88irocarmy
Full Member
POST 2 HAS MORE NEW PHOTOS
Long Story Alert!!!
Recently my unit decide to conduct a Staff Ride, a trip that visits historic military sites. The focus is to study military history. What better place to do it than Europe. This trip's objective was the Hurtgen Forest, where during WWII Germans and Americans fought a fierce battle in the dark forest of the area. We also traveled to Belgium to see US cemeteries and the fort of Eben- Emael.
With my metal detector folded in my backpack, I was ready to get a glimpse into the past.
My current unit is the 54th Engineer Battalion, they draw their lineage from the 1340th Engineer Battalion. The 1340th fought in the Hurtgen Forest in 1944. They were given the mission to defend a bridge on the tiny Call Trail in the forest. Unfortunately, C Co of the 1340th was attacked by a German Recon unit causing such heavy casualties that the 1340th had to retreat (C Co had 4 soldiers left).
I was traveling with about 35 soldiers from the unit. We had a tour guide for the 3 day event, Mr Schulz who was an older ex-German WWII soldier and ex US POW. He is also the author of many books about the events of the Hurtgen forest, a great person.
Okay, back to metal detecting, I was a little apprehensive about pulling out the metal detector. Afraid, that the buddies will mark me as some nerd. At a pasture over looking one valley, some challenged me to start because they did not think I would find anything. With luck on my side I scored a bullet in the first 30 seconds, everyone's attention was suddenly on me.
Back to the bridge that 1340th was defending. I climbed the hill and found two foxholes overlooking the bridge. There I found M-1 Garand clip and some ammo casings. To think that 60 years ago our lineage unit probably fired those rounds defending the bridge..items are going to the unit historian.
Our next site was Hill 400. Here the 2nd Ranger Battalion fought a very fierce battle against the Germans. Ownership of the hill changed hands a couple times. With five minutes to wonder around, I got a decent signal. From the dirt came the Infantry Crest, possibly worn by a member of the 2nd Ranger Battalion.
Other finds of shrapnel, casings and barbed wire were made. Also the tour guide gave to me flatten US canteen and mess kit.
It was a wonderful experience.
SCROLL TO REPLIES FOR MORE PICTURES
Metal Detecting near Call Trail Bridge, fighting positions are uphill from me. The 1340th defended the bridge.
Finds from fighting positions over looking Call Trail bridge, US ammo and clips.
Some finds at the local museum dedicated to Hurtgen Forest battles.
Some gave all, nearly 8000 US soldiers in a Belgian cemetery, 4 MOH recipients and 7 from the 1340th Engineer Battalion.
Me and my new MD partner, he's very quiet. At the local museum, this area was heavily mined and bombed.
Descending the Call Trail, here a US tank was disabled and soldiers used it as an base for a pendulum effect using metal cables. Allowing other tanks to bypass the disabled tank. This area saw heavy fighting.
Inside Fort Enen Emaule in Belgium. They thought this fort would never be penetrated. However, 80 glider borne German Engineers landed on the fort and penetrated the fort using secret hollow charges. I'm inside the bunker where a German soldier made his way into underground shelter and detonated a 50kg hollow charge against a door that was heavily reinforced. Two Belgian defenders died in the area behind me.
Part II
Long Story Alert!!!
Recently my unit decide to conduct a Staff Ride, a trip that visits historic military sites. The focus is to study military history. What better place to do it than Europe. This trip's objective was the Hurtgen Forest, where during WWII Germans and Americans fought a fierce battle in the dark forest of the area. We also traveled to Belgium to see US cemeteries and the fort of Eben- Emael.
With my metal detector folded in my backpack, I was ready to get a glimpse into the past.
My current unit is the 54th Engineer Battalion, they draw their lineage from the 1340th Engineer Battalion. The 1340th fought in the Hurtgen Forest in 1944. They were given the mission to defend a bridge on the tiny Call Trail in the forest. Unfortunately, C Co of the 1340th was attacked by a German Recon unit causing such heavy casualties that the 1340th had to retreat (C Co had 4 soldiers left).
I was traveling with about 35 soldiers from the unit. We had a tour guide for the 3 day event, Mr Schulz who was an older ex-German WWII soldier and ex US POW. He is also the author of many books about the events of the Hurtgen forest, a great person.
Okay, back to metal detecting, I was a little apprehensive about pulling out the metal detector. Afraid, that the buddies will mark me as some nerd. At a pasture over looking one valley, some challenged me to start because they did not think I would find anything. With luck on my side I scored a bullet in the first 30 seconds, everyone's attention was suddenly on me.
Back to the bridge that 1340th was defending. I climbed the hill and found two foxholes overlooking the bridge. There I found M-1 Garand clip and some ammo casings. To think that 60 years ago our lineage unit probably fired those rounds defending the bridge..items are going to the unit historian.
Our next site was Hill 400. Here the 2nd Ranger Battalion fought a very fierce battle against the Germans. Ownership of the hill changed hands a couple times. With five minutes to wonder around, I got a decent signal. From the dirt came the Infantry Crest, possibly worn by a member of the 2nd Ranger Battalion.
Other finds of shrapnel, casings and barbed wire were made. Also the tour guide gave to me flatten US canteen and mess kit.
It was a wonderful experience.
SCROLL TO REPLIES FOR MORE PICTURES
Metal Detecting near Call Trail Bridge, fighting positions are uphill from me. The 1340th defended the bridge.
Finds from fighting positions over looking Call Trail bridge, US ammo and clips.
Some finds at the local museum dedicated to Hurtgen Forest battles.
Some gave all, nearly 8000 US soldiers in a Belgian cemetery, 4 MOH recipients and 7 from the 1340th Engineer Battalion.
Me and my new MD partner, he's very quiet. At the local museum, this area was heavily mined and bombed.
Descending the Call Trail, here a US tank was disabled and soldiers used it as an base for a pendulum effect using metal cables. Allowing other tanks to bypass the disabled tank. This area saw heavy fighting.
Inside Fort Enen Emaule in Belgium. They thought this fort would never be penetrated. However, 80 glider borne German Engineers landed on the fort and penetrated the fort using secret hollow charges. I'm inside the bunker where a German soldier made his way into underground shelter and detonated a 50kg hollow charge against a door that was heavily reinforced. Two Belgian defenders died in the area behind me.
Part II
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