Last updated: 11/3/2008

 

Under Repair, Be back soon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Also designated as the 40th Engineer Combat Group in France and not to be confused with the 40th Engineer Combat Battalion, Mechanized)

Welcom

All of the Members of the WWII 40th Combat Engineers would like to welcome you to our website.  We have an active group that meets annually for a reunion.  We are always looking to find more members so please contact us if you know anybody who may be interested.  We have compiled a comprehensive history, some of which is on this site and also a complete book.

 

Quick Overview

The 40th Engineer Combat Regiment (ECR) worked the beaches, rebuilt port facilities, built supply dumps, and hauled supplies to support the 45th division and other divisions of the 7th Army.

The three battalions of the 40th ECR were re-designated after WWII as the 495th, 496th and 497th and continue as reserve units.  Thus the history of the WWII 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions is also the history of these numbered Engineer Battalions. The 40th Combat Engineers earned 7 WWII Battle Stars: N. Africa, Sicily, Naples-Fogia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Central Europe, Rhine Valley, and Central Europe.

The 497th, then known as the 3rd Bn, became eligible for the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), awarded to the 3rd Infantry Division to which it was attached during the Colemar Pocket Campaign. Upon reactivation it is eligible to claim the PUC and the Croix de Guerre decoration, awarded for the fighting from the Southern France landing through the Voges Mountains, Alsace, Germany and Austria to the Danube River.

In 1946 after most of the soldiers of the 40th had returned to civilian life the first reunion was held in Chippewa Falls, WI, on August 4th and the 40th Combat Engineer National Association was formed. Reunions have been held every year since then, usually during the last week in August so that members have the Labor Day weekend for additional travel time.

Some Interesting Statistics - 40th ECR

Distinguished Service Cross - 3

Legion of Merit 10

Silver Star 12

Bronze Star 85

Soldiers Medal 20

Purple Heart 134

Presidential Unit Citation (3rd Btn.)

Killed in Action 39

Died Not in Action 10 (as the result of wounds, construction and travel accidents when not under enemy fire)

 

45th Infantry Division Thunderbirds

During the 45th Infantry Division's 511 combat days in WWII the division marched from North Africa, through Sicily, up the boot of Italy, across France, and deep into Germany.  It liberated hundreds of towns and cities.  Took 124,840 of its enemies prisoner, and liberated 30,000 holocaust survivors from the nightmare of Dachau.  But it had been costly.  The Thunderbirds had suffered 3,650 killed, 13,729 wounded, 3,615 missing, 41,569 sick and injured.