| Notes |
- Went to school on Turnner street in East Waco. 5th grade.
Work at Crawford and Austin as a sewing maching operator making tents
Won three Bronze Stars in the Army, American Theater Campian Medal, EAME Campian Medal, Asiatic
Pacific Campain Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Ribon, Marksman Ribon, Two Overseas Serivice bars,and an Army Meritorius Unit Award. Distcharged from Ft Sam Houston.
Feb 25, 1946 went to work at Central Texas Iron Works for $.50 an hour and retired Oct 2, 1985.
Spent many a night at Johnny Camarada's pool Hall.
Field Title Value Meaning
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 38434378 38434378
NAME MANGHAM#MARVIN#H######## MANGHAM#MARVIN#H########
RESIDENCE: STATE 85 TEXAS
RESIDENCE: COUNTY 309 MC LENNAN
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT 8536 DALLAS TEXAS
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY 18 18
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH 03 03
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR 43 43
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION PVT# Private
GRADE: CODE 8 Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION NO# No branch assignment
BRANCH: CODE 02 No branch assignment
FIELD USE AS DESIRED # #
TERM OF ENLISTMENT 5 Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
LONGEVITY ### ###
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL 0 Civil Life
NATIVITY 85 TEXAS
YEAR OF BIRTH 25 25
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP 1 White, citizen
EDUCATION 0 Grammar school
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION 827 Unskilled occupations in fabrication of textile products, n.e.c.
MARITAL STATUS 2 Married
COMPONENT OF THE ARMY 7 Selectees (Enlisted Men)
CARD NUMBER # #
BOX NUMBER 1335 1335
FILM REEL NUMBER 6.101 6.101
_________________________________________________
Military record of the 978Th Engineering Company.
978th ENGINEER MAINTENANCE COMPANY CHRONOLOGY
The data for this chronology comes from several sources: the unit history prepared by the 978th itself; the U.S. Army's "Stations and Movement" Record Card; Leo S. Pecker's informal history, The Long Way Home; 978th unit records; notes kept by John Mcllroy; information provided by 978th members and records from adjacent units. It is a chronology only, but it should provide a useful outline for the reader following the history of the Company.
October 1943
01:
08: AG 322 (9-30-43) OB-I-GNGCT; "978th Engineer Maintenance Company is constituted on the inactive list."
HQ, AGF 321/208(Engr.)(R)(10-8-43)GNGCT: "978th Engineer
Maintenance Company will be activated at the earliest practicable date in November 1943 at Camp McCoy, Wise, and assigned to XI Corps. Unit will be organized in accordance with T/O 5-157 (4-1-42).
20: AG 322.03-26 (NNMBF)Hq., Second Army:" 978th Engineer
Maintenance Company will be activated, effective November 5, 1943 at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin." November 1943
03:
05:
08:
13: Cadre of 10 enlisted men from the 475th Engineer Maintenance Company in Iceland reported to Camp McCoy for duty along with 2nd Lt. James M. Saunders from the 972nd Engineer Maintenance Company. 978th Engineer Maintenance Company activated at Camp McCoy, Wl Captain Hugh R. Farrell assigned to Company; 2nd Lt. Leo S. Pecker assigned to Company. Captain Farrell joins and assumes command. 2nd Lt. William T. Hanks assigned to the Company.
29: 2nd Lt. Laurence C. Morgan assigned to Company.
??: Three enlisted men assigned to Company this month.
December 1943
02: 2nd Lt.’s Carl E. Dowen and Richard P. Haggerty assigned to Company.
17: 2nd Lt. James M. Saunders relieved from assignment and
assigned to the 981st Engineer Maintenance Company, Camp
Carson, CO.
27: AGF 322/1 (XVI Corps)(C)(12-27-43)GNGCT "978th Engineer
Maintenance Company, effective 12-31-43-1-1-44, is relieved from assignment to XI Corps and is assigned to XVI Corps.”
??: 16 enlisted men joined the Company this month.
January 1944
1-27: 17 enlisted men joined the Company
28: 144 enlisted men arrived from Camp Haan, CA as filler
February 1944
09: AGF 321/309(Engr)(R)(2-9-44)GNGCT: ”978th Engineer
Maintenance Company, effective February 10,1944, is relieved from assignment to XVI Corps and is assigned to Second Army.”
