298th CONNECTIONS
Do You Have a connection or interest with someone who served with this unit and would like to post a query?
Send me an e-mail with the specifics. At a minimum provide:
- Who you are (your name)
- What is your connection to the 298th
- What you are trying to establish, your interest, your questions, or what you can
provide
In addition, I'll post individual pages where you can provide more detailed information or stories to include bio's and photographs.
Please specifically state that you are giving me permission to publish, on this website, your name, and e-mail address (or any other infomation such as address or phone number that you might want listed).
This is a non-commercial site, as webmaster, I retain the right to decide what is published on this site.
From: Sharon Goodwin
I'm trying to locate anyone who may have served in the 298th with my step-father, Richard H. Matthews of Golden, Co. He is 83 and in failing health. He has Parkinson's
Disease and he is in a wheelchair most of the time and can no longer remember details of his service.
From: Brandyn Grove
I own the artifacts of Harlan P. Myers and I am trying to find information about him and anybody who knew him. He was originally from Lanark, Illinois and then later in life moved to the Cederville/Freeport area. He was in company B of the 298th engineer battalion.
thanks for your help,
E-Mail: Brandyn Grove
From: Al Rieger
My father served in Company C. His name was also Al Rieger. I once asked him what he did in the war and he said that he "built bridges and then blew them up". I'm interested in communicating with anybody who knew my Dad.
E-mail Al Rieger or phone: 248 515-9369
From: Tom Geigner
I am the nephew of Pfc Richard F Geigner. As you probably know there was much confusion over my uncle's death, so I do have a few questions. I have an original copy of the history of 298th along with some of my uncle's effects - flag, Purple Heart, paperwork,service picture, etc.
There are some handed down family stories of my uncle's death.We know he was killed by a mine explosion (he was killed in the early hours of June 6, 1944) but can anyone tell us exactly what happened?
Some of the men who served with my uncle came to visit my Grandmother soon after the war. I would love to hear from any of these men or any one who served with or remember him.
My father was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne. As you know the 101st was fighting toward Utah beach on D-Day. Some time after D-Day the 298th & 101st crossed paths & my father had asked some of the men of the 298th if any of them knew his kid brother Richard Geigner (not knowing his brother was killed till after the war). Does anyone remember crossing paths with the 101st after D-Day? About what date did this happen & was this a common practice to ask or be asked about soldiers from other outfits?
Thank you very much for having this site & I look forward to hearing from someone. I would be glad to answer any questions I can from anybody, I do not know a lot since my uncle was killed 14yrs before my birth but I do have some information.
Repectfully yours,
E-Mail: Tom & Laura Geigner
Minocqua, WI
From: Mary Lou Rome
I am trying to locate anyone who may have served in 298th with my
father, 1st Lt. Daniel A Manspeaker, He was the Company Administration
Officer for Company "C". Would appreciate any response.
Thank you
E-mail Mary Lou Rome
From: Jonathan Funk
My grandfather, Kermit G. Funk, served in WWII as a medical technician (and combat medic) at the battalion aid station of a CEB in the ETO, however I�m not sure which one. I have a picture of him standing under a sign in the dessert of California which reads, �298th Combat Engineer Battalion�. However, I also know that he was discharged from the 288th CEB (according to discharge papers).
According to his discharge papers in late 1944/early 45 he supervised the Battalion aid station as a Staff/Sgt and assisted the surgeon. He was form Staunton Virginia.
I was wondering if anyone had a personal list for the 298th? I would appreciate any help in discovering my grandfather�s story.
Thank you and all the best,
E-mail Jonathan Funk
From: Mariel Massoglia
My name is Mariel Massoglia. My grandfather, Martin F. Massoglia, was in the 238th CEB for the duration of it's operations in Europe leading up to and following the D-Day invasion. As a matter of fact, it was he who took command when a few of the boats, including the one with the CO had to turn back due to mechanical problems on the way to Utah Beach.
Although Papa wrote a book (Battalion attention: Bridges to freedom) about his experience with the battalion, I would love to learn more about his, and his men's work in Europe, not just in combat, but anything, anecdotes, memories, descriptions of individuals, anything at all that anyone has to share from the time the 298th worked with the 238th.
