Certificate of gratitude
Identified to Chales J. Sassman Jr #39036941
Named Certificate 'The City of Antwerp' 1945, awarded to Staff Sergeant Charles J. Sassman, Jr. of B Company, 368th Engineer Regiment.
At the end of World War Two the City of Antwerp's board of the Burgomaster and Aldermen presented all the individual soldiers serving in Antwerp a certificate of gratitude. This was in appreciation of the danger they risked from falling V-1 and V-2 rockets. Produced on September 4, 1945, these documents were highly valued by the recipients.
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S/Sgt Charles J Sassman Jr
S/Sgt
Charles J Sassman Jr
S/Sgt Charles J. Sassman Jr
Charles Jack Sassman Jr was born on August 25, 1914, in San Francisco, California, to Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Sassman. He was educated at South San Francisco High School and San Mateo Junior Collega and was associated with Swift & Co in South San Francisco. He married Miss Rose Genovesi in October 1940 in San Francisco.
Charles J. Sassman was drafted on January 13, 1943 in San Francisco, California. He served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 358th Engineer Regiment. The 358th Engineers arrived in Antwerp, Belgium, on November 27, 1944. Their work included rescuing civilians trapped in collapsed buildings and recovering bodies after V-bomb strikes. Following the direct hit by a V-2 rocket on the Rex Movie Theater, on December 16, 1944, which killed 567 soldiers and civilians and left 291 seriously injured, the 358th Engineers took over rescue and demolition operations, working until the last body was recovered on December 22. In 1945, the 358th Engineers designed the layout for Camp Tophat, a massive staging area near Antwerp built for 16500 men. The unit was honored by Belgium for its role in the 175 days of repairing and maintaining the Port of Antwerp.
Charles J. Sassman Jr. died on October 15, 1982.