The mission of the 853rd Engineer Battalion (Avn) was to develop usable runways in support of XX Air Force B-25 and B-29 aircraft for operations from the Assam region of India into China and the Pacific theater of operations.
BATTALION HISTORY
(Abridged from Lt Col Frolich’s Unit History, 1943-1944; Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) documents; personal accounts from Sgt Louis R. Markiewitz; Ex-CBI Roundup, June 1966; Personal Diary of Capt Arnold R. Wilde, Adjutant to the 853rd; New York Times, 4 Jan 1946)
DYERSBURG
The 853rd Engineer Aviation Battalion was activated January 1, 1943 under the command of Maj Alexander J. Frohich (US Military Academy Class of 1938), at Army Air Base, Dyersburg, Tennessee, commanded by Col Emil G. Kennedy. On the date of activation, the entire personnel of the organization consisted of one Major, one Captain, seventeen 2nd Lieutenants and no enlisted men.
January 9th marked the date of the activation of the companies and the date duty assignments were made. The assignments were as follows: Battalion Commander, Maj Frolich; Executive Officer, Captain Ferguson; Engineer Officer, Lt Wagner; Battalion Supply, Lt Seavey; Adjutant, Lt Birch; Personnel Adjutant, Lt Wilde; Commanding Officer Headquarters & Service Company, Lt Byers; Commanding Officer Co. “A”, Lt Coakley; Commanding Officer Co “B”, Lt Hooks; Commanding Officer Co. “C”, Lt Beard. During the course of the month the officer strength reached 48. The enlisted cadre arrived on the 19th of January from the 840th Engineer Aviation Battalion stationed at Bradley Field, Massachusetts. The enlisted men were assigned to their respective companies and at once undertook the duties they were sent down for.
During the course of the month of January, the Battalion took over the CCC Barrack area of the Air Base and the reorganization of the area for use by an Engineer Battalion was effected. All personnel messed in the Company “C” Mess Hall and mess personnel were afforded by the consolidation of all available personnel to effect the operation of a consolidated mess.
A temporary operations schedule was set up upon arrival of the Cadre. Construction was started on an Obstacle Course, Gas-proof Shelter and a Camouflage Area. Both officers and enlisted men participated in athletics daily from 1530 to 1700. First half hour was spent doing calisthenics and unarmed defense. This was followed by a period of rigorous football or softball with daily hardening being noticed by all personnel. The period from 1330 to 1530 daily was set aside for Officers Schools supervised by the Battalion Commander. In these schools all subjects were covered with all officers being assigned lectures and the preparation of charts and outlines with the thought in mind that they were to be used in the coming training period. The organization was without the benefit of any training aids and all reference data was obtained from the Battalion Commander’s personal library and what other manuals that were contributed by other officers. Despite lack of tools & equipment, the Battalion area was changed from an area of mud to a presentable area by construction of duckboards and drains.
The first contingent of enlisted men that were to be the body of the Battalion arrived on Feruary 21, 1943. Approximately 390 men arrived on the afternoon of the 21st from Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. The majority of the men were basics and had just completed four (4) weeks of basic training with no Engineer training included. The men were assigned to respective companies immediately and were indoctrinated into an Engineer Battalion by being put to work at once. Morale of new men was a bit low because of muddy condition of the area and bare appearance of the CCC Baracks after spending four weeks at an organized post in standard barracks. However, new men were not given much opportunity to dwell on conditions because they were being organized into operating sections within companies so that the organization could start on the road to preparing for its mission. The lack of non-commissioned officers among the new men was the first obstacle to confront the Battalion. All companies were confronted with the problem of organizing the mass that they were to train, with no leaders other than the officers who, as yet, were to be tried. The task of organization was enlarged by the receipt of 190 more enlisted men from Jefferson Barracks on the 23rd of February. The type of men and their training was duplicated on this shipment.