Thank you all for any help, and thank you all for serving and sacrificing for my grandfather, his 6 children, his 17 grandchildren, and the 6 (so far) great-grandchildren he never got to see. For I have no doubt that at some point, someone listed here was instrumental in allowing him to come home safely and marry the woman who would become his wife for 55 years. Mariel
E-mail Mariel Massoglia
From: Wayne Buck
I am looking for anyone who was in the 298th Combat Engineering Battalion Company B, please contact me. Or if they are related to someone in Company B. His name was Corporal Elmer J. Buck. His OMPF records mention he had 15 men working under him. He received the Victory medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 1 Silver Battle Star, Good Conduct Medal, as well as a Purple Heart.
I can be reached by email or phone. (920)945-0097
E-mail Wayne Buck
From: John Avery
I have been researching my father's records in the hope of learning more about his service for WWII. I recently found that he served in Company C of the 298th Combat Engineers.
My father's name was Sherman Avery. He died some time ago in 1967. I have attached two photos which we found when my mother passed away. One is of him and the other must be of friends from his army years. There was no identification of the the men in the group photo.
If anyone has more information about the 298th Battalion, particularly his company, please contact me.
I never met my father, so the only information I have is from some letters, from his official papers, and from sites like this which give a few more details to the complex events of the invasion and the subsequent battle to rid the world of Hitler and his regime. I do know from one letter that my father considered his service in WWII to be the best thing he ever did with his life. It is important to me to know that and I appreciate any more information that others may have.
Sincerely,
E-mail John Avery
Tacoma, WA
PHOTOS
From: Tom Mueller
I am writing a book about Wisconsin men who were killed in World War II and are buried overseas. Thus I am interested in one particular member of the 298th Combat Engineers, who was killed on D-Day. Any background you can fill me in on would be appreciated. I have determined he was from Appleton, Wis., and was two years out of high school.
The man is:
Gerald M. Rehfeldt
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Service # 36813132
298th Engineer Combat Battalion
Entered the Service from: Wisconsin
Died: 6-Jun-44
Buried at: Plot F Row 25 Grave 41
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
E-Mail: Tom Mueller
Oak Creek, Wis.
PHOTO
From: Marlene Aldridge
My name is Marlene Aldridge. My uncle PVT JACK E. SNYDER of Flint, Michigan was a member of the 298th Engineers Company C. I wish to know about his mission and the details of his death, August 7, 1944. Was he shot, blown up? My mother was a teenager at the time and can't remember some things. She knows that he was in a forest and they came to a fork in the road and that the commander sent them down the wrong road and the Germans were waiting in ambush. She found out most of these things through one of twin brothers who were also from Michigan, their last name was HILL.
I would appreciate any information or anyone who knew him to email me.
E-mail: Marlene Aldridge
From: Cheryl Dozier Dahlin
Last week I found a picture of my dad and eight others in his detachment serving in WWII.
The back of the photo is labeled:
'The original 298th Medical Detachment. From Marseille to Berlin.
Capt. Sheldon Margen, S/sgt Charles Matherly, Sgt George Voth Jr., T/5 Kenneth Raymond, T/5 Alfred Parish, Pfc Carl Brown, Pfc Robert Burr, Pfc George Dozier'
I am interested in any information and/or photos regarding this detachment. I would love to have contact with any one serving or had family members serving in this detachment.
I would love to have some information regarding this time in my father's life.
E-mail: Cheryl Dozier Dahlin
From: Jack Templeton
Death Notice of Donald S Hill 1924 - 2009.
From: Marc T. Shafer (Aug 2009)
My name is Marc Shafer and my father was a Combat Engineer Unit Commander of the 298th Engineer C Battalion. He never mentioned a word about the war or his service up until his death in 2001. He would not talk about it.
While sorting through some old papers I came across his service record and accommodations. My father was born and raised in Morgantown, WV and joined the army while a ROTC student at the University of West Virginia He went to Europe on September 11, 1943 and returned home November 16, 1945 though he ultimately served over 3 years in Europe. The only thing I know is that he helped de-mine the beach at Normandy. His decorations and citations included:
European African Middle Eastern Service Medal
American Service Medal
American Defense Service Medal
Victory Medal.
Seeking advice on how to track down information? I have his certificate of service but nothing else. We have no idea of how he spent a single day during the war but sure would like to fill in the gaps. Are there any Government databases that tell where soldiers were during the war?
E-mail: Marc T. ShaferOFFSITE LINKS
Drawings of 298th Construction Projects
Bio of Bruce Montgomery Robertson
