729th railway operating battalion: the soxos double anniversary 1945 williampoch - copy

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  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    1/26

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    ~ / T ' . v f - 4 , X d ~

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    C·t.

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    C

    XOS

    PublishG

    d

    By The Publ i c

    R cla t i : n Socti-::•n

    2 Y

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    r s

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    Tii

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    DOUBLS

    ANIVERS

    ARY

    EDITION

    July 29,1945

    Maas t r i ch t ,

    HJllEnd

    1 Ye2r On Tho n t i n s n t

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    OVERSEAS CHJ.ONOLOGICAL

    IUSTOH.Y

    Throu g

    hout th

    e 7th day

    of Ju ly EJii3,

    menbers of

    a.

    SOXO

    des t ined uni t

    we

    re bus i ly

    e ngaged

    novinG

    fror1  Car:Ji)

    Shanks,

    Nevi

    York

    to

    a ~ I u d s o n Ri

    ·.r

    e r Pi e r , a l l

    loca t

    ed in the

    HYPOE. The SOXO'G, as

    th

    c;y have

    ca l l

    ed

    th

    emse

    l ves

    froyn, time

    to

    t i r le ,

    wi l l nover for -

    t;·J t

    t ha t

    hike wi t h f u l l

    equil)m

    e

    n t

    plus ex t ras (

    r : l p r r ~ g n . te

    clo th ing ,

    over shoos,

    e t c . )

    froJ11. canp to the wai

    t ine:

    New

    York

    Centru.l

    l3oat Train ,

    tho fe r ry ri lc

    days

    tl

    t

    sea

    f o l l onecl

    :Yo

    wore on

    our

    O \m v;i thout

    ..

    s ~ c r t b c in t; a f a s t sh ip . Tho Railvmy Operating

    D

    u t t a l i on composed of r-·,cn

    fror:L

    '12 di f fe ren t U.S.

    r a i l r uuds ,

    nad

    c

    t h i s ~ . 1 a

    n

    voyago

    under

    orders

    of th o

    NY

    POE

    1

    ,-,·or kinG on th e boat D.s cooks, K. Ps.

    WAC

    bu r;gago carry ing

    o

    xpert :s ,

    mess of f i cu r s , pu l i c o dvto . i l s , modic _dr;tails an l _;_n gonc,r a l wo rk horses of

    th

    e

    boa t .

    This

    vms

    on

    ly

    an

    in

    d

    i c a t ion

    of

    our

    fu ture ass icrp e

    n ts .

    The

    bri( ,htor

    s ide

    of tho t r i p

    includffid

    the W i ~ . C s

    (1s t

    group

    to

    ~ ~ o ~ - v e r s e o . s - ) n.r1-l niGhtly ent e r ta i rment.

    fl.

    round

    the mess hours , a t;oodly crowd

    could

    always bo f ound f ~ r o the s ta i rvmys.

    This

    spor t

    was el iminated

    whe n

    orders

    W8re

    i ssu od

    t o

    the

    WACs t o

    appr:a

    r in fa t iguos

    o

    n ly .

    Mc.ny

    budding romanced were

    s t a r t

    ed on

    t h i s t r i p

    culminat ing

    clu rinc; o

    u t s t ay il1

    the

    ETO. A

    cer ta in Lieutenant

    was knovm

    to

    llavo vion

    ·:t

    f ew

    no

    r a e; r

    oy

    hc'.irs

    be cause of

    f r a t e rn i za t ion

    d i f f i c u l t i

    0s

    on

    his tour of

    duty nspec in l ly upon

    discovery of

    notes

    b

    c:

    inc lo we red from rt

    por t

    hole on deck 5

    to

    une on de cJ.: 3. Upon arrivcLl in th e Fi r th

    ·)f

    Clyde 15

    Ju ly

    1943

    we

    proceeded to

    Greenock,

    Scot land to

    d i s ,"n

    bark .

    The

    inovi t ab l

    baggage de t a i l s and

    f ina l pol ice of the shiJ?

    was a l locuted

    t o

    the 729th .

    He ar r ived

    a t

    Shirohanpton

    StaGinz ArGu on

    17

    July

    1943, and

    there

    fol lovmd an

    or i en t a t ion

    t a l k

    by

    Major

    General Ross, Chief

    of

    Transpor t a t ion , th

    e

    breaking up

    of

    th

    e b n t t a l h m in to

    bttlanc

    ed t a c h r n ~ : m t dest ined for eve ry USA Depot

    in

    a l l UK Das(::

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    2/26

    SEC 'riONS.

    Bat ta l ion

    Headquarters mov(; d to Lonllon

    with

    t le persorms:l sect ion c;oir.

    ·co Sudbury.

