744th Railway Operating Battalion reunion and web page
Thanks to George Goetzelman for contacting me and sending me his great 744Th web page link
http://community-4.webtv.net/orecartent/744thROB
US Army 101 ( #101) Locomotive
History of the 101
The history of the 101 is something of a mystery. What we do know is that it was built for the US Army for use in World War I by Baldwin Locomotive Works. It was owned by the US Army until it was donated to Korea to help fight for Korea's freedom.In 1953, the 101 was recovered from damaged areas and reconstructed by the Army Transportation Corps., under the direction of Col. George Simpson. It seems that the 101 was still property of the Korean Republic however. Col. George Simpson, Harold T.I. Shannon, and Harold E. Fuller started to talk with the Korean Republic about donating the engine to the National Railroad Museum.
In 1958 Korean Republic President Syngman Rhee donated the locomotive as a gift from the Korean people. Over 300 newspapers carried the story of the arrival of the engine and this is how the struggling National Railroad Museum started to gain national attention. On May 30, 1959, General Pershing was presented with a Certificate of Service from the United states Army. The certificate was presented to the Museum by the Secretary of the Army.
Any other information this is to be found on the Internet or in print is suspicious at best. There are at least three different versions of the history of the 101 floating around.
History according the National Railroad Museum
According the National Railroad Museum Highlight and Data Catalog, the General Pershing saw action in France in 1918, Army camps in World War II, and was sent to Korea in 1951. (National Railroad Museum - Highlight and Data Catalog, p. 14)History according to David P. Morgan
David P. Morgan wrote and article for the June 1959 issue of Trains magazine. In it he says "On July 18, 1917, the U. S. Government ordered 150 2-8-0's from the Baldwin Locomotive Works for service in France. The first engine was delivered just 20 days later, since the design virtually duplicated (except for its superheater) that of the Consolidations Baldwin was building for the British War Office. The 150th engine got only as far as Norfolk, Va., where it was reassigned as a switcher to Fortress Monroe. In 1925 the Army overhauled the stay-at-home, named her the General Pershing, and kept her at work on local bases. During World War II the Pershing chuffed about Army camps in the South. Finally in 1947 she and 100 World War II surplus Army engines were donated to the Republic of Korea. When the Korean conflict broke out the veteran 2-8-0 was switching at Pusan. She soon saw combat, won fame as "the darling of the Military Railway Service." In January 1959 she came home, a gift of Korean President Rhee to the Green Bay (Wis.) National Railroad Museum. So some old engines, like old military men, do not fade away." (Trains Magazine)Chronology
As best as can be figured out, this is the history of the General Pershing.- 1917 - Built
- 1919-1937 - Ft. Monroe, Norfolk Army Base
- 1925 - Modernized and new cab
- 1940 - Modernized and new cab
- 1942 - Wreck en route to Camp Blanding Florida from Ft. Benning, Georgia
- 1945 - Storage
- 1947 - Shipped to Korea
- 1959 - Shipped to National Railroad Museum
Numbers the General Pershing carried
As best as can be figured out, this is the numbering history of the General Pershing.- 8341 - Utility Railroad Service
- 6779 - upon arrival in Korea
- 765 - After the 765th Transportation Shop Bn. rebuilt it.
- 101 - Korean National Railways
Surviving Pershing Class Locomotives
- US Army No. 101
- Texas State Railroad No. 300
References
- Unknown Author(s) (Unknown Year after July, 1973). "National Railroad Museum - Highlight and Data Catalog", Castle-Pierce Press.
- Albert Carpenter Kalmbach, ed. (1959). "Trains Magazine", Kalmbach Publishing Co.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_No._101
Allied Military Locomotives of the Second World War
During the Second World War, many interesting types of locomotives, both steam and diesel, were built for the British War Department and the United States Army Transportation Corps. These were sent all over the world and many of them remained in service long after the war, sometimes with their exact origin forgotten.
In this book, after some 50 years of research into matters generally held secret at the time, the overall story is presented. It starts in the first Section with general descriptions of the campaigns in the different theatres of war from a railway viewpoint, and then follows in the second and third Sections with Chapters giving the class histories of the various British and American types of locomotives, both Sections starting with a numerical list of the locomotives which give the key to the WD and USA/TC numbering structure. Finally, there are some Chapters dealing with odd topics such as various important military railways.
Contains 372 photographs, 43 drawings and 27 maps as well as many stock lists. See the Table of Contents.
Note that this book includes the content of the out-of-print books United States Army Transportation Corps Locomotives (ISBN-13 978-0-905878-01-0; ISBN-10 0-905878-01-9) and War Department Locomotives (ISBN-13 978-0-905878-00-3; ISBN-10 0-905878-00-0).
765th TRSB ( Transportation Railway Shop Battalion, ) in Korea- Capt. Bill Griffin
765th TRSB in Korea- Capt. Bill Griffin
Thanks so much to Bob Longamore !
726th V -Mail ( Victory Mail)
V-mail stands for Victory Mail. It was based on the similar British "Airgraph" system for delivering mail between those at home in the United States and troops serving abroad during World War II. V-mail correspondence worked by photographing large amounts of censored mail reduced to thumb-nail size onto reels of microfilm, which weighed much less than the original would have. The film reels were shipped by priority air freight (when possible) to the US, sent to prescribed destinations for enlarging at a receiving station near the recipient, and printed out on lightweight photo paper. These facsimiles of the letter-sheets were reproduced about one-quarter the original size and the miniature mail was delivered to the addressee.
