The 325th Combat Engineers

Occupation

26 May 1945, "Enclosing a picture of Bagley and myself taken as the war ended."

11 June 1945 "Celebrated everything from V.E. Day to my birthday for a straight week." (Gordon Morse to Margaret Morse)

[At the end] we got the guy with the size 14 shoes. He had blankets and stuff around his feet and his shoes had wore out. Like some of the Civil War veterans. And we had two or three guys who were older fellows who made it through. Hair was white-headed. And it looked like an old bunch of guys coming back home to some of the army of occupation who were just getting there. It's a great experience to live through something like that. But there were some very very close calls for all of us. I know your dad was in tight places. Your dad had common sense. He studied it before he moved in. Bell was my friend but he was wilder. After his brother got killed, he almost got us killed a couple of times. He couldn't think. You go with the idea that you won't come back." (T. C. Moore, 2001)

But they had to deal with a Germany in defeat as they switched to being occupation forces. (Munster Cathedral, Zederbaum)

They had to deal with the snipers in the town. So they were to knock on the door at midnight, get the residents out to Headquarters to show their ids. And the soldiers would search for any firearms and confiscate them and any knives over eight inches. Rupert, a German fellow in the Army, and J.P. went in the house. Rupert spoke German, and he took J.P. as the bouncer. The went in one house where there were two women who refused to get out of bed. Rupert and J.P. picked up the mattress and rolled them off and threw them out. They found two beautiful over and under shotguns under the mattress--shotguns on top, rifles on the bottom. They confiscated them. They were allowed to amil home as many German Army rifles as they wanted but not civilian firearms. J.P. was a carpenter. He built them boxes out of bedsteads and put Nazi Army rifles in the boxes. Bagley stamped them as inspected. They pulled out the Army rifles and put in the shotguns. Shipped the boxes to Rupert who had more points and was going home first. J.P. got home but there was no box. He wrote Rupert and he sent it right away. He could have gotten away with both, but he sent the other shotgun right away. (J.P. Wallis, 2003 Florida reunion)

Donzdorf Castle

26 May 1945, "The company is billeted in an old castle. The Baron was well put out on being pushed over. The von Rechberg's own most of the country. He has some beautiful riding horses. The boys have a riding academy. Ready to go to the Pacific, but so far we haven't made a move. Beautiful hunting and fishing on the Baron's estate. Have had venison several times and rout. Have a courtyard with a nice little fish pond in it." (Gordon Morse to Margaret Morse)

"Made in the garden of the Castle by the gold fish pond. This is really some place. Donzdorf, Germany"

(written on the back of the picture --> )

Bob Heller's Castle view

16 June 1945, "Here I am back in my baronial estate. It is really nice being back in the old castle. I don't like French men or France--they are a crummy race. Germany seems more like home--the people, the air, and the country. We are being redeployed to another theater of operations soon. I have been hoping that we wouldn't be occupational although it is nice here. As town commander had my fire departmenet out practicing today. I am chief boss of a town about the size of Afton [N.Y.] We have a very happy administration--no graft, no taxes. Have a general inspection Tuesday--glad when we get away from these inspectors. Never see them when the shooting starts." (Gordon Morse to Margaret Morse)

19 June 1945, "1 & 4 = Ancestor's homes on the hills around town. 2 = General view of town. 3 = side view of my castle. 5 = courtyard now my motor pool. 6 = our swimming hole. 7 = front view of home. 8 & 9 = shots of main streets. Passed a general inspection today with a superior rating. The old boy was in good humor." (Gordon Morse to Margaret Morse)

German POWs

They were releasing some of the German POWs and getting them home. It was so cold. They made them sleep outdoors in the cold. They'd load the POWs on trucks, they'd be clinging everywhere outside and inside, even though it was so cold. The trucks would drive near their town and they'd drop off the truck and roll as it went along at full speed. Anything to get home. (J. P. Wallis, 2003 Florida reunion)

Dad used to remember that there was one guy on guard duty who would stand there with his gun the whole time, hissing at the prisoners on the work crew, "run, damn you, run." He figured if he got to shoot one, they'd take him off guard duty. The prisoners spent the whole time rolling their eyes back at him, scared to move.

Bad Cannstatt

10 July 1945, "Have moved again. This place is just across the river from Stuttgart. We have a number of very nice little apartments this time in a recent housing develo9pment on the outskirts of town. The Baron and all the little counts of the von Rechberg family were glad to see us go. I am enclosing a travel folder on Donzdorf and a picture of the castle. Have been making a Renc. of an airfield today, have to make some repairs for a review Saturday. Engineer Bn. paraded through the streets of Geislingen the 4th, gave the civilians a show. (Gordon Morse to Margaret Morse)

16 July 1945, "Raining again this evening, weather has been very unsettled for some time. Writing this in my sun porch, very comfortable with wicker chairs and so forth. I really like this buying real estate. Find the best section of town and move in. This place has indirect lighting around the walls, very modernistic. Have a library as a C.P., red leather chairs, built in bar, all modern convenience. Getting my clothes together for a Brussels trip coming up the 21st of the month. Had a chance to go to England the 16th but decided to wait a while, as you have seen we are planning to stay a while.

The boys can't understand the shift, we were hot for a while. We carry on a training schedule in the morning but the afternoons are free for fraternizing. Once in a while we get an engineering project. We carry on motorized patrols to see that the Russian D.P.s don't shoot up too many Germans. Capt. David found a theatre and we have movies every nite, the best and the latest." (Gordon Morse to Margaret Morse)

Special Court Martial 19 Aug 1945

Before a Special Court Martial which convened at Bad Connstatt, Germany, pursuant to Par. 1, Special Order 35, this headquarters, 17 Aug. 1945, as amended by Par. 1, special order No. 55 this Headquarters 20 Aug. was arraigned and tried:

Private first class Bow Wow Schnapps, 04264193, Company C, 325th Engr. Combat Bn. did at BAD CONNSTATT, Germany on 19 Aug. 1945 wrongfully fraternize with German dogs near the Red Cross building, Stuttgart, Germany, not on official business.

Specification 2: In that Private first class Bow Wow Schnapps, 04264193, Company C, 325th Engr. Combat Bn. did at BAD CONSTATT, Germany, went AWOL for a period of three days.

Specification 3: In that Private first class Bow Wow Schnapps, 04264193, Company C, 325th Engr. Combat Bn., having received a lawful order from Lt. Gordon Morse to urinate outside and not in the house, the said Lt. Morse being in the execution of his office, did, at BAD CONSTATT, Germany, on 19 Aug. 1945 fail to obey the same.

PLEAS

To Specification 1: "not guilty"
To Specification 2: "not guilty"
To Specification 3: "not guilty"
To charge: "not guilty"

FINDINGS

To Specifications 1 and 2: "guilty"
To Specification 3: "not guilty"
To charge: "guilty"

SENTENCE

To be confined to the dog house for a period of six (6) months and to forfeit eight bones per month for six (6) months. Also will be reduced to private.

The sentence was adjudged 19Aug. 1945.

In the foregoing case of Private first class Bow Wow Schnapps, Company C, 325th Engr. Combat Bn., the sentence is approved and will be duly executed. The 100th Infantry Division Dog House designated as the place of confinement.

By order of Lt. Col. Mallepelli

M. Z. Wilson, 1st Lt.

It was easy to be a millionaire. Gordon Morse sent this home.

Eddie Murphy sitting on the wing of a plane--picture Bob Heller took and developed in the Castle.

Lorenz looking at maps for sale--Heller