    Durinc

    th is in i ir.tl

    t..>•.;riod

    vre

    f i eked UIJ anJ

    vrero assignod

    some 350

    (:;;.Acellent railrc ·ad

    off icors

    and

    enl i s t

    ed

    men

    frcm n::wvly f o

    rmed

    Previs ional

    Rctilwn

    :

    Detc·.chr.1ents. Thes;:: men

    wore

    s c;c

    ured from

    th ,e S uni ts in th e UK pr io r t o uur

    ar r i \

    Durinc th e succ

    oe

    din .;

    months

    of expandin g llcpot

    rcdlvm.y

    otJTat ions

    of

    tho bat ta l ion ,

    I'JG

    had

    approxil"latcly 42 offic'::lrs and

    1200

    en.g

    li

    s tod r.1en in 34 de t ac h

    nen

    t s in 4 Dase

    Sect ions.

    lJe i:n e; in so "lany depo t s ,

    pr:hor

    to

    th e a r r i v · ~ l of the 72 8

    th

    Ha i1way Op e r a t in g

    pa

    tta li

    on

    in th o l a t e Fal l o:: 1943, r:lE:ant gn.r1t r e sv o

    ns ib i l i

    t i e s f or th e 729};h

    '.:turing

    th

    8

    lr1rg

    e

    SOS depot

    opera t ions pr ior tu

    D-Day. Com

    pany A

    was

    a t

    one t im

    e

    r

    espons

    ib l

    e f or

    th

    e ma

    in ten

    ance

    of

    upproxime.tely

    600

    miles

    of

    t r r

    lck8.ge . Comrnmy

    D's

    r e

    sp ons

    i b i l i t i

    es

    ·we r G tha t of serv ic ing and nain ta in ing l occmoti

    ve

    cquipT:lon t and

    cc.r

    "'rec

    ti

    on

    . Company C vra s r e sponsib le f or a ll shuntinG opera t ions which involved a

    dai ly depo t ave ra ge

    of

    600 wagons

    _mo

    ved into

    la r

    ge r

    d e ~ o t s .

    Spacia l

    work done by the

    batto.}ion was un loadin r;; and stc;ra be opera t ions of T.C.

    'cnockdown r a i lwe.y ca

    r s .

    Cvmpm:ty D

    and

    a l l exc

    es

    s men of Headquarters Company were

    s t ar t c=Jd on

    t h i s

    wo rk

    in

    July

    43. I t

    wasn t

    very lon

    r:;

    un t i l

    th e men of

    th

    e

    t r a in

    .

    novene,nt

    Sect ion becrune

    good

    r i ge;e rs and cr&n e ope r a t ors and

    found

    a t Sudbury tha t

    they

    d i dn

     t

    brinr.; their

    overshoes along

    f or any

    purpose,

    The re a r e still rumurs

    ~ c r o u n

    tha t

    s t a r s wil l

    be given f o r the ba t t l e

    of

    Suubury, Newberry, Mo r t on on Lugrs ,

    ':: t c .

    Simultaneously,

    a t I1ainaul D Compa::::y embark od

    on i t s

    pioneer a

    ss

    emb

    ly vm

    rk

    of re efe rs , box, cab

    oose

    ,

    0omlo

    l a , war

    f l a t s

    and

    tank

    cars expa.ndin s ...,p;:;;ra

    ti

    ons

    by

    se

    t t i n

    g;

    up

    assemb

    ly

    l i n

    e s

    n t

    Sudbury, Morton

    on

    Lut;g,

    and

    Doncaster ,

    Er

    ec

    ti

    on r

    eccrd

    se t up by th e

    SOXOs were as

    f oll ow s: gon do l a

    s , 5B nan

    hours , Box cars ,

    80

    nc.n h

    ou

    rs

    mel r ef r ie;erator

    cars 175

    Til .n h ours per

    car . Other sp nunber,

    gcr1e r a l what

    i s

    your j 0b ,

    e tc

    •••

    A

    l.Jc;W

    days

    af t e r

    D-Do.y

    WG

    vmr e ,;r

    :'

    :a r

    ed

    t o Sj)l i t

    in t

    o 7 s.::1lf

    s u f f i c i ~ m t

    b a l

    anced

    :letach.-rner.ts . The reason vms obvious. The ba t ta l ion Wfi S to

    m.::cke th

    e Channel t r i p by

    severc.l :chips o..nd thereby not

    have [1.11

    your

    C[

    :;g s

    in

    one baskets • On

    th

    e

    ll

    h of

    June

    the 1s t and

    2nd de t

    aclw

    .ents w0re o

    rd

    Gr ed t o

    Southhampton

    t o be att

    ached

    t o a

    u. s.

    En

    z

    ; ineor J:(eg

    i

    .nent

    w

    i t h

    a

    mission

    ru

    n

    work

    tr

    a i ns for

    th

    eri,

    O

    th er

    do

    t

    aclment s

    f o llowe d to co

    nc

    ent r a t i

    on

    e.nd marshallinG

    o.ror.s.

    On 2 July '±4 th e l s t and 2nd cle

    t achuen

    t s

    reached Cherbour:j. The l

    as

    t

    de

    t o.chnent a r r ived on

    25th

    Gf ;ere

    p i t ched and

    af t e r

    an a

    i r

    ra id sone SCJXOs

    ·we re soon di[;t;in[;; foxholas . '1'1·ucks vrere

    us ed

    for t r anspo r ta t ion to Che

    rb

    ou r

    r;

    . Tho

    ~ e r r i e we r e

    still

    arcund S

    t.

    Lo a t th is

    t i n

    e .

