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At Work
The bridge above, has rubber pontoons and was constructed in about 4 hours in 1952 by the 37th ;Battalion when I was a platoon leader in C Company.. My platoon’s job was to build the portion of the bridge which attached to the far abutment. The Rhein River is about 1100 feet wide. The nearest town is Gernsheim, Germany. The day of the week is Sunday because of barge traffic, we could build bridges only on Sundays. The armored unit was coming to cross the bridge from the side of the bridge constructed by my platoon so I lead the first tank across as soon as the bridge was completed.
The bridge below, has Bailey bridge trusses supported on steel pontoons. It was constructed in about a half an hour. This is because the bridge was floated permanently along the banks of the Rhein in two sections , one on each side of the river . Completing the bridge consisted merely of moving the two halves into position so they could be connected in the center of the river using steel pins and sledge hammers and the ramps could be lowered using hand cranked winches on to the abutments. This picture was taken in 1954 while I was Co. Commander of A Company. I contributed a couple of improvements to this system; but the bridge was in about this same form before I arrived in Germany. The nearest town to this bridge site is Nierstein, Germany.
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The air terminal building in Dhahran is about 44 ft. tall, 440 ft long and 120 feet wide. The picture shows only an unfinished portion. The building includes a Domestic Terminal, an International Terminal and a Throne Room and a Mosque. The major challenge in construction was that the whole job had to be subcontracted to Saudi companies who had little experience in western building technologies and who had little respect or knowledge of standards of strength and materials and precision in construction. The resultant need for constant advice to be given and accepted strained human relations. But for a fearless Area Engineer from New Mexico who had survived the Bataan Death March, success appeared impossible. He, Lt. Col Russell Hutchison used his will and fearlessness to move the project on schedule and up to standards.
And at Play Paul Coughlin and Dick McCullough were directors of the Dance Orchestra.
Paul is in the picture on trumpet and I am in it on trombone. Dick is not in the picture. My trombone was in Dallas , until Dick and I became roommates and he insisted that I send for my trombone. I am sorry that I can not name the other members of the Orchestra.
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