96-YEAR-OLD WWII 1ST ENGINEER COMBAT BN VETERAN

We recently had the opportunity to interview 96-year-old Lawrence Bailey, a WWII veteran who served as a Sergeant in the 1st Engineer Combat Battalion during the occupation of Germany.

Although he never saw combat, Bailey’s job was hazardous – and instrumental in the US military’s efforts to denazify, stabilize, and rebuild Germany following World War II.

Before entering service in the US Army, Bailey worked as a coal miner in West Virginia, gaining extensive experience with explosives. As a result, following basic training, he was attached to the 1st Engineer Combat Battalion and tasked with destroying German bunkers, pillboxes, and defensive installations across the former Third Reich. Assisted by German POWs, they blew up concrete structures and also assisted in disposing of unexploded ordnance and sweeping wooded areas for mines and bombs.

During our interview, Bailey talked about discovering booby-trapped forests, transporting unexploded aerial bombs, and clearing minefields alongside reckless German POWs. His excellent memories from life in early postwar Germany provide a unique look at how American forces continued to risk their lives in Europe long after VE Day.

Special thanks to Lawrence and his family for allowing us to share this story.

Full video interview coming soon!

"Giving the Past a Future, One Story at a Time."
WWII Veterans History Project