    Rehabi l i tu t ion wo

    rk on Ch

    e

    rbc.urg Peninsula s ta r ted inrneJiat

    e ly

    in wake

    of

    major

    const ruct ion by the u.s. Engineers. A boneyard exp r e ss

    was

    s t a r t ed

    to

    co l l ec t wreck

    s.J, dD..l"lat;ed

    e.nd abandoned e

    quipm

    en

    t.

    Locul yowe r wns

    us

    ed a t f i r s t . Our

    i n i t i

    a l

    r espons i b i l i t y o. t f i r s t inc luded th o running of th e Port Yards and th e main

    l in

    o to

    Carentan, l a t e r cxt e71cl in ;; t o Lis

    on

    up on

    cor.1pletion

    of the Vire IUver Bridge.

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    3/26

    1

    Gome J:J.o r e

    f i r s t s

    oe cur r

    '3 Lc

    dur in _;

    ou

    r tour of du ty on

    th i s

    l i v i

    r" iu

    n . Fi r s t pas s o n ge r

    t r a in was run on 11 July L A ( D ] lus 35 ) f r cr.1 Cllerbourc to Cr..r c'ln t

    an

    . Car cutan a t

    th i

    s

    ti

    rw wa s l

    os

    s th an 5 'lih:s fro 'l th e

    f r ont

    l ines a

    nd  

    su-ojBc;t

    l;c

    • c a s i o n . a l 88

    f i r e

    On 20

    July

    1

    A

    tho f i r r t t r a i l

    was

    fro:t: . Cherbour g hau l i nl_; Niss en

    · [

    uts

    for Gene r a l Leo  s Con

    Zon

    t:J Headqua

    r t

    e

    rs

    t o ' : n 0 On 25 July t he

    i i r s t t r

    oop

    t r n. i n

    ~ : - ;

      a t Che·rbourc u l i n

    tll

    e 29Bth LTfml; r a l }Iospita l to Carun t

    an

    .

    On

    29

    July ·14 USA oqui{lno

    n t

    b,. lran t •J o.r

    r iv

    u and ··vr.s raost ~ i l · r w

    :o

    l c ,J

    r.18d

    b •r a ll conc e r

    n0d

    On 17 Ju ly the

    f i r s t

    h c s ~

    t r

    a in ca? tu r E::d

    Fr

    er,ch

    , Y t s e ~ l f , G r

    cunclws"

    anJ box ca

    rs)

    ·;

    ·).S

    run

    to

    Lison

    c m t l Y ~ and r e tu rn in ;

    viith

    vroundw.l t

    .llt.:n

    1

    s Si cno. l Section Wl)rk

    i.

    ng

    s o

    uth .

    A

    ll

    of

    C

    umi.l

    Hny A t r

    ::c

    cl:: ard

    n

    r i

    ct;v

    and

    1

    Adl<

    li

    n :

    Se

    c t

    i

    ons

    w

    e.

    r o p

    u l l

    scl

    from

    :;he Cherbu

    ur

    r._; Peninsu l

     1.

    Di v i s i on anu Br anch

    l i n

    e s v.ri th th l

    m:co11

    ti cn ,-.f two trn:nk

    n s s l of t t o pat ro l o.nrl. :-:1a i nhdn t he Cho ri.J ourg Divis i un .

    Thes

    e ::;tm;>;s

    1tJ\:J

    r e di ve rt

    ed

    b

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    4/26

    Bi l l e t in t; an d

    n

    e . ;

    p r

    obl or•w we r e s

    ir

    :trl i f i tJd by u s i n::; cap t u r ed. box and ba r_;e;a;e

    ca r s for bunk ancl

    r.:te

    s s ca

    rs

    ut va

    r i

    oi1c

    4- ::J

    t ael

    mdn

    t s a l c:-nb t h e· l i n e .

    I t

    was a l so

    he

    r o

    t ha t th e

    f i r

    s t ll . O. D. I(

    o l l i

    nl: Ch a:>

    e l ,

    Don t a l o..ncl Jl edi

    ca

    l Ca rs we r

    e: bu

    il

    b y

    t

    ho

    75

    7th

    l{D.ilway Sho

    :J

    Battalion

    fo

    r th e 729th . At ont.> t i mn J..t our

    nax

    i nu.lCl ex , an s i

    on on

    t he

    Ch 0

    rb

    o'Llr G

    ~ : ~ .

    Di v i s io n t hC:; lmttalion ·was m i

    n t ;

    14 nesse s i'ood i ng

    1'/00

    USA

    pe

    r s onn e l ( f

    t'.i'

    O, A?O, li'i

    nhnc

    e , fd:L's ,

    F  e

    Fi ;ht e r

    UE

    it s ,

    ~ . i l l S uni ts ,

    t r a i n

    gu

    a r

    ds

    ,

    o t c . ) .

    On 21 J

    r.:

    ce l"lbor

    we

    r e c e iv e d our or

    de

    rs t o l eo..ve Ch or l10ur g

    fo

    r d

    uty

    i n

    th

    e An.twe r :r:

    'o

    rt

    Ar e

    o.. . L

    ov

    or:tent

    c f co

    ur se wa s m,:t(le by r ail i n 3 1u

    nk

    c u. r

    t r o.

    ins (

    60

    ca rs

    each)

    md on e:: TDA

    tr

    o.. i n . The SOX0 s r e f e r r e d t o ab ove

    A. S

    c i r cus

    t r ains

    pa

    r t l

    y du e to

    the

    ir appGar ance wh

    il

    e r o ll i

    mg

    a lo n.; ( sn oko

    co

    :r_ ns f r

    oT l

    eve

    r y bunk c a r ) . Ho s t of

    t he c a r s vrero ·w

    i r

    e d fo r o l oct r i c

    li

    gh t s and.

    var

    i ou s snn.

    ll

    powc;r t> l au t s c ou ld be

    QLe r o..tinr; t

    hro

    ushlmt t h e

    t r

    f'.in .

