Obituary for Ralph L. Ott Ralph L. Ott, 93, of Chambersburg passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2013 at Menno Haven Nursing and Rehab Center He was born on Thursday, December 25, 1919 in Scotland, PA the son of the late G. Harold and Rhoda (Jones) Ott. He spent his early years in Chambersburg, attending schools in the borough, graduating from Chambersburg High school in 1937. He attended Tampa University in Florida on a Football Scholarship. Ralph worked at the Pennsylvania Railroad in Chambersburg before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941. He spent four years in the Army, 2 ½ years of which were in Iran with the 730th Railway Operation Battalion. Upon his return home, he married Helen Wise on November 8, 1947. He returned to the Pennsylvania Railroad shops in Chambersburg until 1972; then took employment at Letterkenny and retired from there in 1981. Ralph was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the following organizations: The Chambersburg Club, V.F.W. Post # 1599, American Legion Post #46, Amvets and the Marine Corp League. He is survived by his wife, Mary Wise Ott, who he married on November 25, 1977, two sisters: Evelyn O. Franklin and Shirley O. Barkdoll, nieces and a nephew. He is also survived by a step-son, David Shetter, wife Angela and two step grandsons: Vincent and Mitchell. The Funeral Service will be held at the convenience of the family. Burial will be at Lincoln Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.sellersfuneralhome.com

3rd Military Railway Service (702nd Military Grand Division) 711th Railway Operating Battalion, 730th Railway Operating Battalion, 754th Railway Shop Battalion, 762th Railway Shop Battalion, 791st Railway Operating Battalion

730th ROB reunion registrations lists various 1980-1990

730th ROB Reunion Registrations Lists Various 1980-1990s by Nancy on Scribd

730th Railway Operating Battalion Various Reunion Docs by Nancy on Scribd

Album from World War II.

Photos documenting the 3rd Military Railway Service, Persian Gulf Command, US Army. (showing Frank L. Hoppe of Havre, MT and his service in Persia).  Many small snap shot photos of buildings, monuments, bazaars, native Iranians.  Of note, photo of the King and Queen of Persian (Shaw) and FDR, Churchill and Stalin photos (probably taken at Malta; Most of the photos are identified on reverse..

Also contains one letter home to his mother, Large fold out map of the world (1940s era, good condition), military theme cartoons clipped from magazines and newspapers, Program from "This is the Army"... Irving Berlin's All-Soldier Musical Review, newspaper clippings about how "Iron Horses" kept in condition by shopmen of the Railroad Battalions.

Ration Card belonging to Frank, Co. B, 730th., photo copies of V-mail sent home for Xmas, New Year. Photos of Palaces and hotels, at Isphahan and Parband, Holy Temple at Gahm, Gold Temple at Gham

Mikes son John writes ... Just a note to say that my father Mike DeCillo served with the 730th during WWII. He passed at age 83 in 2000. He sent along these photos and obit

Thanks to Erik for donating ....

730.pdf by Nancy

thanks tim

730th Persian Gulf Command various documents.pdf by Nancy

Thank so much for MSaxton research into this amazing group the railway units involved in this command were:

• 3rd Military Railway Service (702nd Military Railway Grand Division)
• 711th Railway Operating Battalion
• 730th Railway Operating Battalion 
• 754th Railway Shop Battalion 
• 762nd Railway Shop Battalion
• 791st Railway Operating Battalion 

 This booklet has a list of units in the Persian Gulf Command.

What's included:

   -- The front cover and the first 2 pages

   -- All but the first page of the section by Joel Sayre, 27 pages,
      is left out for copyright reasons.

   -- The last 6 pages, on military aspects, freight tonnages, the
      list of units, and the song "Men of the Persian Gulf Command"

   -- The back cover is missing from the copy I have so I copied the jpeg file
      from the PERSIAN GULF COMMAND VETERANS ORGANIZATION World War II website
            http://pgcvowwii.homestead.com/home.html
      The organization has disbanded for reasons of age but the website has
      some good material.

Joel Sayre (1901) was a war correspondent who spent 49 weeks with the
Persian Gulf Command.  He wrote for the New Yorker and was a friend
of James Thurber.  Short biography at IMDb.

     http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0768540/bio

He published the Persian Gulf Command material in three places, basically the
same material.

1.  The New Yorker
    06 Jan 1945, Some Marvels between Khorramshahr & Kazvin, Part I
    10 Feb 1945, Persian Gulf Command, Part II
    24 Mar 1945, Persian Gulf Command, Part III, The Whirling Men
    31 Mar 1945, Persian Gulf Command, You Don't Fool Around with a Railroad, Part IV

2.  This Army publication

3.  His book. Persian Gulf Command Some Marvels on the Road to Kazvin.
    Published by Random House, New York, 1945.  Introduction by James
    Thurber.  It's easy to find a copy to buy, either an original or a
    reprint.  140 pages, 4-5/8 X 7-1/8 inches

In the Army "Green Books" series, UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II.
The Middle East Theater.  THE PERSIAN CORRIDOR AND AID TO RUSSIA.
by T. H. Vail Motter.  Available free online
http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/008/8-1/index.html

