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735th ROB History

735th ROB History Railway Operating Battalion

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2K views13 pages

735th ROB History

735th ROB History Railway Operating Battalion

Uploaded by

Nancy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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T HISTORY of COMPANY "Cc" 735th - Railway Operating Battalion §.T.O# TRANSPORTATION CORPS UNITED STATES ARMY Left Fort snelling 12 Sept. 191 at 1800 hours via Chicago & Yorthwestern Railroad to Chicago; passed through Dubuque, Ta. at 0615 hrs and arrived Chicago at 0700 hrs 13th Sept. Left Chicago on New central RR at 1200 hrs same day. Arrived Comp Shanks New York 1330 hrs on 1+ Sept: walked 1-1/2 miles vp hill with full field-pack in a temperature of over 90 degrees, At 1999 the save evening Loud speakers issued warning of a hurricane coming our at_an estimated 90 MPH wind to hit in an hour; at 1900 it it ata 9 MPH and-blew a tree down over top of one barracks, upsetting stoves and bunks, lithle damage done to barracks; rain was terrific, storm subdued in i-1/2 hrs and no one injured. Loaded on train at 2100 on 19 Sept. for the docks and boarded Ferry Boat "John P. Townsend" and crossed E, River to Pier 20 at 2400; carried full field-pack, duffle-bag & rifle. Rested on pier and given coffee, domits, and candy by the Red Cross & Arey Ladies; A brass band was playing steady, Roarded the "Uruguay" at 9100 on 19 Sept. started sailing morn of 20th at 1030. Ocean was smooth for two days. Sailed in to Convoy eve of first day} Convoy consisted of 6 groups and the largest to cross Atlantic. Text 5 or 6 days ocean rolling heavy; fog for several days, horns blowing regularly, ships carried markers towed along. Had one submarine scare for 14’hrs, ships took battle formation, made many circles, changed courses regularly, all okay. Blackout every night, beastly hot a3 all doors were closed. wir ship was manned by Merchant Marino but guns by the Navy, who practiced shooting regilarly. Third day out many men feeding fishes, saw schools of sharks, sea gulls, flying fish, and many other fish, Two rain storms of ten to 15 min each on entire trip. Arrived Idverpool Harbor 1100 hrs on 1 Get, and left ship 9 hrs later with all equipment to shreet where duffle-bags were loaded on tencks. Miked through streets of Liverpool to RR Station an? boarded ain aba at-Hasticigh at 0700 on 2 Och; mareited to trucks in A p nvey Jeft at 0300 and arrived C-19 Gkaging Area at 0900; were assigned to tents of 6 and 8 BM each, Coll veather, many bad colds and G.1.'8. There we had usval formations, inspections) hikes ete. Oct 5 at 14100 hrs hiked 3 miles from C-19 to loading shed on Pier, rested and had Red cross Vobile Unit donut and coffee service. Roarded "Princess Naud" at 1620 and set sail across Bnelish Channel soon after; layed in Channel near English side overnight; arrived near omaha Beach 6 Det. at 1100 hrs, Water was very rough and bad breakers made many sick, so stayed in Chamel,until 8 oct, at 1330 hrs when we landed In Beach-head, snnken ships were in harbor and were used for ilerbor Blocks. ‘The sunken signal ship was a boat which one of the men had ridden én his honeymoon, We hiked up the steep hill on the Omaha Beach-head, which was 1/+ mile long. Across to the left was the first D*Day Cemetary with 3000 white crosses, on point of same hill was a heavy gun inplacement which played havoc to landing troops on DéDay, Karched 1 nile to bivouac area, around us were plenty of Mined fields. BM, Dahl, Callison, Moschini and Freymann pulled guard the first night. Plénty bomb-fires $0 keep warm. During night received verbal orders, to be prepared to move by truck at 0900 morning of 9 Oct. leaving at that time in Convoy and hended for Reauvaig, France, arrived at 1710 same day and slept in French Army Intelligence School on rock floors. Leaving next morning, at 1000 to Chateau at edge of towns Chatcau