Richard writes about his uncle Fred  ... I started my search for my uncle's history before I received this Veteran's archive document from St Louis. 

I knew he was at Normandy and he crossed the Rhine at Wesel to the north of the famous railroad bridge at Remagen (Ludendorff Bridge). I visited that site as an LT in 1972. I pieced together the 729th because the NY, New Haven & Long Island RR was where he worked prior to entering service in the CT NG 1932 then called up in 1942. 

He shipped out to England arriving 18 Jul 1943. Landed at Normandy 3 days afterwards (though I found a piece of camo parachute silk in this cigar box which had in ink that he landed. I don't think it was his). Day 3 would be the LST landing ships bringing in the prefabricated rail cars along a long pre-fabricated ramp the engineers pieced together from the beach. 

My uncle had "engineer castle insignia's which confuses me as they were also part of the 729 but he didn't go to engineer school, He went to Atlantic Coast Transportation and Chemical Warfare school. 

Fred worked on Railway Signals Maintenance for 729th ROB

Men from Company C, 729th Railway Operating Battalion, operate a British War Department made Austerity locomotive in a railyard at Antwerp, Belgium, 1944

Thanks so much to his son Eric and other family members for sharing these amazing photos ! 

Another great items from Richard Stone - Thanks

Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949- burial cards US Archives

Name:     David O Champagne Jr
Gender:     Male
Rank:     Technical Sergeant
Residence Place:     Connecticut
Service Number:     11104351
Military Unit:     729th Railway Operating Battalion
Military Branch:     U.S. Army
War:     World War II
Death Date:     18 Jul 1943
Cemetery Plot Number:     C
Cemetery Row:     4
Cemetery Section:     Grave: 31
Cemetery:     Cambridge
Burial Place:     Cambridge, England
Next of Kin:     Lavinia Champagne 

Toni Alexandra, the granddaughter of Pfc. Harry Ruyle Trager of the 729th Railway Operating contacted me and wanted to share information on her grandfather's service in the 729th.

She is also looking to contact others from or connected to that unit - email me cunningb2@gmail.com if you have a connection.

Thanks Toni ...



Photo #90 is my grandfather, Pfc. Harry Ruyle Trager, 03-20-1942.

Photo #65 L to R is PFC. Harry Trager; T-4 J. Bogan; Pvt. A. Peterson; and T-5 R. Umbanhower; 03-20-1943
Some great notes from Toni PFC Trager's granddaughter Harry Ruyle Trager was born December 20, 1912 in Indianapolis, IN. Trager entered the service of the New York Central System Railroad on December 12, 1936 as a yard brakeman and was promoted to yard conductor on September 3, 1941. On February 26, 1941 Trager left the service of the New York Central System to be inducted into the Army's Military Railroad Service on March 6, 1942 at Fort Benjamin Harrison at Indianapolis, IN. Pfc. Trager was assigned to Company C of the 729th ROB and was deployed to the European Theatre of Operations. Pfc. Trager served in England, France, and Germany and was awarded the Combat Infantry Man's Badge with Oak Leaves, the Rifle Sharpshooters Badge, the Decoration Medal for Good Conduct, the Medal for Campaign and Service Victory World War II, the Medal for Campaign and Service EAME Campaign Complete, and the Medal for Army of Occupation Germany. Pfc. Trager was discharged from the U.S. Army at Camp Attebury, IN on August 20, 1945. Harry Ruyle Trager continued his railroad service with New York Central System and Penn Central through the 1970s and counting MRS service accrued almost forty years on the railroad While my grandfather was deployed to the European Theatre of Operations he fell from the top of a train and fractured his leg. On September 25th, 1942 he was admitted to the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary for the fracture and here are some photos from his stay. My grandfather didn't know a stranger. I honestly believe during his hospital stay he made friends with everyone there, thus the photos.

Thanks to Rich Massad for these great photos and obit of his dad, Michael Massad, who served in the 729th Railway Operating Battalion

Thanks to William for sending these ...

1945-11-09 GO-102 728TH ROB Normandy Campaign Award by Nancy on Scribd

1945-11-13 GO-103 728TH ROB Detachment Northern France Campaign Award by Nancy on Scribd

1945-12-11 GO-116 728TH ROB Central Europe Campaign Award by Nancy on Scribd

729.pdf by Nancy

Veterans History Project by Nancy

Army Schooling on the B.& O.railroad by Nancy

Thanks to family of William Poch for this great document and photos

From William's son David :
William "Bill" Poch
CPL U.S. ARMY, 729TH Railway Operating Battalion
1922 - 2004 Dillonvale, OH

Dad , You're my hero..always Your loving son, David

 
729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy by Nancy