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." 

Good Conduct Medal award letter --->

Please email me militaryrailwayservice@gmail.com and I'll forward to Neal (Thanks, Nancy ) 

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.

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