Submitted by Name: michael scolastico From: Chicago, Il.Hav E-mail: Contact
Comments: Believe that my father, Andrew (Hank) Scolastico was with HQ company of the 555th Engineer Heavy Pontoon Battalion, for a period of time (WW2 vet); & later with 187th Engineer Combat Battalion. Have 3 company pictures..the dress uniform company picture says at top; not for publication. The other two is the company with their khaki's..one with hat on & one with hat off. Is there a company/battalion roster available? Were personnel assigned to the 187th Engineer Combat Battalion?
Added: December 25, 2020
Submitted by Name: Gary Schmieden From: Oak Creek, WI E-mail: Contact
Comments: Thank You for starting, and maintaining such great web site. My father was Lylas Schmieden, B Co. He was born and raised on a farm north-northwest of Wausau (Town of Maine). Raised a family there after WWII. He didn't talk much about his service days. He didn't talk all that much about his service days. He'd share little snipits from time to time. Yuma (he volunteered to drive tanks across the bridges), France, and Germany.
Added: June 7, 2014
Submitted by Name: Kathy Thomson Vann From: West De Pere E-mail: Contact
Comments: I am the daughter of Herbert Thomson who served in the Co.A. My dad talked very little of the war, But did enjoy going to his reunions when he could. When he came home from the war he married my mother and together they farmed in West De Pere, something he has always enjoyed since he was a kid. My dad taught me the song that the Co. A sang. Not sure if it was all of them or a few of his close buddies. But this is how it goes:
We are the boys from Co. A, The ones you read all about. We never wash our underwear, We never wear them out. We carry guns and pistols, And wooden bullets too. We are the boys from company A Who and the hell are you.
I used to just love singing this song prob because it was the only time i was allowed to say hell.
Around Veterans day a couple years before his death I offered to take him to a VFW post where they were sharing war stories thinking maybe i would get to hear some of his but he refused. Saying that if I saw what he saw over the there, I would not talk about it either. I never asked again, when i saw how painful it was for him. They all saw so much at such a young age.And yet they came home, married, raised a family and saw to it that we all had a better life because of so many sacrifices.
My dad died on Jan.8, 2004 eight days before his 80th birthday. with him he took many stories
I want to thank Jim for putting this all together. It had to been alot of work. It was great to read everyones remembrances. Does anyone know how many are alive yet. We owe them all our thanks. May God bless them all. kathy
Added: April 17, 2014
Submitted by Name: Sue Braun From: Milwaukee, WI E-mail: Contact
Comments: My father is Roland Braun. He died in 2004. He didn’t say too much about the war. No fun. Of course he was very proud and occasionally showed off some of the cool army stuff to my two boys, who predictably loved that sort of thing. What he did say matches very well with the details on this site, so that's great.
He learned to appreciate the German culture from his time in Ulm (his background is German, his mother was born over there, but father was born in WI). He lived in Milwaukee almost his whole life after the war. Just lived in Chicago a year or so going to trade school. He was a sheet metal guy, mostly cars and trucks. but his main love was always music and he played out alone or in bands his entire life (even before the army) up until he died.
He met my mother in Milwaukee. She was born in Germany near Stuttgart (came here before the War), so it all worked out with Germans. We used to kid that he was more German than she was. He spoke the language pretty well and travelled over there 7 or 8 times. Even took me and my sister several times when we were kids to visit friends they had made through Milwaukee organizations. And my mother had plenty of cousins, aunts, and uncles in Germany for us to visit.
Added: December 11, 2013
Submitted by Name: Teena Less From: St. John, IN E-mail: Contact
Comments: My father , Mike Zevkovich, was in the 555th. I remember him talking about building bridges in Germany and how much he like Yuma, Arizona. One of these posts talks about the Green Bay reunion. My father looked forward to that reunion every year. There were a few that he was not able to attend due to health reasons but the men he served with meant the world to him. He was a pipe fitter for Republic/LTV Steel. Mike passed away 4/19/1995. I would like to thank Jim Behe for notifying my family of this site. It is wonderful scrolling through all the pictures and seeing my dad in such a different setting.
Added: November 11, 2013
Submitted by Name: Annette Barbaccia From: N. Fort Myers, FL E-mail: Contact
Comments: I am the daughter of Philip Barbaccia, who served with the 555 during WWII. He recently passed in March 2013 at the age of 88. He was from NY and joined the 555 in Camp Polk before going to Europe. His time with the Army Corps of Engineers probably created his interest in engineering and he went to Worcester Poly Tech after the war and graduated as a chemical engineer. He joined Grumman Aerospace and was able to work on some really neat projects. He didn't speak much of the war, although he was very proud to have served and a great supporter of the military. We have fond memories of him, thanks for adding to them.
Annette
Added: May 27, 2013
Submitted by Name: Gary J. Bogacz From: Franklin Park, IL E-mail: Contact
Comments: God Bless all of you my father was Frederick J. Bogacz he passed away Jan. 14, 2004. Would appreciate a photo of him in the Army training camp or in Europe.
Sincerely,
Gary J. Bogacz
Jan. 16, 2013
Added: January 15, 2013
Submitted by Name: Lisa Luecke From: Green Bay, Wisconsin E-mail: Contact
Comments: I think this is wonderful. My father is Joseph A. Misewitch, I like others are proud of my father and all who served thier country. My father passed away on December 26th, 1995. My family would love to hear stories of my father if anyone remembers him and would share. Thank you, God Bless All!!!
Name: Ronald Wilson
From: Montana
E-mail: Contact