    ~ ? . a d i o por

    col a i n

    wu

    .s'h bcts i

    ns

    , ru g s , unu

    sua

    l be d s ,

    ~ n d s t

    ov

    e s we r e ano ·l.G t h e

    it

    er.1s t o b o f oun

    .J

    i n one of t h es e

    COX

    O c

    a r

    s . '

    fo

    had he a r d n:_1.ny s t or i e s

    co n

    cBrn i n c e n euy uc t i

    v i

    ty a r ound t h\;1 A

    n"tv

    ie r p Ar ea dnd

    .1_t.>on ou r a

    r r i

    va l we we r e a b l e

    -t

    o ve

    r i f

    y s arae .

    r.a t t a

    li

    on IIo aclqu u

    rt

    e

    r s

    wn.s l oc n.t e d i n Cun tr a l St a t i on . He

    adq

    u f'..

    rt

    e

    r s

    Company

    :r1.e

    n

    ;;

    e r e

    r.

    m i nl y billot ed a t th o Ol d Fo

    lk

    s

    ITom

    e

    _,

    B Corctpar:.y in u. s

    ch

    oo

    lh

    ou s o noa r t he

    ·.n t

    werp

    Dan li.oundhou

    sE:

    ; whi l e t h e r

    es

    t of t he bn. t t a it:i

    cm

    s to.ye(

    l

    i n th oi r b ull.k car s a t

    ,-o

    rt

    h Ya r ds . Our r \ ;

    spon

    s i b j_ liti es a t

    Antw

    e r p v-ve r e . r d . n : t h e No

    rt

    h Cl ass i f i

    :;u.

    ti

    on

    Yn

    r

    Js

    ~ m e l

    the

    r.w

    .i

    n

    l i

    ne t o

    Ma

    li

    ne

    s , l3o

    l

    r:;

    i

    UI'l.

    . Yar d

    1.h,

    rk

    i n' iv l v-::d

    th

    o

    feed

    i n

    :;

    :J:f

    empt y wa

    c; ons

    t o th e 7,1

    3rd

    :l . 0 . ]3. ( i n c

    haq;e

    of

    ?u

    rt r m

    n - : ~ .

    CjJ e r

    a t

    i om: ) Ccnd ·

    .mkin t; up

    lc

    n.dod

    t r

    ains des tined f or t he f r o21t .

    T

    he

    battali

    on

    Tra i n v e w

      t

    Sec t:i.\m

    haJ.

    t h H r

    C:

    StJOnsibi l

    i t of :C:LCc

    :i.nta i n in

    :_; c

    S 'loot h

    flow

    of r ail t r a f f i c wo

    rk

    i nc s i

    de

    by s i de vri t h

    the

    I3\) l ;;i a n \l i sp

    (t

    tcl1.e

    r s o.n

    d op era t ors •

    .ie pu t ov

    er

    t he Ar my

    way

    t r. t

    ho ~ : ; i n o s nnd

    soon r,n ~ : ~ . r ; G of' 27 l octdc d ·crains

    Je r

    24

    h o

    ur

    s J?arte e d t v o

    days

    o.f t c r

    t[tk

    i nG

    o v ~

    r ,

    n.s

    conpn. r ·- d

    with th

    f·, a:vora .,;r:· of t e n

    d  ;

    th

    e t ime of ou r .a r r i va

    l .

    The SCXU f> W- r e undor

    eons

    t o.nt er1.•:1my V-1 r·_n,t; V 2

    a t

    t acks

    l

    ur in

    r; ou r t h r t. e r:tont

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    s t ay h oru

    a ~ l d 1 _ ; o t ~ 1 ·.·

    :

      fio

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    D.

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    li s t e d ucm .r,lo th r ou Gh

    •l i t h f l y i nr;

    co

    l ors und

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    r t h i s :n e utn.1 " ' - ~ l d •J

    ilG

    l'ctt i on::.t1

    pr

    r:ss u n ; . Gn 13 Peb r u n.

    ry

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    5/26

    (

    Bil let int ; and

    :m.eRsin

    t; j)

    robl

    onw were sir:1plifi0d by usinG captured box and

    bar_;ga;e

    cars for

    bunk

    and moss cars a t variou

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    6/26

    An i nt or e s t in · i t om in eon.nect i on

    with

    t ho t r a in novenent

    r a t i

    ac r oss the

    >;:o s e r I

    Uv

    0r ~ l r ;

    was

    t

    he Je s i c:

