14th Chemical Maintenance Company, 1942 History Overview

This page focuses on the 14th's first year of service. This is part of what is believed to be the first attempt at a comprehensive history of the unit. It is very much a work in progress. The center column of this page lists what the company was doing and where it was located. The column on the right will feature quotes from primary and secondary sources that are intended to give insights into what the times, and the soldiers' lives, were like.

Contributions of information and photos for this history are both encouraged and welcomed. To learn how, visit the Help Needed page. All who provide information and/or photos that are used on this site will be credited by name on the Contributors page. Together we can create a tribute to the men of the 14th, who helped the U.S. 1st Army defeat the forces of fascism in Western Europe and preserve the freedoms currently enjoyed in the United States and Western Europe.

Abbreviations: Bn=Battalion; Capt=rank of Captain; CMC=Chemical Maintenance Company; CML=Chemical; Comdr=Commander; CWS=Chemical Weapons Service; EM=Enlisted Man or Men; fillers=replacements; Hq=Headquarters; hrs=hours; Mjr=rank of Major; No.=Number; Pfc=rank of Private First Class; Pvt=rank of Private; Trans=Transferred; S/Sgt=rank of Staff Sergeant; T/Sgt=Technical Sergeant; 1st Lt=rank of First Lieutenant; and 2nd Lt=rank of Second Lieutenant.

Sources: Fourteenth Chemical Maintenance Company Historical Record, 1942-1945, U.S. Army report covering period 30 July 1942 to 31 August 1945 (author unknown, not dated); and other items as noted.

Months	Synopsis of 14th's Service	Quotes
July 1942	Activation Order. 09 - 37 fillers ordered to 14th per transfer list no. 444 Special Order No. 174, Hq Replacement Training Centers, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas. 16 - 22 fillers ordered to 14th per transfer list no. 546 Special Order No. 181, Hq Replacement Training Centers, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas. 30 - Paragraph 12 Special Order No. 210, Hq, CML Warfare Center, Edgewood, Arsenal, Maryland, the Hq furnished the Cadre of troops needed to activate the 14th.
August 1942	Activation. Located at Camp Rucker, Alabama. Strength: 1 Officer, 74 EM. Original Cadre and Table of Organization positions. 2nd Lt. George R. Hoffman, Co. Commander. SSgt. Ralph M. Leidig, 1st Sergeant. Pvt. James J. Johnson, Master Mechanic. Pvt. Charles J. Brennen, Foreman. Pvt. James D. Holmes, Supply Sergeant. Pvt. Garland W. Lewis, Mess Sergeant. Pvt. Edward S. Crawford, Section Chief. Pvt. Roy P. Kennedy, Assistant Inspector. Pvt. Edwin W. Gartol, Jr., Assistant Inspector. Pvt. Nicholas Dellacorte, Assistant Inspector. Pvt. Harold A. Andrews, Co. Clerk. Pvt. Herbert L. Landers, Cook. Pvt. Ralph D. Redwine, Cook. Pvt. Edward B. Gardner, Machinist Pvt. Robert Herbeck, Motor Sergeant 15 - Assigned and joined from CML Warfare School, Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland 2nd Lt. Robert E. Smith Officers and EM gained and lost during month NA.
September 1942	Transfers and Fillers. Located at Camp Rucker, Alabama. Strength: NA. 07 - Assigned from 84th CML Bn. to take command of 14th CML Maint. Co. Capt. Lee T. Richardson 09 - Co. detached from 84th CML Bn. and attached to 5th Detachment, Special Troops, 2nd Army, Camp Rucker, Alabama. 17 - Co. received 15 fillers from 13th CML Maint. Co., Camp Rucker, Alabama. 19 - Co. received 15 fillers from Reception Center, Fort McPherson, Georgia. 26 - Trans. to 24th CML Co., Camp Butner, North Carolina Capt. Lee T. Richardson Assigned from 84th CML Bn. and assumed command of 14th 1st Lt. Theodore O. J. Kresser Officers and EM gained and lost during month NA.
October 1942	Officers Added. Located at Camp Rucker, Alabama. Strength: NA. 29 - Assigned from CML Warfare School, Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland 2nd Lt. Charles E. Lawless 2nd Lt. Arthur C. Schoenewaldt, Jr. Officers and EM gained and lost during month NA.
November 1942	Initial Training Completed. Located at Camp Rucker, Alabama. Strength: NA. 17 - Co. received 40 fillers from Reception Center, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. 29 - Co. completed first 13 weeks of training period. 30 - Co. given its MTP tests by personnel from 5th Detachment, Special Troops, 2nd Army. Officers and EM gained and lost during month NA.
December 1942	Testing and More Training. Located at Camp Rucker, Alabama. Strength: NA. 01-02 - Co. given its MTP tests by personnel from 5th Detachment, Special Troops, 2nd Army. 03 - Co. started on its Unit Training Program. Officers and EM gained and lost during month NA.

This page Copyright by Our Fathers' Footsteps All Rights Reserved. Created August 27, 2001. Last updated March 8, 2009.
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