714th Transportation Battalion

The 714th Transportation Battalion (Railway Operations) (Steam and Diesel Electric) was constituted on 18 October 1927 and was originally known as the 56th Engineering Battalion (Railway). From then until the outbreak of World War II it existed only on paper. Although it was disbanded on 14 November 1940, it was reconstructed as the 56th Engineering Battalion (Railway Operating) because the entry of the United States into World War II was eminent. On 21 February 1941, it was redesignated as the 714th Engineer Battalion (Railway Operating). Then on 1 April 1942, it is again redesignated the 714th Engineer Railway Operating Battalion (ROB). Finally on 31 October 1942, the 714th ROB was activated at the Engineer Unit Training Center at Camp Clairborne, Louisiana. The skill of running a railroad battalion was not something that the US Army could train men to do overnight. Railroading required years of experience. Therefore, the US Army had an agreement with civilian railroad companies that in event of war they would sponsor railroad battalions. They would provide key personnel and training for the organization.

The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway sponsored the formation of the 714th ROB and the recruiting took place primarily in St Paul, Minnesota. However, when the recruiting was completed, the men came from far and wide across the country. Since railway battalions were part of the Engineer Corps, the majority of the officers of the 714th were Engineer Reserve officers. The Engineer Center was not as improved as the rest of the camp so the men accustomed themselves to the rugged life. They first lived pyramid tents with dirt floors then moved into tar-paper shacks. Because of the preponderance of mutton on the menu, the men of the battalion took to calling their new home, “Goat Hill.” They later moved over to the main camp and replaced the 759th ROB on the Camp Clairborne-Polk Railroad. Read on

Alfred M. Lambert photos and documents 714th Railway Operating Battalion

and

Phil send along a photo of his dad, PFC Clyde O. Bosworth Jr., from Halifax, MA.
He served with the 721st Railway Operations Battalion in India.
Thanks Phil

Friend of the blog Tim writes:
 That's the unit crest ("distinctive unit insignia" -- DUI) worn by the Transportation Center & School, formerly at Fort Eustis (now Joint Base Langley-Eustis) and now at Fort Lee, VA, where Transportation, Quartermaster, and Ordnance training has been consolidated.
See: LINK
 I first saw this insignia in early 1975 when I was right out of basic training and assigned to the 1st Railway Detachment at Fort Eustis. My unit, however, didn't wear this insignia. Instead, we wore the TRADOC (Training & Doctrine Command) DUI seen here: Link Our shoulder patch was the diamond-shaped TC school insignia. I would have preferred to wear the TC&S insignia because it had railroad tracks on it. Unfortunately nothing we wore gave any hint that we were members of a railway unit.
By that point our little detachment was the last active duty rail unit in the Army and a year later our MOSs would be eliminated and limited only to the Army Reserve, and at the end of September 1978 the little 1st Rail Det disappeared for good.
Thanks to Greg for sending photo and question and for working on our Facebook page visit it and 'like' it today. https://www.facebook.com/militaryrailwayservice/

Last know unit survivor!

PIRKLE, David Wiley David Wiley Pirkle, age 91, died peacefully with his three children by his side on Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Born October 21, 1925 in New Holland, Georgia. He lived through the great depression, and survived the Battle of the Bulge. David was an entrepreneur at a very early age and founded one of the last family owned scrap metal businesses in Atlanta.
Survivors include children: David W. Pirkle, Jr (Joyce); Nancy Pirkle Little (Charles), and Patricia Pirkle Coury; Grandchildren David W. Pirkle III; David Simpson (Shannon); Alisha Goldsworthy (Daniel); Elizabeth Pirkle Cook (Peter). Great grandchildren: James Connor Simpson; Julia Sierra Riley Simpson; Tyler Austin Goldsworthy, Ella Rose Goldsworthy; and Mason Oliver Cook.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the Peachtree Corners Chapel of Crowell Brothers
Funeral Homes & Crematory. A reception will follow the service. Relatives and friends are welcome to join us. On-line condolences may be made at www.crowellbrothers.com. Arrangements by Crowell Brothers Funeral Homes & Crematory, 5051 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. 770-448-5757. Blog post by Tom Luthan http://planettom.livejournal.com/328167.html Photos thanks to Tom Lutham and Mary Vernoy whose dad served with Pirkle

I've spent almost 30 years collecting, digitizing material about US Army railway units in WWII and Korea and making it freely available to the vets themselves, their families and researchers. My father served in Army Rail units in both WWII and in Korea,and it's been my life long interest.

Much of the material on this blog has been donated, but lots of it I have purchased over the years,  like the unit history books, I have also purchased various types of equipment for scanning and digitizing.

Right now,  I have 2 huge scanning projects going on (they could be just the unit you are looking for information about)  and have bought a new digital document camera for the larger books. You can help me continue the work of this blog by making a donation.

Please help especially if you have enjoyed materials you found here and want others to continue to learn about these units ! If you'd like to send a check email me : Nancy- cunningb2@gmail.com or send me a Amazon gift card ( that where I purchased the scanner)

Also if you have materials you'd like to donate please contact me ! If you have precious materials collecting dust in some box in your attic from your dad, granddad or uncle contact me,  I will help you scan (digitize) these items so you create an archive of the materials ( documents, photos etc) for your family. Being archived digitally ensures you can share with younger members of the family and I will post the materials to the blog so that everyone will know of your soldier's service. Thanks --I will be happy to help you or will happily take any donated items

Do you have items that you are going to sell on eBay? Send me a scan of it before you sell it - I will hold the scan until after your item sells and then I will post it on the blog for the families of the soldiers to enjoy. These items are so important to them - some items feature photos of their long deceased fathers/grandfathers and they are priceless to them. These items also tell the story of the amazing military service of the "greatest generation" make sure their families can freely see them.

Contact : Nancy at cunningb2@gmail.com

** I have been working on a HUGE scanning project and it has required that I buy a rather expensive 3rd scanner .. if you can donate a few bucks toward this effort it would be greatly appreciated.It's not magic that made all this available it took thousands of hours and lots of specialized equipment. Thanks 

Mark writes about his grandfather Albert Nevins ...
My Grandfather previously served in the Army during WWI as a private in the Coastal Artillery Corps at Camp Eustis, VA. After he was discharged, he joined the Marine Corps and served in Cuba. After the onset of WWII, he volunteered for service and was Commissioned as a First Lieutenant, ultimately being assigned to C Co., 757th Railway Shop BN. The rest is history

Thanks Mark for sharing ...

Pictured: Joseph F De Luca and his separation papers

His son, Michael writes ...thank you very much for posting "A History Of Two Years Of Activation" , my Father Joseph F De Luca , was assigned to Headquarters Company , his name is listed on page 39 of 70 in the article. It was very rewarding for me to read about their mission and learn what my father did during the war ! He had only told me stories , but never really described there actual mission. So again, I really enjoyed your history of their Battalion! Thanks Again ;Michael DeLuca

 

Map , 765th Company A photo and ship
Thanks Elaine !

History of the 765th TC Railway Shop Battalion during WWII.
The editors are Daniel F. Hart, WO (jg) and M/Sgt. George C. Dickman. Associate Editors T/SGT Fred R. Weigman and T/5 Lyle E. Wyland.
Copy provided thanks to member of the unit, Leland I Mize by his daughter Elaine !

thanks Greg

722 nd ROB by Saeger Company C History by Nancy on Scribd

Company C Song by Nancy on Scribd

722nd Co C Unit History Wallace

722 Co C Unit History Wallace by Nancy on Scribd