XIX
Corps - 1st U.S. Army - 9th U.S. Army
European
Theater 1944-45
This
website was created to recognize and honor the men who served with the
82nd Engineer Combat Battalion during WWII. On June 17, 1944, 634
men of the 82nd landed on the shores of Normandy, France. Their mission
ended 326 days later, on May 8, 1945, when the German Army
surrendered unconditionally!
Most of these men were in their teens or early 20's, many right out of
high school, when they joined the 82nd, at Camp Swift Texas in January
1943, to begin military training.
The role of the combat engineer is to assist the infantry and armor by
removing or laying mines, opening and maintaining supply routes,
bridging the rivers, using explosives to facilitate infantry
and armor movement, provide water supplies and a myriad of other
engineering assignments.
From
D-Day, June 6, 1944, through May 8, 1945, 5.5 million young men
entered the European theater of operations. When it was over 465,000
allied soldiers lay dead including 165,000 American boys who would
never return home.
We have attempted, with
this
website, to present the story of WWII. First, by describing
the events leading up to the second world war and America's
response. We have documented the Normandy landings (Operation
Overlord) followed by the history of this battalion as we carried our
our mission all across Europe. And finally, we have presented a
capsule of the entire
WWII conflict! These historical accounts are accompanied by hundreds of
photographs.
We hope you will find interest in our recording of these
WWII historical events!
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This
brief history, a moment in the annals of the eternal struggle of
freedom loving people, is humbly dedicated to the youth of
America. For early in the year 1943, in an hour of deepest
darkness, when the United States of America was faced with an
unparalleled adversity in a strife- torn universe, with her
future doubtful and her way of life in jeopardy, it was her youth to
whom she turned for further aid and resource. And American youth
spontaneously answered her plea!
American
youth, ingenuous, immature, unknown in quality, responded
to her fervent calls in a voice loud enough to give courage and
consolation to downtrodded people everywhere. American youth
accepted it’s full share of responsibility for the preservation
of democratic principles and ideals, well before it’s time, and
was not found wanting. Nutured in freedom it took to arms to protect
it’s birthright and to preserve it’s destiny.
It
left it’s peaceful schoolroom, it’s cozy fireside,
it’s simple pleasures, to pay a full stipend towards the price of
freedom. When war shadows were the darkest, when injustice was at
it’s zenith, and when death and destruction were most
prevalent, it was the transfusion of youthful American blood into
the fray that breeched the crisis. American youth stood out as a beacon
light of hope, of peace, of victory......a veritable phalanx and
bulwark against the pestilence of hate and bondage...a solemn promise
to the world, not only for the defeat of tyranny but for the future
preservation of liberty, decency, and human rights to all forever!
Ed. Husted, 82nd
historian - July 2011
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Updated
3-12-16
In the
News
Click on Picture to view story.
| 82nd
Fighting ISIS! |
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New Maps from the Theatre of Operations -
Europe 1944
Courtesy of Randy Huber. |
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Rest in Peace
Soldier!
82nd Veteran
Hosea Langeway |
Hosea William Langeway, age 95, passed away peacefully on June 13,
2015, in Middlebury, CT.
Hosea was born on Oct. 3, 1919, graduated from Vergennes High School
and served with the 82nd Combat Engineers during the European Campaign.
After the war, he attended Vermont Technical College, the School of
Agriculture at UVM, University of Massachusetts and
the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, earning multiple degrees
in agriculture and horticulture.
He operated the family farm until 1964, then served in the US
Postal Service where he retired in 1983.
Our sincere condolences to his family -
Rest in peace soldier..... We prevailed.......
Thanks
to Randy Huber who is faithfully keeping up on member news! |
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Rest
in Peace Soldier
Ernest Huval,
82nd Combat Engineers
The Huval family from Lafayette, LA, announces the passing of our
friend and fellow 82nd veteran Earnest 'Sweet' Huval. on
March 11, 2015. Click the link below for the obit and a great picture
of his memorbilia from the European campaign.
Peace to you, good friend, and our prayers and condolences to his
family.
Huval Pdf (adobe reader
required)
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The Battle for
St. Lo
July 18, 1944
The
15,000-man 29th Infantry Division, along with the 650-man 82nd Combat
Engineer Batttalion defeated the Germans at the battle of St. Lo, in
Normandy. The battle had raged for 10-days. The division commander,
General Gerhardt, was killed during this battle, along with 13 members
of the 82nd Engineers.
I was reminded of this date
by a column in my daily newspaper which lists important past events "on
this date" in the past.
I phoned a former 82nd
Engineer today, and he well remembered that battle. Including the
German airplane which flew over us most nights just before dark, taking
photos of our troop locations. We called him, "bedcheck
Charlie".
Major
Ed "Doc" Molloy
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Major Molloy
attends 82nd Recommission Ceremony at Fort Riley........ |
Major
Ed "Doc" Molloy attended the reactivation of the 82nd Engineer Combat
Battalion, in Fort Riley, Kansas. Doc spoke before the battalion on the
parade ground, prior to the parade in review.
Doc was there by invitation from Major Robert Phillipson who expressed
interest in keeping the legacy of all 82nd units active and to make
sure the new members understand the history and sacrafice of the
European and Southeast Asian campaigns.
Maj Phillipson was excited to learn that we were looking for a good
home for the 82nd memoribilia, including the collection of medals the
82nd recieved for the European campaign.......Doc presented the
memorbilia to the new 82nd in a ceremony on Oct 16.......
Seventy years ago, at age 18, Doc joined the ranks of the
first 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion Camp Swift, Texas. |
Staff Sgt.
Ed Husted....
We Salute You! |
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Ed Husted, the official 82nd Historian and Web
Master, passed away on February 5, 2014 at his
home in Lily Dale, NY. He was 90.
The former Mayor of Olean, NY, is survived by his wife Alpha, who
performed secretarial duties at many 82nd reunions. He is also survived
by 4 sons, 6 grandchildren and 13 great- grandchildren.
Ed was always up for a speech, and was passionate about WWII, the 82nd,
and the Battalion Association. Most of the writings, history and
narratives on this site were written by Ed over the past
10 years.
Ed also produced two DVDs chronicling the history of the 82nd with
interviews and member's stories from various reunions.
It's been said that "Ed never met a
microphone he didn't like." And at 90, Ed may have been the
country's oldest living webmaster (this site).
Ed is off to join his other brothers-in-arms.....all members of the
greatest
generation.....embodied in the men of the 82nd and their legacy.....
Rest in
Peace Soldier......We Prevailed!
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