The 337th Harbor Craft Company trained at Camp Gordon Johnston and were deployed to Europe. The Danube River Branch of the Inland Waterways Division was established at Linz, Austria, on 27 May 1945. Two days later the 337th Harbor Craft Company arrived and began functioning. A major responsibility of this branch was to take charge of a captured enemy fleet, the so-called Danube Navy. For the time being it was used mostly for the movement of essential military and civilian supplies. However, two of the captured vessels provided daily pleasure cruises for U.S. Army personnel, and other craft were employed to repatriate displaced persons. “The Transportation Corps: Overseas Operations,” by Joseph Bykofsky and Harold Larson (1990).
We have the letters and photos of one soldier, Joseph L’Abbe, who describes the company taking command of the vessel Hungaria. See his story at the Tribute to the Veteran tab here.
CGJ Orders:
337 Gladding Ernest P. Pvt. 31446464 29-Apr-44
337 Morganelli Thomas M. Pvt. 31366394 29-Apr-44
337 Morton Nolan D. Pfc 31220663 10-Apr-44
337 Niestadt Frank J. Pfc 32716748 29-Apr-44
337 Panatier John F. 2nd Lt 01036668 9-Feb-44
337 Ralph Clifton H. WOJG W2139834 10-Apr-44 Mar Engr
337 Rybacki Joseph A. Jr. Pvt 35543339 29-Apr-44
337 Schonbrun Jack S. Pvt 32980496 29-Apr-44
337 Sebastian Raniero Pvt 32766800 29-Apr-44
337 Shoemaker Harry L. T/5 32795395 9-Feb-44
337 Sohn David Pvt. 32979884 29-Apr-44
337 Wagner Thomas D. Pvt 13151624 29-Apr-44
- From CGJ Orders dated 18-Mar-44
- Letcher, Walter W., Pvt, 39618429
- O’Neil, Henry F., Pvt, 33617520
