711th ROB - Remembering Bill Dixon
Remembering Bill Dixon
William J. "Bill" Dixon, age 95, died on
February 12, 2014, in Sarasota, Florida, having been preceded in death by his
wife, Helen M. Starkey Dixon, formerly of Connecticut. Bill was born on December 6, 1918, in
Pittsburg, PA. He is survived by his
daughter, Angie Dixon, and his granddaughter Amanda Dixon of Washington state.
Bill was an avid railroader from the age of 3 and growing
up won a contest which allowed him to meet Mr. Lionel of Lionel Trains. He developed a quick wit and great sense of
humor that served him well both personally and professionally.
Bill graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology(Carnegie
Mellon now) in 1940 with a degree in Civil Engineering. In his spare time, he managed the track team
and played piano in a jazz band. He then
spent a year at Yale completing a special transportation program in 1941.
With the completion of his Yale experience came World War
ll. Because of his lifelong love of
trains, Bill entered the U.S. Army Military Railway Service where he was
commissioned an officer in the 711th Railway Operating Battalion. Prior to overseas duty, Bill participated in
the construction of the Claiborne-Polk Military Railroad in Louisiana. The 711th was then transferred to the Middle
East where he assisted in the operation of the Trans-Iranian Railroad with its
mission of supplying material aid to the Soviet Union. With hostilities winding down, Bill applied
and was accepted into a military government program and returned to the States
for training at the University of Michigan.
With the completion of his training, he was then sent to South Korea to
assist in the rebuilding of that country's rail infrastructure after its
destruction from World War II.
After returning to the States, Bill started his civilian
career as an assistant transportation inspector for the New Haven Railroad
while remaining in the Army Reserve. He stayed with the New Haven Railroad
until he joined the B&O in 1948, and in 1950, Bill married Helen M.
Starkey.
While at the B&O, Bill gained experience in a
succession of duties that included Engineering, Operations, and the Methods and
Research Group until
1961 when Jervis Langdon became the President of the
B&O. With the arrival of Langdon and
his revolutionary ideas, Bill was tapped by Langdon to establish and lead the
Industrial Engineering Department as its General Manager in 1962. During this time, he became Jervis Langdon's
unofficial chief-of-staff and sounding board which carried through with their
relationship at the Rock Island and Penn Central Railroads. As a tribute to Bill's leadership and
mentoring style, staff from his department went on to positions of
responsibility with the newly formed CSX as well as with other railroads.
With the exception of the Korean War when he left for two
years to serve as a Captain in the U. S. Army Transportation and Development
Command, Bill would stay at the B&O until 1965 when his mentor, Jervis
Langdon, brought him to the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad as
Director of Industrial Engineering. In
1967, he became Assistant to President Langdon, eventually becoming a Senior
Vice-President and the eventual successor to Langdon in 1970. Bill served as
President of the Rock Island from 1970 to 1974.
From the Rock Island, Bill followed Jervis Langdon to the Penn Central
in 1974, where he became Vice-President of Staff and ultimately concluded a
long and distinguished career proving him to be a forward thinker making many
contributions to the rail industry and his country.
During his lifetime, Bill received numerous awards and
recognition, among them Yale's Lifetime Service Award. Upon retirement, Bill and his wife moved to
Sarasota, Florida, where he actively participated in many organizations. Among these were the Army Museum and the
Suncoast Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society where he was active
up to the time of his death.
Donations in memory of Bill Dixon may be made to the
Suncoast Chapter, NRHS, PO Box 15828, Sarasota, FL 34277.
Thanks to Tim for sending this !
740th Railway Operating Battalion bombed trains photos
740th Railway Operating Battalion Photo of Bombed Train in Belgium (Liege area).
Top shows US Soldier guarding Train, back has no. 643; bottom left shows bombed train engine, tender and passenger car, back has stamps of Gevaert by Ridax and no. F743; right shows bombed train engine, back has stamp of Gevaert by Ridax and no. 643.