25: Captain Harry H. Ingraham assumes command, relieving Captain Farrell. M/Sgt. James Burrier accompanies Captain Farrell. 2nd Lt. John Mazzei assigned to the Company.
??: 2nd Lt. Thomas W. Brinkley was assigned to the Company this month.
March 1944
April 1944 Possibly this month, 2nd Lt. Richard P. Haggerty was relieved from assignment to the 978th and with 24 enlisted men from the Company went to Camp Pickett, VA to activate the 1487th Engineer Maintenance Company.
May 1944
10: 2nd Lt. William Hanks relieved from assignment.
??: Some time this month, an unknown number of men are transferred to the 1478th Engineer Maintenance Company, also at Camp McCoy.
July 1944
02: WD 370.5 (30 June 44) OB-S-E-M: "978th Engineer Maintenance Company to transfer from Camp McCoy, Wise, to the New York or Boston Ports of Emb. to prepare for movement overseas in Shipment 8289-A."
August 1944
11: Left Camp McCoy at 1600 hours via train.
13: Arrived Camp Miles Standish (outside of Boston, MA) at 0400 hours.
{Note: This is when Marvin departed withthe unit)
16: Arrived at Boston Harbor at 1300 hours
17: Sailed from Boston on the S.S. SANTA MARGARITA 0500 hours
18: Anchored New York Harbor, 1700 hours
19: Sailed from New York, 0945 hours in Convoy CU-36
30: Tanker S.S. JACKSONVILLE torpedoed by U-482,1600 hours
31: In Bristol Channel, Wales.
September 1944
01: Docked, Barry, Wales, 1700; Boarded train, 1900 hours
{Note this is when Marvin arrived in Europe}
02: Arrived Bournmouth, England at Royal Exeter Hotel, 0200 hours
23: Left Bournmouth, 0800 Hours, arriving Camp Hersley [C-12]
26: Left Hersley, 0900 hours; Arrived Southampton, 1830 hours
27: Boarded S.S. OMAR E. CHAPMAN and left, 0130 hours
28: Arrived off Omaha Beach, Normandy that evening
29: Disembarked across Omaha Beach.
30: Arrived Les Pieux, France, 1030 hours
October 1944 Entire month spent in a field near Les Pieux.
?? Captain Harry H. Ingraham run over in his sleep by two enlisted men in a weapons carrier returning to camp at night; Ingraham not seriously hurt.
November 1944
05:
06:
07:
08:
09: Departed Les Pieux, France. Company moves through Liege, Belgium; Route going from Les Pieux to St. Anne, France to Soissions, France to Speckholzerheide, Holland.
Arrive Speckholzerheide, Holland (490 mile trip); 10 German
fighters bomb and strafe near Kerkrade, Holland. Three shot
down. Kerkrade located near Speckholzerheide.
Two German aircraft over XIXth Corps area 0755 hours.
1st Lt. Laurence C. Morgan dropped from roster as sick; He had left the Company before it moved to Holland. German air activity over XIXth Corps area.
12: German aircraft over XIXth Corps area in groups of one or two,1515 hours; but no hostile action.
16: Beginning of the November Offensive. 507th Fighter squadron (404th Group) bombs Mariadorf in support.
24: 2nd platoon attached to the 1115th Engineer (C) Group; HQ near Kerkrade (Chevermont) Holland.
29: 978th (minus 2nd platoon) moves to Mariagrube, Germany (9 mile trip).
December 1944
01:
03: Company area attacked by German FW 190; Richard G. Snell and Julio Ramirez both wounded; Ramierez evacuated;
Detail recovers three American dead from mine field adjacent to the slag pile. Several shu mines discovered.
04: Detail recovers eight American and one German dead from mine field adjacent to the slag pile. Americans were from Company F, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division.
06: 48th Fighter Bomber Group attacks targets at the Roer River near Julich..the Sportsplatz and the fortified swimming pool areas. These attacks undoubtedly seen in the distance by the men of the 978th.
08:
09: 2 1/2 ton truck runs over a teller mine; Vince Chaloupka wounded.
Joseph K. Bocek wounded; manner unknown.
16th/17th: Immediate adjacent area under fairly heavy enemy air attack.
17th/18th: Immediate adjacent area under fairly heavy enemy air attack.
