506TH ENGINEER LIGHT PONTON COMPANY JOSEPH E. TERCH JACK E. DAVIDSON 928 N. 16th St. 516 W. Elm Street Virginia, Minn. Columbus, Kansas Albert C. Chapman LOUIS L. HALL 115 S. Porter Route #2 Paris, Tenn. Nemaha, Nebraska RICHARD R. ENGLE JOHN A. SCHNEIDER R.D. #3 114-40 126th Street Lewisburg, Pa. South Ozone Park, N.Y. ROBERT L. JACKSON JR. TROY J. VASCOCU 2733 Hemphill Route #1 Box 134a Ft. Worth, Tex. Natchitoches, La. DONALD D. STARNES WALTER M. VIERS 1818 Leslie Ave. Route #4 Alexandria, Vir. Elizabethtown, Ky. HARRY L. DENIS HAROLD E. WECKMAN RR #1 Glen Carbon, Ill. Moundsville, W. VA. CHARLES T. FORD MATHIAS G. ZORMEIER RFD Omaha, Ill. Route #2 Royalton, Minn. FRANK B. GALLAGHER JR. WILLIAM E. ADAMS 1422 Texas Ave. 503 S. State San Antonio, Tex. Elgin, Ill. GEORGE S. MARLOW WESLEY W. AHRENS 5364 Elm Ave. Odin, Minn. Long Beach,5, Calif. DOYLE B. SULLIVAN JR. CHARLES W. ALDERMAN 805 Court St. 121 W. 3rd Street Portsmouth, Va. Lyons, Kansas FRANK R. ALDRETE Aaron B. Aleshire 310 1/2 N. Main St. Route #3 Los Angeles, Calif. Long Prairie, Minn. FREDDIE W. AMASON LOYD E. ARBUCKLE Rt. #2 Box 78 Grenola, Kansas Columbia, La. LEONARD J. CHURCHES LAURENCIO P. ARROYO 16550 Glastonbury Box 1371 Detroit, Mich. San Angelo, Tex. GEORGE G. FRYE WAYNE S. AUSTIN 14108 Becket Road RR #2 Shaker Heights, Ohio Camden, Ind. JOHN W. FULLER STANLEY B. BAGGARLY Box 705 Browntown, Va. Tombean, Texas EUGENE W. TOBIN ANDREW R. BAHR Route #3 Pershing Drive 873 Noble Ave. Lancaster, Ohio Bronx, N.Y. RAYMOND A. VOGEL JACK H. BAILEY 301 John St. 3687 Cedar Ave. Hillsboro, Ohio Lynwood, Calif. HAROLD M. VON BANK THOMAS A. BARTHOLOMEW RFD #1 Route #5 Irvington, Iowa Raleigh, N.C. EDWIN M. BROWN GILBERT W. BARTOSCHEWSKI 3438 S. New york Ave. Milwaukee, Wis. [Subtotal = 38] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Page 2) GAYLORD E. BATEMAN JAMES C. McKENZIE RAYFORD B. ANDERSON Route #3 Route #2 Box 429 Long Prairie, Minn. Poteau, Okla. Minden, La. WILLIAM R. BENNETT LEO D. NELSON THEODORE I. ANDERSON c/o Mrs. P. Smallwood RR #2 4903 N. Rockwell Ave. W. North Street Stuart, Iowa Chicago, Ill. Charleston, W. Va. BERENTSON, DONALD E. GEORGE J. ONDO VICTOR E. ANDERSON Madelia, Minn. 417 South St. Skamokawa, Wash. Pottstown, Pa. HOMER J. BIGGS VIRGIL O. ROHRS ROBERT ARVIZO Gen. Del. RD #2 734 E. Colden Ave. Duncanville, Tex. Hicksville, Ohio Los Angeles, Calif. MACK E. BITLER EDWIN SADLON JOHN G. AXLEY 429 E. King St. Route #1 Route #2 Lancaster, Ohio Shellsburg, Iowa Eyota, Minn. KEITH C. BROWN JOHN W. SAMS PATRICK H. AYDE RR #1 Route #2 Box 95 Fountain City, Ind. Robelino, La. Kennewick, Wash. WAYNE C. BURCUM CHARLES H. SCOTT GILBERT R. BAIZE 515 2nd Ave. N.W. Gen. Del. Box 81 Hampton, Iowa Spur, Texas Cleaton, Ky. JAMES W. BYER JAMES R. STIERHEIM BANASZEWSKI, ANTON L. 21072 Baker Road 210 Amelia St. 964 E. 70th St. Hayward, Calif. McKees Rocks, Pa. Cleveland, Ohio JAMES H. CARNEY ARCHIE D. TERRY WILLIAM R. BARKSDALE 580 N. Riddle Box 2282 Bridgeboro, Georgia Colby, Kansas Centua Creek, Calif. CHARLES R. CARTER MAASIE VANDERBILT JAMES C. BARRETT Route #2 Box 53 A Plymouth, Ohio Route #4 Cottondale, Fla. Anderson, S. Car. ALEXANDER J. CAPERNA WALTER R. VASICEK DALE F. BARTLETT 99 Avenue U Lakota, North Dak. RR #4 Brooklyn, N.Y. Cozak, Nebr. HEBERT C. CHAMBERS STANLEY A. WALCZAK TEDDY E. BASS 317 Ash Street 3306 Elm St. Route #3 Ottawa, Kansas