Evening star., 1942-03-16
Sfreamlining Closes
12tsi Engineers
History as Regiment
Number of D. 6. Soldiers
Transferred to New
Unit by Changes
NV CoRPL. CHARLES McALEER.

BY CORPL. CHARLES McALEER.
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md
March 16.-After existing as regi-
ment for more than Is years, the
l2lst Engineers, former District Ma
tional Guard unit Of the 29th Tnfsn-
try Division here, was streamlined
last week to q battalion as the result
Of q War Department order to tri-
angularize the division.
At the same time, new combat
engineer regiment, the 135th Engi-
neers, was organized and assigned
as g. H. @. unit and corps engi-
neer regiment.
High-ranking officers and non
commissioned officers OF the 121st
Engineers-son1e of whom had been
with the regiment even before Its
oficial organization on February 5,
1924, were transferred to the new
i35th Engineers.
A new regimental headquarters
staff, comprising the 121st Engi-
neers staff almost in its entirety,
was set up today. and temporarily
located in the regimental officers
recreation hall. The 121st Engineers
battalion continues to use the former
headquarters building.
Col. Leilich Transferred.
Col. Frank T. Leilich of Baltimore,
commanding officer of the 121st
since last December when he sue
ceeded Col. John w. Oehmann, was
transferred to the new organ1za-
ton.
At least eight Washington officers
who have been with the outfit since
Its National Guard days also were
transferred, including Maj. Ralph
S. Childs, Capts. Howard A. Burd,
Harold w. Leath, william G. West
all, John M. Coughlin, Pearson G.
Conlyn, and William l. Mushake and
Second 1t. Thomas H. Ewell.
From the enlisted ranks, the ex-
cess men left from reorganization
of the 1z1st become the foundation
unit of the new regiment. These
men include approximately so Wash
ingtonians. Among these are TOUR
ranking master sergeants.
Sergeant major of the regiment,
Master Sergt. Lloyd L. Gibson. with
% consecutive years OF military
service behind him; Master Sergt.
Edward w. Ireland, whose service,
with the exception OF seven years
from 1919 to 1926, dates back to
1912: Master Sergt. Andrew Scherer
and Master Sergt. Thomas T. Trump,
all of washington, were assigned to
the 135th.
Master Sergt. Edward Wolfman,
also of washington, has been named
sergeant major for the reorganized
12lst
Mai. Eubank Commands Battalion.
Mai. William Eubank is acting
commander of the streamlined bat
talon, which remains with the 29tn
Division.
The 121st Engineers were called TO
active duty on February 8, 1941.
In other changes involving the
characterization from the OLD
souare-type Army division, the lO4tn
Ol1artermaster and l04th Medical
REGIMENTS were similarly reduced TO
battalions, and the three field ar,
tillery regiments were streamllneo
to become the new field artillery
section, 29th Division.
The 10th Field Artillery Regl-
ment becomes the 10th and 224tn
Field Artillery Battalions, the 1llth
Field Artillery becomes the 1llth
and 17sth Field Artillery Battalons
and the 176th Field Artillery be,
comes the 227th and 228th Field
Artillery Battalions. The new l7eth
and 228th Battalions leave the 29tn
Division and are assigned to G. H. Q.
troops.
Another unit, which is now on
domestic guard duty in washington,
the 176th Infantry Regiment, also
was relieved of its 29th Division
status.