Name/Title
Earl B. Fauber DogtagsEntry/Object ID
DogTags2022.3Description
Earl B. Fauber
ASN: 33116460
ON: O-1100537
236th Combat Engineer Battalion
5307th Composite Unit
Merrill’s Marauders
“The 236th was created during World War II, an offspring of the 44th Engineer Combat Regiment at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. After practicing maneuvers in Tennessee in 1943, the 236th was deployed to the China-Burma-India Theater, where they started work on the Ledo Road - a necessary supply route through harsh jungle terrain at the base of the Himalayan Mountains, and on the edge of Japanese-occupied territory.
Work on the Ledo Road was halted by a Japanese Garrison, in the town of Myitkyina. Gen. Stillwell, chief commander of the China-Burma-India Theater, had tried to dislodge the Japanese from Myitkyina in mid May, 1944. He succeeded in taking a nearby airstrip, but was repelled from the town by unexpectedly strong Japanese defenses.
With a force already weakened from fatigue, disease and wounds, Stillwell called up the 236th to the front lines. Men who had been used to driving trucks and operating heavy equipment were suddenly picking up a rifle and heading into battle.
The Japanese managed to assemble nearly 2,500 soldiers in Myitkyina in the final days of May, 1944 to engage the 236th and another battalion of combat engineers, the 209th. The battle for Myitkyina raged for two months and the engineers, fighting alongside poorly trained Chinese soldiers, bore the brunt of the Japanese forces, defending against infantry attacks as well as artillery and mortar fire.
The battle resulted in victory for the Allies, but at a heavy price: 56 killed in action and another 142 wounded from the 236th alone. One of these casualties was Sgt. Fred Coleman, who threw himself on a grenade in order to save the lives of two of his comrades.
The members of the 236th distinguished themselves in the battle for Myitkyina and earned the praise of their commanders. Stillwell himself was impressed with their performance since many of them had not picked up a rifle since basic training. Both battalions received the Presidential Unit Citation for their valiant efforts in battle.
The 209th and 236th Engineer Combat
Battalion fought at Myitkyina as part of
the 5307th under command of Colonel
Hunter.”Create Date
September 5, 2022Update Date
November 3, 2022
