SDNG Veterans Remember WW2 Combat of 109th Engineer Battalion
(South Dakota’s 109th wading ashore at Algiers during Operation Torch, 1942)
by Duke Doering
On April 15, 1945, the 109th Engineer Battalion had just completed its 499th day of combat in World War II. The 109th was one of the first United States Army units to enter World War II in the European Theater. Company C 109th Engineer Battalion had entered North Africa on November 8, 1942. The remainder of the Battalion arrived in North Africa in early January 1943. On January 31, the Battalion moved to the front lines in Tunisia with an assigned strength of 32 Officers, 2 Warrant Officers and 677 enlisted men.
It was February 14, 1943 that the German Army under General Erwin Rommel, “The Desert Fox”, advanced through Faid Pass and Kasserine Pass and inflicted much damage to the 109th and its parent division, the 34th Infantry Division, an element of II Corps. 14 members of the 109th Engineers were taken prisoner during the German attack. The Germans advanced for several days before being driven back.
It was then that the 109th Engineers fell under the command of Maj. Gen. George Patton. Patton had replaced Maj. Gen. Lloyd Fredendall as commander of II Corps. By May 15th the Germans were driven out of North Africa and the 109th soldiers were preparing for the invasion of Italy. The African campaign statistics revealed the 109th had 17 soldiers killed in action, 44 soldiers missing in action and 15 wounded in action.
On September 21, 1943, the 109th landed on a heavily mined beach south of Salerno, Italy. They were welcomed with artillery fire. After the initial fighting was concluded the Germans started their withdrawal up into the mountains. The 109th advanced 35 miles to the Volturno River. At this point, Company A constructed a ferry and got the 135th Infantry across the river. Company B was at another location and assisted the infantry across with assault boats and guide ropes. The bridge section of the 109th worked with the 36th Engineers in assembly and placement of a bridge across the Volturno River near Annunziatta. After many hard fought battles the 109th got far north into Italy. On this date, April 15, 1945, the unit registered their 499th day in combat. They were near France at the top of the boot in Northern Italy and were chasing the German Army.
The 109th engineers were told by the 34th Infantry Division that “everybody from General Mark Clark, 5th Army Commander, to the newest recruit was aware of their tremendously long combat record”.
109th featured in Stars and Stripes, 1944
My Uncle, Frist Sargent Stanley George Hansen of the 109th. Engr. Bn, , C Company from Madison , South Dakota passed away on Aug.31th., 2018 . He was 98 yrs. 7 mo. and sharp as a tack. Last year he was inform he was the last surviving member of the brave men that arrived in Ireland in 42. Being a vet. myself he and would talk every chance I got to see him. I tried to get as much info of his w.w.2 days his stories of Ireland, north Africa and Italy. Usually ending with him tearing up and he could not figure out why he never received a scratch and so many of his friends and comrades had died. He will greatly missed………Steve Rhoden, Madison,SD
Sorry to hear that First Sergeant Hansen passed away. I have spent a lot of time in the past 15 years talking to veterans of the 109th Engineer Battalion, but they were disappearing rapidly. Certainly Stanley would have been a wealth of knowledge for me and I regret never getting to meet and talk to him.
When the unit was called to active duty in February 1941 the First Sergeant was Leonard Erickson, who went to OCS while in North Ireland.
Stanley must certainly been a natural leader to go from Corporal to First Sergeant in that short period of time. He returned to the U.S. on points, in June 1945.
Hello- So happy to find this site…my uncle Theodore A Gatchell of Terrace Park, Ohio was a Demolition Specialist 533 in the 109 Engr C Bn, Co C, arrived in Ireland 12 May 42, not back to US till 22 July 45…went through the whole deal, not wounded!…passed away in 1984, loved him….just putting this in, hope to hear back. Thank you for your effort….Philip Bowditch, Asheville, NC