    ;nati on

    of

    t

    he

    b

    lock s ta

    t i on s 'on

    th

    e end s

    of

    th e

    br i dt;e

    as

    Tacoma and Maybr ook. Taco r:J

    f.l

    i s a Te r m

    inus

    of the Northern ~ a c i f i c of

    w

    hich

    t he Cor:mlandinb Off ic e r was f o

    rm

    e r l y assoc i a t e d be f oru ent e r i n . the Se rvice

    a

    nd

    Illaybrook i s th e

    la r g;o c l

    a s s i f i ca t i o:J.

    yard

    of th e TJew

    1Iaven

    RR wh:J

    SiJonsor

    ud

    th

    e

    Of f i c e r Pers o

    nnel

    of t h i s ou t f i t , ~ . C e t h o d of ope ra t io n wus

    abs

    olu te b lo ck. Trains

    J roce

    ed

    in t_; UJ.JO n r ece ii:;t of Hil.S Clearance Form

    11

    A

    11

    f r

    on ope r a t or a t th e :

    Ua

    ybrook or

    Tacomn. when u l

    oc

    k

    i s

    known

    t o

    be c lea r ,

    I n i t i

    a l

    tr

    oop novoment s on

    th i s

    d iv i s i on cxt ondin; f r l)ffi Di e l e f

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    7/26

    L

    r:

    essar ;e .from the

    Commandi?1g O f f i ce r

    As an

    added

    fon t note

    f r

    o11 th e un de r s i gned t o ell the Off i ce rs

    and

    ~ 1 l i s t e d

    Me

    n

    o f

    th

    e 7

    29

    th

    Rai l

    way

    O p

    t i n

    B a t t a l i o n .

    It has

    be

    e n

    my

    v e ry r,o od f o r t t

    m6

    to hnvo l.Jeon g

    iv

    e n the

    command of such o.

    v

    1o 11 k n i t O Lltfi t . As i s wi t h o v

    one,

    who

    cones a lon

    e;

    ns ~ : : ~ [ l tranc;o r ::md t ako ::-. over an

    orgo.n izr. ti

    rm wh i c h

    has b em

    i

    f fu n c t i o n i n g f

    ;)

    r snuo time , I cun on ly

    say th f1

    t no one

    cnuld h n vo been

    ru

    c o i

    ved bo t t c r

    or mor>e c0r:1plc

    te coo

    p c r o. t i•)n

    th a n wo.s acco r ded ~ o

    Th

    e 729tih .h o. llway Uper o. t in g bat to . l lnn

    is

    noted f a r

    and

    I s h a l l

    say wic:lo as

    em A -1

    un it.

    Nev

    e r v

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    8/26

    1943

    HEADQUARTERS

    COMPANY REPORTS 1945

    On this double anni vorsary ( 2 years 0vers oas of v,rhich one

    year

    has been spent on tho continent ) personnel of this company can fool

    r ightful ly proud of t h ~ i r par t in he

    lping th

    o bat ta l ion

    to

    accomplish

    i t s mission. A

      soctions

    (Company Hoadquo.r to rs ,

    Administrative,

    2crsonnol, Bat ta l ion Supply, Trainmo

    vomont

    and Bat ta l ion Moss) of tho

    j ompany wo

    rked

    as

    a

    tcam

    .

    as tho

    rocod

    of

    service

    indicatoseTho

    d m i n i s t r a t i v o and Personnel Sections working under tho Adjutant and

    5orgeant Ma jor

    hav

    e always como off with f lying colors. Officers of

    the

    ·

    Inspector

    General 's

    Department on thoir

    periodic inspections

    have alwa:')

    ~ i v a n these

    sect ions

    a rat ing

    of

    Excellent. Ba t t a l ion Supply personnel

    :1a ve performed tho i r work under diff icul t t'Ondi t io 1:s o .g. changing

    3Upply ,

    si tuat ions as tho war progressed.

    A

    di f f icu l t ,

    h e

    c t ic job

    was

    ::;hat

    of running

    down

    our cratod

    TBh

    coming

    across

    tho

    Normandy

    beaches.

    Jopo

    ts moving constantly about and rod tapo didn t

    help

    the i r

    j o

    b.Thesc

    Jo

    ys can also boast about

    being

    well - t ravel led vetera

    ns

    of

    France,

    )

    elgium

    and Ge

    rm

    a

    ny upon

    their

    re turn to tha t foreign

    co

    untry

    (Tho

    J ta tes) .

    Tho

    Trainmovomont

    Section has cer ta in ly

    come

    through with

    f lying

    colors. Prior

    to

    working on J

    tbe

    Cherbourg Peninsula

    Division, i t

    was

    m

    untr ied

    group without much c iv i l i an experience. They got the i r fee t

    on

    tho ground f ~ o m

    the

    s ta r t apd af te r

    several personnel changes,

    de veloped into a sn1ooth uni t . Our gradual

    expansion

    in Normandy put a

    tremendous burden on thou. a t tho peak of expansion, 3

    sep

    a ra te

    i ispa

    tching

    setups were

    being

    run jiilain l ine from Chorbour•g to Lis on

    .)t

    Vaasr

    and Barflour,

    Sottev

    a

    s t to Coutc.nces

    Branch.

    rrhis ·i -

    nvolved

    nnintaining

    18 block s ta t ions . nn

    0porator 's

    work

    is a par t icular ly

    lonely

    one in out of way s ta t ions. l s igny

    Junction

    is an example with

    tno

    S0X0s

    l iv ing

    on

    10 in 1 rat ions with no

    rocreationo.l

    fac i l i t ies .

    f or

    miles.

