J. W. Gregson (February 27, 1919 - November 6, 2011) Burial services for Mr. J.W. Gregson were held on Monday, November 7, 2011, at 11:00a.m. at Greenwood Cemetery. J W passed away peacefully at the Teague Nursing Home on November 6, 2011 from lymphoma. His final days were spent surrounded by family and friends. He enjoyed ninety-two full and active years. J W was born February 27, 1919 in Tomball, Texas, son of Joseph Henry Gregson and his wife, Lucy Mae Simpson. He was raised in north Harris County and attended public schools in Addicks and Houston. On December 7, 1941, (Pearl Harbor Day), he was hired by the railroad as a fireman. During World War II, he served with the 791st Railway Operating Battalion of the US Army in Iran and Russia. Following his military duty, he returned to Teague to continue his career with the railroad. On April 3, 1947, J W married Dorothy Jean York. They observed their 64th wedding anniversary in 2011. J W is survived by his wife, Jean Gregson, a daughter, Gail Andrade of Dallas, one son, Greg of Houston, two grandsons, Nicholas Andrade of San Antonio and J. Ryan Campbell of Teague, one great grandson, J. Ryan Campbell, Jr. He is also survived by one sister, Elsie Vicknar of Tomball as well as three nieces and one nephew. One daughter, Gina Campbell and two sisters, Minneola Becker and Hazel Miller predeceased him.

Dawn daughter of Gordon Paul Dunaway writes " I have just been given my Dad's scrap books from World War II and it seems he served with the 733rd Railway .. When I saw them I knew that leaving them just in a book stuffed in a cedar chest was a crime " It would be a crime to not to share these images and history of your Dad and his unit! Thanks again Dawn.
DEXTER — Gordon Paul Dunaway, age 87 of N. Shore Rd. Dexter,passed away at his home 6:10 P.M. on Thursday April 22, 2010. He had been under the care of his family and Hospice.
Paul was born August 24, 1922 in Brownville, the son of Gordon and Reba Mitchell Dunaway. He graduated from Brownville-Glen Park High School and served in the Army from 1943 until 1946. He served in the European Theatre.Paul married Grovene Champion in 1943 that marriage ended in divorce. He married Marlene Robbins in 1994 in Pamelia. He lived on Black River Road for several years and moved to Pillar Point in 1984. Paul was the owner of Dunaway - Morgan Construction Co. of Watertown and retired in 1988. He also owned and operated Sunset Harbor Marina on North Shore Rd. Pillar Point. He wintered in Ft. Pierce & River Ranch in Florida.Paul was a member of Crescent Yacht Club, Rotary, North Side Improvement League and was an avid pilot and flyer.
He is survived by his wife Marlene, a son David Dunaway and his wife Ann of Dexter, N.Y., daughters Diane Dunaway of Chittenango N.Y., and Dawn Quint and her wife Pamela of Andover, CT., . grandsons Gerard Lapointe, CT and Kristopher Dunaway NY and great granddaughter Gabriella Clark, step-children Steven and Mary Rickett of Chaumont, Sawn and Joann Rickett of Kissimmee, Fl.,Scott and Christine Rickett of Three Mile Bay and Stuart and Donna Rickett of Chaumont. He also has step grandchildren Emmy, Mandy, Abby, Corey and Makeyla. A brother Richard Dunaway of Fair Haven, N.Y. and a step brother Robert Brown also survive. A stepsister Patty Brown predeceased him.

Thanks again to Wilhelm !  

Wilhelm P.B.R. Saris (Netherlands); eagle removed by the 708th Railway Grand Division, courtesy Paul Ayerst from Canada. Great presentation of a German Reichsbahn-eagle captured by the 708th Railway Grand Division at Hirson in France, September 3rd, 1944, mounted on a nice wooden plaque.

The eagle is painted over in silver. In German, during the Third Reich, such an eagle was phrased as Hoheitszeichen (national emblem).

Fort Slocum continued served as a recruit intake and specialist training center. It was the site of the Atlantic Coast Transportation Corps Officers' Training School from 1942 to 1944.


The school trained railroad men and other transportation specialists in the Army way of doing things before making them commissioned officers. A related program begun in 1943, the Provisional Training Center, provided basic training to other specialists and enlisted men.

Again thanks to Wilhelm for these...

 Presentation of a plaque with a German Reichsbahn-eagle and two affixed metal plates by Colonel W.S. Carr of the 708th Railway Grand Division to Brigade-General Clarance L. Burpee (commander of the Second Military Railway Service), at the German city of Bremerhaven in August 1945.

In the back standing a person with the wooden box to put the eagle into!
One of the engines was named to the commander of the unit as “COL. CARR SPECIAL, 1001” with the unit-number 708 RGD.

Thanks : Wilhelm P.B.R. Saris (Netherlands); material 708th Railway Grand Division, courtesy Bill Shea from the Ruptured Duck, Hubbartston (USA).

Another great Reichsbahn Eagle sent to us from Wilhelm ( who is researching for a book ) , this time the eagle is from Capt. William McCormick of the 722nd Railway Operating Battalion Co. A - this is how the eagle was sent to his wife.

Thanks Wilhelm and Kristian !!
Material provides thanks to :Wilhelm P.B.R. Saris, (Netherlands)  and Kristian Anderson (USA).

735th Railway Operating Battalion Co. C
Sgt J.F. Deaton - Conductor
T/4 Frank Hacken - Eng.
T/5 F.J. Moschini  - Frmn'
P.F.C. C.J. Sobrito  - Flgmn





This Nazi rail car emblem commonly called a Reichsbahn Eagle came from car No 84054 was captured by these men.

The old Deutsche Reichsbahn (DRB) was set up in 1920, under a provision in the Weimar Constitution, to take over the seven individual state railways in Germany at that time. Its existence ended with the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War
http://www.worldrailfans.info/Articles/Europe/GDRGwagons.shtml 

Thanks very much to Wilhem Saris of the Netherlands and Robert Newbrough for sharing this amazing artifact with the blog.
If you know anything more about this or the men listed here please email me , Nancy cunningb2@gmail.com 

Wilhelm Saris, eagle courtesy Robert Newbrough of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania size: 62.9 cm wingspan and 34.3 cm height. (Aluminium-Präzisionsguss A.G. at Nowawes inGermany).

724th Railway Operating Battalion 1982 Roster Reunion by Nancy