After a brief period of orientation, the companies embarked upon a six weeks basic training schedule. The schedule embodied all the standard Infantry training subjects, such as close order drill, rifle marksmanship, scouting and patrolling, bayonet drill, extended order drill, etc. Those subjects important to Engineer training were emphasized more than would be ordinarily at a replacement center. Subjects such as camouflage, map reading, field fortifications and other Engineer duties were stressed.
The Engineer equipment received in January and February was augmented by larger amounts in March and the Battalion was practically at T/BA strength by the end of the month: The equipment had been put into operation shortly after it was received and the motor pool and heavy equipment area that had been laid out previously. Total strength of the Battalion at the end of March was approximately 47 officers and 820 enlisted men. In April, the Battalion received its first Medical Officer and shortly thereafter a dispensary was set up in one wing of the Battalion headquarters.
May was considered to be a Red Letter month for the battalion as it was given its first acid test and came through with flying colors. On May 24th the battalion was ordered by the War Department to move to the vicinity of Lenox, Tennessee, for flood control duty on the Mississippi River. During the entire period the Battalion worked in two shifts, 12 hours on and 12 hours off. Conditions in general were more rigorous than the ordinary bivouac. A total of 120,000 sandbags were filled and placed. On May 29th the levee broke north of where the 853rd were placed. A total of 43 families and livestock were evacuated and Company “C” filled 2,000 sandbags in 45 minutes to plug a bridge on the Dyersburg-Caruthersville highway to keep the flood from spreading.
On June 3rd, Lt Van Sickle was appointed the new Headquarters & Service Company Commander and quickly took control of the flood area. By June 15th, the battalion was complete with its flood control duties and returned to Dyersburg where it received a commendation from Brig. Gen. Tyler, President of the Mississippi River Commission, for its work on the flood fight. On June 24th, the Battalion was alerted for a change of station.
By motor convoy and train, the battalion left Dyersburg, Tennessee, for Brookley Field, Mobile, Alabama.
Upon arrival at Brookley Field, the Battalion received a letter from the Commanding Officer, Dyersburg Army Air Base, commending it on the work it had done, for the discipline and behavior of the men while at Dyersburg and the condition in which it left the
Battalion area. Due to a shortage of available space for the Battalion, Companies “A” and “C” moved to Bates Field, Alabama, and were preparing the bivouac area for the future when the entire Battalion would be there. On July 18th, the Battalion lost its first enlisted man due to death. Pvt Auzy Sappington of Company “C” died at the Brookley Field Hospital due to illness. By July 25th, the entire Battalion was at Bates Field.
While in Mobile, the Battalion built paths, laid wiring, built kitchens and gun emplacements and dug fox holes for camouflaging. They poured concrete, built garages and warehouses, constructed hangars and engineered a drainage system.
On August 1st, the first group of men left for Shell Beach, Louisiana, for practice firing a .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine gun on the Naval range. After a week, the men returned to Brookley Field and prepared for Overseas movement. “A,” “B,” and “C,” companies went to Fort Morgan, Alabama, for training in combat firing and day/night problems in repelling beach landings.
On September 13th, the Battalion departed Brookley Field, Alabama, in two serials (trains) for Camp Patrick Henry Port of Embarkation, Virginia.
The battalion didn’t rest during its stay at Camp Patrick Henry as it was assigned the task of loading ships at the Hampton Roads Docks. Each day, two shifts of 100 men each were transported to the dock area for ten-hour shifts. Work consisted of loading and
unloading ships. For the work they performed, the Battalion was awarded a commendation by Brig. Gen. Kilpatrick, the Commanding General, Hampton Roads POE.