    Ma

    npower pr

    oblems

    prevented

    ~

    l t e r n a t i n g and shi f ing man,

    l t h o u g h

    a

    f l

    o

    at ing

    ope

    ra tor enabled

    a

    ra

    an

    to get

    t o Chorbourg

    ;ccas

    ional ly .

    'l'ho

    rl

    'rainr.10yment

    Section

    1

    s

    job

    was

    ospocio.lly

    rugged

    due

    the

    ba t t

    a

    l ion or iginat ing a l l l1Jaded t ra ins

    with 6 l o

    ading points

    l o n g the l inu . Everyone worked

    under constant high pressure. h

    t hn

    twer

    r

    hon

    the

    chips were

    down,

    th is section continued to maintain i t s f ine

    r

    iork

    besides being under

    a

    severe mental s t ra in caused by constant Vl

    ~ n d V2 .at tacks .

    h few

    ~ u r p l e hear ts were collected

    hero.

    Being well

    3Xperienced

    now, the boys tofJk operations

    in

    Gerno.ny in

    s t r ide . wihen

    Ne turned

    the

    herford-Lehrte hai l road over to

    the

    br

    i t i ch

    0001 hours

    ·15 Ju_11e 1'.145, the

    chief

    manner Calling E:.ll operaturs- ca l l ing a l l

    .

    Jperators;

    hO.tJurt by

    s ta t ion;

    •iuo

    to ued, 'l 'hat is a l l •

    ~ h e

    bat ta l ion

    mess

    sect iou

    has ana

    is

    u u ~ n g i t s f ine work

    of

    · c e d i n g the

    ba t ta l ion . r

    ~ 4 huur

    h

     

    0,B. sutup p r u ~ n t s

    a dif f icu l t

    JroblelJl

    of

    messing,

    with

    men

    being

    on·

    the

    ruas,Train

    I.J Ua

    ra.s, d l ~ Luruign

    t ra in

    cr

    o.vv-s,luilitary

    Government,

    ~ n g i n e t 1 r s and t rans ients . ~ l w n the

    queques

    dovEJluped

    t ; ; o ~ n g

    in to Lis on,

    the mess scctiun

    sent

    out i t s

    11

    J:·lying

    r::wss'

    1

    or

    the t ra in crows.

    J.. he

    cooks

    have always

    some

    good

    f r iends

    in

    the-ra t ion

    dumps

    which has alway

    helped

    matt

    ers considerably. 'l'hey

    also

    have been

    good

    procurers

    of

    1.dded no_

    eded

    cooking

    equipment, by

    often

    hi t t ing tho

    bunny t r a i l s •

    . ~ . t th i s

    time,

    the Company Commandor

    wishes to take

    th i s

    lpportunity

    of

    thanking a l l off icers and enl i s ted men

    for

    the i r

    past

    p e r a t i Q n f i n e

    work

    and

    service . You

    have

    given

    th is

    service

    ~ n d e r

    l i f f i cu l ,hazardous and high pressure conditions. 'l'he Company Officers

    ;rganize ana. s u p E : J r v ~ s e lmt

    your

    bo)'s uu the

    wurk.'l'ho

    other cumpany

    Jfficers

    anu

    myself'

    have

    been

    ana

    are proud to lldau you

    anu

    vve

    jarnestly

    hove

    th

    a t

    yuur re turn to

    the utates is not rar

    off.You

    have

    Jontributea your part and are ent i t led

    to re turn to th

    e

    lungea.-for

    J i v i l ~ a n s ta tus . vnce again l e t me s ay, yuu ha ve

    Ill"J

    deep a p p r e c ~ a t i o n

    :

    or yuur

    lo;yal:ty ana. a.evotion

    to

    u.uty. luu have tho

    r ight

    to be- proud o:

    che accompl:1.sb.ruen

    ts

    of

    the

    company.

    ~ ~ ~ • • • • • • • • • • •

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    9/26

    1943

    C O M P A r r ~ r

    A REPOHTS

    1

    9,±

    5

    VJith only s ix months

    of

    miL'Lts.ry

    and

    t echnic e. l t ro. lnin g ,

    i n c l :J.cl in g

    mo

    ve

    r:1e n t H s t ae,:; in g tir .

    1e

    , behinc1 l

    t ,

    the 7 29 th Ha i lway

    Opara t ins Bat t a l i o n b egan the f u l f i l l n 0 n t

    of

    i t ~

    miss ion

    in

    B i d - J ~ l y ,

    1S43,

    when it l a nc',eu in E;l

    ,f:

    ; land . \ ~

    As

    an in t

    oc r a l pGr t

    of

    the p ioneer r

    a i lway

    ope r a t in c b n t t ~ l i o n ~ 1

    the E.T.O. ,

    Co

    npany

    A

    ·

    v:;as s t a r t

    r;

    d

    0n

    i t s

    p

    rLna:r'

    y m

    i::>sio

    n

    o ~ ~

    mai

    n t a i ning ov or 600 n il

    os

    of

    t r

    a ck ln 34 dep ots

    s c a t t

    o rad th r0ugh- \

    out th e U.K.