720th , 722nd , 723rd Railway Operating Battalion Casualties Killed in Action- Buried abroad
American Battle Monuments Commission
World War II 1 Rank:Captain, U.S. Army
Service Number:O-298849 1
Awards:Bronze Star 1
Regiment:720th Railway Operating Battalion 1
Howard O Hoonsbeen Full Name:Howard O Hoonsbeen 1
Death: Buried: Buried at: Plot M Row 4 Grave 10
Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands 1 Death: 28-Aug-45 1 Death Date: 28 Aug 1945 1
Memorial Cemetery: Netherlands American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Margraten, Netherlands 1 Memorial Location: Plot M Row 4 Grave 10 1 Residence:State: Illinois 1
World War II 1 Rank:Master Sergeant, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:36676899 1 Regiment:720th Railway Operating Battalion 1
Lonnie W Baker Full Name:Lonnie W Baker
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot A Row 40 Grave 37
Epinal American Cemetery
Epinal, France Death: 14-Dec-44 Death Date: 14 Dec 1944
Memorial Cemetery: Epinal American Cemetery
Memorial Country: Epinal, France Memorial Location: Plot A Row 40 Grave 37 Residence:State: Alabama
World War II 1 Rank:Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:34817627 1 Regiment:722nd Railway Operating Battalion 1
Melvin D Shaffer Full Name:Melvin D Shaffer 1
Death: Buried: Buried at: Plot A Row 31 Grave 52
Epinal American Cemetery
Epinal, France 1 Death: 7-Dec-44 1 Death Date: 07 Dec 1944 1
Memorial Cemetery: Epinal American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Epinal, France 1 Memorial Location: Plot A Row 31 Grave 52 1 Residence: State: Ohio 1
World War II 1 Rank:Private, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:35916807 1 Regiment:722nd Railway Operating Battalion 1
Robert M Thomas Full Name:Robert M Thomas 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot N Row 4 Grave 13
Brittany American Cemetery
St. James, France 1 Death: 20-Sep-44 1 Death Date: 20 Sep 1944 1
Memorial Cemetery: Brittany American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: St. James, France 1 Memorial Location: Plot N Row 4 Grave 13 1 Residence:State: Tennessee 1
World War II 1 Rank:Captain, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:O-487959 1 Regiment:722nd Railway Operating Battalion 1
Arthur R Hoveland Full Name:Arthur R Hoveland 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot G Row 5 Grave 23
Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands 1 Death: 2-Jun-45 1 Death Date: 02 Jun 1945 1
Memorial Cemetery: Netherlands American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Margraten, Netherlands 1 Memorial Location: Plot G Row 5 Grave 23 1 Residence:State: Montana 1
World War II 1 Rank:Private, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:39621562 1 Regiment:723rd Railway Operating Battalion 1
John R Valentine, Jr Full Name:John R Valentine, Jr 1
Death: Buried: Buried at: Plot B Row 12 Grave 14
Brittany American Cemetery
St. James, France 1 Death: 10-Dec-44 1 Death Date: 10 Dec 1944 1
Memorial Cemetery: Brittany American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: St. James, France 1 Memorial Location: Plot B Row 12 Grave 14 1 Residence:State: Montana 1
World War II 1 Rank:Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:39621500 1 Regiment:723rd Railway Operating Battalion 1
William G Miles Full Name:William G Miles 1
Death: Buried: Buried at: Plot F Row 15 Grave 14
Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands 1 Death: 18-Apr-45 1 Death Date: 18 Apr 1945 1
Memorial Cemetery: Netherlands American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Margraten, Netherlands 1 Memorial Location: Plot F Row 15 Grave 14 1 Residence:State: New Jersey 1
World War II 1 Rank:Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:42100648 1 Regiment:723rd Railway Operating Battalion 1
Merlin P Murnan Full Name:Merlin P Murnan 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot O Row 15 Grave 7
Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands 1 Death: 22-Aug-45 1 Death Date: 22 Aug 1945 1
Memorial Cemetery: Netherlands American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Margraten, Netherlands 1 Memorial Location: Plot O Row 15 Grave 7 1 Residence:State: Alabama 1
ABMC manages 24 overseas military cemeteries, and 25
memorials, monuments, and markers. The cemeteries and memorials honor those who
served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Search for names from
the honor rolls. Information presented includes service information, dates of
