On Fri, 16 Jan 1998 Owen Lowe Email address wrote: phone: 503-538-3042 comments: I am looking for help in determining the specifics of my father's unit, but can not figure out where to look. My dad died in the mid-70's when I was a kid, but I have a photo of him while he was serving in Korea during the "conflict". He is posing with two signs which read, "This bridge constructed by COB 434 ENGR" with an illustration of Kilroy. Would you be able to help decipher the message for me as I have been unable to find any reference to any 434. Also, he graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now Virginia Tech) in '49 or '50 and entered the Army as an officer. Thanks so much Update: from Thorpe Mealing, etmealing@msn.com Dear Mr. Lowe, This in response to your request for information of the 434th Engineer Const. Battalion, Korea. I have no knowledge of your father, but possibly the following may help. I served with C Company, 434th in the Pusan area in mid to late 1953. The battalion was then a part of the 44th ENGR Construction Group, Pusan. From memory: the battalion was an Army Reserve unit mobilized in Pittsburg, PA soon after the war broke out. MAJ Richard Balmer, who had been with the battalion from date of mobilization, commanded in mid-1953. MAJ Balmer was succeeded first by LTC (later COL, now deceased) Wm. M. Linton, USMA 41, and then by MAJ (COL retired) Edmund Faust, USMA 1943, formerly resident New Orleans, LA. B Company was commanded in mid-1953 by LT Ward W. (Billy) Are, now in Marietta, GA, I believe. (Are is a Citadel graduate of about 1952.) C Company was commanded in early 1953 by CPT Richard Medinger, formerly of Las Cruses, NM (present location unknown, possibly Iowa). MAJ Balmer and / or CPT Medinger may remember your dad. It is understood that the 434th ENGR (C) Bn was the sole ENGR const. battalion to receive a Presidential Unit Citation during the Korean War. Hope the foregoing is of some use, Thorpe Mealing Go to Top