To Cross the River Barriers

Here is history and biography concerning an epic and dangerous time. It was experienced and is remembered by the grandparents of today's younger generation. This is the story o the 181st Engineer Heavy Ponton Battalion during World War II as it is narrated by the young doctor who became their only Battalion Surgeon. Members of this Engineer Battalion became highly skilled specialists in the transportation and use of the Army's river-crossing equipment. They trained themselves, and many other engineer troops, while crossing and recrossing Lake Tullahoma near Camp Forrest, Tennessee; the Red River in Louisiana; the Sabine River, between Louisiana and Texas; the Cumberland River, in Tennessee and Kentucky, the Thames River as Pangborne, Berkshire, England: and Lac de la Gelippe, in the Huertgen Forest of Eastern Belgium. Engineer operators of the 181st stormboat platoon piloted many loads of infantry troops rapidly across European rivers during assault crossings. The 181st Engineer Heavy Ponton Battalion constructed the first floating heavy ponton bridge across the Seine River, at Melum, France; the first heavy ponton bridge across the Oise River near Remagen, Germany; and two heavy pontoon bridges across the Weser River, at Lippoldsberg and at Hann Munden, Germany. The 181st Battalion was preparing to bridge the salle River, a tributary of the Elbe River, near Merseburg, Germany, when American Armies were restricted in their activities for a three-week interval, awaiting the arrival of the Russian Army on our Eastern Frontier. Members of the 181st Engineer Heavy Ponton Battalion earned five Battle Stars during the European conflict. Between bridging procedures, the Battalion performed many other engineering services. 181st truckers transported more Engineer Depot equipment than any other unit in the ETO. The strenuous efforts of our small Medical Detachment to provide necessary care for this wide-ranging Battalion are also described in this book.