PAGE SIX 353RD HISTORY
WERE: BREWTON, CENSKY, OXLER, HILBURN, JACKSON, HARLESS,
DOUGLASS, SMALL, SIMANOFF, STILLWELL & LONDON. THE TEAM WAS
COACHED BY LT. PODELWITZ. THE CAPTAIN WAS SGT. VICKERS AND
THE MANAGER WAS T/5 FARLEY. THE TEAM COLORS WERE RED AND
WHITE. THE 353RD BAND WAS PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE GAME AND
PUT ON A HALF TIME MUSICAL PROGRAM.
UNIT STRENGTH: 55 OFFICERS - 334 ENLISTED MEN
NOVEMBER 1942:
DURING THIS MONTH THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS REPORTED FOR
DUTY FROM THE 2ND ENGINEER SCHOOL REGIMENT, FORT BELVOIR,
VIRGINIA: 1ST LTS. MRYON C. TERPENING (5TH), ROBERT S. COOK
(9TH), GEORGE J. SHUBAT (11TH). CAPTAIN ALLEN L. TERRY
JOINED THE REGIMENT FROM WHITEHORSE SECTOR, ALCAN ROAD,
CANADA ON THE 30TH.
ON THE 5TH THE 353RD WAS RELIEVED FROM ATTACHMENT TO IX
CORPS AS SPECIAL TROOPS AND RELEASED TO THE CONTROL OF THE
COMMANDING GENERAL, SERVICES OF SUPPLY.
ON THE 11TH THE FOLLOWING COAT OF ARMS WAS ADOPTED FOR
THIS REGIMENT PENDING THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE WAR
DEPARTMENT AND WAS UNVEILED THIS DATE BEFORE A REGIMENTAL
FORMATION.
SHIELD: "GULES, FIVE BARRULETS BETWEEN THREE TRANSIT
HEADS FACING CENTER AND THREE DOUBLE-BITTED AXES PALEWISE
ARGENT".
CREST: "ON A WREATH OF THE COLORS. A GASOLINE POWERED
SHOVEL NOIR".
MOTTO: "BY A STRONG HAND".
DESCRIPTION: THE 353RD ENGINEERS (GENERAL SERVICE) WAS
CONSTITUTED ON THE REGULAR ARMY INACTIVE LIST, PURSUANT TO
LETTER FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT, AG 320.2 (4-30-42), DATED 5
MAY 1942. AND AUTHORIZED TO BE MADE ACTIVE AT CAMP WHITE.
OREGON, EARLY IN AUGUST, 1942. THE 353RD ENGINEERS HAS NO
OTHER HISTORY AND IS NOT ENTITLED TO BATTLE HONORS.
IN THE SCARLET AND WHITE OF THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE
TRANSIT HEADS ARE SYMBOLICAL OF THE RAILWAY AND HIGHWAY
LOCATION AND HEAVY CONSTRUCTION DUTIES OF THE REGIMENT.
DOUBLE-BITTED AXES ARE SYMBOLICAL OF THE LUMBERING COUNTRY
SURROUNDING CAMP WHITE, OREGON, AT WHICH THE REGIMENT WAS
ACTIVATED, AND ARE TOOLS WHICH ARE EXTENSIVELY USED BY THE
ORGANIZATION IN ITS WORK. THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE THREE
TRANSIT HEADS, FIVE BARRULETS, AND THREE AXES INDICATE THE
NUMERICAL DESIGNATION OF THE ORGANIZATION, I.E., 353. THE
MOTTO: "BY A STRONG HAND" EXPRESSES STRENGTH AND
DETERMINATION.
