727th RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION "HALL OF FAME" INDUCTION CITATION

Originally established by the War Department as the 594th Engineer Battalion (Railway Operating) on January 29, 1923, the 727th Railway Operating Battalion (ROB) was affiliated with the Southern Railway System.  Based on the National Defense Act of 1916, individual railroads were encouraged to sponsor Organized Reserve Units as a means of providing a cadre of trained rail management and operating personnel to meet military requirements.  Typically the sponsoring railroad not only provided personnel, but also served as the unit training area.  On February 21, 1941, the 594th was redesignated as the 727th Engineer Battalion (Railway Operating).  With the United States' entry into WWII, the 727th became the first Reserve ROB to be activated on March 15, 1942.  The designation as the 727th Railway Operating Battalion, Transportation Corps, became effective on November 16, 1942, with a total authorized strength of 31 officers and 759 enlisted Soldiers.

The 727th ROB's mobilization station was Camp Shelby, MS.  Company "B" conducted their rail technical training at the Southern Railway System's roundhouse and car shops in Meridian, MS.  After staging at Fort Dix, the unit departed for the New York POE (Brooklyn) on December 11. 1942, to board vessels bound for North Africa.  Arriving at Mers El Kebir (Oran), Algeria, on December 26, 1942, they established their headquarters at Tebessa, Algeria, where the battalion assumed responsibility for operating 350 miles of meter-gauge lines in eastern Algeria and Tunisia.

The 727th ROB's operations in North Africa were conducted using motive power, rolling stock, and maintenance equipment found in place.  Most of the equipment was in poor condition and required repairs to keep it in operating condition.  On June 21, 1943, the battalion retired to Tabarka to prepare for operations being planned in Sicily.  In Sicily, the 727th ROB operated within earshot of artillery firing ammunition they had just brought forward.  The unit's bravery and accomplishments in Sicily were recognized by General George Patton and the Seventh Army in a commendation ceremony on September 12, 1943.

The 727th ROB arrived in Naples, Italy, on October 13, 1943.  The unit's first Italian operating mission was to provide support to the U.S. Fifth Army and part of the British Eighth Army with over 300 plus miles of rail line from the Salerno Beaches and the Naples Port.  Turning the Naples area of operations over to Italian civilians, in June 1944, the 727th moved north to Rome, where by the end of the month they were operating lines from the vicinity of Anzio through Rome, 150 miles north, to Grosseto.  On September 27, 1944, the 727th departed for Marseille, France.  By October 2, 1944, the 727th began operating rail lines from Valence, in the south, to Epinal, in the north, in support of the Seventh Army.  At its peak responsibility, they operated or supervised over 600 miles of rail line  On April 18, 1945, the 727th headed for its new headquarters across the Rhine River from Mannheim to Ludwigshafen, GE, where they were ultimatrly responsible for 225 miles of railroad ranging from Frankfurt, on the north, through Stuttgart, to Esslingen, on the south.  The 727th was deactivated under orders on October 6, 1945.

In the nearly three years in WWII, the 727th ROB operated or was responsible for over 2,400 miles of railroad in five theaters.  Members of the 727th took their civilian rail skills and adapted them to support military operations.  This was not only an individual and Army effort, but also included the involvement of a major industry.  The 727th ROB's contribution to military operations was tabulated in tons moved, and they were recognized and commended by the commands they supported.

3rd see it now by Nancy

3rd erkes by Nancy

Fantastic photos and discharge papers from Henry Brill 757th Railway Shop Battalion sent to us by his son, Bruce.

From Bruce : A word about my dad (that's not in the attached docs)... His both parents were immigrants from Europe (father from Germany and mother from Hungary). A combination of Yiddish and German was spoken at their home and I believe that his knowledge of spoken German came in handy during WWII, especially when the RSB (Railway Shop Battalion) set up operations in Kassel, Germany in 1945. According to Dave Kaufman, they had over 4000 German employees working at their plant while under the RSB.
My dad had two sets of dogtags: one with an "H" indicating Jewish; a second set with a "P," Protestant, while in conflict with the Germans in case he'd fall into their hands.

Thanks -Bruce !

757th Railway Service Battalion Brill by Nancy on Scribd

Fantastic photos of Pfc Jack Randazzo of the 763rd Railway Shop Battalion 1943-1946 sent to us by his son, Robert-Thanks

*Also discharge and separation papers scans

Fantastic photos of Pfc Jack Randazzo of the 763rd Railway Shop Battalion 1943-1946 sent to us by his son, Robert-Thanks
*Also discharge and separation papers scans