Toledo, Ohio Hartford, Ala. CURTIS C. CHRISTIAN JR. NAZARIO L. WALTERS RUDOLPH F. BAXA 1505 E. Apache Box 271 RFD #3 Phoeniz, Ariz. Tularosa, N. Mex. Cedar Rapids, Iowa ROY D. CRABTREE ROBERT T. WEBBER ^ ARTHUR W. BRAHN Route #3 2300 Belleview Ave. Coopersburg, Pa. Winfield, Tenn. East St. Louis, Ill. JOHN J. DEEDS ROBERT YOUNG RICHARD R. BEALS Route #2 1601 Union Ave. 627 Forest St. Pataskala, Ohio Beatrice, Nebr. Charlotte, Mich. GEORGE H. DEFENBAUGH ROBERT H. YOUNG JR. WILLIAM A. BINGHAM RR #1 Route #A Loogootoe, Indiana Ft. Scott, Kansas Tennille, Georgia ROBERT J. FAGAN EDWARD J. ZABRUSKY *^ EARL R. BLACK Adair, Iowa 1019 Prescott Ave. 1316 Boyd St. Canon City, Colo. Cincinatti, Ohio RANDLE H. FARRIS JOHN E. ADAMS ELMER J. BOOTH Box 37 Campstool Rd. 524 S. Fremont St. Hetzel, W. Va. Cheyenne, Wyo. Los Angeles, Calif. JOHN E. LANZETTA WILLIAM B. ADAMS THOMAS BOZGA 2848 N. 24th Street Route #1 1645 Michigan Ave. Philadelphia, Pa. Eros, Louisiana Versailles Twp., Pa. ARTHUR E. BROBST 338 S. 6th Street Columbus, Ohio [Subtotal = 58] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Page 3) JOSEPH J. BURESH * GILBERT D. CLARK * ELMER JAGER * Star Route RR # 2 Little Rock, Iowa Waubun, Minn. Box 144 Russellville, Ky. FRED M. JARACZ * CLYDE C. BULLINS * Kelliher, Minn. Route # 2 RAYMOND J. CLONINGER * Asheboro, N. Car. c/o Western Union JOHN W. KENNEDY *^ Charlotte, N. Carolina Route # 3 EARL H. BURCH * Manchester, Iowa Box 14 PAUL COOPER JR. * Nellie, Ohio Back Creek, W. Va. ROBERT L. LARSON * Poplar Grove, Illinois LESLIE H. BURD * HOYAL P. CRABTREE * 1610 ?? St. Route # 3 ELMER MANINGA *^ Louisville, Ky. Winfield, Tenn. Route # 2 Menahga, Minn. JOHN CARRIGAN * FRANK A. DAVIS * 32 Windsor Place RR # 1 CURTIS P. NOEM * Brooklyn 15, N.Y. Peoria, Ohio Irwin, S. Dakota DONALD D. CALHOUN * RAYMOND E. ODEGAARD * 1321 A Avenue NW WESLEY E. DAVIS * Battle Lake, Minn. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 2167 Court Street Redding, Calif. NELSON C. PARMELE JR. * HARRY CALLOS * 154 Aurora Ave. 1044 Fairbanks Ave. IVAN M. DEWEY * Buffalo 10, N.Y. Cincinnati, Ohio Star Route Cozad, Nebr. ROBERT J. ROCHFORD ^ JOSEPH CALLAHAN 643 E. 117th St. 327 50th St. CARL E. DILLOW Cleveland, Ohio Brooklyn, N.Y. Dupo, Illinois IVAN L. ROOT * SALVATORE CANZIO * LAWRENCE A. DISHER * RD # 1 14 Orchard St. DR RD # 1 Cortland, Ohio Fitchburg, Mass. Waterville, Ohio LOREN E. RUARK ^ HOWARD W. CARLSON HARRY FISCHER ^ Pomeroy, Wash. 617 N. 23rd Ave. 8810 Harrell Duluth, Minn. Houston, Texas EDWARD R. SACCUCCI * 233 Eagle Street ORRIN P. CARTER * ORVILLE E. EVANS [?] Fall River, Mass. Gen. Del. 328 E. Burdick Ave. Marshall, Wash. Milwaukee, Wis. HARRY SANDER * 3832A McRee CARL R. CASEY CHARLES ? FELLER [?] St. Louis, Mo. Route # 2 Sullivan, Ill. Sumner, Texas RALPH C. SCHROUDER * RAYMOND J. FLATGARD * Star Route # 1 EVERETT J. CHANDLER * Box 45 Lebanon, Oregon Route #3 Alida, Minn. Lexington, Ind. BILLY E. SHAVER *^ GERALD D. HAMMOCK * 711 N. Washington St. LUTHER O. CAVENY * 1313 7th Avenue Sandpoint, Idaho Route #1 Phenix City, Ala. Kings Mt. N. Car. ARGIL W. STIGEN ^ LLOYD M. HANSEN * Rt #3 CALVIN C. CHILTON * Canby, Minn. Neillsville, Wis. Route #1 Salvisa, Ky MYRON S. HANSON * GEORGE F. SUMERAK * 6th Ave. 12 St. NE 2050 Robin Ave. JOHN A. CHRISLIP * Rt. #1 c/o M. P. Hanson Lakewood, Ohio Box 46 Minot, N. Dakota Fairview, W. Va. VICTOR