WW2 ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

SOUTH PACIFIC

- Virtual Museum-

Telling Their Story

This website is representative of items being physically assembled in the Army Engineer Memorabilia Division of The Scott Saewert War Museum in Prospect Heights, Illinois.

The Army Engineer Memorabilia Division is specific to the construction engineers in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II and in particular to these units:

  • 353rd Engineer General Service Regiment

  • 369th Engineer Special Services Regiment

  • 1305th Engineer General Service Regiment

  • 1177th Engineer Construction Group

  • 353rd Engineer Construction Battalion

  • 1393rd Engineer Construction Battalion

  • 1394th Engineer Construction Battalion

  • 1395th Engineer Construction Battalion

  • 398th Army Service Forces Band

- South Pacific-A Father's WWII Journey Revisited -

Part 1: The Solomon Islands

Experience a journey to the exotic South Pacific along with a family WWII history detective and local resident Scott Saewert. Tour the Solomon Islands aboard a boat the size of JFK’s PT-109 and walk and sail where WWII history was made. Scott, a retired automotive executive and history devotee, along with his wife Janet made the journey to the South Pacific in tribute to Scott’s father a WWII veteran. Also experience a Solomon local tribal cultural event on Karumolun, a visit to the Honiara Museum as well as all of the battle sights of Guadalcanal. Recorded on August 15, 2022 at the Prospect Heights Public Library.

Part 3: New Caledonia 

Explore Noumea with Scott Saewert, a major operations and headquarters base that is still a French Protectorate and the “Paris of the South Pacific.” Learn of then Free French New Caledonia and of his father’s unit’s role in WWII along with current cultural experiences and the WWII Museum. Recorded on August 29, 2022 at the Prospect Heights Public Library.

Part 2: Espiritu Santo

Scott Saewert shares his journey that started with landing on a WWII Bomber airstrip to explore the Vanuatu island which was once the largest WWII South Pacific Military supply and operations base. Explore the base remnants, WWII Museum and learn about the people of Luganville. Visit the Novelist Lt. Commander James Michener’s house as well as Bloody Mary’s property from his novel “Tales of the South Pacific” and the “South Pacific” movie. Recorded on August 22, 2022 at the Prospect Heights Public Library.