David E. Pergrin
Encyclopedia
Colonel David E. Pergrin was commanding officer of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion
during World War II
. Before the war he earned an engineering degree at Pennsylvania State University
, graduating in 1940. While at Penn State he participated in the ROTC
program. In addition, Pergrin played on the university's football team, was elected to the Tau Beta Pi
and Chi Epsilon
engineering honor societies, and was senior class president. Before graduation he was voted Outstanding Non-Fraternity senior. In his role as senior class president, he presented the university with the Class of 1940 gift - the Nittany Lion Shrine
, a 14-ton limestone monument symbolizing the Penn State tradition. However, the monument was not officially dedicated until 1942.
. After helping train numerous engineering platoons and companies, he was transferred to the new 291st Engineer Combat Battalion in April, 1943 to assist in its training. In August, he was given command of the battalion when it completed its states-side training. During training in the United States and Britain, then Major, later Lt. Colonel, Pergrin emphasized individual leadership which he credited as the main reason for the unit's success in completing its missions, especially while under enemy fire.
This unit served in France, Belgium and Germany. It was particularly effective as the engineer unit that primarily caused the delay of the advance elements of the Sixth Panzer Army, especially the Kampfgruppe
under command of Joachim Peiper
, during the Battle of the Bulge
. Individual squads and platoons blew bridges, planted mines, and defended roadblocks in the face of oncoming tank columns, causing further confusion in German plans. Upon seeing another bridge blown up just as his tanks reached it, Peiper is said to have uttered the words, "Those damned engineers! Those damned engineers!" Kampfgruppe Peiper was eventually contained and the Waffen-SS
tankers had to abandon their vehicles.
Elements of the 291st were the first American soldiers to contact and rescue wounded survivors of the Malmedy massacre
, and it was Pergrin who initially reported the massacre to higher headquarters. Later, toward the end of the Battle of the Bulge, the 291st was assigned responsibility to uncover the bodies of soldiers massacred at Malmedy for Graves Registration Service troops and documenting officers.
The 291st received the Presidential Unit Citation
and other awards for its performance during the Battle of the Bulge. For his leadership during this period, Colonel Pergrin was awarded the Croix de guerre
.
Due to its stellar reputation for working under enemy fire, the battalion was selected to build a treadway bridge at Remagen
. This was the longest (1,100 foot) tactical bridge ever built under continuous enemy fire. The battalion accomplished this in 32 hours. It was also the first allied bridge built across the Rhine and was intended to replace the Ludendorff railway bridge, just a few hundred yards away, which was in danger of collapse.
He also took up woodcarving as a hobby and published several books intended as guides for carving animals.
Sapper
A sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Before the war he earned an engineering degree at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, graduating in 1940. While at Penn State he participated in the ROTC
Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics.The U.S...
program. In addition, Pergrin played on the university's football team, was elected to the Tau Beta Pi
Tau Beta Pi
The Tau Beta Pi Association is the oldest engineering honor society in the United States and the second oldest collegiate honor society in America. It honors engineering students who have shown a history of academic achievement as well as a commitment to personal and professional integrity...
and Chi Epsilon
Chi Epsilon
Chi Epsilon is the national civil engineering honor society in the United States. It honors engineering students who have exemplified the "principles of scholarship, character, practicality, and sociability...in the civil engineering profession." There are currently 136 chapters, of which 130...
engineering honor societies, and was senior class president. Before graduation he was voted Outstanding Non-Fraternity senior. In his role as senior class president, he presented the university with the Class of 1940 gift - the Nittany Lion Shrine
Nittany Lion Shrine
The Nittany Lion Shrine at Pennsylvania State University was dedicated on October 24, 1942 during Homecoming. Animal sculptor Heinz Warneke and stonecutter Joseph Garatti molded a 13-ton block of Indiana Limestone into the most recognizable symbol at Penn State...
, a 14-ton limestone monument symbolizing the Penn State tradition. However, the monument was not officially dedicated until 1942.
Military service
Pergrin was called to active duty in April 1941, with the rank of 2nd LieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. After helping train numerous engineering platoons and companies, he was transferred to the new 291st Engineer Combat Battalion in April, 1943 to assist in its training. In August, he was given command of the battalion when it completed its states-side training. During training in the United States and Britain, then Major, later Lt. Colonel, Pergrin emphasized individual leadership which he credited as the main reason for the unit's success in completing its missions, especially while under enemy fire.
This unit served in France, Belgium and Germany. It was particularly effective as the engineer unit that primarily caused the delay of the advance elements of the Sixth Panzer Army, especially the Kampfgruppe
Kampfgruppe
In military history and military slang, the German term Kampfgruppe can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the German Wehrmacht and its allies during World War II and, to a lesser extent, in World War I...
under command of Joachim Peiper
Joachim Peiper
Joachim Peiper , more often known as Jochen Peiper, was a field officer in the Waffen-SS during World War II, convicted of war crimes in Belgium and accused of war crimes in Italy. He was Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler's personal adjutant . In 1945, he was an SS-Standartenführer, the Waffen-SS's...
, during the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. Individual squads and platoons blew bridges, planted mines, and defended roadblocks in the face of oncoming tank columns, causing further confusion in German plans. Upon seeing another bridge blown up just as his tanks reached it, Peiper is said to have uttered the words, "Those damned engineers! Those damned engineers!" Kampfgruppe Peiper was eventually contained and the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
tankers had to abandon their vehicles.
Elements of the 291st were the first American soldiers to contact and rescue wounded survivors of the Malmedy massacre
Malmedy massacre
The Malmedy massacre was a war crime in which 84 American prisoners of war were murdered by their German captors during World War II. The massacre was committed on December 17, 1944, by members of Kampfgruppe Peiper , a German combat unit, during the Battle of the Bulge.The massacre, as well as...
, and it was Pergrin who initially reported the massacre to higher headquarters. Later, toward the end of the Battle of the Bulge, the 291st was assigned responsibility to uncover the bodies of soldiers massacred at Malmedy for Graves Registration Service troops and documenting officers.
The 291st received the Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy...
and other awards for its performance during the Battle of the Bulge. For his leadership during this period, Colonel Pergrin was awarded the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
.
Due to its stellar reputation for working under enemy fire, the battalion was selected to build a treadway bridge at Remagen
Remagen
Remagen is a town in Germany in Rhineland-Palatinate, in the district of Ahrweiler. It is about a one hour drive from Cologne , just south of Bonn, the former West German capital. It is situated on the River Rhine. There is a ferry across the Rhine from Remagen every 10–15 minutes in the summer...
. This was the longest (1,100 foot) tactical bridge ever built under continuous enemy fire. The battalion accomplished this in 32 hours. It was also the first allied bridge built across the Rhine and was intended to replace the Ludendorff railway bridge, just a few hundred yards away, which was in danger of collapse.
Post war
In 1988, Pergin received Penn State University's Outstanding Engineer Award.He also took up woodcarving as a hobby and published several books intended as guides for carving animals.
- The Carver's Handbook I: Woodcarving the Wonders of Nature. 1984. ISBN 0887400159
- The Carver's Handbook II: Carving the Wild Life of the Forest and Jungle. 1985. ISBN 0887400299
- The Carver's Handbook III: Woodcarving Wild Animals. 1985. ISBN 0887400396