The 371st Engineer Construction Battalion moved by a convoy code named "Boobie Trap" on March 29, 1945, from Geldern, to Menzelen, north of Alpen, Germany, preparing to move northeast towards Wesel and the Rhine River rail bridge. The Ninth and British 2nd were pushing east at a fast pace, so the engineering companies began working 12-hour shifts of 10 days on, 2 off, on the Rhine River Bridge project. The bridge was a high-level type, approximately above high water, and of steel construction to support heavy transport trains.