18: Detail recovers one American dead from adjacent mine field. Several schu mines discovered.
22:
24:
26:
27: Second Platoon moves to Eschweiler Germany in conjunction with the XIXth Corps move south to the shoulder of the Bulge.
Parachute seen falling in nearby field near Mariagrube; Squad is sent. One man from adjacent unit hits booby trap.
Low flying enemy FW 190's strafe immediately adjacent area to Mariagrube; Makes a pass at the 978th lined up for movement.
Main Company departs for Walheim, Germany in conjunction with XIXth Corps move south to the shoulder of the Bulge. (25 mile trip).
Officer in charge of area defense near Walheim [5th Armored
Division] warns 978th to expect 500 German planes and
paratroopers.
Main Company motor pool at Walheim strafed by enemy planes.
On or about 27 December, T/4 Milford Russell and S/Sgt Joseph Jablonsky accompany Lt. Thomas W. Brinkley to an abandoned house, looking for material to use in the 2nd Platoon CP. This trip is to lead to the court martial in January, 1945 for "pillage.".
January 1945
01:
03:
15:
16:
18: Many low flying German aircraft over Company area; one
formation of six fires on company area.
1104th group IG investigates 2nd platoon;
Low Flying German aircraft over area; fired on by 978th.
1st Lieut. Roy C. Krueger assigned and assumes command of the 978th per par 5, SO#3, HQ, 1104th Engineer (C) Group.
Court Martial of Milford Russell and Joseph Jablonsky..with Lt. Thomas Brinkley involved, all from 2nd platoon.
25: Men and equipment move from Walheim to Stolberg, Germany. (9 mile trip).
26: 2nd Maintenance Platoon rejoins main company.
February 1945
05:
06:
08: HQ and 1 st maintenance platoons depart Stolberg for
Mariagrube, Germany. Set up shops at Mariagrube. (15 mile trip) Men from HQ and 1st maintenance platoons move to Mariadorf, leaving equipment set up at Mariagrube coal mine.
Contact and 2nd Maintenance Platoons leave Stolberg for
21:
22:
23:
24:
26:
March 1945
01:
02:
06:
09:
11:
16:
24:
29:
30:
April 1945
Mariadorf, setting up equipment with the rest in ariagrube.
German night bombers active.
Roer River Assault preparations and artillery barrage begin late the 22nd and early the 23rd.
Wrecker with August Thaler and Clarence Davidson sent to front near the Roer River to move damaged equipment. From 1st Platoon. German night fighter activity heavy. Substantial AAA fire in area.
Wrecker blown up by mine and artillery fire; both men wounded. A second wrecker sent with Donald DeVange and Roy H. Johnson from 2nd Platoon.
Wrecker and emergency repair crew from Contact Platoon sent to Roer River bridge site.
Emergency repair crew sent to Roer River area from Contact and 1 st Platoons.
Welding crew from 1st Platoon sent to Baily Bridge site at Roer river.
Company departs from Mariadorf/Mariagrube for Wickrath,
Germany across the Roer River. (50 mile trip).
Company sets up shop in Wickrath.
Crews from all platoons begin work on outboard motors at Depot #14 as well as on other equipment. This work was preparation for the Rhine Assault.
Crews from all platoons to Depot #14 for work on outboard motors.
Crews sent to Depot #14 to work on more outboard motors.
Emergency Repair truck and two welding shops sent to Depot
#37...more preparation for the Rhine Crossing. They worked on
Sea Mule tugs and a variety of routine engineer equipment.
RETURNED 25 March.
Assault crossing of the Rhine: 2,070 artillery pieces opened fire at 0100 hours. They fired for one hour, and more than a thousand shells a minute hit the German positions. The artillery fired 65,261 rounds. At the same time, 1,500 heavy bombers hit airfields within range of the crossing sites. Under this "canopy" of fire, the infantry and engineers attacked.
978th's men and equipment move from Wickrath to Spellen,
Germany. The Company crossed the Rhine at 1400 hours on a
heavy pontoon bridge near Wallach, Germany. (30 mile trip).
978th move from Spellen to one mile west of Gartrop, Germany and set up for operation. (40 mile trip).
01:
02:
03:
04:
05:
06:
09:
13:
14:
15:
19:
20:
21:
29:
May, 1945
03:
06: 978th departs Gartrop, Germany.