On October 1st, Major Frolich was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and two days later the Battalion boarded the Liberty Ships that were to transport the unit to North Africa. Companies “A” and H&S boarded the SS Lambert Cadwalader while Companies “B” and “C” boarded the SS James W. Nesmith. On October 5th the convoy was formed and moved out of Hampton Roads eastward. According to one member, “None will forget, many will relive, the day we left the United States. Would we ever see her welcome shores again, enjoy her hot dogs and chocolate milkshakes, kiss her ever-charming girls, and of more importance would we ever see our loved ones again? We knew we were going far, but how far no one knew and the rumors of our destination soard on.” Sgt Louis Markiewitz of Company “C” noted, “the convoy had a cruiser and a destroyer on one side as well as a small carrier. There were a total of 86 ships…and the carrier was in betwee, watching, looking out for submarines close to the coast. After we had been underway for…the rest of teh day…the carrier left us. But the cruiser and the destroyer stayed with us. It took us 19 days to get to the Straight of Gibraltar. We didn’t know, and we weren’t supposed to know, where we were going.” The journey was completed without any undue hardships and seasickness was at a minimum. Battalion Adjutant Capt Arnold Wilde wrote on October 7th, “Some depth charges were dropped on the edge of the convoy but nothing happened. Not all of the crews tried out their guns today but not ours. Sea is fairly calm today and it is fairly warm…rained this evening quite hard for a while. They really are strict about black-out and can understand why. Found out yesterday for sure where we are going and sounds interesting. Hope it is a bit cooler for sleeping tonight.”
On October 21st, Captain Wilde wrote, “Well, we sighted land once again at 1030hrs. This morning we could see the Spanish Morroco coast very easily. Real high bluffs at the shore. Around 1200 we saw the Spanish coast and came to the Rock of Gibraltar around 1500hrs. It is impressive but much different than the pictures of it. We picked up a lot of English escort ships. A big battleship passed us near Gibraltar and am told it is a French ship…the Mediterranean is smooth as glass.”
On October 22nd, the ships carrying the unit anchored outside the breakwater at Oran, Algeria, and all personnel were anxious to set foot on land once again and to have their first glimpse of foreign soil. The next morning, the Battalion debarked and moved to Battalion Area #21, Staging Area #2, south of Oran. On October 25th, Lt Col Frolich made arrangemetns with HQ Mediterranean Base Section to attach the Battalion to the 338th Engineer General Service Regiment to assist them in engineer construction. It took two days to complete the move. The work was widespread and even included dispatching an Italian-speaking detail to organize an Italian POW work battalion while there.
By November 22nd the Battalion had endured some harsh conditions. Sgt Markiewitz recalled, “…the mud was nearly impassible…the food was terrible, unless you consider onion sandwiches and dates to be fine cuisine.” The men lived in eight-man tents in an olive orchard. He also said, “…the nights were freezing cold. Many of the troops wore their jackets to bed and then wrapped themselves in blankets to keep from catching their death.” After one final inspection, the battalion was ready to move on to their final destination.
The Battalion boarded HMT Rohna on November 23rd and were quartered on troop decks 6, 7, and 8 in the aft part of the ship. Total strength of the Battalion at the time of boarding the ship was 793 including officers. The entire day was spent loading troops and supplies. At approximately 1200 hrs on November 24th the HMT Rohna moved from anchorage to join five other ships in the Convoy KMF-26 Annex. The weather was mild but the ship had rolled considerably while anchored and many men were seasick. The troop decks were very crowded and the air was quite bad below decks.
November 25th was Thanksgiving Day. The convoy steamed to join convoy KMF-26 and regular drills were performed. The enlisted men had canned chicken as a substitution for the usual turkey dinner and bread rolls that many men described as filled with weevils. The following day saw more of the same in the Mediterranean. An “abandon ship” drill was held around 1030 hrs and a practice “boat station” drill was held around 1600 hrs. Shortly thereafter, all personnel, exclusive of gun crews and fire-control details, were ordered below as the “ALERT” alarm was sounded. Enemy planes, believed to be German twin-engine bombers of the He-217 class, were sighted over the convoy. Escort ships immediately opened fire. The bombers first appeared out of the southwest. At approximately 1645 hrs the SS Clan Campbell had a near miss across its bow from one of the bombs. All gun stations of HMT Rohna were in action. At approximately 1700 hrs HMT Rohna was struck amidships on the port side at about the water line by what appeared to be a radio-controlled missile. The Hs-293 radio-guided bomb impacted the Rohna and tore a hole that was described by Sgt Markiewitz as, “…big enough to drive a couple of trucks through.” Power went out across the ship and panic quickly ensued. The 853rd, which was quartered entirely, with the excewption of about 50 men, in troop decks 6, 7, and 8, bore the brunt of the explosion. Men were blown from the places they were sitting or standign like leaves in a wind. Hatch covers were blown skyward and many men tumbled down the open holes amid fire and exploding ammunition. Many men, badly wounded but in total disregard for their own safety, stayed in the hold and helped direct the escape of the trapped men. Troops in the forwasrd part of the ship were little, if any, effected by the explosion.
