The following are directly from the Morning Reports, Unit Journals and Unit Histories of the 300th Combat Engineer Group recorded in the field in combat (minor editing and additions for clarity.)
| 17 June, 1944 |
Arrangements for coffee at 0200 CO, Co. A, B, C |
| 19 June |
Minefield laid forward of 101 AB Div. 90% complete. 1 EM [Cpl. Clarence Pilkington] killed by premature explosion of land mine due to artillery fire. |
| 20 June |
In enemy attack you will be notified by BN HQs. Rally at CP |
| 22 June |
Enemy shells landing in Pont L' Abbe. Bridge not touched |
| 25 June |
Troops, gas, cans, ammo, poles to be camouflaged |
| 27 June |
German troops will be found wearing pin symbols or emblems on the peak of their cap. These symbols are important in establishing identification. Troops will not keep materials of this type for souvenirs. |
| 28 June |
Have a sign painter make a sign with white background to have full 2 inch letters. Tucker Bridge in honor of Major Tucker killed 27 June, 1944 while in construction of this bridge. |
| 29 June |
Movies 29 June at 1430 "Song of Bernadette" at Hollywood |
| 4 July |
There are dead bodies located as follow: 246947 Paratrooper 247148 German 248945 German and Jap |
| 5 July |
Water Output: Courain - 11,155 gal. St. Sauveur - 15,715 gal. 300th Bn 627 baths |
| 5 July |
Dead American Inf. Soldier found on south side of secondary road at 168862. Killed by shrapnel. Wound in back. 051900 July 1944. |
| 7 July |
Enemy plane dropped bomb in field at 100 yards north of Bailey Bridge. Crater 4' deep, 12' across. Same plane also did straffing about ½ mile south of bridge. 2 planes over area prior to bombing. |
| 16 July |
Movie today "Pvt Bargrove" at Bn motor pool 1800 hours. Picture changes, it is "Beautiful but Broke." |
| 6 August |
Dispose of dead animals in barn or barnyard, report completion |
| 7 August |
Funeral of cow and calf completed at 1225 hours |
| 10 August |
Under no circumstances will men all Co's work stripped to the waist except in bivouac areas |
| 31 August |
During hours of darkness or twilight vehicles will not leave road GC 24 without having someone on foot precede them. Safety for those who may be sleeping in path. It is SOP now. |
| 14 September |
Built stage for special service show |
| 1 October |
H & S has one AWOL since arriving on continent |
| 1 October |
Venereal disease (Individual) |
| 19 October |
One Clubmobile will be at 300th this afternoon for two companies |
| 25 October |
MP's instructed to arrest drivers using headlights in Army area. Blackout lights behind lights line and cat eye forward. |
| 30 October |
BN CO departed for "A" for Sex Morality Talk. |
| 7 November |
Movie at Chateau "Song of Bernadette" |
| 11 November |
Every effort should be expended to persuade local civilians employed in sawmills to continue operation during local holidays. Force or threat will not be employed but appeals will be based on the fact that their services are needed to finish the war. |
| 30 November |
In November 44, the Battalion had 312 civilians employed to operate 20 saw mills in Belgium |
| 5 December |
Request GI soap be sent to saw mill at Convisse for use in mess |
| 6 December |
A truck driver-tractor USA 57266-5. Your organization [not 300th] driver was involved in an accident with a jeep, this unit [300th]. The driver was intoxicated. Recommend Courts Martial. |
| 9 December |
Send an estimate of number of men in your Co. who would be able to attend a "GI" Stage Show in Modave Friday 15th Dec. at about 1400 A "Broadway & Khaki." Sawmill must continue operation. |
| 10 December |
60 men to attend GI show [Co. A] |
| 20 December |
I arrived with my platoon in Verlee and contacted Lt. Kettner, Co. B this organization. According to Lt. Kettner and civilians, thereabouts, 4 to 6 German soldiers had asked for food in a house in Verlee and had left Belgium. U.S. MP's were searching woods. |
| 22 December |
Security reports enemy posing as MP's and diverting columns |
| 22 December |
Insure that all demolition charges have two methods of firing preferably electrical & by primacord. It is most important that the lines be separated so that one bullet or shell fragment will not disrupt both means of firing. |
| 23 December |
Convoy moving east from Liege. Presume to be Germans in American uniforms led by 4 MP's in Jeep. |
| 2 January, 1945 |
Fire broke out in chateau attic about 1050. No occupant in top of building. Found straw in attic afire. Roof fell in. No civilian equipment to fight fire with. Fire out of control. |
| 10 January |
This organization is now off the secret list, which means that the unit name may appear in the newspaper, etc. If any member of your companies has had an interesting or unusual experience worthy of publication, request the name of such a person sent to Capt. Nash as soon as possible. |
| 20 January |
Effective immediately there will be no snowball throwing in the court of this chateau or in an about the building. |
| 2 February |
Some men of your Co. [C] seen around a knocked out tank. It shows lack of duty. Appropriate action will be taken. |
| 14 February |
Hq Miracle 300 Subject: Haircuts. Date 5 Feb. 45 all members had haircuts out to inch or less. |
| 18 February |
Two mine detector teams sent to III Corps. In the process of clearing a path through a mine field. One member of party set off a mine and seven casualities resulted, five from the 300th and a civilian mine expert and a naval officer. The following enlisted men were injured: TEC 5 Roy L. Bridges, Pvt. John E. Rylant of Co. B and Sgt. Eward M. Keith of Co. B. |
| 2 March |
Request that two prints of each of the following be sent to this Hq. Tdwy Bridge (completed job) 2 road repair or maintenance. |
| 29 March |
Fire fight with enemy in bivouac area. Co. took about 200 prisoners. |
| 19 April |
Departed from Bremke, Germany by motor convoy. 8 hours enroute to ¼ mile NW of Ober-Schweinach, Germany. Total distance travelled 270 miles. |
| 30 April |
1 platoon Co. B is attached to Co. C. Co. C is going to build a bridge at Moosburg. Have dump trucks stand by to haul gravel for bridge approaches. Construct a treadway bridge at Moosburg. |
| 12 May |
Woman Berta Seicter in home opposite 20 Plat. has gonorrhea and infected one of your men. Advise you place home off limits. Keep men away. |
| 17 May |
Higher HQ desires arrest of Gen. Warliment, Gen. of Ar'ty [General Warlimont, General der Artillerie]. Submit to this HQ names of one Capt. and one Lt. for detail as members of a general court. |
| 18 May |
Following recommended for detail as members of General Court: Capt. Swartz and 1st Lt. Taylor. |
| 29 May |
You have a softball game with the 448th at 1400. Place Bn Field. |
| 1 June |
Submit the number of men who wish to attend a performance by Grace Moore and Nino Martini in Nurnberg. |
| 3 June |
84 men will attend concert in Nurnberg. The 4 trucks which we use will be fully loaded. |
| 19 June |
Spraying billets with DDT spray completed in prescribed manner. The party for Lt. Col. Crandall will be next Saturday night (23 June) at 1900. |
| 20 June |
For the party Sat. night the blouse or ETO jacket will be worn |
| 22 June |
Place Sgt. Morrison on Detached Service with H & S. Need pitcher to beat 51 again. |
| 30 June |
Request following named men report to Capt. Nash at Bn Hqs. Torre-Farrygel-Rienke-Monclova-Horn-Whittle-Mullens-Schaalma-Beatty-Gotten-Smith, H-Schlegal-Todd-Drach-Titerina-Miller-Bond. Those who have musical instruments, bring them at that time. |
