The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-01-20
Signal
Continued from Page l3)


cable This is the longest under
ground cable LAID on the Continent
by any one Signal unit They in
stalled the communication system
for the First Communication
Continental headquarters,
and assisted with the installation
OF communication for the First
SHAEF Continental Com ma n d
Post.
Their longest job was the re-
Mobilization Of public telephones
and telegraph circuits from Reims
10 CONTAINS, and then north TO
Longwy, on September II, 1914
First Line Into Germany
At the same time the Goth Signal
Construction Battalion was accom-
plishing this daring piece OF work.
the 4lst Signal Construction Bat
talon was doing very outstanding
JOB. A 672-foot single span cross
ing the Meuse River, part OF the
first open wire line into Germany,
and longest river crossing yet in
stalled by Allied troops, proved to
DC the most difficult, and required
most ingenuity ana common sense
OF any job accomplished by this
outfit.
The 259th Signal Heavy Con-
struction Company also found its
toughest and most hazardous mis-
sions in and around Carentan in
Normandy.
Capture Germans
Early one day when Corporal
Caldwell Kenkey, Brooklyn, New
York, and Pvt. Claud j. Jolivette,
New Iberia. La. were sent out on
a detail just q few yards from the
company area, they suddenly found
themselves face TO face with three
Nazi SIS troopers who emerged
from the woods. One was a lieu
tenant. the others enlisted men
Corporal Kenkey and Private JOLT
vette hit the dirt as the lieutenant
hurled hand grenade, which land
ed near their vehicle, but failed
10 explode. Corporal Kenkey and
Private Jolivette began firing. The
Lieutenant Attempted TO draw a
pistol from his jacket. Corporal
kenkey rushed toward the Nazis,
covering them with his rifle. and
telling them 10 keep their hands
in the air. The Lieutenant raised
both hands.
More Nazis
Staff Sergeant Wendell Tucker,
Washington, D. c., and Pfc Richard
II. Jones, New York City, both OF
the 267th Signal Construction COM
pany. had a similar experience
on the outskirts of Vezeleze, France
when they were stopped by a petite,
aged Frenchwoman in the middle
OF the road. She told them. in
her broken English. that there
were German soldiers hiding in
her home. They approached and
covered the house Staff Sergeant
Tucker fired into the house with
machine gun, and four German
soldiers came out. While Pfc. Jones
covered the four Germans, Staff
Sergeant Tucker fred into the
house again and FIVE more Germans
came out with their hands in the
air.
The Goth Signal Construction
Battalion, the oldest OF these Ne
gro units. was activated April 10,
1912. at Camp Gordon. Georgia
The outfit has received letters Of
commentator from Brigsdier Gen.
j. B. Sweet, headquarters, Com
municstions Zone, Desert Training
Center, and Col. George F. Wolley,
Signal Officer. w Corps. for its
participation in Californis-Arizona
maneuvers in l943. and for build
ing many miles OF pole lines dim
cult mountain and desert terrain.
High Speed
While in England the 4lst Sig
nal Construction Battalion installed
open wire, cable and lighting for
airhelds, and installed complete
outside installations for the largest
depot in England. Major General
W. s. Rombsugh, chief signal on
GER, Headquarters, Communication
Zone, in letter to the command
ing officer. says. This is 10 COM
mend the officers and enlisted men
OF the 4lst Signal Construction Bat
talon upon the construction work
in connection with the establish
ment OF the Headquarters, COM
munications Zone Signal system.
The work was done at high speed,
and the men worked far in excess
OF their normal working schedule
70 accomplish their job.
Most experienced officers work.
ing in these outfits are Captain