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
763rd Railway Shop Battalion 1943-1946- Jack Randazzo
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.
727th Railway Operating Battalion induction into the Transportation Corps Hall of Fame
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
743rd Railway Operating Battalion. Vernon O. Munson
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.
IC RAILROADERS form the 715th Engineer Railway Operating Battalion 1942
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.
763rd Railway Shop Battalion Co. B photo
Solve a mystery : 3rd TMRS Korea "Roving Sally " Crime lab Korea 1954
Pat Garland is researching the "Roving Sally " a specially equipped mobile crime lab boxcar that was used by the MPs in Korea to investigate thefts at railyards.
Here is a clip about it from the 1954 Stars and Stripes
Pat says ... I am researching a boxcar used by CID Agents, attached to the 3rd TMRS during 1953-54. It was called "Roving Sally" and was a crime lab, of sorts. It was made from an old boxcar and was furnished with a photo darkroom, a fingerprint processing area, sleeping facility for seven people and was hauled from place to place to supress thefts from rail yards. I would assume that the car would have been refitted by the shop battalion.
I am hoping to find better quality photos or maybe even shop drawings of the car. The Transportation Museum, at Ft Eustis has never heard of the boxcar??
Any assistance you can provide will be deeply appreciated!
752nd Railway Operating Battalion - Thomas Williams
Thanks to Dave (Thomas's son ) for sharing the great items
Fort Eustis will host a conference ("TC Week") Thursday July 8th through Saturday July 10th
To Veterans and Friends of the Military Railway Service (MRS):
This year, The Chief of Transportation and Fort Eustis will host a conference ("TC Week") from Thursday July 8th through Saturday July 10th. While the specific agenda of MRS and rail related events is still being finalized, this year's TC Week will include several significant MRS related activities. Included in this years nominees for Hall of Fame recognition are the 727th Railway Operating Battalion (ROB) and surviving unit member Allen C. Metzer. The 727th was the first ROB activated during World War II (WWII) and served for nearly three years in five campaigns from North Africa to Germany. Sergent Metzer served in the battalion's Company "B" from activation through its five campaigns receiving a Legion of Merit in recognition of his contributions. The TC Week schedule of events as of April 24, 2010 is shown below.
___________________________
A major addition to the museum's rail collection thanks to the Smithsonian Institution is U.S. Army Alco RS-1 number 8011. This locomotive will be an important acquisition because it was used by the MRS in the Iranian Theater during WWII. Built for the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railroad in 1941, the unit was acquired by the War Department and rebuilt for MRS service in Iran. It is one of a similar group of Alco built locomotives sent during WWII to operate the land route through Iran for sending military supplies to our Russian ally. For the 26 months (April 1943-June 1945) in which the MRS had complete control of the Iranian State Railway, the railroad handled over 4.1 million long tons of freight, including more than 2.7 million long tons of military freight for the Russians. It also transported more than 186,000 passengers. These included allied troops, war refugees, former prisoners of war, and Muslem pilgrims.
After the war, the unit served on the Alaska Railroad and then with the Department of Transportation (DOT) at Pueblo, CO. From the DOT at Pueblo the unit was donated to the Smithsonian and moved to the Pennsylvania State Railroad Museum at Strasburg, PA. Negotiations are currently underway with Norfolk Southern and CSX for movement to Fort Eustis which is currently scheduled to take place during May. The locomotive currently carries a combined Alaska and DOT paint scheme and will require restoration at Fort Eustis. Provided movement plans can be finalized, this significant MRS artifact will be on display and part of this years TC Week.