730th ROB Reunion Group Annual Meeting Minutes 1959-1995 by Nancy

David O Champagne, Jr
Full Name:David O Champagne, Jr 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot C Row 4 Grave 31<BR>Cambridge American Cemetery<BR>Cambridge, England 1
Death: 18-Jul-43 1
Death Date: 18 Jul 1943 1
Memorial Cemetery: Cambridge American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Cambridge, England 1
Memorial Location: Plot C Row 4 Grave 31 1
Residence:State: Connecticut 1
World War II 1
Rank:Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:11104351 1
Regiment:729th Railway Operating Battalion 1


Edwin J Thompson
Full Name:Edwin J Thompson 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot A Row 6 Grave 23<BR>Cambridge American Cemetery<BR>Cambridge, England 1
Death: 12-Jun-44 1
Death Date: 12 Jun 1944 1
Memorial Cemetery: Cambridge American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Cambridge, England 1
Memorial Location: Plot A Row 6 Grave 23 1
Residence:State: Rhode Island 1
World War II 1
Rank:Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:31245965 1
Regiment:729th Railway Operating Battalion 1


Francis P Hearn, Jr
Full Name:Francis P Hearn, Jr 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot I Row 8 Grave 12<BR>North Africa American Cemetery<BR>Carthage, Tunisia 1
Death: 16-May-43 1
Death Date: 16 May 1943 1
Memorial Cemetery: North Africa American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Carthage, Tunisia 1
Memorial Location: Plot I Row 8 Grave 12 1
Residence:State: Connecticut 1
World War II 1
Rank:Private, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:31121673 1
Regiment:730th Railway Operating Battalion 1


Charles L Surface
Full Name:Charles L Surface 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot A Row 6 Grave 13<BR>North Africa American Cemetery<BR>Carthage, Tunisia 1
Death: 26-Jun-43 1
Death Date: 26 Jun 1943 1
Memorial Cemetery: North Africa American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Carthage, Tunisia 1
Memorial Location: Plot A Row 6 Grave 13 1
Residence:State: Oregon 1 E
World War II 1
Rank:Private, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:39454515 1
Regiment:730th Railway Operating Battalion 1


Harvey N Blank
Full Name:Harvey N Blank 1
Death:
Buried: Buried at: Plot D Row 15 Grave 12<BR>North Africa American Cemetery<BR>Carthage, Tunisia 1
Death: 29-Jul-43 1
Death Date: 29 Jul 1943 1
Memorial Cemetery: North Africa American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Carthage, Tunisia 1
Memorial Location: Plot D Row 15 Grave 12 1
Residence:State: Idaho 1
World War II 1
Rank:Corporal, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:39832192 1
Regiment:730th Railway Operating Battalion 1


Charles C Bain
Full Name:Charles C Bain 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot F Row 2 Grave 17<BR>Luxembourg American Cemetery<BR>Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 1
Death: 24-Feb-45 1
Death Date: 24 Feb 1945 1
Memorial Cemetery: Luxembourg American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 1
Memorial Location: Plot F Row 2 Grave 17 1
Residence:State: Alabama 1
World War II 1
Rank:Private First Class, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:34819143 1
Regiment:732nd Railway Operating Battalion 1


Edward G Billman
Full Name:Edward G Billman 1
Death:
Buried: Buried at: Plot D Row 5 Grave 76<BR>Cambridge American Cemetery<BR>Cambridge, England 1
Death: 1-Oct-44 1
Death Date: 01 Oct 1944 1
Memorial Cemetery: Cambridge American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Cambridge, England 1
Memorial Location: Plot D Row 5 Grave 76 1
Residence:State: California 1
World War II 1
Rank:Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:39718129 1
Regiment:732nd Railway Operating Battalion 1


Joe W Chandler
Full Name:Joe W Chandler 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot G Row 6 Grave 27<BR>Luxembourg American Cemetery<BR>Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 1
Death: 9-Feb-45 1
Death Date: 09 Feb 1945 1
Memorial Cemetery: Luxembourg American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 1
Memorial Location: Plot G Row 6 Grave 27 1
Residence:State: Oregon 1
World War II 1
Rank:Technician Fourth Class, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:39342699 1
Awards:Purple Heart 1
Regiment:732nd Railway Operating Battalion 1


Roman G Padilla
Full Name:Roman G Padilla 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot B Row 9 Grave 6<BR>Rhone American Cemetery<BR>Draguignan, France 1
Death: 27-Sep-45 1
Death Date: 27 Sep 1945 1
Memorial Cemetery: Rhone American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Draguignan, France 1
Memorial Location: Plot B Row 9 Grave 6 1
Residence:State: Nevada 1
World War II 1
Rank:Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:39913169 1
Regiment:732nd Railway Operating Battalion 1

730 MRS Rules and Reg Persia by cunningb

Thanks MikeC

730 Timetable 3 by cunningb

Wonderful photos thanks to Mark - amazing photos !