258th Engineer Picture Group

[AmericanKraut]

I was at a local antique mall recently and happened to stubble upon this grouping for a really good deal. I previously have been really interested in the 148th engineer core since one of my good friends served in WWII in the 148th.

This is a late war to occupation group of pictures but it shows a good amount of army life. There are pictures from Germany, Belgium, France and a few in between. There is writing on almost all of the pictures back. The pictures are labeled in approximate order in what they were taken.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

[AmericanKraut]

There are a few comical pictures if you can spot the random guys getting ready to shoot each other... Either their really good friends, or they have spent too much time in a pup tent together...

Here are a few links to pages that are related to the grouping or people in the pictures-

NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)
This is the guy that the Bridge is dedicated to he was KIA

Bill Elias' WWII Story: 258th Engineer Combat Battalion
Here is a post report of the group, The officer that signed the document is in the second and third photos

I found a few other NARAs but was unable to Identify the people for sure.
If you can help find anymore info on the 258th or 148th engineer core groups please share, Comments are welcomed.
-Ben

[ObKrieger]

These photos are great, but what makes them outstanding are the captions. I love the photos of the guy playing with the bazooka.

[Walkwolf]

Great set of photos. I really like the one taken at 'Ath Belgium' with the jeep.
That most are named identifying individual soldiers is cool !

There is another which reads: "Formati & a DP" - which is what 'Displaced
Persons' were called. I've read that many travelled with the troops as
they were fed, clothed and treated well, often doing odd jobs
- washing uniforms, etc.........

[AmericanKraut]

Thanks for the info Steve, and one of my favorites too Mo... There's something about explosives

I forgot to mention the first picture is in Clarion Pennsylvania I believe before he was shipped over seas. I would like to find the Soldiers ID in the picture. I am currently in Clarion for College, and I searched the whole town for the building he is standing by. An old gentlemen I ran into told me that the building was on the College campus but was torn down :'(

I was going to take a modern photo of me in my khakis in front of the building for comparison so...



This is the closest I could get to recreating the picture... Enjoy

[AmericanKraut]

By the way does anyone know the holiday the Germans were celebrating in the pictures with the Cross etc. In May? Maybe Andreas knows since has vast knowledge, but I do not know if he ventures to this side of the forum?

And Steve whom do you think the fellow on the left in the "Formati & a DP" picture looks like ...
Possibly GW ...