was /2 miles ont, and’vas used as German Headquarters for the large Air Field nearby which had 5 miles of runvays. fiere we became attached to 73rd ROB who had their A and B Companies only in France, as their C Company was still in England. We operated from there to Criel to paris and through Criel to Tergnier. on 12 Cet. 6 EM & 1 Officer went to Lellavre as an advance party to make preparations for opening this port. First mail received on 13 Get. On 17 Oct received first pay over= seas. Oct, 22 made first test train run to LeHavre, which opened up a great asset towards getting supplies to the front; tun was made across a partially bombed bridge which vas 7/10 mite long and 650 ft high, and part was single track. Tor safe runs round trips took 3 to 5 days, as track had many soft sppts., We operated 3 terminals at this places page (2) Second mail call was the 2 Oct (we were plenty happy). Transportation from Le lavre Port was strengthened by shorten- img the distance to 350 miles less and doubling the, supplies te feigitm, Southern and Bastern France. All trains cleared throvch see inig to paris and Terenier to the fronts went to the First, Third and Seventh Armies. Third mail cail on 29 cet (getting happier all the time). horning of 31 Oct. 102 EM with Lt. Lewis in charge, were sent on ps to 720th ROR which operated out of Caen to Cherbourg and to Druex. onr outfit operated with good initative and good sense. One Til Proneslaus Jo Wizz, of this detached group, came in contact with over— hesd electrie catenary wire on the 29 lov., when on the tender of the ee notive, causing him to fall, hitting hls head on the corner of a concrete block, which proved fatal. to him. Second payday was 1 Mov, in French Francs (@ lot of paper)- Our last fain, while in’this location, left Le Havre at 1201 on 2 Nov, and our Detachment left Le liavre by Diesel at 0310 on 3 Tov destined to Beauvias, France. york and preparations commenced for our new proposed move. in advanee party consisting of 1 Oficer and 3 EM, left for Antwerp Reigitm, by truck on 8 lov. ‘the Company left Beauvias by train, riding the’forty and eight way, on 9 lov at 1320. We traveled through Criel and stopped at Compiegné and ate sandwiches and hot coffee) which was mit out by the ikth Traffic Regulating Detachment. Going through Hons irting the edge of Brussells and arrived at Antwerp Yards at 1600 pre e ov. “We heard and saw the first Robot Bomb during the after- noon at 1415 while enroute. At dusk (1900 hrs) the Rockets were more tealistie ag their damage was more visible, the Robots looked like large bails of fire spurting in the sky; this continued throvehout the night, sirens blew everytime one was coming to our section of tows nigiyare warned at least a dozen times, falling out each time to take cover; our instructions were to seek protection under the rall core fo protect us from shapneral and flying debris. on night of 10tH (our Arrival) Mitler broadeast over the Tadio, that on Armistice qt lov) he would level the city of Antwerp, stating, "Antwerp world be a i Mithout a_city-or a-cdty without a’port." He rained them in over: Ear 'seetion, one every 10 min, During the afternoon of 11 Novy 2 Robots $n suecession hit a theatre and a hotel, killing 600 people including ae eee” These places were put out of bounds to all hi! for awhile. We were among the first gronps to get to this great port, follow ing us was a train of Portmen coming from Le Havre, France. ‘Toward evening on 11 Mov. our Company moved by truck into parrahs found at fappelan, nine miles north of Antwerp, at a Belgium pal muelish rest camp recently established, as the Germans were driven anor this area less than 3 weeks before, some were still behind the ‘ines, as the battlefront was only 12 miles from us; could see the firing of all weapons at night from a lookout tower 190 £t hi fihate and V-2's were hitting nearby regularly, explosions rocking the Haiidings, many had hit in this area. ‘The first night at Kappotany we