Our nation recently paid tribute to our World War II veterans with the dedication of the new WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. Many of our country’s war heroes attended the ceremony and shared stories of valor and sacrifice.
In Tennessee, WWII veterans of the 236th Combat Engineers Battalion who served together in the China-Burma-India Theater have been gathering together every year, for nearly 50 years. The story of the reunions of the 236th is almost as interesting as those of the action they saw in Northern Burma fighting the Japanese.
What began as a picnic at Memphis City Park in 1956 has evolved into an annual reunion of surviving members of the 236th, and their families, on the second Sunday in July in Nashville. These veterans, who spent one of the most significant periods in history together, now gather and reminisce about the experience that made them men, rekindle old friendships, and honor the memories of their fallen comrades.
In recent years however, only a handful of veterans of the 236th are still able to attend. The group decided to pass on to their children the responsibility of holding the reunions, even after the last member has passed on.
The 236th was created during World War II, an offspring of the 44th Engineer Combat Regiment at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. After practicing maneuvers in Tennessee in 1943, the 236th was deployed to the China-Burma-India Theater, where they started work on the Ledo Road - a necessary supply route through harsh jungle terrain at the base of the Himalayan Mountains, and on the edge of Japanese-occupied territory.
Work on the Ledo Road was halted by a Japanese Garrison, in the town of Myitkyina. Gen. Stillwell, chief commander of the China-Burma-India Theater, had tried to dislodge the Japanese from Myitkyina in mid May, 1944. He succeeded in taking a nearby airstrip, but was repelled from the town by unexpectedly strong Japanese defenses.
With a force already weakened from fatigue, disease and wounds, Stillwell called up the 236th to the front lines. Men who had been used to driving trucks and operating heavy equipment were suddenly picking up a rifle and heading into battle.
The Japanese managed to assemble nearly 2,500 soldiers in Myitkyina in the final days of May, 1944 to engage the 236th and another battalion of combat engineers, the 209th. The battle for Myitkyina raged for two months and the engineers, fighting alongside poorly trained Chinese soldiers, bore the brunt of the Japanese forces, defending against infantry attacks as well as artillery and mortar fire.
The battle resulted in victory for the Allies, but at a heavy price: 56 killed in action and another 142 wounded from the 236th alone. One of these casualties was Sgt. Fred Coleman, who threw himself on a grenade in order to save the lives of two of his comrades.
The members of the 236th distinguished themselves in the battle for Myitkyina and earned the praise of their commanders. Stillwell himself was impressed with their performance since many of them had not picked up a rifle since basic training. Both battalions received the Presidential Unit Citation for their valiant efforts in battle.
Tennessee is the Volunteer state and the spirit of Tennessee is embodied in the 236th. From the battle of King’s Mountain in the Revolutionary War, through the Mexican War, the Civil War, and our great World Wars, Tennesseans have answered the call to serve. We have honored those volunteers, and we have honored them as veterans.
This summer, as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of D-Day, we should not only remember the actions and sacrifices of the great men and women who have come before us, such as those of the 236th, but what their sacrifices have ensured for us: our freedom.