rd Armored Division the battalion received only odd road jobs and specific instructions as to limits or extent of roads were seldom given. The original plan called for two companies of this battalion to work one on each of two roads forward and within an area from the rear of the combat commands to the division rear boundary. This plan never

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actually went into effect. However, if the forward movement of the division had been less rapid it is believed this plan would have worked very well.

	RAY R. LIEDIKE Lt Col, CE Commanding

-3-
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Transcribed by Bob Kipke – April 2013