siept in a large garage built by the Germans, with concrete Tloorgs sliPiandows were out and colder than hell. We tried to heat the place with stoves set up hurriedly, but nix. Gn ve Mov, several men went to Antwerp for billets for us but the British had nearly all the places spoken for or tied up in some way fie got our first shower after walking 1-3/4 miles to Algbaun, where The germans had a hospital. Tt was a real treat to clean up regain, Trucks were ready on 19 ilov at 0900 to move us to Joan Baptist yon Everbrock school-on Stuyvenberg Plain 37 Antwerp, Putting 20 EN to a room, sleeping on floors, tables and teachers platforms, so no beds were available to be had. Our Company C was attached to the 743rd ROB, their A and B companies came later. Our Battalion Headquarters being at Canpiegne, Companies inter came to Brussells, Belgium. On 20 Nov, we checked Yards tha pock Areas, and the following day the 1st switch erew went to work at the bock Nagshalling Yards. This area totaled 25 miles and three Classification Yards of 7 miles; our Docks numbered from 81 to 215, cach Berth holding 10 Liberty Ships. meee 50 SenRR 13, ANS page (3) Free showers were opened up at a public Shower and Washing Bldg across the street from the school, making it handy to enjoy cleanli- ness and sanitation which is vital to health. On 2? Nov, we despatched RN on temporary duty to Halines nrussells Tauvain and Ottignies, to take charge of the Yards there and give assistance to the Belgian Operators. on this same date a V-2 hit the main intersection of Antwerp where the Holland Road crosses, killing many, some were blown to bits including the Rnglish MP who stood at the intersection directing traffic. Several of our Officers were near the scene and received a terrifie shock. A V-2 hit several blocks from our school building and “several EM were on the street nearby and_arriving before the debris cleared from the air, helping to receive the dead and wounded (7 dead The first train left antwerp Yards on or about the ist Dec. go- ing through Brussels to Iorthern France, being delivered to the First and Third Armies, who were to receive their eee through us, Supplies from this Port shortened the Transportation miles which is a vital factor for the Front. Also taking trains from here to the 2nd british army to the North of Belgium. Bvening of 3 Dec at 1800 hrs, 83 EM with Lt. Sparks in charge, left by truck for Erquelines, Belgium, ’on DS to the 72nd ROB, a bottieneck in transportation had a¢cured there. Working from Jeaumont, France, (Yards adjoining Erquelines, to Ronet, Belgium and beyond. 32 Fi! who were on D8 with the 720th ROB joined the group on DS to the 722nd, on Dec, making a total of 105 BM and 1 Officer. Working chiefly at night from those Yards, making 4t rough for us. on 4 Dec Jerry 0. Johnson, was seriously injured by a Mire and hospitalized and later rejoining us on 2) March 1945. on 12 Dee at 0900 hrs, the balance of our Company at Antwerp, moved to Malines, and soon after the balance of EM and Officers who were on DS with the 722nd ROB and retained to help the 716th Ron, returned to Halines. Hear Falines, about 5 miles, was Hofstadt, largest Ordanee Depot jn Furope at the time; supplying most of the tanks to General Patton, along with all. the Engineering Equipment, Medical, Ammo, Personnel and other supplies used by the First and Third armies. ‘the’ Minth Arny made their appearence at the Bulge, which was 18 Dec, what a surprise, paratroopers dropping all around, planes bombing and strafing causing confusion, as paratroopers were dressed like G.1.'s, I'riests, Muns, English, French and everyway possible to deceive our Armizs. Morning éf 21 Dec at 0900 all EM on DS with 722nd RoR, let Jeaumont by truck arriving at Malines at 1300 hrs and slept in large Vegetable storage plant, with burlap petitions to help break the cold wind in the building. On evening of 22 Dec at 1900 an energency call came in for + full crews to go by truck to Namur, Belgium, to