711th Railway Operating Battalion- Quimby

Russell Quimby son of D.M. (Bing) Quimby sent these marvelous photos of his dad's 711th ROB service in Iran. 

Donovan "Bing" Morris Quimby 1918-2015 ( age 96+) Donovan Morris Quimby died at the Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home on June 23, 2015. D.M. “Bing” Quimby was born September 23, 1918 in Springview, Nebraska to Dr. Donovan Perry Quimby DDS and Ruth Ann Quimby (nee Morris). He grew up in Wakefield, NE where he graduated high school in 1937. He then attended Wayne State College for three semesters. In 1939, he moved with his parents to South Sioux City, NE where he domiciled for the next 73 years, and worked for the Chicago Burlington & Quincy and later the Burlington Northern Railroads. 

March 22, 1942 he entered the US Army and served with the 711th Railway Operating Battalion, Persian Gulf Command in Iran as a locomotive engineer attaining the rank of Technical Sergeant 4. Bing hauled lend-lease equipment to Soviet forces in Tehran for use against the Nazis in Russia. In 1997, the Russian Government awarded him a commemorative medal for his service. Prior to entering service, he met Ardyce Fern Sides of Dakota City, NE, and they were wed July 18, 1942 for the next 72+ years until his death. A day after their wedding, they did not see each other for the next 3 years. 

Bing was honorably discharged from the Army October 16,1945, and returned to Nebraska as a locomotive engineer until he retired on December 10, 1982, after 40 years of railroading. In 1995, Bing self-published his autobiography, “One of the Last,” which detailed his life in entertaining detail and the historical context of the “greatest generation.” For 50 years, Bing was a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church in South Sioux City. 

He was a Mason, and also a member of American Legion Post 307, the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, the Military Railway Service Veterans of WWII, and the Persian Gulf Service Veterans of WWII. He was predeceased by his parents and younger brother, Richard E. Quimby. 

He was survived by his wife, Ardyce, and three sons; Donovan Mark Quimby, Russell G. Quimby, and Jay M. Quimby, and their wives, and his sister-in-law Lois Louise Quimby nee Duffy. Bing and Ardyce have seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Bing is buried in Memorial Cemetery, Sioux City, IA with Ardyce, plot 300.