    w l t ~ i n

    l oss

    th

    an a · woo k. Duo to

    th

    o

    dep lo rab le

    n d i t i ~ n

    of ox i s tine t r a ck o.nc'l. th0 n e cos s i

    ty

    f' or cnns t rue ti on of n e:w ~ : . t c k in

    v a r i ous dcp':l t s ,

    it wecs

    noc

    o

    sso.ry

    to

    p l a c o every r1an of Crn.1pany A,

    r ogo. r C. l oss 0f r :.nk rJ r

    rr

    .o. a ss ign :r:1o

    n t

    on

    tr

    ack

    vwrk

    . Aft e r

    th

    o

    a ssicnmc

    m t

    of I 'Ginf o

    rc

    m 1c n t s f r om n theJ' uni to tr1 u i d

    in tho

    p r i n a ry

    mi s s i rm nf r \_J:tJ..:::,bilita

    t in

    g and cons t ruc t ing now t r aek , a p 0 r t i1m of

    th o b.& . b Soct i0n

    was ass

    i g n ed th o ~ s k of

    ere

    c t i n g bu i l d ings nnd

    o.ss i s t i n

    g b C:ompany in tho progrG:'1 nf s e tting -up and

    oncrc

    , t i n c car

    a s s o u b l i n r

    :s

    , n r, t a bl-y n. t suc1.bury and r t rm LU

    G•

    Dul'i nr, thG and sp r ing of '4

    '-

    1,   1 l ~ 1 p a n y

    _'\. b u i l t many u n i t 1:;

    ·i f

    no

    w

    t rac

    k f'

    r·r

    th

    e.

    purp

    ns c of s t t,

    ri:o

    r; TC

    c·:-

    ,r s t

    h(m

    bo

    in g s

    eGb

    l

    od

    in p r opr·.r a t i =m f ol'

    D

    duy .

    Durin

    g t :w v m t r ~ s uf ~ r n r e h n n e ~ J .p r i l , nvor

    ·

    100

    men ·• f

    c n·

    -,puny n·-,s t l y r f th o B

    ?e

    r. n;:1c.1 S i c;no.l So

    c t i

    -m s ,

    vn rlc od s ide b ~ , r s i de ..-: i t h B

    c · 1 n p a n ~ r

    n. t II 

    H"trm

    on Luc i :n

    n.

    ~ 3 s p o r o .

    off0rt t

    ,-, asscnb

    l e

    9.3

    "lo.ny 8a

    r s

    a s

    pr.1ss5.llle

    in ~ J r c p a

    t i

    f

    r)

    r tho

    c ·Jn

    in

    s in v a s i ,·,n . 'i,hc S l ;:;n

    o.

    1 Soct:'L

    1;l r1o.c:Lc

    a n ·, t r

    .b

    l :.= c

    rmt r i b u t i ·

    ,n tr1

    tho

    hur;o t as l: o. t

    hand

    b ~ r n r ; c

    r ~ ' t j _ : : - 1

    g c r un e:s

    anr..:'_

    C.;1i ··- o t l

    Hn

    · vn

    rk

    in

    the

    u n l

    n a g

    s t

    n cldng nne. t o r 'l f r_;:'c c a r:::J r .mtor ia l u t Su

    db

    ury ,

    M" rt '1n ·m

    Lu

    g and F n t .

    It c m1 :J o t ol cl .s, t t Lis t : ~ r ~

    thn.t

    c

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    ••f th o

    tr

    .

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    lcL

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    t th

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    t r acl::s

    r.. t ' T i C : ~ w , · , r t h ··,vo r ':Jh i ch

    ·wore r1••vc:d

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    l c :,r.fb t' t t r w)ps c . n c . ~

    a r

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    m f

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    r D clny , Cr•t,_p uny . r:o n vvc r e co.l lcd tn a::>sls t £ C0npr.:·. ny

    l ~ l

    f:l

    t i n Lib e r t y ~ h i p s th an being r

    o8dicc'..

    f nr t ho tr::t.nc rJr'rn ti '

    ·n

    c  f r:1on : : t n s u pp li er> et

    c r rJ

    ss th e c.lmnno l.

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    a s s i t3 no d t

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    en

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  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    10/26

    C 0 r ~ P A

    H Y A HEPOR

    TS

    Follow:i.n

    g

    the

    " b

    re

    a k - t h

    rou

    g h

    ,

    th e

    co

    mp a ny

    co

    n t i nued

    reh ab ili

    a t ion w

    ork on t r a

    c

    k , b r i dge s ,

    wa

    t e r -

    s t a t

    io ns loo

    k in g

    t owa r d

    the t im

    e wh en

    th

    e

    r a i l r oad could be tu rn

    ed o

    ve

    r t o ph

    ase

    t wo

    a n d th r oe

    op

    e r a

    ti

    o

    ns .

    In

    n e c e

    mb

    e l' 1 9

    44,

    c o

    mp

    a n y A w

    i t h

    a

    lr

    age pa

    rt

    of

    th

    o B

    a t t a l i

    on ,

    made

    it

    s h eac.l

    qu

    a

    r t

    e r s in buzz··b omb a l l ey a t

    Nor

    th y a r ds , An t we r p ,

    Be l g ium. In c on t r a

    s t to our

    n or mandy op e r a

    ti

    o

    n , we

    f oun d

    th

    e r a

    ilr

    oad

    in Be

    l g

    iu

    m

    a l r ead

    y a g o

    ing

    c o

    nce rn .