take hospital trains from battle zone to safety, as wounded in hospitals were being evacuated. This group started out at 2200 with sgt stay mates in chaige, taking 5 hrs to drive there, due to closely netted defenses set up, road blocks, dog-taps checked, checked if we were armed and had sufficiént ammo, questioned at every turn, bridge and block in town, as paratroopers had landed in the area, and planes were strafing vehicles and bivouac areas; Arriving at 0315, one hospital train was waiting and was taken northward toward Holland, another departed at 0530 and the balance of the crews stayed on the alert until 24 Dec, which at 1800 departed with instructions and verbal —-ordare tebe observed..While there_saw waves of Allied (thousands of them) and German planes, many dog-fights, five planes dropping in less than 1 hour, three US and two German, with only 2 bailing out. operations continued on heavier scale from Antwerp to Malines to Brussels, Lavain, Ottignies, Landon to Namur and Liege. 0: 12 Feb 1945 at 1000 hrs ’Hqs Company C moved to Ronet, where a detachment «f EM was sent the last of January and which operated fron there to Iumes & Charleville, France, leaving a detachment at Malines to work over the roads to Ronet. On 17 Feb at 0355, our crews had a headon sideswipe which resulted, one/atal casualty, 1/5 Renie J. Jacobucci, and 4 injured EM who were hospitalized for a time, Accident was caused by the neg- leet of a civilian pilot who was riding one of the trains. page (+) On 24 Feb at 0930, we moved from Ronet in trains of 50 and 55 cars each, to Landen, Belgium, where we operated over 7 divisions of RR leaving only 2 div which the 735th ROB Company C did not operate, this being due to the location of them and no help to the war supply lines. 1/5 Resch returned from hospital on 10 March, where a broken leg had put him, which resulted from an engine driven by a French crew crashing into the side of his engine being driven by T/+ Chapman while at Erquelines. At night of 30 March, 1 EM and 1 Officer (Lt Iewis) in charge was sent on DS to 740th ROB whose Hqs were at Herbesthal, Belgium and pperated to Cologne, Bonn and along the Rhine, returning to us the 5 Nay (Company C 735 again broke another bottleneck). ———— Gh 12 April, at 0505, a train of 42 cars left as one of three trains from Landen, also three trains left from Malines, all of the 735th ROB moving for the Central part of Germany; arrived at Nlaast- Ticht, Holland at 0820 and later crossed the Selgfred Line about noon crossed the Rhine at 0920 the morning of 13 April, ate breakfast at Wessel at 0950, The Wessel Bridge opened for traffic 2 days earlier. In traveling along, while skirting the Battle of the Rhur Pocket and going beyond that zone, we could see the battle line and plenty of firing, Arrived at MunSter, Germany at 1800 on 1% April, On the next morning at 0430, we ran a Test Train to Henm, Germany, operated by T/# Street, T/5 Baker, Sgt Lang and Pfc Stafford. This train was followed by a POL (gas 100’octane) operated by T/4 J. Brooks, 1/5 John ‘thompson, Sgt Denny and Cpl Glaser, going to the Autobahn Highway, where trucks delivered it to the motorized weapons in the field of action; again poineering another new stretch of track. We operated 14 trains the first day. Increasing numbers of crews called with a heavy denand fron the front, our men had operated continuously from 50 to 60 hrs and had 3 C Companies feeding us trains. We had detachments at Hamm Brockwede, Bielfeld, and had men stationed and operating the Yards ab Gutersioh, Neubeckun, Herford, and with pusher crews at Blockstelle at the shoo-fly. Reaching a peak month near V-E Day by handling one and one half million net tons, and having over a thousand two hundred and forty Road crews called for operating trains, which included Plasma, and Medical supplies, US Military Personnel, Gasoline and Diese1 oii Food, Ammo, Tanks, Eagineer fquipment and repairs of all types includ- ing Air Plane parts, Salvaged German