Merry Christmas, President Roosevelt: Seasons Greetings from the Troops in World War Two

Great article about soldier cards at Christmas from the Franklin D. Roosevelt library HERE

From Military Railway Units 743rd top and 727th below. 

Merry Christmas contact me if you had a MRS solider in your family.I'd love to hear about him. Nancy 

Thanks so much to Jerry Jensen for sharing this wonderful information about his dad, Merle Jensen.

Merle Marion Jensen was born and raised on a farm in Quenemo, KS on May 26, 1918. He worked one year with the Santa Fe Railroad prior to being drafted in the US Army in 1942, serving into 1946. He served with the 761st Railway Transportation Company seeing service in the Rome-Arno Campaign, Naples-Foggia Campaign, Rhineland Campaign, and Algeria-French Morocco Campaign from Aug ’42 through Feb ’45 and then received healthcare in the Bruns Military Hospital in Santa Fe, NM. After his military service and release from the hospital, he worked as a Brakeman, then Conductor, with the Rock Island Railroad out of Herington, KS until is death in 1969. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and greatly enjoyed helping his parents continue to farm. He was survived by his wife, Dona Lloydine Jensen, daughter, Terri L. Jensen, and sons Gerald D. Jensen and Mark L. Jensen. He received a military burial at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Quenemo, KS. 

 I do not have much more information to provide. Other than a letter from President Truman thanking him for his service and some of his original discharge and orders assigning him to the Bruns General Hospital in NM, we don’t have much information. Also, other than applauding the good trade he made while in Northern Africa (he traded a carton of cigarettes for a beautiful native knife with a carved wooden sheath wrapped in leather), he didn’t talk much about his years of service nor his hospital care following his active duty. Being a farm kid from central KS, I’m certain his travels in WWII were eye-opening. He returned to his railroad career following his medical recovery spending his entire career as a brakeman and conductor for the Rock Island Railroad serving between the Oklahoma border south of Wichita and northeasterly to Kansas City, until his early death in 1969 at the age of 51. 

Merle M. Jensen served in the 761st Railway Transportation Co, with service in the Rome-Arno Campaign, Naples-Foggia Campaign, Rhineland Campaign, and Algeria-French Morocco Campaign from Aug ’42 through Feb ’45. He was sent to the Bruns General Hospital in Santa Fe, NM with tuberculosis and afterwards to the VAF in Excelsior Springs, MO. Those soldiers in the same railcar traveling from NM to MO with my father included, Tec 5 Harold W. Furneaux, Pfc Verdie W. Williams, Pfc Ernie T. Mears, and Pvt Fred S. Copeland. Two Attendants were Ted 5 Ingvar F. Magnuson and Pfc Morton Koplik. 

I have attached six photos, two in the service, one railroading (white hat), one younger (leather jacket), and one older (black shirt), one family photo from 1919 (smallest child) 

Hisdtoricasl report of last 3 months of 1944 and reports early in 1945

GALLOWAY -- Tyra Oscar Galloway, 85, passed away on April 4, 2008. He was born in Corona, NM on January 11, 1923, to W. M. and Essie Galloway. The family moved briefly to Gran Quivira and then, in 1928, to Belen, where he became a lifetime resident. 

Oscar began his career with the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1941 after graduating from Belen High School. In 1944 during World War II, Oscar served in the U. S. Armed Forces as a member of the 746 Operating Railway Battalion stationed in Germany. He returned to his position with the AT&SF Railway and, after 41 years, retired as Train Yard Foreman in 1982. He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife, Freeda, of 66 years; daughter, Nancy and husband, Bryan Lunsford; sons, Lynden Galloway and Myron Galloway; his loving grandchildren, Vance and Travis Lunsford, Kristyn, Jeffrey, Charlene, and Evan Galloway; one brother, Floyd Galloway, of Bridgeport, TX, and many nieces and nephews. 

Preceding him in death are his parents; his brothers, Bill and Mac; and sisters, Virgie Jones and Lavon McKinley. Oscar was a senior member of the First Assembly of God Church in Belen, serving as Sunday School Superintendent, member of the building committee, Deacon and a musician with the Music Department. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. The family thanks the nurses and staff of the Kaseman Presbyterian Hospice for their professionalism and gentleness in caring for our loved one. 

Donations may be made to the Kaseman Presbyterian Hospice, 8300 Constitution N.E, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Services will be held Monday, April 7, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Assembly of God Church, 19398 N. Hwy 314, Belen, NM. Interment will be immediately following at Sandia Memory Gardens, 9500 San Pedro Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM. Daniels Family Funeral Services 7601 Wyoming Blvd, NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010 www.danielsfuneral.com Published on: Sun April 06, 2008