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: Tuesday, May 22, 1945: Pilsen, Czechoslovakia.S/Sgt. Fleming and T/3 Cameron are given a hearty farewell. Wartime activities are winding down and they are the first men of the unit to depart the European theater for discharge under the point system. Pilsen and the surrounding area offer increased social activity since the non-fraternization policy is not in effect in this part of Czechoslovakia. The 897th Bar and Day Room are the best in the company history, with plenty of local Pilsen beer being available. Swimming in the local river is also available. After a tour of inspection through the area and shops, Maj. Gen. Heubner, V Corps CO expresses himself as very pleased with the unit’s activity. The 897th closes its last month of combat in the European Theater of Operations performing maintenance for the same corps units that it had supported through five campaigns since landing on Omaha Beach eleven months before.

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