Equipment (which included captured V-1 and V-2 bombs ahd deadly gas also included 58,000 P.W.'s and 12,000 D.P.'s/ On ? Hay due to increased amount of material on rails and the need of the more necessary type of shipping, 1 Officer and 93 FN from the 7h3rd ROB became attached to us, and were released on 21 lay 1945. on 19 May an accidental fatality of an BM at Neubeckum (John J. Catanzaro), On morAing of 21 June the Headquarters at Munster left for Soest, Germany and operated as phase 2-1/2 from Soest to Hamm, Soest to Dortmund-Sud, Soest to Warburg where we had a detachment with Lt Baughman in chatge. Battalion Hgs located at Lippstadt, Having our problems with 203000 Russians in camps there and:additional 20,000 Scattered on farms around for labor. Getting orders the 9 July to clear all US Government Equipment and Material to prepare to leave for Passau, Austria, turning operations over to 743rd ROB. Has Company C and EM, left Soest at 1520, on 12 July and at War- burg at 1640 hrs, where with the Hamm train and with the entire bal- ance of the 735th ROB trains asserbled, making an eight’ train convoy. While enroute, our travel orders were changed at Furth, Germary, to go to Linz, Austfia instead, changing our trip 800 kilometers to near 1000 kilometers. Our trip took us over a zig-zag route, due to the rails being badly damaged and bombed out. We passed Kassel, Felsburg, Borken, Treysa, frieelendorf, Homberg, Bobra, Hersfeld, Fulda, Frankfurt, Aschaffenberg, Iohr, Germundén, Wurzburg, Schweinfurt, Bamberg, Nurnberg, Weifenburg, Augsburg, Munchen, Rosen, Hoin, Traunstein, Salzburg, Wels and Linz (vhat’a hole! ). page (5) he trip vas one of scenic history of the sPcoy Germany and its fertile productive area, along with, the Gerfect bombing hits and des- fertile protine cities and towns, Stormtrooper Taos mountains » fivers, tunnels, underground Nuetories, and customs and habits 0 people including Bavaria and the fips; many airplanes destroyed on peePreilds and surrounding territory: eilds are being here, we transferred our Capers’ to an out- ayine yard, named Kiein-Munchen. Here a, Bests Training program was put lying Yard, naves Sleaned=up, baseball field layed, Ou), Volleyball into eflgree-shoe court etc., excursion trips 20 ‘the panube River court, horieack rides. to Bertchesgaden were granted giving allo trate to go to one oF the other. : ote Go te oMSur first repeployment call cage, sono one pfe Moran ana 103 Gelning to zone of Interior, and again op 5o%n fof August T/ and 1/5 Heme tdy evant were transferred to the 72o¢ BOP sent 6 BM and Lt Baughman ‘to Vienna on 8 August to check US incomiognand outgoing trains, which after leaving et: to there is incoming ant acritory. Lt Deakyne in charge with 7 Bil ves, stationed in in Muss en ren 12 August with 9/Sgt WiLliamson in ohiree ‘7 BM vent to Linz Yards don same dete 6 EM with Set Jersey oF Tmesta went to | Salzburg) 2M cnraugust 1th 12 BM vere sent, to Seishuce to ride trains Gaalfelden. ciey as riders and on 2+ Aug, M4 EM with 58% Ter in charge in thedy clonal on 31st Same date Lt Brooks wen 62 Salzburg as Yard master. ‘/+ MeKinney went on Ds to 707th RGD. On 5 Sept, 31 BN went on masters T/Nrleugh, largest group quota since in ETO, 08 6 Sept, 65M to galzburg. UTE sg gate we have had many men leave ug, and had retotores: mente lee nis first BY to leave on Dec, 1944 was Herbery Rauten, ments alse: yj on 1 Jan 19%5, Alvin Wileox, Keith Sever) 21 Jan, Frank Perry, dependacy discharges 3,4Tuns Francis Brady, Victor Wetidns, Carl Petty tue everett Moffett, william Rushing & Roy. Hecullich to the’16th Keteleutz sent; 5 Jan, Thonas Randolph from hospital ata Rar Pankratz Reinforcene nts Pon 1'Feb ist Lt Harvey Be Sparks, Left Trot, hospitals 25 same Wey yoore from Paris; 7 April, Troys mM. Moody Soon ‘the hospital, Reb, Sohn Moore treeait of an accident on 2 March in Yards of bersens flown te fore he was caught between two carss 22 April, Bart Hamilton, Bereitnomas, Wn Rodenbaugh, Edwin