The Liberation Line The Untold Story of the Normandy Landings by Christian Wolmar (with a little help by me )

The entire purpose of my websites and blogs for the past 25 years has been to collect and share the amazing work of the U.S. Army rail units of WWII and Korea. 

Both my father and uncle were officers and served in rail units in both wars. I've felt this unique service was being lost and forgotten. Luckily, so did the British author, Christian Wolmar. He contacted me about 2 years ago with his idea for this book and  I've worked with him as his research assistant on this project.  I am beyond thrilled to present:

The Liberation Line: The Untold Story of How American Engineering and Ingenuity Won World War II (U.S. Title)

The epic story of the railwaymen who ensured Allied victory in World War Two, published to coincide with the eightieth anniversary of D-Day.

As the Allied forces advanced through France following the Normandy landings, just behind the frontline the US Military Rail Service and their counterparts in the Royal Engineers were at work, ensuring that crucial supply lines were up and running – without them the liberation of France and the invasion of Germany would founder. 

Based on original research, The Liberation Line thrillingly reveals how the railwaymen overcame enemy attacks, sabotage and booby traps to repair many hundreds of miles of destroyed railway tracks and dozens of bridges and tunnels in order to deliver victory. Packed with tales of individual heroism, this is one of the last great untold stories of the war. 

The book will be published in May 2024 in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of D-Day. You can
per-order Amazon here: https://amz.run/76Q4 

 Christian will be doing a US tour with the book if you'd like him to speak to your organization email me. If you are interested in an autographed book or to have Christian speak to your group email me at militaryrailwayservice@gmail.com    Thanks, Nancy  (UK cover top left - US bottom right)

If you have any information on a soldier railroader I would love to hear from you! If your father, grandfather or other relative served let me know something about them. I would love to do a blog post about them. Nancy  email: militaryrailwayservice@gmail.com

You can order a signed copy from me here  

Christian Womar April 4th, 2024 promotional video!  

729th Transportation Battalion: Historic Colors Returned to Transportation Battalion in Europe

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Members of the 729th Transportation Battalion, old and new, gathered for a ceremonial returning of the unit colors, early on a Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in New Haven, Conn. The 729th Railway Operating Battalion deactivated in 1976. Their last days were chaotic, according to U.S. Army Reserve Col. (Ret.) Vincent Palmeri, an alumnus of the 76th Division, the co-located higher headquarters of the 729th in Middletown, Conn., preventing the customary return of the unit colors to the U.S. Army Center of Military History. U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Richard Gillen, the commander at the time, kept the original colors, a relic from 1942, adorned with four campaign steamers, following the unit's tumultuous deactivation. His widow, Joy, preserved the unit banner, only surrendering it to Palmeri, a trusted retired officer, for safekeeping. 

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/483545/historic-colors-returned-transportation-battalion-europe

759th Railway Operating Battalion Headstone Applications: Cliford Crane and Joe L. Hall

 Clifford Crane 

 


Joe L. Hall

 



716th Railway Operating Battalion Headstone Applications: Charles J. Collett and Oscar R. Kirchner

 Charles James Collett 

 


 Oscar R. Kirchner 



714th Railway Operating Battalion Headstone Applications: William T. Coffey and Leonard P. Mays

 William T. Coffey 

 


Leonard P. Mays


 

715th Railway Operating Battalion Headstone Applications: Albert Blythe and Silas E. Foster

 Albert Blythe 

 


Silas E. Foster


 

713th Railway Operating Battalion Headstone Applications: Emmett John Hegarty and George E. Van Kleeck

 Emmett John Hegarty 

 



 George E. Van Kleeck also served in 716th ROB



711th Railway Operating Battalion Headstone Applications : Edward Boland and Edwon Kite

Edward Boland

Edwon Kite

Built for Battle by Howard G. Hill Trains Magazine December 1964

710 Railway Grand Division (740th ROB) - George W. Thomson

This great photo album was passed around through various unit members many years ago, see the little note at end of photos for more informtion. https://photos.app.goo.gl/te3g9XkR5W1Ckq9fA

https://photos.app.goo.gl/te3g9XkR5W1Ckq9fA

711th ROB One of the Last by D. M. (Bing) Quimby

This is an amazing biography and first hand account by Army railroader D.M.(Bing) Quimby serving with the 711th ROB during WWII in Iran. Thanks to his son, Russ Quimby and the Quimby family for sharing this amazing book with us,

Russ wrote ... Nancy, I just finished reading Christian Wolmar's "The Liberation Line" where I discovered your name and website. As a Class of 1974 West Point graduate who spent most of my working life in railroading, and as the son of a railroad engineer who was in the 711th ROB in Iran during WWII, I am gratified that you are preserving the Military Railway Service history and memories. Four of 13 chapters of my father's self published autobiography "One of the Last" by D.M. (Bing) Quimby (1995 Vantage Press) deal with his experiences in the 711th ROB in Iran. Only 200 copies were published, but I would be glad to send you a copy for reference. I think that you might find his story of some interest.

