The entire purpose of my websites and blogs for the past 25 years has been to collect and share the amazing work of the U.S. Army rail units of WWII and Korea. 

Both my father and uncle were officers and served in rail units in both wars. I've felt this unique service was being lost and forgotten. Luckily, so did the British author, Christian Wolmar. He contacted me about 2 years ago with his idea for this book and  I've worked with him as his research assistant on this project.  I am beyond thrilled to present:

The Liberation Line: The Untold Story of How American Engineering and Ingenuity Won World War II (U.S. Title)

The epic story of the railwaymen who ensured Allied victory in World War Two, published to coincide with the eightieth anniversary of D-Day.

As the Allied forces advanced through France following the Normandy landings, just behind the frontline the US Military Rail Service and their counterparts in the Royal Engineers were at work, ensuring that crucial supply lines were up and running – without them the liberation of France and the invasion of Germany would founder. 

Based on original research, The Liberation Line thrillingly reveals how the railwaymen overcame enemy attacks, sabotage and booby traps to repair many hundreds of miles of destroyed railway tracks and dozens of bridges and tunnels in order to deliver victory. Packed with tales of individual heroism, this is one of the last great untold stories of the war. 

The book will be published in May 2024 in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of D-Day. You can
per-order Amazon here: https://amz.run/76Q4 

 Christian will be doing a US tour with the book if you'd like him to speak to your organization email me. If you are interested in an autographed book or to have Christian speak to your group email me at militaryrailwayservice@gmail.com    Thanks, Nancy  (UK cover top left - US bottom right)

If you have any information on a soldier railroader I would love to hear from you! If your father, grandfather or other relative served let me know something about them. I would love to do a blog post about them. Nancy  email: militaryrailwayservice@gmail.com

You can order a signed copy from me here  

Christian Womar April 4th, 2024 promotional video!  

Harry's cousin, Bruce (grandmother was sisters with Harry's mother ) sent me some info on Harry.

 

The 704th Unit History pages for Surles

 

 **This is a colorized AI version of image 

Two B And M Railroad Men Operate Army Trains In France

Richards, Baldwin Receive Promotions

T/4 Cecil E. Richards, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil H. Richards of 16 Concord Street, is one of two Boston and Maine Railroad men serving with 724th Railway Operating Battalion of the Army in France. Sergeant Richards, who before he entered the Army was a fireman on the B. & M.’s Portland Division, has been promoted to engineman and is now operating trains loaded with supplies and ammunition to the advancing Allied armies.

Conductor in charge of Richards’ train is Sgt. Herbert L. Baldwin, Jr., who before he entered the Army was a switchtender on the Portland Division of the B. & M. Baldwin has recently been promoted to engineman and is now assigned to the Railway Transportation Corps. He is the son of the publicity manager of the Boston and Maine and Maine Central Railroads.

The 724th Railway Operating Battalion at the present time is operating and supervising more miles of track than any other battalion in the ETO. Originally one of the books to operate the Paris terminal on double track, the scope of its organization has doubled since the fall of the German capital and now includes a larger jurisdiction, having recently taken over the recovery of three additional lines, operating two roundhouses, a terminal in the Paris area, and operating on the longest segment of single track in the world.

T/4 Richards’ father is an engineman on the B. and Boston and Maine system. He and Sergeant Richards, Jr. reside at 16 Concord Street.

Caption under photo:
T/4 Cecil E. Richards of Portland (in cab) gets orders from Sgt. Herbert L. Baldwin, Jr. (Official U.S. Army Photo, passed by Censor.)

 

  

 **This is an AI clean up and colorization of the terrible newspaper image  

YORKER IN RAILWAY BATTALION— Sgt. Gordon Stover, 734 W. 178th street, third from right in front row, with several of the members of the 724th Railway Operating Battalion. The men are members of an outfit that carry men and materiel to employment centers. Taken in the Assembly area; near Camp Detroit, France.

 

Aug 02, 1945, page 9 - The Gazette and Daily - York, Pennsylvania 

 

 

*Thanks to Bernard's grandson Scott Byers for this obit.

Bernard Clayton Byers
August 24, 1925 – November 29, 2020
Obituary of Bernard Clayton Byers
IN THE CARE OF
Whitten Monelison Chapel

Bernard Clayton “Eddie” Byers lived a life of service and commitment to his country and family. He was born in Naola, Va., about 15 miles southwest of Lynchburg, on August 24, 1925, and died of late stage Parkinson’s at his home in Falls Church, Va., on November 29, 2020.

Bernard grew up during the Great Depression when 25 million people were out of work and struggling to make ends meet. His family fell upon hard times as well and, as a child, Bernard, along with his siblings helped by working on local farms.

World War II began in November 1940, and upon turning 18, Bernard was called up by the Selective Service. He entered the U.S. Army on November 15, 1943. He received training at various military camps, including Ft. Meade, Md.; Camp Claiborne, La.; Camp Beale, Calif.; Ft. Warren, Wyo.; and Camp Robinson, Ark. Bernard served primarily in the Pacific Theatre, having shipped out to Manila, The Philippines—a 39-day trip, 20 without seeing land, making port at Finch Haven in New Guinea. The Japanese had taken over the Islands. His battalion was sent to the front lines at Alacon to fight the Japanese in the mountains where there were no caves or tunnels for them to hide. As part of the 737th military railway battalion, Bernard arrived in Luzon in March 1945 and, for seven months, the battalion operated over 7,000 trains with more than 48,000 cars, shipping military freight, shop machines, and track material. After Alacon, his battalion was sent to South Korea where they supervised a railway station from October 1945 to February 1946. Married men were the first to be sent home from South Korea as the War was coming to an end, and his battalion shipped out to the Aleutian Islands from Yokahama, Japan, returning to the States. He was soon to be discharged at Ft. Bragg, N.C., concluding his military service.

After World War II, Bernard worked briefly at the Paper Mill and Shoe Factory in Lynchburg until he landed a position with John P. Hughes Desoto Plymouth in 1946 at its Peak Motor Dealership in Bedford. Three years later, he learned that Olmstead Motor Company up north in Arlington, VA was hiring. It was there he worked honorably as an auto mechanic for 50 years, receiving various awards and certificates and ultimately a “Doctor of Motors” designation in August 1968. When Olmstead’s closed its shop in 1990, Bernard retired as well.

Upon arriving in Arlington, Bernard lived modestly in a rooming house for nearly four years. In June 1953, he and his growing family moved to Pimmit Hills, a housing development designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and known as war housing for returning soldiers from World War II. He and his wife, Lillie, proudly raised their six children in Pimmit Hills, and he was comforted to reside in his home until his death.

Bernard is survived by his six children, Leonard of Manassas, Va., Edward of Warrenton, Va., Carol of Fredericksburg, Va., Shirley of Sacramento, Calif., Lee and Richard, both of Meridian, Miss., as well as nine grandchildren, three step grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his father, Marshall Dillon Byers; mother, Annie Ruth Noel Byers; brothers, Hilton, Frank, Hubert, Billy, and Wesley; sisters, Pearl, Lorene, and Geneva; as well as his loving wife, Lillie Montgomery Byers, who died on February 25, 2011.

A viewing will be held at Whitten Funeral Home in Madison Heights, Va., on Saturday, December 5, 2020, at 1 p.m. followed by services at 2 p.m. Interment will be at El Bethel Cemetery in Allwood, Va.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">