JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 10/44 To: 2400 June 10/44 Place: Aboard transport in the English Channel
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken


	980	0600 June 10/44	The day dawns bright and clear, becoming overcast by mid-morning

	981	1015 June 10/44	Troops prepare to board LCI’s, starting with the 38th Engr GS Regt. This unit to leave last

	982	1150 June 10/44	This unit debarks from LCI and commences wading ashore at Le Gde Dune, France. Water is found to be well beyond the depth of the troops. A scene of wild confusion follows as the men struggle in the water. In some cases men are forced to discard rifles, packs, and helmets. All eventually reach shore safely, some only through the aid of their comrades. M/Sgt Chiles (S-1) evacuated to field hospital, suffering from exhaustion. No enemy encountered at the landing

	983	1220 June 10/44	Commence foot march to Area “B” (near Hebert, France), arriving 1430 and joining Advance Party headed by Lt Col Liedike

	984	1800 June 10/44	Orientation talk by Lt Col Liedike, explaining disposition of Allied troops and stating the objective is the city of Cherbourg, a deep water port, the capture of which will facilitate the landing of troops and supplies on this continent

			(OVER)

	985	2300 June 10/44	Enemy aerial activity and AA Fire causes personnel to pass a sleepless night

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 11/44 To: 2400 June 12/44 Place: Near Hebert, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
	986	1400 June 11/44	Some equipment arrives by truck

	987	1900 June 11/44	Lt Stafford, Pvt Wellzien, Pvt Bembenek, Pvt MacKeigan arrive, having completed their mission with the 299th engr C Bn

			12 June 44

	988	1230 June 12/44	M/Sgt Chiles returns from hospital, after a 2 hr search for this area, much improved

	989	2245 June 12/44	Main body of “A”, “B”, & “C” Co’s arrive under the leadership of their respective Co Comdrs

	990	2330 June 12/44	Unidentified German plane drops a fragmentation bomb (consisting of 32 ¾ lb bombs) on this area. 2 men killed and 24 men slightly or seriously wounded, the majority from “B” Co. Injured men are promptly given First Aid and rushed to hospital.

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 13/44 To: 2400 June 14/44 Place: Near Hebert, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
	991	1300 June 13/44	Combination foot and motor march as we evacuate this area. Arrive at new bivouac area at Turqueville, France, at 1415 hrs. Cp set up and all personnel promptly dig in. Area searched for snipers, land mines, and booby traps. None found.

	992	1500 June 13/44	SO #74 published assigning 3 new 0’s as follows: Lt Sweet, “A” Co; Lt Donovan, “B” Co; Lt Fairbanks, “C” Co; also assigning 53 repls to various Co’s

			14 June 44
			Turqueville, France

	993	0800 June 14/44	Troops passed an uneasy, restless night due to enemy aerial activity. No bombs dropped in this area.

	994	1315 June 14/44	Captured German 4.5 cm PAK gun discharged by soldier who pulls trigger of same believing it to be empty. No damage caused. Personnel disappear in foxholes at the sound of the explosion.

	995	1330 June 14/44	SO #75 published trfg 1 EM; Lt Hughes relvd of duties as Asst S-2 and aptd Bn Salvage 0

	996	1800 June 14/44	Line Co’s engaged this day in Engr Recon, marking towns & roads, road recon & repair. “B” Co establishes C1 IV dump at Ste Mere-Eglise

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 15/44 To: 2400 June 17/44 Place: Turqueville, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
	997	0700 June 15/44	Ltr Co’s still engaged in Engr recon, marking towns and roads, road recon and repair. H&S Co operating a W/P

			16 June 44

	998	0700 June 16/44	Ltr Co’s engaged in same work as yesterday

	999	1300 June 16/44	SO #76 published trfg 1 EM to H&S Co; assigning 9 repls to H&S Co, 1 to Med Det

			17 June 44

	1000	0700 June 17/44	Ltr Co’s still engaged in same work as previous 2 days

	1001	1300 June 17/44	SO #77 published trfg 1 EM to H&S Co

	1002	1900 June 17/44	Situations talk by Lt Devlin, who explains the disposition of “ABC” troops, and the objective of the American forces, which is the sealing off of the Cherbourg Peninsula