978th arrives near Asheberg, Germany (43 mile trip); Captures two German soldiers.
978th departs Asheberg, Germany in night convoy.
978th arrives at near location, 2 miles east of Verl, Germany (53 mile trip). Repair trucks and crews sent to various depots.
978th moves from Verl, Germany to Hovelhof, Germany in night convoy (6 mile trip).
978th moves from Hovelhof to Blomberg, Germany (28 mile trip); captures 14 German soldiers in the vicinity of Blomberg.
978th members capture 15 German soldiers in Blomberg.
978th moves from Blomberg to Gronau, Germany (41 mile trip).
978th moves from Gronau to Braunschweig, Germany (43 mile
trip).
Company area strafed by German aircraft.
Company discovers Allied POW’s in various hospitals and other locations. Evacuates 8 former POW's to Hildershein air field. 978th members also capture two German soldiers in the vicinity.
Gunfire reported in Company area. 30 men search surrounding
area. Nothing was found according to “Journal." Other reports suggest at least one dead DP found. Company evacuates 72
former Allied POW’s from Braunschweig to the Hildershein air field. "A sad affair." 978th moves from Braunschweig to Niederndodeleben, Germany [near Magdeburg on the Elbe River...the farthest east the Ninth Army went]. (42 mile trip). Master Sergeant and crew sent to 970th QM Company, then to the 247th Engineer (C) BN to work at rail yard.
Company area strafed by German aircraft.
Company members capture 7 German soldiers near Konigslertter, Germany.
978th move from Niederndodeleben to Goslar, Germany (80 mile trip).
24 enlisted men and one officer, 2 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and General Purpose Shop Trucks sent to Depot #21 to work on outboard motors.
Master Sergeant and crews return from 970th QM and 247th
Engineer (C) BNs, having worked on diesel engines. 1 8-wheel
drive passenger engine, 16 locomotives, 1 small steam switching engine.
07: General Jodi surrenders for Germany at 0241 hours
08: German surrender takes affect at 2301 hours.
11: 978th leaves Goslar, Germany.
12: 978th arrives in Gedern (Frankfort Am Main) (205 mile trip).
June, 1945
04:
06:
07:
08:
09: WD 370.5 (2 Jun 45)OB-S-E-SPMOT-M: "978th Engineer Maint. Company is assigned Shipment #R4502-H, and will move from present overseas station in the European Theater of operation to the Southwest Pacific Area for permanent change of station, in accordance with T/O & E 5-157 (24 Aug 44) with an authorized strength of 6 off and 185 EM. Upon embarkation, unit will pass to the control of CG, Army Service Forces and upon arrival at destination will pass to the command of CG at destination."
978th receives "Incoming Message" from Delta Base Section...a "traffic dispatch" ordering them to Calas Staging area and providing the route and timing.
978th departs Gedern, Germany; arrives at Nancy, France (234 mile trip).
Departs Nancy, France; arrives at Dijon, France. (134 mile trip).
Departs Dijon, France; arrives St. Rambert (Lyon), France (164 mile trip).
10: Departs St. Rambert, France; arrives Calas Staging Area. (175 mile trip).
July, 1945
16: 978th boards the U.S.S. ADMIRAL BENSON and departs the
staging area.
{Note: Marvin Left for The South Pacific on the 17 of July}
27: Arrives at the Panama Canal. Troops are allowed on shore for the evening.
28: Transits and then departs the Panama Canal.
August, 1945
20:
21:
22: 978th on board the U.S.S.ADMIRAL BENSON arrives at San
Fernando, Luzon, Philippine Islands. The area is too crowded with troops. The ship departs San Fernando the same day.
Ship and the 978th arrive in Manila Harbor.
978th goes ashore, met by "a slightly bored lieutenant who
conducted the outfit to Quezon City where they were dumped in a rice field...one of those phenomenal tropical rains came, and in several seconds everyone was thoroughly soaked." (Leo S. Pecker)
{Note: Marvin arrive in the South Pacific 21 Aug}
September, 1945
This entire month is spent in a field near Quezon City; "in that time, not a single piece of equipment was repaired by the unit. No operational mission was ever assigned...A sizeable number of high pointers left the unit to go home. No replacements were received. The size of the unit dwindles to 4 officers and 109 men." (Leo S. Pecker). A single "Movement Order" dated 21 September alone relieves 2 officers, including the 978th’s commanding officer Captain Roy C. Krueger, and 33 enlisted men of assignment to the 978th and assigns them to the 21st Replacement Depot (disposition center).
