Carroll H. Dunn
Q ..
What about the Germans? Having marched against them, what would you say about
their engineering?
A ..
I'd say they're quite good. And particularly good at improvising.
Q ..
At improvising? Could you give me some specifics?
A ..
Not really; but their ability to make mines, their ability to build obstacles-these
certainly were indicative of a fairly well-trained group. I had the impression they could
make do with what they had available.
Q ..
Would you say you learned anything from their approach to things?
A ..
Well, I think you can learn from any experience. However, I couldn't really point to
anything about which I could say, "This I learned."
Q ..
How often did officials from Washington f r o m the Chief of Engineers' office-appear
-
in the
In the journal of the 105th Engineer Combat Battalion, there was a
reference to the deputy chief and the commandant of the Engineer School at Fort
Belvoir being at the training exercise in March 1945-the river-crossing exercise. Do
you recall that and any other instances?
I hadn't recalled it until you mentioned it. I do remember, of course, fairly close contact
A
with Corps and Army engineer officials. The historical section of the European theater
was very active in trying to be sure that information was recorded. I'm not sure of this,
but I believe there was a Colonel [John H.] Carruth who was engaged in assuring that
there was some historical record of engineering activities. I'm sorry to say that I can't
remember too many cases of people from Washington visiting. Washington was a long
way from me in those days.
Commanders
Q.
Maybe you'd like to comment on some of the commanders whom you worked with or
knew of-their abilities during the war. How about Courtney Hodges?
A
Well, as a commander of an engineer battalion, I had met General Hodges and General
[William] Simpson (the commander of the Ninth Army) as well as a number of the
corps commanders who participated in planning, particularly such major operations as
the Rhine River crossing. As a division staff officer, my relationships were really not so
close or intimate that I feel qualified to make any substantive comments.
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