V-mail used standardized stationary, 7 by 9 1/8 inches (17.8 cm by 23.2cm) with a glue flange on one side so that the letter could be folded and sealed in such a way as to become its own envelope. When used by overseas servicemen the letters were opened, censored and photographed. Only the film negatives were transported. After transport by air, reduced-sized versions of the letters were printed from the negatives for delivery to their final destinations. These 60%-reduced photocopies measured 4 1/4 by 5 3/16 inches (10.7cm x 13.2cm), and had a pre-formed crease 1 7/8 inches from the top. The crease insured that the address would be correctly centered behind an opening in a special envelope. The user would write the message in the prescribed space—ideally in black ink, since this photographed best (the Carter ink company marketed a special "V-Mail Ink")— fold the letter/envelope form, address it, affix postage and then the mail was on its way.According to the National Postal Museum, "V-mail ensured that thousands of tons of shipping space could be reserved for war materials. The 37 mail bags required to carry 150,000 one-page letters could be replaced by a single mail sack. The weight of that same amount of mail was reduced dramatically from 2,575 pounds to a mere 45." This saved considerable weight and bulk in a time in which both were hard to manage in a theatre of the war. It also eliminated the threat of spies using microdots or invisible ink to send reports. Any microdot would not be photographed with enough resolution to be read.
Although the system of V-mail ensured that more pieces of mail were able to be shipped and delivered than a larger, bulkier mailing would have accomplished, many people found that they did not have enough room in the limited available space in order to write all that they had to say. To make things worse, the instructions at the top of each letter stated that "very small writing is not suitable".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-mail
How to research your Army Railway Unit Soldier
From the National Archives
Research on Veterans in Military Records
There is no simple explanation for how to begin research on veterans. Your path will depend on whether your research is personal, genealogical or historical in nature; and on aspects of the veteran's service such as: which branch of service, which conflict, what dates, whether Regular Army or a volunteer unit, whether they were an officer or enlisted personnel, and whether there was a pension application.
Research in Military Service Records
Military service records are the primary source of information on individual veterans. These include Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) for recent veterans, and compiled service records and pension files for older veterans.* Genealogy Research and Military Records
* An Overview of Records at the National Archives Relating to Military Service
* 20th-Century Veterans' Service Records
* How to Request Copies of Military Service Records
Research in General Military Records
The SF 180 form to mail or fax to request your veteran's DD Form 214 (Report of Separation)
Standard Form 180
You can also submit your request online here
Guide to researching your World War II vet here
Ww2 Participation
This the information you need to gather before making your request
* The veteran's complete name used while in service
* Service number or social security number
* Branch of service
* Dates of service
* Date and place of birth may also be helpful, especially if the service number is not known
* If the request pertains to a record that may have been involved in the 1973 fire, also include:
o Place of discharge
o Last unit of assignment
o Place of entry into the service, if known.
* While this information is not required, it is extremely helpful to NPRC staff in understanding and fulfilling your request:
o The purpose or reason for your request, such as applying for veterans benefits, preparing to retire, or researching your personal military history.
o Any deadlines related to your request. We will do our best to meet any priorities. For example, you may be applying for a VA-guaranteed Home Loan and need to provide proof of military service by a specific date.
o Any other specific information, documents or records you require from your Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) besides your Report of Separation (DD Form 214).
For additional information you can call or write
# NPRC Mailing Address:National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
314-801-0800
# NPRC Fax Number : 314-801-9195
For Unit research including Rosters, Morning reports etc
U.S. Army Center of Military History
103 3rd Avenue
Fort Lesley J. McNair, DC 20319-5058
Modern Military Records - NWCTM
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Army Records at National Archives here: http://www.archives.gov/research/military/army/
also :
U.S. Army Center of Military History
An important resource for military researchers.
U.S. Army Military History Institute
MHI is an institute of the US Army War College.
765th Frank Rowe obit
Franklin J. Rowe
ROWE Franklin J. Rowe, 80, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away Friday, March 5 at his residence. Preceded in death by parents Benjamin and Vera Rowe, a grandson Russell Rowe and brother-in-law Robert Braithwaite. He was a faithful employee of Timkin Roller Bearing, retiring after 42 years. He was a Korean War Veteran serving in the 765th Transportation Rail Road Shop Battalion and he was a member of VFW Post 2398. Survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Mary Evelyn; son, Gary A. (Edna) Rowe; daughters, Cathy (Pat) Groves, Cheryl (Lloyd) Erlenbach; and son-in-law, Jack Weber Jr.; grandchildren, Jacob (Laura) Rowe, Jack (Nichole) Weber III, Jason (Jessica) Strickland, Jamie (Sarah) Groves, Patrick (Melanie) Erlenbach; great grandchildren, Taylor Rowe, Jack Weber IV, Caela Cavey, Mason Erlenbach and Nicholas Groves; brother-in-law, Fred (Carol) Braithwaite; sister-in-law, Donna Braithwaite. Friends may call Sunday 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. and Monday 6-8 p.m. at JERRY SPEARS FUNERAL HOME, 2693 W. Broad St., where a VFW service will be held Monday 7:30 p.m. Funeral service Tuesday 10 a.m. Rev. Dr. Gerald Koster officiating. Interment Sunset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to District 17 O.E.S. Cancer Project, 820 Strimple Ave., Columbus, OH 43229 or Kidney Foundation Serving Ohio, 1373 Grandview Ave., Columbus, OH 43212. Online condolences may be left at www.jerryspearsfh.com.
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