October, 1945
05: 978th assigned to Eighth Army.
06: 978th "Bulldozers" football team plays the 119th Port Battalion "Manila Hornets" football team. The 978th loses.
28: 978th boards LSM's 16, 100 and 144 for trip to Japan.
November, 1945
07: 978th arrives in Yokohama Harbor. A day of searching finally locates the next location for the Company.
08: 978th arrives at Tachikawa Air Base, outside Tokoyo.
December, 1945
Some work is done by the 978th, including some training of other units. But for the most part, the 978th is taken up with processing out its remaining men. For example, a photograph taken on board the U.S.S. GENERAL STURGIS on
December 26th shows eight ex-978th members on their way back to the United States. Of these eight, three had transferred to the 978th in the ETO, one from the 37th Engineers, one from the 82nd Engineers and the other unknown. The remaining five had joined the 978th at Camp McCoy. Other photographs taken the same day identify three more ex-978thers on the STURGIS. So at least eleven more men left midway through December. In fact, this same photographer had taken a photograph of Replacement Depot #4 on December
14th, indicating that these men had left the Company at least by that date. They
arrived on the West Coast on 5 January 1946.
January, 1946
??: The remaining 2 officers and 8 enlisted men of the 978th are attached to the 3013th Engineer Maintenance Company for rations and quarters while waiting for inactivation.
MC-OUT-42639 Radio message from CG Pacific. "The 978th Engr
Maint. Co. will be inactivated at the earliest practicable date."
{Note: Marvin left for the US 9 Jan}
{Note: Marvin arrived in the US 24 Jan}
February, 1946
28: 978th inactivated. The final 2 officers and 6 enlisted men are transferred to the 3013th Engineer Maintenance Company.
{Note: Marvin was released from military duty Feb 28th}
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
October, 1947
20: AG AO-1 322 Org Res (6 Oct 47) GNGCT-M: 978th Engineer
Maintenance Company is redesignated as the 978th Engineer
Panel Bridge Transport Company, allotted to the Organized
Reserve, assigned to the Second Army and will be activated as a final Class "C" unit..."
29: 978th activated at Cumberland, MD, effective 29 October 1947.
31: Activation completed.
August, 1949
August-September, 1950
20 August to 3 September: Participates in Summer Training at Fort Belvoir, VA. Inactivated effective 29 August. 1950.
__________________________________________________
Marvin had a heart attack and stroke that paralyzed the left side of his body. Marvin was placed in the hospital and passed away March 3rd at 5:15 PM.
Marvin Hewitt Mangham
Born in Prairie Hill, TX on Sep. 9, 1923
Departed on Mar. 3, 2013 and resided in Waco , TX.
Visitation: Tuesday, Mar. 5, 2013
Service: Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2013
Cemetery: Waco Memorial Park Cemetery
Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
Marvin Hewitt Mangham
September 19, 1923 - March 3, 2013
Marvin Hewitt Mangham of Waco passed away Sunday, March 3, 2013. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 6, at Waco Memorial Park with Chaplain Larry Holden officiating. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey.
Marvin was born in Prairie Hill, Texas, to John and Nora Mangham. He worked at Central Texas Iron Works for 46 years. He loved to garden and work with his hands.
He had a long and interesting life. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the 978th Engineer Maintenance Company and received many commendations for his service. The 978th was known for their efforts with the Roer River Crossing in Germany. He was honored to be interviewed and written about in the book, "Finding Granddad's War," by Jeffrey Badger. Also he was interviewed and featured in the Waco Today for the book and his service to his country. Marvin loved his country, his family and also was known to love a good beer and a cigar from time to time.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 52 years, Roxie Shelby Mangham; and his son, Marvin "Gene" Mangham.
He is survived by his children, Sandra Brownlow and husband, Gene, Randy Mangham and wife, Julie, Judy Bessellieu and husband, Les, and Laurie Brown and husband, Allen; daughter-in-law, Louise Mangham; seven grandchildren; and many great grandchildren.
The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.
Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey
|
1923 - 2013 (89 years)
