ASFFelix & World War 2ASF
Signalmen at Work in Europe:
  Truck Driving and Communication Line Construction


The only pictures I've found of Felix are in training in the United States, occupation duty in Germany, and on leave in Switzerland. I've not found any photos with him in the campaigns in which he served.

From Felix's military record: "TRUCK DRIVER: Served in the ETO (European Theater of Operations) as a truck driver in the Signal Corps. Hauled military personnel, gasoline, ammunitions, and supplies over all types of roads under all weather conditions. Did both night and day driving. Made minor repairs and performed routine maintenance on trucks. Also did communication line construction work concurrently with above."

His Military Occupational Specialty was 667, message center clerk.

These links to sites of about World War 2 Signal units given an idea of what Dad might have seen and experienced.

None of these photos or drawing are of Felix, the 3253d Signal Service Company, or the 45th Signal Company. They are of other units performing duties most from about the same time as and near the same places where Felix served.

Poster Signal men in combat
While Felix was not the model for this poster, the poster portrays how seriously Signalmen were viewed by the Army.
The Battle of Kasserine Pass, Tunisia, 1943. While Felix was not in this battle, this Jeep ad illustrates how close to combat Signalmen worked to construct communication lines.
Truck Driving and Communication Line Construction
Training
May, 1943: Trucks in training. While Felix was not deployed to England until February, 1944, this illustrates a scene he may have experienced.
Camouflaged
May, 1944: Somewhere in England. Camouflaged trucks waiting to cross  to France.
Loading
June 1, 1944: Brixham, England. Loading to cross to Normandy.
Normandy
Late June 1944: How Felix may have arrived in Europe. A 2 ½ ton 6x6 truck unloads at Normandy, France.

2½ Ton, 6x6,
CCKW cargo trucks  were the most widely used tactical transport of the US forces during WW2. Historians described it as one of the weapons that won the war. (From Truck 2½ Ton, 6x6, Cargo CCKW-352, Newcastle Military Vehicle Museum).

The troops knew it as the “Jimmy,” since most were built by GMC (General Motors Corporation), or "deuce and a half" from 2½ tons. 6x6 refers to 6 wheel drive (From Australian Car Guide GMC Jimmy 6WD).
Omaha
Shortly after June 6, 1944: LSTs off-loading men and material.
Unloading
June 12, 1944: Omaha Beach. Trucks loaded with supplies entered France across the Mulberry artificial harbor over "Loebnitz" floating piers.
Omaha
June, 1944: "Omaha" Beach: Army trucks moving inland soon after the landings.

Hit
Signal truck hit by German fire: This is a Dodge WC54 truck 3d Signal Company , Anzio, Italy, May, 1944, taken while Felix was in England It illustrates the danger in which Signal men and their vehicles worked and how close they were to combat.
St. Lo
After July 19, 1944: Trucks moving through the wrecked streets of St Lo. Felix said he would have liked to see Europe when it was not all blown apart.
Gassing Up
September 4, 1944: Cherbourg, France (the only harbor available to the Allies at that time). Trucks loading full jerry cans at a fuel point of the famed "Red Ball Express."
Unloading
September 5, 1944: Morlaix, France (near Brest). LSTs left "high and dry" by the tide unloading supplies directly onto trucks.
Depot
Trucks at a supply depot somewhere in Europe loading crates of rations bound for frontline distribution points. This is a scene Felix experienced many times.
Off Road
January 19, 1945: Gasoline truck, at left, skidded off the road, causing the trucks going in the opposite direction to stall.Sourbrodt, Belgium,1st Infantry Division area, U.S. First Army.
Wrecker
January 31, 1945: Outside of Murringen, Belgium: line of trucks.
Auger
Signal Corps ( K42) Auger Truck (1 ½  to Chevrolet) with railroad adaptation gear on the rear.
K42
Drilling a hole  for a communication pole. Date and place unknown.
Maintenance
Signal Corps (K43) Telephone Maintenance/Pole Setting Truck (1 ½  ton Chevrolet) with tripod for raising poles stored lengthwise on the driver's side.

K43
K43 Setting a pole: Undated and place unidentified from the 33rd Signal Construction Battalion
K43 in Europe
K43 setting a pole in Europe: Undated and place unidentified from the 33rd Signal Construction Battalion
Rhine
March, 1945: Trucks crossing the Rhine River on a pontoon bridge.
Rhine
Undated: Trucks crossing the Rhine River, another view.
Signal Units in Europe
Signal Cover
"Service: Story of the Signal Corps", a small booklet with the history of  the Signal Corps in Europe in WW2 published by the Stars & Stripes, Paris, 1944-1945.
33rd Signal Construction Battalion
33rd SCB The best site I have found illustrating Signalmen driving trucks and constructing communications lines at the same time and in the same areas were Felix served.
From the special edition of the "Army Communicator On-line: Voice of the Signal Regiment," on the Signal Corps in World War
"In the theaters of operations, massive supply bases everywhere backed up the combat fronts — in England and North Africa, in Hawaii and the islands of the far Pacific. Theater signal officers enjoyed direct control over their own supply, giving them an advantage in providing the combat forces fast, responsive signal support that was the envy of our allies."
From Overview: the Signal Corps in World War II by George Raynor Thompson
The Signal Corps in World War II, Army Communicator, Voice of the Signal Regiment, PB 11-95-4, Special edition, Vol. 20 No. 4
Testing 100 miles in motion: the Signal Corps in Europe/North Africa by Carol Stokes
56th Signal Battalion

Training in England before D Day
Man on pole
Signal man on a pole
563d Signal Company, 63rd Division

563d Signal Company troops amongst the ruins of Bliesransbach, Germany. Lt Wade on the Left.

563d Signal Company troops at the Siegfried Line. Lt Wade is 2d from the left.

Men of the 563d Signal Company. Only ones identified are Anthony Mucciolo (2d from right top row), Anthony Lowry (Center looking to the left) and Waino Warjonen (front -center with cigarette) Germany 1945. 

Anthony Mucciolo (previous photo) of the 563rd Signal Company with his jeep after hitting a mine.

Harold J. O'Neill, 563d Sig- on a mission in Volkstrom, Germany 1945.
Signal Section, 255th Infantry, 63rd Division

Signal Section, 255th Infantry- Stringing wire, Heidelberg, Germany 31 Mar 45.
102d Signal Company

Line men string another wire through Ederen, Germany.
103d Signal Company

Accounts of the 103d Signal Company's Experiences, Southern France to Central Europe
Many men of the 103d Signal Company were transferred to the 45th Signal Company after VE Day and returned to the U.S. with Dad.

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© 2006 Leonard H. Cizewski
Last Modified on December 9, 2006
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