The men, as a general rule, all obeyed their previous instructions and went to their boat stations. Some life boats were lowered but because of the strong wind and rough seas were of little use. Small and large rafts were being lowered over the side and all cargo nets had been cut loose from their lashings and were used by the men in scrambling down the ship’s sides. The weather had gotten bad since midday and a strong wind was blowing, creating 15-foot swells. The ship carried 16 lifeboats of which only 5 made it into the water. At approximately 1730 hrs the ship had a decidedly sharp list to starboard and it was becoming difficult to retain footing. Lt Col Frolich commanded the “Abandon Ship.”
Sgt Markiewitz said, “…on deck, there was quite a bit of confusion. Officers were…well, they were panicked like the rest of ’em I guess. It just seemed like most of the guys panicked right away.” A ship the size of the Rohna would still travel over a mile by momentum before sinking. The sea was extremely cold, in addition to being rough, and many lives were lost because men were unable hold onto rafts and were so weakened by the exposure that they were unable to keep their heads above water even with the help of life belts. The whitecaps whipped the soldiers in the face and filled their mouths with oil-mixed water.
Rescue operations continued throughout the night. On the morning of the 27th, the USS Pioneer, SS Clan Campbell and HMS Atherstone pulled into Philippeville, Algeria, and started to unload their survivors and dead. The USS Pioneer picked up 606 survivors. Two other ships, HMS Hunt and the SS Midful brought their survivors to Bougie (Bejaia), Algeria. In all, 1,015 had died of the more than 2,000 total personnel. Over 100 crew also lost their lives.
At Philippeville, the dead and wounded were taken to the 67th and 100th British Hospitals while those at Bougie went to the 69th British Hospital. The uninjured went to a British Transit camp nearby. At the first roll call for the 853rd, of the 793 who boarded the Rohna, only 129 answered roll call. The 853rd appeared to be as close to annihilation as possible and of reports to be received in the following days, only a small number were to be added to the survivor list.
On December 1st the Battalion and the other survivors boarded the train for Bizerte, Tunisia. On the morning of December 3rd, the train pulled into Bizerte and the men loaded into trucks to go to Battalion Staging Area #1, west of Bizerte. From time to time other survivors arrived from various places, mostly from hospitals. Lt Berger was appointed Company Commander of Company “B” to replace Lt Hooks who was listed as “Missing in Action.” On December 31st, a check of the survivor rosters showed the following information regarding the men of the 853rd which had consisted of 30 officers and 763 enlisted men on the Rohna: 10 officers missing in action, 20 survived with 9 injured, 485 enlisted men either dead or missing in action, and of the 278 survivors, 138 had been injured. The 853rd spent Christmas in Bizerte and services were given in a tent.
By the end of 1943, the 853rd was born, and almost died when it lost 62% of its personnel in the greatest sea tragedy of the war. On January 1st, Lt Col Frolich petitioned the War Department for replacements. As the Battalion was on smallpox quarantine they would not be leaving North Africa for another day or more.
On January 8th, the battalion boarded HMT Takliwa, a British transport, and steamed through the Suez Canal, anchored in Aden and then made way for Bombay, India with a total Battalion complement of 18 officers and 278 enlisted men.