Rively, John prince» Wit Searcy, George Allen, Jagbée Daves, Joseph Leddy and Max Naden were transferred} 10 APP weiSatdn feague from hospital to States (previous accident); 28 tay Benjamin Mcuzuela fron nsopital; 29 Mey, first overage nen to, tears Janes guinn & Lott oxiften & 31 Taye pena Cooper & 13 June, Ralph Lahr- James Q'Fane carl Cugle from hospital} 17 June, Dale Davis fron Faris man} lc, george Hilton from hospital from an accident, in Bieleferd 12 suns» oeore aH over hin; 10 Aug, Brownie Brynat & Lloyd Bradford were transferred to 732nd ROB. our first reinforcements were on 12 Feb; Gregory yalenzuela, Troy rrady @ Glen Goherty} 13 Feb, Charles, Cropper iy Mureh, Jack P. Smiths 19 March, Bugene Rollison, Vernon King, Joseph Lawrence; ‘at March, Floyd Ginn Moreh) Gasser} 27 Match, Lawrence Biegler & Carl ford; 28 Narehy fey & devs orfeiford Lowry; 31 Meron, iim Snyders 1 Apr) Wi Palmer & Josopy Garey; 6 Apr, Archie Lee, Hike Medvick & Leonakd pratt; 6 May, Mike Dobra Gareyi 6 AP'y Alay, and it Howard Brooks; 22 Aug, Joseph Nolder & Fraznace Bane en 73ond ROB; 27 Avg, Junior Smith from hsopital caused Py en engine explosion several months earlier. Qn July 6, we lost Charles from hospital; also 1st Sgt Robert Se Thompson & Lawrence Biogier-on high pointe; 18 July, Floyd Ginn & chas dropper with overage; 19 July, Julius Loeber from hospital a4 July, John Cropper on hospital; 6 Aig, arthur Henning & James Moran were redeployed to the Zone of Interior. @ Zone of Intetere us, for reinforcements, 3 Ti have returned to us. SUMMARY OF SUMMER OF 1945 the var 40 over, and hore we ore at “ine Anstcia" killing Cine, nothing much to do but piloting trains to and, from Vicia, went on 17 day potting mio wprusselis, Beligum, visited civilan familiss © snoy while te8TF eee ct tNalines", spent 5 days in "Paris", France” not my first ato tp who was stationed at "Compeigne" in the Infantry ye had a gala time cousin whe too short and we had to part. Went to St. Andre, Trance to visi Gt! Grave a very good friend of mine who was killed in vornandy - of the Seth bigision, 109th Inf, Pa, National guard. Back at Lanz took a trip up aren Dady (bike) Danube inan excursion boat we had musie ard a neal was the muddy (Bias really a sight seeing trip and the scenery vas just grand along the way. Visited the Red Cross Club in Linz one day and ran into page (6) . ae “Gari ne" a soldier from the @th Inf. who was from my home town he visited me at Cump a few times before they left for home. Winter had arrived so with permission a few of us took off for "Nal Gastien" a winter resort up above "Salzburg":to go skiing we had a wonderful time on the slopes Curing the day and at night we done some socializing with the local Frauliens who came up to our "Chalet". Its now Jan. 20, 1946, and we got orders to pack up for we are leaving for home. after being processed we boarded the army trucks and were driven to "Le Harve" we then went aboard the J.W, Meandrew a troop ship - after 13 lousy miserable days we finally reached the good old 11.8.A. We had hit a ter ‘do ctorm I thought the ship would break in half and at times I didn't care 4 did for Iwas so sick, the food aboard was o.k~ 4f you ~ + could keep it downs If it didn't fly out of your mouth it went out the back vay! 4 goed number spemt most of the time in their bunks or on the toilet howls! Ianded in New York, walking down the gang plank, a band was playing ang the hugh sign which greeted us said "Welcome Home", The Red Cross was. there with coffee, milk, and doughnuts. Was discharged on Feb. 14, 1946 from Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania = arrived in Carbondale on Feb. i5th - Sure glad to be homet art. of; the! Delaware. and. udson Rallwey’s “an: Honesdale” niversary celebration display. Many D&H destination, but had items of interest to local residents were on the Lion Was too heavy for Ue ‘isplay off Trinity Place, Carbondale, The °. those days.

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