	1003	2000 June 17/44	Lt Lekberg arrives in charge of 1 section of UP 4, 34 in party, of which 3 are 0’s & 1 WO; also 21 vehicles

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 18/44 To: 2400 June 18/44 Place: Turqueville, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
	1004	1030 June 18/44	Personnel attend Mass held in the church in this town, at which a resanctification ceremony is performed, the church having been desecrated by the Germans. Chaplain Kremer says Mass and hears confessions at 1300 hrs

	1005	1430 June 18/44	Lt Devlin lectures on the present military situation. The outstanding point of his talk being that the Cherbourg Peninsula was sealed off at 0900 hrs this day, rapid progress being made by the U.S. forces

	1006	1630 June 18/44	Lt Col Liedike leaves to recon area for contemplated P/W enclosure to be constructed by this unit

	1007	2000 Jun 18/44	Co “C” moves out to construct P/W enclosure at St Germain de Villarville [sic], to accommodate 10,000 prisoners

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 19/44 To: 2400 June 19/44 Place: Turqueville, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
	1008	0700 June 1944	“A” Co works on clearing of minefields and guarding *Jayhawk, while “B” and “C” Co’s build PW enclosure
			*Jayhawk is the codename for the VII Corps

	1009	1200 June 19/44	1 section of UP 4 under command of Capt Dwyer arrives. This unit is now completely assembled

			20 June 44

	1010	1400 June 20/44	Memo to all personnel calling attention to laxness in camouflage discipline. Warning personnel that the area is subject to enemy bombing since it is a troop concentration area. All fires to be extinguished by 2000 hrs. Troops will remain close to foxholes whenever possible

	1011	1900 June 20/44	SO #79 published relieving Capt Elden as S-4 & aptng him CO, H&S Co; Capt Dwyer relvd as CO, H&S Co, asgd to “B” as CO; Lt Cohen relvd as CO, “B” Co, & aptd S-4; 1 new 0 asgd (Lt Scott) to “C” Co; 17 repls asgd to various Co’s

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 21/44 To: 2400 June 22/44 Place: Turqueville, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
	1012	0815 June 21/44	Lt Hughes reported to have been in motor cycle accident while on mission yesterday. Evacuated to the UK. No particulars of the accident were disclosed

	1013	0830 June 21/44	Motor march to new bivouac area at Basse Edmonville, arriving 0915 hrs. The day is devoted to setting up camp, Engr recon, while “C” Co work on PWE

			22 June 44

			Basse Edmonville, France

	1015	0700 June 22/44	Bn engaged in Engr recon; 2 plats “A” Co guard Jayhawk rear & fwd echelons; “B” & “C” Cos rest for future operations

	1016	1615 June 22/44	Bn Comdr calls meeting at Staff 0’s and Co Comdrs

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 23/44 To: 2400 June 24/44 Place: Basse Edmonville, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
	1017	1500 June 23/44	Unit lvs this area and bivouacks [sic] in the vicinity of Quettehou at 1940 hrs, after having halted for about 3 hrs enroute, awaiting further orders. The first prisoners of war captured by this unit are taken in this area, numbering 14. They are sent to PWE after interrogation by S-2. It may be mentioned in passing that the enemy personnel in this theater of operations consists in the main of French, Belgian, Dutch, Czech, Russian, and Italian nationals, serving under German officers and non-coms

			24 June 44

	1016	1515 June 24/44	Bn moves out from this area and bivouacks [sic] at La Victoire at 1630 hrs. Unit engaged in Engr recon, work in assigned area, and setting up camp

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 25/44 To: 2400 June 25/44 Place: La Victoire, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
	1019	0700 June 25/44	This unit principally engaged in repair of roads & bridges in area assigned to it. “C” Co on 15 min alert basis for immediate movement

	1020	1350 June 25/44	SO #80 published aptng Lt Wirth Communications 0, vice (Capt Dwyer; reducing 1 EM