__________________________
MRS battalions of WWII and Korea continue to conduct individual annual reunions. In 2010 at least four units will be meeting to renew old acquaintances and swap stories. Battalions holding reunions in 2010 include:
712th Transportation Railway Operating Battalion (Central Railroad of New Jersey RR - Sponsor)
Crown Plaza Airport
Indianapolis, IN
September 8-11
POC: MR. Robert Shannon
(910) 949-3920
729th Railway Operating Battalion (New Haven RR - Sponsor)
Westin Tampa
Tampa, FL
September 8-11
POC: MR Charles W. Buch
(813) 600-0552
732nd Railway Operation Battalion (Great Northern RY - Sponsor)
Comfort Inn Central
Williamsburg, VA
October 2-6
POC: MS Peppie Rogers
(610) 966-4029
Comfort Inn -Westport
St. Louis, MO
September 22-26
POC: MS Sheryl Schneider
(513) 648-0351
sheryls@aol.com
For those of you living in or traveling through the area of one of these reunions, stop by and thank these MRS veterans for their service to our country.
_______________________
During last year's MRS event at Fort Eustis we were fortunate to have an Army History Detachment and were able to capture a record of the experiences and lessons learned by our veterans. A museum's mission is not just to collect the hardware of previous generations, but also to be a bridge for the knowledge gained in the past to be used as a learning tool for both current and future generations. Additionally, it is through the sharing of these experiences that we gain an appreciation of the true accomplishments of these MRS veterans. While to date this sharing has been largely limited to a military community, we now have the opportunity to reach the larger audience of railroad professionals and enthusiasts
Kalmbach Publishing has extended an invitation to the MRS community to share their military rail experiences in the columns of TRAINS magazine. While feature articles are welcomed, they would be most interested in receiving veteran's remembrances of their MRS service for their "Railroad Reading” in TRAINS. Articles may be as short as 300 words or as long as 1,500 words. Attached is a guide to submitting articles and/or photos to TRAINS. If anyone has specific questions please contact:
MS Angela J. Pusztai-Pasternak
Assistant Editor, TRAINS Magazine
21027 Crossroads Circle/P.O. Box 1612
Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
262-796-8776, ext. 449
fax: 262-798-6468
___________________________
Have Bailey Bridges that were widely used by the MRS for quick repairs become a casuality of the "Green" movement:
"Axion International Holdings has won a $957,000 contract to replace two bridges on the Fort Eustis rail network. The new bridges will be made from a thermoplastic composite and recycled plastic. The plastic materials should allow the weight limit of the structures to be increased to 118 tonnes, giving greater scope for military equipment to be transported by rail. Parsons Brinckerhoff is managing the project, while Axion International Corp is supplying holdings, I-beams for pilecaps and main girders, cross-ties and curbing. Axion CEO Jim Kerstein explained that the bridges would make use of tons of recycled products that would normally be destined for landfills. This includes household items such as milk jugs, detergent bottles, and car bumpers. The plastic bridges replacements are touted as being faster to build and less expensively than what could have been achieved using wood, steel or concrete."
__________________________
The TC Museum continues add new exhibits telling the story of Army transportation through various eras. If you have never visited or haven't toured in recent years, your trip will be worth the effort. We expect to finalize the specific MRS schedule of events within the next several weeks. A detailed agendia will be published in the Spring Newsletter and via a supplemental e-mail update. In the meantime, make your plans to join us at Fort Eustis for TC Week to participare in the activities, renew friendships, and be park of sharing and preserving the history of the MRS.
Mark Metz, LTC-TC, USAR-Ret.
(717) 597-2636
___________________________
TC WEEK SCHEDULE
Thursday 8 July 1530-1700 ---- Transportation Corps Regimental Association (TCRA) Meeting ---- FE Club
1700-1800 ---- TCRA Social ---- FE Club
Friday 9 July 0700-0815 ---- General Officer Breakfast ---- Location TBA
0830-1030 ---- Warrior Recognition Ceremony (Induct DMOR's' Recognize Regtimental Off/WO/NCO/Civ of the year: Farewell outgoing COL, SGM and Civilian of the Regiment; Induct new Honorary COL, SGM and Civilian of the Regiment: and Casing of the Regimental Colors. ---- Seay Plaza.
1130-1330 ---- Hall of Fame Luncheon and Induction Ceremony ---- FE Club
1400- 1700 ---- TC Museum tours and MRS programs
1800-2100 ---- Regimental Picnic ---- FE Club
Saturday 10 July 0700-UTC ---- Regimental Golf Scramble --- Pines Golf Course
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
