Sometimes i can save some copies of stuff sold on ebay that i do not win - I try to buy what i can.

735th condron by on Scribd

Thanks to Rich Massad for these great photos and obit of his dad, Michael Massad, who served in the 729th Railway Operating Battalion

Mikes son John writes ... Just a note to say that my father Mike DeCillo served with the 730th during WWII. He passed at age 83 in 2000. He sent along these photos and obit

U.S. National Archives Recalls Fire That Claimed Millions of Military Personnel Files
The National Archives and Records Administration recently marked the 45th anniversary of a devastating fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri, that destroyed approximately 16–18 million Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) documenting the service history of former military personnel discharged from 1912 to 1964.

https://goo.gl/juKzQj 

Chris writes..... Here is the Company B photo. It looks to me like the photo was taken after they returned from overseas. My father, Leo Clark Williams Jr. is in the top row, 3rd from the right. Thanks Chris and he's sending more photos.

Wonderful photos from Michael Zarrella, his dad,PFC Frank Zarrella served in the 712th Railway Operating Battalion and these photos are from September to November 1944 in Villeneuve St. Georges France
We have a unit history that describes the unit times there : thanks Mike for sharing

Company a 728th ROB Manifest by Nancy on Scribd

Company B 728th ROB Manifest by Nancy on Scribd

Company C 728th ROB Manifest by Nancy on Scribd

Thanks to Barclay for sharing his grandfather's William J. Ricketson great 718th ROB photos.
Please get in touch with me if anyone can identify any of the other soldiers  or locations.
My grandfather William J. Ricketson (4th row from bottom, 2nd from right) of Cornelia, Georgia, pictured with his unit - the 718th Railway Operating Battalion, Headquarters Unit, at Camp Claiborne, Alexandria, Louisiana, 1944.
The 718th would deploy to the European Theater in July of 1944 and move from England, to France, to Luxembourg, and into Germany. The 718th Railway Operating Battalion took part in The Battle of The Bulge, moving troops and supplies back and forth to the front.

Historical notes follow:
One railroad historian, Carl Gray, notes of this Christmas that "the most noteworthy action was the Battle of the Bulge, when Von Rundstedt counterattacked the Third Army. In the thick of this action the troops of the 706th R.G.D. . . . Among those operating battalions directly involved in this action were the 718, 722 and 732 R.O.B." The Yankee Boomer elaborated, saying "Assigned to the task of a railhead battalion in support of the Third Army, the 718th operated the advanced line in Patton's territory, moving as close to the front as possible." Gray writes that "During the period of the [Battle] the 718 R.O.B. accomplished a rather remarkable feat in that they moved within forty-eight hours four divisions, including supply, of the Third Army laterally across the front into the south flank of the Bulge." The Boomer agreed, asserting that "this movement was so successful that units withdrawing from the line in the south received their supplies at railheads and were returned to combat without delay. Third Army spokesmen consider this a primary factor in the repulse of the Bulge." This was not all, for, as the unit's own historian indicates, there was the additional problem "of moving the Seventh Army, which was replacing the Third Army, and this was accomplished [by the 718th] also without halt."

Thanks to Jimmie Ross Mulkey's grandson, Ron we have his discharge papers - amazing military career with the Marines, Army and National Guard. He served in 712th Transportation Railway Operating Battalion(TROB)and the 8010th TTRG in Japan post Korean war.

712th TRSB Mulkey by Nancy on Scribd

Fort Eustis Military Railroad by Nancy on Scribd

706 Railway Grand Division by Nancy on Scribd

740th Railway Operating Battalion Photos by Nancy on Scribd