birth and death, and notes which relate to the circumstances of death, status,
and awards received. http://www.fold3.com/title_853/
Railway Operating Battalion Casualties Killed in Action-
Buried abroad
World War II 1 Rank:Captain, U.S. Army
Service Number:O-298849 1
Awards:Bronze Star 1
Regiment:720th Railway Operating Battalion 1
Howard O Hoonsbeen Full Name:Howard O Hoonsbeen 1
Death: Buried: Buried at: Plot M Row 4 Grave 10
Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands 1 Death: 28-Aug-45 1 Death Date: 28 Aug 1945 1
Memorial Cemetery: Netherlands American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Margraten, Netherlands 1 Memorial Location: Plot M Row 4 Grave 10 1 Residence:State: Illinois 1
World War II 1 Rank:Master Sergeant, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:36676899 1 Regiment:720th Railway Operating Battalion 1
Lonnie W Baker Full Name:Lonnie W Baker
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot A Row 40 Grave 37
Epinal American Cemetery
Epinal, France Death: 14-Dec-44 Death Date: 14 Dec 1944
Memorial Cemetery: Epinal American Cemetery
Memorial Country: Epinal, France Memorial Location: Plot A Row 40 Grave 37 Residence:State: Alabama
World War II 1 Rank:Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:34817627 1 Regiment:722nd Railway Operating Battalion 1
Melvin D Shaffer Full Name:Melvin D Shaffer 1
Death: Buried: Buried at: Plot A Row 31 Grave 52
Epinal American Cemetery
Epinal, France 1 Death: 7-Dec-44 1 Death Date: 07 Dec 1944 1
Memorial Cemetery: Epinal American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Epinal, France 1 Memorial Location: Plot A Row 31 Grave 52 1 Residence: State: Ohio 1
World War II 1 Rank:Private, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:35916807 1 Regiment:722nd Railway Operating Battalion 1
Robert M Thomas Full Name:Robert M Thomas 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot N Row 4 Grave 13
Brittany American Cemetery
St. James, France 1 Death: 20-Sep-44 1 Death Date: 20 Sep 1944 1
Memorial Cemetery: Brittany American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: St. James, France 1 Memorial Location: Plot N Row 4 Grave 13 1 Residence:State: Tennessee 1
World War II 1 Rank:Captain, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:O-487959 1 Regiment:722nd Railway Operating Battalion 1
Arthur R Hoveland Full Name:Arthur R Hoveland 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot G Row 5 Grave 23
Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands 1 Death: 2-Jun-45 1 Death Date: 02 Jun 1945 1
Memorial Cemetery: Netherlands American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Margraten, Netherlands 1 Memorial Location: Plot G Row 5 Grave 23 1 Residence:State: Montana 1
World War II 1 Rank:Private, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:39621562 1 Regiment:723rd Railway Operating Battalion 1
John R Valentine, Jr Full Name:John R Valentine, Jr 1
Death: Buried: Buried at: Plot B Row 12 Grave 14
Brittany American Cemetery
St. James, France 1 Death: 10-Dec-44 1 Death Date: 10 Dec 1944 1
Memorial Cemetery: Brittany American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: St. James, France 1 Memorial Location: Plot B Row 12 Grave 14 1 Residence:State: Montana 1
World War II 1 Rank:Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:39621500 1 Regiment:723rd Railway Operating Battalion 1
William G Miles Full Name:William G Miles 1
Death: Buried: Buried at: Plot F Row 15 Grave 14
Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands 1 Death: 18-Apr-45 1 Death Date: 18 Apr 1945 1
Memorial Cemetery: Netherlands American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Margraten, Netherlands 1 Memorial Location: Plot F Row 15 Grave 14 1 Residence:State: New Jersey 1
World War II 1 Rank:Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army 1
Service Number:42100648 1 Regiment:723rd Railway Operating Battalion 1
Merlin P Murnan Full Name:Merlin P Murnan 1
Death:Buried: Buried at: Plot O Row 15 Grave 7
Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands 1 Death: 22-Aug-45 1 Death Date: 22 Aug 1945 1
Memorial Cemetery: Netherlands American Cemetery 1
Memorial Country: Margraten, Netherlands 1 Memorial Location: Plot O Row 15 Grave 7 1 Residence:State: Alabama 1
Railway Gazette 756th RSB January 1944
From RJE ...scans from the British railway magazine 'Railway Gazette' of 21 January 1944 outlining the work of 756 RSB in erecting ckd USATC rolling stock at Hainault near London.. Thanks !
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