J. TESOLIN * JOHN S. HELLING * 39 E. Donner Ave. WILBUR L. CHRISTENSEN * Route #2 Monessen, Pa. RR #1 Hanska, Minn. St. Charles, Iowa RONALD G. THOMPSON [Subtotal = 53] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Page 4) RONALD G. THOMPSON *^ KEITH C. WELCH *^ 606 N. Sturgis Turon, Kansas Beloit, Kansas GERALD D. WELLS *^ MARLYN G. TOPP *^ Route #8 Hubbard, Iowa Defiance, Ohio JOHN M. TURCHETTI * BAILEY K. WILLIAMS *^ 50 What Cheer Ave. 2108 Sadler Providence, R. I. Nashville, Tenn. RICHARD C. TURNER ^ JOHN W. YOUNG JR. *^ 445 E. Rich St. Comanche, Texas Apt. B, Columbus Ohio GEORGE W. YOUNG ^ Route #1 THEODORE E. VANOCKER ^ Bellville, Ohio RFD #1 Belding, Mich HOWARD J. ZIPFEL *^ RD #1 EUGENE E. VEJTASA *^ Defiance, Ohio Box 682 Circle, Montana WILLIAM VELTHOUSE JR. ^ 1011 Cooper SE Grand Rapids, Mich. JAMES N. VINSON JR. *^ 180 N. Ford St. Akron, Ohio EDWIN H. WAANANEN ^ Box 5, Kiva, Mich. HALLET O. WALKER *^ Tekamah, Nebr. ARNOLD H. WALTER * 11600 Inglewood Ave. Hawthorne, Calif. FINIS WANN JR. ^ Route #1 Wister, Okla. EDWIN P. WANNER *^ Route #1 Verona, N. Dakota BARTLETT W. WARD *^ 141 W South St. Painesville, Ohio ROBERT F. WASSON *^ 1615 Dewey St. Perry, Iowa GEORGE E. WATERS * Box 423 Huttig, Arkansas HAROLD L. WEEKLY *^ 867 E. Market St. Akron, Ohio [Subtotal = 23] [Total = 172] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I found pages 1 and 2 of this roster among the personal papers of my father, Robert T. Webber, and transcribed them in May 2002. George W. Young sent pages 3 and 4 of the roster after he found my transcription of pages 1 and 2 on Dad's diary website in July 2004. George W. Young was in C Company of the 124th Infantry Regiment. He was wounded by a Japanese grenade on 5 June 1945. After the war ended he was transferred to the 506th Engineer Light Ponton Company. This appears to be a roster of the men transferred to the 506th Engineer Light Ponton Company on 18 October 1945. Louis L. Hall, Robert T. Webber, George W. Young, and Edward J. Zabrusky are listed. Also listed are the names of several men that Edward Zabrusky mentioned in two letters to Robert Webber in 1946: Austin, Crabtree, Davidson, Fagan, Ford, Frye, Ruark, Vanderbilt, and Weckman. Ed Zabrusky also mentioned a man named Bordin who is not on this roster, and a man whom he identified only as Junior. The 506th Engineer Light Ponton Company was deactivated on 31 January 1946. Here are excerpts from company's history: July 26, 1945 Arrived Alae, Mindanao from Valencia 79 miles. The remainder of the month of July, new Camp was constructed, installed and operated M-3 pneumatic float ferry across the Cagayan river near Cagayan. Six anchorages were installed in Macajalar Bay. August 1-11, 1945 The new area was improved and recreational facilities were installed. Company continued to operate a pneumatic float ferry across the Cagayan river. Operation of a water point at the Quarter- master supply depot near Bugo was also one of the duties assigned to this unit. Construction was begun on three warehouses, 200' X 25', 200' X 25' and 50' X 25' at the Signal Depot near Alae. A standard dock for ships with a 30 ft. draft was constructed in Macajalar Bay one mile west of intersection of Sayre Highway and Beach Road. August 12-23, 1945 The dock at Bugo was completed and the finishing touches were given to the three warehouses