Jon the son of Gerald D. Allie has sent me some information about Gerald's service in the 743rd ROB in France and Belgium..
As of this writing Gerald is still alive and age 99!
Birth Date Name Gerald D. Allie
Birth Date 21 Jul 1925
Birthplace Goodell, Iowa
Military Service Branch Army
Military Unit Headquarters Company 743rd Railway Operating Battalion
Event Type Military Discharge
Event Date 6 Apr 1946
Event Place Camp McCoy, Monroe, Wisconsin, United States
his service. As of this writing Gerals is stiull alive and age 99!
Birth Date Name Gerald D. Allie
Birth Date 21 Jul 1925
Birthplace Goodell, Iowa
Military Service Branch Army
Military Unit Headquarters Company 743rd Railway Operating Battalion
Event Type Military Discharge
Event Date 6 Apr 1946
Event Place Camp McCoy, Monroe, Wisconsin, United States
Neal Westphal writes about his dad Glenn George aka "Jack" Westphal
Our Dad, Glenn George aka "Jack" Westphal, served as a medic in the 735th ROB during WWII. We are gathering information on his service.
One story I remember, Dad telling came when they were entering the
railyards at Hamm, Germany. A group of kids were standing along the
tracks and because they had their names painted on the side of the
boxcar, the kids began shouting "Westphal, Westphal," one of the other
guys turned to Jack and said "looks like you're home Westphal." Hamm is
located in the German state of Nord Rhein-Westphalia
I would love to hear from anyone who had a relative that served with him and and want to know more about the unit and his service.
His four surviving sons would be greatly appreciated it. Our Dad was from a small town in Iowa.Thanks, Neal Additional stories HERE
One of the family stories ... "several of his fellow solders had been
separated from their unit and were to rejoin them at a town down the
line. When they arrived the unit had left and there was no other
military presence. So with no means to get a meal and becoming hungry,
they came up with a plan. They decided to break into a ware house and
steal something to eat.
However once in side they became quite concerned with getting caught and
just grabbed the first thing they came to in the dark. When safely
clear of the warehouse they examined their bounty which turned out to be
a case of lifesaver candy. Dad said even though it did little for their
immediate problem, it made them very popular with the local children.
In a few days the unit rolled back into town and they rejoined their
unit."
Railroads played an integral role in the Second World War.
Trains brought food, munitions, and essential supplies. They transported
troops. They were a means of escape for those fleeing persecution. At
the same, they were used to transport innocent people to their deaths.
Yet there was one kind of train that improved the chances of survival
every time they rolled through the battle-worn towns and cities of the
European theatre of war.
Hospital trains were not a
new concept in the Second World War, but their use was instrumental in
this most deadly conflict of the twentieth century. Regular passenger
trains were converted into mobile emergency wards tending to the
critically wounded. It was an elegant solution, as train cars could be
refitted with tier beds, and supplies could be easily transported along
with medical staff.
A Different Track
introduces readers to the world of hospital trains of the Second World
War. From the nurses who ran them to the factories that manufactured
them, this book looks at how these trains quietly altered the fortunes
of the world. From Canada’s contributions to the role of women who both
healed the sick and built the trains, this is a fascinating look at one
of the hidden nuggets of history.
If you have any materials connected to these great Army Railway units please share them here with the families of the soldiers. If you are a collector or memorabilia dealer PLEASE share copies or scans of items BEFORE you sell these priceless materials to private collectors . I will hold the copies until after they sell. It means so much to the families of the guy's that actually served in these units.
Contact me : Nancy militaryrailwayservice@gmail.com
Locomotive
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