CURRENT THEORY - SUMMARY SCENARIO
In the Matter of the Murder of Harold Eugene Vest
on 27 Jun 1946 in Gainesville, TX


IMPORTANT NOTE:

This document is strictly confidential.  It is designed to document an independent assessment of the facts and theories surrounding the death of Harold “Buddy” Eugene Vest on June 28, 1946 in order to discover the truth.  This document necessarily includes a significant amount of personal information – some of which may not be accurate – in order to analyze investigative leads.  This document and its information are not designed to impugn anyone.  Readers must understand that many of the statements in this summary are not factual, but rather are opinions, impressions and speculations based on assumptions and interpretations of existing and necessarily incomplete information.  Further, the information contained in this summary is not warranted to be accurate and we assume no responsibility for damages arising from the publication, distribution, use of, or reliance on any such information.  This document is being provided confidentially in order to further the investigation.  It is a living document, and as such remains subject to change without notice. 

EUROPE

Buddy arrived at the port of La Havre, France on 15 Mar 1945. From there, the replacements traveled by train to the 19th Replacement Depot in Etampes, France. He was picked up on the Morning Report of the 711th Engineering Base Depot Company on 27 Mar.

Buddy, a T4 (technical sergeant), served with the 711th Engineering Base Depot Company under the command of Howard P. Bein,11 Capt, CE (Captain, Army Corp of Engineers) from  27 Mar. The unit was located near Brussels until 19 May 1945, when it moved to Antwerp with three officers and 108 enlisted men. The rest of the 711th’s time in Europe was spent in Antwerp as part of the Chanor Base Section, headquartered near Brussels, under the command of Col. Joseph E. Gill.

The war with Germany ended on 8 May 1945; however, the war with Japan would not end for another three months. Personnel and equipment began to pour out of Europe to the U.S. for further deployment to the Pacific. Typically, personnel received a 30-day leave in the states before being shipped to the Pacific Theater in preparation for the invasion of Japan.

Buddy’s brother-in-law, Herbert A. Seright, served in Europe as a truck driver. He was transferred stateside in the summer of 1945 and was discharged soon after Japan surrendered on 15 Aug 1945. He and his wife, Billy Dan Blakely Seright – Ruth’s sister – settled in Gainesville, TX, where Herbert leased a service station and distributed gasoline to other stations.

The 711th stored material coming from the interior of Europe by rail to the seaport at Antwerp and other points in Belgium. They also guarded German POWs at Antwerp.

At one point, the Russians came through to inspect equipment for possible purchase. At another point, a V-2 rocket came through to be shipped to the United States.12

A detailed analysis of the morning reports of the 711th revealed an entry on 21 Jul 1945, noting that Buddy was released on a 7-day furlough as of the 18th. There are no other entries in the morning report of other furloughs being granted to other soldiers in his unit during the time Buddy was gone. Accordingly, Buddy apparently went on furlough alone. He did not return until  30 Jul 30 – a 12-day period from the 18th -- not the 7 days noted on the entry for the 21st. There is no record of Buddy having been disciplined for being AWOL.

The only other morning report entry for Buddy was on 23 Sep 1945, when he was listed as going on temporary duty with three other men to Charleroi, Belgium for 7 days. The trip to Charleroi may have involved instructor training.
On Oct.26, 1945, Buddy and others from the 711th were transferred to Company C, 38th Engineer General Services Regiment at Ath, Belgium, under the command of Wallace I. Miller, 1st Lt, CE. The unit was located about 35 miles southwest of Brussels. Buddy remained there until Dec. 4, 1945 when he was transferred to the 70th Engineer Light Pontoon Company, under the command of Arthur L. Nichols, Capt, CE.

The 70th was located at Grimberghen, Belgium, on the northern outskirts of Brussels. The unit was transferred to Camp Top Hat, Antwerp, Belgium on 2 Jan 1946 for further shipment back to the U.S. on the SS James Moore on 6 Jan. The ship arrived and anchored in New York harbor at 1900 hours on 23 Jan. The next day, the unit was shipped by train to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey and arrived at 1145 hours. From Camp Kilmer, Buddy traveled to Camp Grant, Illinois, where he was discharged on 29 Jan.

11 In October 1945, Captain Bein was designated as an “SSO”. The designation may refer to “Strategic Services Officer” (relating to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)) or, more likely, to an officer having cryptographic/courier responsibilities.

12 Investigative reports of interviews with711th veterans are on file.