897th and 3562nd Ordnance HAM Companies, 1941-1945

897th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company
3562nd Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company
1st Army, V Corps, European Theater of Operations

Belgium, 1944: the war rages on, the weather is lousy, and your truck's frame is bent. Who ya gonna call? The 897th, that's who! They performed difficult repairs under adverse conditions.

Welcome to this WWII history site commemorating the 897th and 3562nd Ordnance HAM Companies, maintained by the son of 897th veteran Julian Gocek. I love to hear from veterans and their families, current service people, and history buffs. With the passing of my father at age 97 in 2015, I doubt any 897th vets are still with us. Best wishes to all the families.

The site is laid out to be mobile-friendly, but with over 250 original wartime photos from the Gocek, Hammond, and Chenevey families, and others, watch your data usage. Just keep scrolling! Contact info at the bottom.

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This day in history: Monday, July 30, 1945: Naples, Italy.After 7 days on the road from Germany, the unit arrives at staging area No. 5 in Naples at 1500 hours. During the 7 days of convoying, 1 GMC engine was replaced, and 2 truck-tractors required valve grinds. All of this was accomplished at bivouac stops, sometimes working far into the night with lights hooked up to the Hobart welder. Passes were given to those wanting to see the sights of Naples. While in Naples, the company experiences very hot weather and khakis are issued.

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