	1021	1900 June 25/44	Ch Kremer says Mass in bivouac area

	1022	2000 June 25/44	Ch Shay holds services for Protestants in bivouac area

	1023	2000 June 25/44	Lt Col Liedike calls meeting of Staff 0’s & Co Comdrs

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 26/44 To: 2400 June 26/44 Place: La Victoire, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
	1024	0230 June 26/44	5 squads of Co “C” move out to sweep mines in Cherbourg area. Finish work at 0700

			Weather, Heavy rain
	1025	0700 June 26/44	“A” Co & “B” Co repairing roads & building bridges in this area; “H&S” operating W/Ps at Ste Mere-Eglise U 1st Army PWE

	1026	1630 June 26/44	SO #61 published trfg 4 EM

	1027	1900 June 26/44	GO #1 published awarding Purple Heart to the following EM, wounded in action against the enemy: M/Sgt Henry L. Chiles, S/Sgt Albert F. warner [sic]; Sgt Abraham Apigian; T/5 Raymond Anderson, T/5 Leon R. Bembenek, Pfc Elmer J. Buck, Pvt George Mackeigan. The award was presented to each of the above named by Lt Col Liedike at 2000 hrs, this day

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 27/44 To: 2400 June 27/44 Place: La Victoire, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			weather: Overcast, intermittent rain

	1028	0700 June 27/44	“H&S” Co still operating same W/Ps. “A” & “B” Cos engaged same as yesterday. “C” Co in area on alert status for work in fwd area

	1029	1100 June 27/44	Memo to all personnel regarding the seriousness of the crime of looting of towns & villages. It is strictly forbidden to buy anything from the French, particularly food. Violators of the foregoing to be severely punished. Memo to all personnel prohibiting the riding of bicycles on main roads & streets, in consideration of civil population & military safety. The foregoing memo to be read to all personnel, this unit.

	1030	1350 June 27/44	First free rations received, consisting of candy, gum, cigarettes, smoking tobacco, tooth powder

	1031	1600 June 27/44	Co “B” detail de-booby trapping German Hq in Barfleur set off S-Mine, killing Pvt Jim J. Forster, and injuring 5 others

	0132	1900 June 27/44	Lt Col Liedike calls meeting of Co Comdrs & Staff 0’s

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 28/44 To: 2400 June 29/44 Place: La Victoire, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: No change

	1033	0700 June 28/44	“H&S” Co still operating W/Ps as heretofore; “A” & “B” Cos engaged in same work as yesterday

	1034	1100 June 28/44	Co “C” on combat patrol mission from Gatteville to St. Vaast La Hogue [sic]

			29 June 1944

			Weather: No change

	1035	0700 June 29/44	“H&S” Co still operating W/Ps. “A” & “B” Cos repairing & maintaining roads and bridges in assigned area. One platoon Co “C” on combat patrol in Barfleur. Other two platoons resting in bivouac

	1036	1100 June 29/44	Lt Col Liedike calls meeting of Co Comdrs

	1037	1300 June 29/44	SO #82 published trfg Lt Lekberg to Co “A”; Lt Radtke to Co “B”; 1st Lt Arthur R. Watson, having reported for duty, asgnd to Co “C”

	1038	1630 June 29/44	Brig Gen Walker, Asst Comdr 8th Div, arrvs in bivouac area & confers briefly with Lt Col Liedike

~~S E C R E T~~

JOURNAL
				298 Journal Organization 298th Engr C Bn From: 0001 June 30/44 To: 2400 June 30/44 Place: La Victoire, France
Time In Out	Serial No.	Time Date	Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc		Action Taken
			Weather: No change

	1039	0700 June 30/44	“H&S” Co operating same W/Ps; “A” & “B” Cos engaged in minor road maintenance; “C” Co rests in bivouac for future operations

	1040	1300 June 30/44	SO #83 published trfg Lt Whiteturkey to Bn Hq as Recon 0; Lt Devlin, Recon 0 to Co “C”; Lt Stafford to Co “B”; Lt Scott to Bn Hq as Asst S-2

~~S E C R E T~~

Transcribed by Bob Kipke – April 2013