at the Signal Depot. Bailey Bridge Equipment for the 240th Engineers and 1874 Engrs. was hauled using 29 trucks. August 24-31, 1945 M-3 Floating Ferry at Cagayan was dismantled and returned to the Company Area. Other duties as above carried out. 13 Enlisted men returned from duty with the 24th Infantry Division. September 1-18, 1945 Usual organizational duties were carried out, including operation of water point at Bugo. Hauled supplies for the Base Engineer Depot, maintained organizational vehicles and equipment in preparation for a future operation. September 19-October 12, 1945 Company began operation of Gravel Pit near Alae, Mindanao. On the 12th of October, Floating Bridge Equipment was turned in to Base Engineer depot. October 18, 1945 Today the 129 Enlisted Men and all officers with the exception of Lt. William J. Marett were transferred to the 106th Engineer Combat Battalion prior to departure for the United States. This marked the unofficial break up of the 506th Engineer Light Ponton company. At this same date low point personnel from the 124th Infantry, 155 Infantry, 149 FA Battalion and the 116th Field Artillery Bn. were transferred to this organization. A light ponton company in name only, the few remaining personnel from among the old members began training these Infantry and Artillerymen in basic engineer operations. Riflemen and Cannoneers became cat operators and truck drivers. [The 124th Infantry Regt, 155th Infantry Regt, 116th Field Artillery Bn, and 149th Field Artillery Bn were all components of the 31st Infantry Division during World War II.] January 10-31, 1946 On the 23 of January 1946, orders were received stating that this unit was to be deactivated effective the 31 of January. The company Property Book was cleared and preparations made to carry out this order. One officer and one enlisted man were chosen to take the company records to Base "K" Leyte and orders were cut assigning the remaining personnel to the 509th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company. George G. Frye was the Company Clerk of the 506th Engineer Company after the war. I learned this during a telephone interview with Mr. Frye on 8 April 2002. He said that he was the enlisted man who took the company records to Base "K" in Tacloban, Leyte. He also said: The 506th Engineer Depot was on a big bluff near Cagayan de Oro. There were two miles of winding road from the top of the bluff down to the beach and the town. A topographic map of the area shows a steep bluff about one mile south of the village of Agusan, Mindanao, on Macajalar Bay. I suspect that this was the location of the 506th Engineer Light Ponton Company in 1945-1946. Notes: 1. There are 172 names on the four pages of this roster. 2. Names marked with * are verified by U.S. Army enlistment records online at the U.S. National Archives. URL: http://aad.archives.gov/aad/ 3. Names marked with ^ are verified by other sources. These include Addresses.com, Intelius.com, National WWII Memorial Registry, Social Security Death Index, VA Nationwide Gravesite Locator, Whitepages.com and Zabasearch.com. I corrected the spelling of some names and addresses that I verified with these sources. Anything in square brackets is mine. ---- Paul M. Webber Home Page: http://home.pcisys.net/~pwebber/31_id/rtw.htm File created 21 May 2002 Edited 21 Dec 2008, 27 Oct 2010 ----