Fascinating autobiography of Bing Quimby, one of the last engineers to run a steam locomotive in the United States. A quintessential small town boy, the author describes his youth growing up in Nebraska in the 1920s, bumming his way to California in his teens (and getting into scrapes along the way), working as a fireman for the railroad, serving in the Army during World Ward II where his locomotive delivered supplies to the Russians from Iran, and then the years as an engineer of steam locomotives back home before making the transition to diesel. Illustrated with black and white photos. 232 pages. 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vantage Press; First Edition (January 1, 1995) 

Language ‏ : ‎ English Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 232 pages 

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0533111544 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0533111541 

 

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752nd Railway Operating Battalion Headstone applications: James J. Darcy and Glen V. Jones

 James J. Darcy

Glen V. Jones 


 


743rd Railway Operating Battalion Headstone applications: Hollis O. Pack and Alfred Joseph Blake

 Hollis O. Pack

Alfred Joseph Blake 



 



735th Railway Operating Battalion - Charles W. Nielson Headstone application 1954

 


705th Railway Grand Division - Ralph E. Davis Headstone application 1958

 


755th Railway Operating Battalion Headstone application: Lewis V. Stitt and Xavier F. Rolinski

Lewis V. Stitt


 

Xavier F. Rolinski

757th Engineering Railway Shop Battalion Mello, George Application for headstone 1960


 

720th Railway Operating Battalion - Ralph Joseph Mefferd Headstone application 1960


 

734th Railway Operating Battalion- Denzel A. Hatcher

740th Railway Operation Battalion - The 740th Railway Operating Battalion in France & Belgium

The 740th Railway Operating Battalion in France & Belgium Charles W. Heffner

750th Railway Operating Battalion Harold C. Maynard Application for headstone 1961


 

765th Railway Operating Battalion Raymond Leon “Ray” Marshall Application for headstone 1965

 


752nd Railway Operating Battalion -Russell G. Decker obit

Mr. Russell G. Decker Obituary  Parma, Ohio 

Russell G. Decker, age 88 of Parma, 

WWII Army Veteran, beloved husband and soul mate 54 years of the late Ruth E. (nee Askew); loving father of James (Sandy) and Janet Feckler (Thomas); dear grandfather of James, Moneka, Richard (Deanne), Jason, Jennifer, and Heather; great-grandfather of Austin, Haven, Donnie and Olivia; father-in-law of Richard Urich; uncle and friend of many. Russell was a man with a big heart who never knew a stranger. A family man who truly enjoyed being with his family. In a crowd, he was the life of the party. At home, work and church,he always had a great sense of humor. Russell was an active, longtime, and faithful member of St. James Lutheran Church where he served on various committees and as an Elder and youth group counselor. 

He was very proud of his country, serving in the Army during World War II in the European Theatre of Operations with Company C, 752 Railway Operating Battalion. His battalion hauled freight, ammunition, gasoline, tanks, guns, engineer construction equipment, troop hospital cars, and food. Russell was decorated with two bronze stars and was a locomotive engineer operating Army locomotives from Le Harve, France to various locations in Germany. Russell's battalion #752 got together for a reunion every year for 50 years and he never missed one. He was also very active in the local chapter of the Cleveland Lutheran VFW. Russell was a chemical operator 30 years for the B.F. Goodrich Chemical Company in Avon. 

He passed away on Sunday, August 15, 2010. Memorial contributions may be forwarded to St. James Lutheran Church, 4771 Broadview Rd., Cleveland, OH 44109. Funeral Service at St. James Lutheran Church, 4771 Broadview Rd., Cleveland on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 10 a.m. Interment at Sunset Memorial Park, North Olmsted. Friends may call at the BUSCH FUNERAL HOME, 7501 RIDGE RD., PARMA FROM 2-4 AND 6-8 P.M. ON TUESDAY. 440-842-7800

791th Railway Operating Battalion deserters 1944

Alvarez, Miguel A.

Cook, Lewis W. Co.C



 

764th Railway Operating Battalion deserters 1944

Dillon,Ronald O.  Co. B

Doss, Martin A.  Co. B