297th Combat Engineers

01/19/2026

Searching EBay I found a 297th book. They are asking $200 to start.
https://ebay.us/m/SBDyqq

This is not my book nor do I know who it was as they didn’t list any names. I’m just posting for anyone that may be interested!

The book chronicles the 297th Engineer Combat Battalion with hundreds of pictures and stories from their role in WWII. I found this book at my great stepfather's house. I don't know how he obtained it.

01/09/2026

Hello ! I have a message for you!

Hi everyone I’m Pierre. I’m a WW2 European Theater tour guide. I live in Normandy France, in one of a villages liberated by the 297th Engineer.

I know some of you but not everyone. I have been working on a project (The encyclopedia of the 297th Engineer) since now four years.

To do this I flew to the US in November 2022 where I was able to meet Richard, Donna, Marie, Vicky and Jessi and of course our dear friend Weldon.

In 2024 to commemorate the 80th anniversary, we unveiled the first two monuments dedicated to the unit. (One in the village of Tribehou, and the other one in Gavray). Kathryn, Vicky, Jessi and Hallie were here. Next July a new monument will be unveiled dedicated to Colonel Fox.

Thanks to everyone and to the After Action Reports I have been able to retrace as precise as possible the road of advance of the 297th…from the beaches of Normandy to Seeburg, Germany.

We traveled through France, Belgium, and Germany to see with our own eyes those places. I have been able to discover a lot of personal stories as the ones of Joseph Gajewski, Harry Slivka and so much more…The cave of alcohol at Cherbourg, the Ambrieres Egg Bonanza… Roger the dog..

When I look the faces of these boys they all have a story to tell even if some of them are not longer with us. What they have accomplished during WW2 there is no word to describe what they have accomplished and their warfare experience and personal stories needs to be told.

If your father, uncle, brother, grandfather has been part of the unit and if you are willing to share what he might have told you about the war I will be more than delighted.

The unit and this project mean a lot to me.

Pierre

You can send Pierre a direct message via Facebook or via email [email protected].

11/08/2025

Someone has digitized the 297th Engineers book. I don’t know anything about the CD except its availableon eBay! This could be an option for those of you looking for a book but cant find one.

Our Promise : if you ever lose your file, we will let you download it for free again. We have more than 40,000 original WWII publications and we are working hard to make them available in PDF/Digital format.

09/28/2025

297th book on eBay.

Here we have up for sale an ORIGINAL 1945 World War II book titled, "The 297th Engineers Combat Division". Book has some great illustrations as well as a very descriptive history of this unit and their service in the war effort (please see pics). Book is complete and solid but does have condition is...

08/01/2024

07/29/2024

So, it was several years ago that we first heard from a young man named Pierre Fallet from France. Pierre had taken some interest in our "boys" of the 297th Combat Engineers and wanted to learn more! And boy, has he learned about the 297th!!!

He told us on a 297th conference call with one of the 297th "boys" and several of us 1st gen kids and even a few of the 2nd gen kids about his desire to rewrite the story of the 297th book to sell so that he could build a monument to the 297th.

Several asked me what would Hal Miller say? I know for a fact that he would have said, "GO FOR IT". He would have done anything for the memory of the 297th to li
ve on for generations. Most agreed but a few questioned that it might not be able to be done or would he follow through? I didn't know if he can but why not encourage a young man to honor our boys?

Well, Pierre took another route! He traveled to the USA to visit Richard (our historian) in West Va. and then to Texas to meet veteran, Weldon McClane. I was so sorry that he couldn't visit us to see the museum and all the photos. Next time.

So, last week, this young man and many other organizers and participants worked so so very hard to celebrate the 80th anniversary and do a WWII reenactment of the 297th Jack Rabbits.

I've posted about my sister and my daughter, along with Weldon's daughter and granddaughter were able to attend as the representatives of the 297th. They have posts and photos to come!

Pierre - none of them really could put into words what the week meant to them. You were a great host, your sister mainly, since you were working on the bridge!

Even though he has yet to write the book on the 297th, he has done some specials things including a MONUMENT to the memory of the 297th Engineers!!

WAIT - there are actually TWO monuments with one specially dedicated to Weldon and others that were wounded in Gavray - their host city for the reenactment.

WAIT - did I mention that they built a BRIDGE??? A real, working, Bailey Bridge!!! It won't stay there long before removing.

WAIT - this reenactment was years in the making and so many put in so much time. We can't thank them enough. And the community of Gavray...they all said it was wonderful.

I wasn't even there but Hallie was so kind to send videos and we used FaceTime a LOT!!! Yep, we shared lots of tears mostly because we miss our 297th boys and their girls....

Thank you to all who participated, including the 300th Engineer Combat Battalion group. Thank you, Pierre Fallet for making sure our boys were included and their memories shared.

Now, go write that book!!!

XOXO,
Evelyn Miller
Daughter of Hal C Miller
Niece of Thomas P Miller, Jr.
(Hal and Tom were twins and both 297th Co. C)

07/27/2024

Working on the other side.

07/27/2024

We are building a bridge here in Gavray-sur-Sienne today!!!

07/25/2024

Today in Normandy, France, the 297th was honored with a monument.

1st and 2nd generation “kids”, Kathryn and Hallie (daughter and granddaughter of Hal Miller), and Vickie and Jessi (daughter and granddaughter of Weldon McClane), attended the dedication.

This is one of several events scheduled before and during a WWII reenactment of the 297th unit that ends with the building of a bridge this weekend.

Thank you to Pierre Fallet for keeping the memory of the 297th Combat Engineers alive for generations to come.

Hallie will be sharing more photos of the week once she has WiFi!