Photos by Nick Kischitz.
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- Bob McKEAN
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- “Whoop” (Will HOPPE)
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- Sy GROSSMAN
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- “Gogo” MILLS
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- Harry “Joyboy” LUSTIG
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- Jack “Shack” McDONOUGH
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Tex TYNES
“Communications Chief”
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- Mike “The Greek” KAPALAS
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- Mike “The Eye” CONWAY
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- Don “Granny” SMITH
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- Ara “Pinky” DEMURJIAN
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- John “Moe” BRATNICK
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- Rudy “Sheepherder” SELATTI
My Dad, T/Sgt Robert Mims Tynes, must have been nicknamed “Tex” because that was where he was living after marrying my Mom… he was really born in Mississippi and trained at Ft. Hood where they met at a USO dance. I was born in Cameron Texas while he was on a boat to Germany via Chester, England. After WWII, Dad fought for two years in Korea. He retired 1965 as CWO4 having spent the rest of his career with the first Nike missiles. I have also a photo of the hospital in Heidelburg where General Patton died – and where my Dad had his appendix out. How do I share that? I was visiting my son while he was stationed in Heidelburg (Army is a family tradition) when I tried to take the first photo, and an MP almost shot me for raising the camera. My son finally got the photo for me.
My dad remembers your dad enjoying playing the guitar (banjo? ukulele?) and singing sad songs. Does that ring a bell?
That sounds like my Dad. He played the guitar and really enjoyed playing the fiddle. He sings some funny songs also! Dad fell and broke his hip December 20, 2013 and I got him out of therapy really quick and we did the therapy at home. He is going with his walker but I’ve caught him a few times without it and he walks pretty good without it. His short term memory is getting worse and he talks a lot about the war and his past. I will ask dad about your dad!
It was great to come across a picture of my dad here int he Comms section. I got a chuckle about his nickname “sheepherder”. I imagine it is because he is Sicilian, but perhaps there is another reason/anecdote behind the nickname. If so, I’d love to hear it.
After the war my dad went to work for Harvey Radio (perhaps no surprise there) and then switched professions and apprenticed as a commercial roofer and ultimately retired after 17 years.
He married my future mom, Virginia Polk, had four kids (3 sons and a daughter) of which I am the oldest. My next younger brother served in the U.S. Army in the 1980’s. Though I never served (thankfully too young for some wars and too old for others) I have the utmost respect for those that have and do.
I hope to learn any more about my dad’s service record that you may be able to offer.
Best regards,
Tim Sellati
My Uncle Byrd Glen Grear was in this unit. Trying to find any information.
Wish I could help, Carol. Anyone else?
I’m hoping that this website is still going and it would be great that we, the children of these great men continue to piece together and tell their story.
My father was Rudy “Sheepherder” Sellati from the Coms section. He was a T5 radio man and he shared a few stories with me, before my military deployment in 1990. I carried his wisdom with me, throughout my military career and I’m thankful I had a much easier go at it than our fathers had.
My one concern is that finding more information about the 286th Engineer Combat Battalion as an individual unit is quite difficult. I’ve been searching for their specific unit crest, but only the 289th’s unit crest can be located. Looking at the 289th’s history, it appears to mirror that of the 286th’s. I suspect that they may have been merged and the 286th was in fact the HHC (Head Quarters Company) of the 289th Engineers Combat Battalion.
Thank you for putting this site together,
Richard Sellati