749th World War II Vets Meet One Last Time

Friday, July 24, 2009 1:57 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio — They met as boys, endured as men and are now saying their goodbyes as a generation.
The 749th Railway Operating Battalion is preparing to meet one last time this weekend, 10TV's Anietra Hamper reported.
"We're just like a band of brothers," said George Scott, a World War II veteran.
The battalion was 900 men strong during World War II. After the war, they continued their camaraderie with annual reunions, but time has taken its toll.
The veterans are dying at a rate of about 1,000 a day.
"We're going to miss each other," said Dick Likens, a member of the battalion. "Let's face it. We're not going to be around much longer."
"When you're (overseas) and you can hear (enemies) shooting and stuff like that, you get to be real close with a friend," said Forrest Jenkins, a member of the battalion.
Bob Kern, a World War II veteran said that in 2006 and 2007, only 15 veterans have shown up to their reunion.
"Last year we had 10," Kern said. "I told them if we have another reunion, there will only be five and I don't want to be the last (survivor)."
There are only eight members of the battalion scheduled to attend this year's reunion. With an average age of 90, most of the veterans have died or are too sick to travel, so they decided to make this year their final farewell, Hamper reported.
"It's a sad thing to think that it's all over with, almost," Scott said. "I know it is for me. My age is against me. I'm getting too old to go."
No photos, uniforms or even medals will be on display at the reunion. The men carry their mementos in their memories. The only signature of the 749th is an old banner that will be put away one last time.
"We didn't want to make this a wake," said Don Gothard, a member of the battalion. "We wanted people to have a good time and enjoy themselves and not have this thought in their mind."
With their families by their sides, the 749th Veterans Railway Club, with dues still at $6 a year, will spend the rest of their money this weekend and head home with great memories.
All the men said that they have mixed emotions about the reunion. Several of them had tears in their eyes as they talked about the bittersweet moment.
The families of the veterans said that they planned to discuss the possibility of their children and grandchildren carrying on the tradition since many of them have become family after all the years.

To Veterans and Friends of the MRS:

The nomination of the Southern Railway sponsored 727th Railway Operating Battalion for induction into the Transportation Corps Hall of Fame has been confirmed by the Army Chief of Transportation BG Brian R. Layer.  The induction ceremony will be a luncheon at the Fort Eustis Club on Friday  July 9th as part of TC Conference 2010.  Luncheon choices are Colonial Chicken Breast or Braised Sirloin Tips each at $14.00.  The registration form for both the luncheon and other scheduled  events can be found at www.eustis.army.mil under TC Conference 2010.

Plans for movement of RS-1, 8011 from Strasburg, PA, to Fort Eustis, VA, continue firm.  The linehaul movement, to include railcars, via the Strasburg RR. Norfolk Southern, and CSX have been confirmed.  It will be a two car movement with the locomotive carbody on one car and the two trucks on the second.  The bid packages for loading at Strasburg and unloading at Fort Eustis are expected to be released in the near future.

In addition to the Hall of Fame Luncheon, on post TC Conference activities open to the public include the TC Regimental Association Update, the TC Regimental Association Social, the Warrior Recognition Ceremony, the Regimental Picnic, and the Regimental Golf Classic.  The Transportation Museum will be open with new and upgraded exhibits.  Off post the Peninsula area attractions will be in full bloom.  Come join the Military Railway Service Veterans, family members, and friends to honor the 727th Railway Operating Battalion and all WWII Military Railway Service Veterans whose service and sacrifices justifies the title "The Greatest Generation."


Mark L. Metz
LTC-TC (Ret.)
(717) 597-2636 

Vernon Orlando Munson was born June 27, 1911 to Elias Ole and Alice Elizabeth Christian Munson. He died Oct. 5, 2000 and is buried in Story City Cemetery, Story City, IA. ​ Vernon served in World War II with the U.S. Army 743rd Railway Operating Battalion.

http://www.storycityhistory.org/munson-vernon-o.html

WATERLOO, IA Daily Courier 1942

IC RAILROADERS form the 715th Engineer Railway Operating Battalion

Announcement was made Monday of the call to service of the 715th Engineer Railway Operating battalion, a part of the Engineer corps of the United States army, to be officered by employees' of the Illinois Central Railroad company. This battalion is to be under the command of Lt. Col. T. P. Crymes, Illinois Central trainmaster at Memphis, Tenn., and will have units staff of officer’s four employees of the Iowa division of the railroad, two of them from Waterloo. '

Ranking as captain will be John R. Wartchow, 1607 West Fourth street, who for the past five years has been track supervisor at Waterloo.His duties in the army will be equivalent to those of a division engineer un a peace-time railroad, having supervision over maintenance of track on an operating division. Mechanical Engineer.Ranking as first lieutenant will be Rollin J. Chinn, 339 Saxon street, who has been erecting shop foreman in the Waterloo shops for the past year. His duties in the railway battalion will be those of mechanical engineer, concerned with the upkeep-of the motive power of the division. 

Other Iowa division men who will receive officers' commissions in the new organization are V. D.Raessler, formerly of Waterloo but now bridge and building foreman for the railroad at Cherokee, who will rank as first lieutenant and have duties similar to those of a peace-time supervisor of the bridges and buildings along the right-of way of the division, and Charles E. Weiler, former member of the Iowa division civil engineering staff at Waterloo but now assistant track supervisor at Freeport. 111., who will be a second lieutenant, with duties equivalent to those of an assistant engineer, having charge of civil engineering work. Also Other Roads. 

The rest of the 20 officers of the new battalion have been appointed from the other divisions of the Illinois Central system. Similar organizations are being sponsored by several. of the larger railroads of the country and are now in training. The 715th Engineer Railway Operating battalion is similar to battalions sponsored by the Illinois Central during and after World War 1, and provides a complete force for the operation and maintenance of a 50 to 100 mile division of military railroad. It will be made up of battalion headquarters, maintenance of way company, maintenance of equipment company, headquarters and service company and transportation company, and when fully recruited will number in the neighborhood of 800 men. 

Qualified men under 45 years of age with previous railroad experience may enlist at the office of the battalion, room 300, Dowve building, Michigan avenue at Twelfth street, Chicago, between the hours of 10 a. m. and 9 p. m. All types of railroad men except clerks.

749th Edwards by cunningb