    Tho

    ro wus

    work t o b e d

    on

    o ,

    of

    c o

    u rs

    e , b u t

    we

    d i d

    n t t b e l i

    e v e

    it

    wn u l d b e t

    on

    h e

    c t i c -

    -

    u n t i l

    t

    he

    buzz-

    b o

    mbs

    a

    nd

    v - t w

    ots

    b

    ogan

    t o f in

    cl

    t he i r t a rge t s . Th o

    i n c r os

    s

    an

    t b o

    mb-

    a r

    dmen t in e

    v i t

    a

    b l

    y h i t

    t r a c ~ ma in

    l in e an d

    ya

    r d , wa t e r

    sys

    t

    em s ,

    b r

    idge

    s , a n d c

    om

    munic a

    ti

    on s l in es . In ov a r y c a s e

    t -10

    ma n h i t th o

    t r

    oub l e s p r) t p r =)mp t l y

    anu

    s t

    aye

    d u n t i l

    it

    wa s c l oa rod u p .

    on Ma

    rc h 21 s t wa mov ed t o th o

    Rhin

    o Riv e r wi t h th o 9

    th

    Ar 1

    zy.

    Wi t h

    h oad

    qu

    o. r t c r s c.. t Kr of e l c l , wo s t a r

    t ed

    t hE.; n ow f e.m

    il

    a r

    p r ()

    g r mn of

    r oh abili a ti rm 'Jf

    t r

    a

    cl

    c, b

    riclgos

    c or:ununic a ti ons a n

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    11/26

    1943

    COMPANY Bn REPORTS

    1945

    In

    the two years tb.e

    729th

    Rwy Opn Bn

    has

    boen overs eo.s our

    o..

    ssignments

    hav e t a ken us

    through f ivo

    d i f fo ran t

    cn1.mtries,

    the l a s t

    bu t n o t l ea

    s t

    0f

    these being Ge rma ny. In nrde r tn re a ch Germany, our

    6

    r i g i n a l goa l ,

    the

    prop

    a

    ra t inns

    were many and v a r i ed an ofotn t imes

    qu es ti oned a s to th

    e i

    r

    necoss i

    ty a nd i r1por tan c e . Only

    no

    w

    s ince

    Ge rm

    a

    ny

     s

    f i n a l def

    ea

    t

    and unc

    o

    ndi

    ti

    r

    mal

    surrender

    do

    we

    roa l izo the

    la

    rge

    par t th o

    Railway

    t t l i ~ n s p l ay

    ed

    in

    na

    king our v ic t o

    ry

    p ossiblE

    '

    I'he

    time spent

    Ll.

    nd the

    w0rk produced

    previous t'l our occupa t i rm of

    Germany n 0w b eyond a ll d'l ubt has pa id th e div id en d  ., we h av e b ee n

    1o

    ' lki

    ng f or wa rd to f or so long. Tho sna l l bu t ve ry import an t pa r t of

    ·; ur own Cnr1pany B h a s played in br inging our c orn.no n enemy to her

    knees

    ~ a n be

    sumncd up in

    a f ew pa ra g r a

    phs

    but the r es u l t s

    of

    rmr l abo r c an

    ;: ; e

    see

    n .in eve ry ho.mle t; v i l ~ a g e a nd town

    f r

    o:-:1

    ~ o

    r n d y t o Be

    r l i n .

    0ur f i r s t ass igmwnt in Engl and to0k us t ' l l i a inaul t in Essex

    Joun

    ty . Al thnur:h

    Haino

    .u l t was the c onpany he a dqua r t ers

    and

    th e h ub of

    1 1 c ompany a c t i v i t i e s our men wero

    sca t t e red

    ov e r a s Tia llY a s eighteen

    ,-·.

    i f f or an t de t achr 1Emts a t one tir :e . rJocom'ltives a nd cars i n near ly

    every

    sup

    p l y

    depn

    t i n

    England had

    t

    be

    se rv iced

    and

    r

    epai

    r e d . At

    }To. i nau l

    t

    f r

    om

    August un ti

    1

    s e p t ember

    of ·13

    hundreds

    of

    car

    l oads

    of

    car

    b u i l

    d

    ing mater i a l

    were unl

    naded

    and s t a ck

    ed fo r

    a c

    a r bu i ld ing

    p rogram

    th

    en und e rw

    o.y.

    our own

    conpany

    B na n

    un de

    r th e

    d i r

    e

    c t

    s

    upervison of

    c

    apta

    in p a

    r l i c

    h , c a r p orenan, I , to Hyet t a nd

    a s s i s t a n t

    o a r

    porenan

    T /s g

    t.

    J n

    hn

    canpbol l b

    u i

    lt the f i r s t r

    ef

    r i

    gera t o r cars to

    'be assemb l

    ed in Eng

    l a

    nd.

    f\ to t n l

    of

    f ive re e f o rs a t 175

    man hnurs per

    ca r

    and 131

    t a nk

    co.rs

    a t 2 tl

    na

    n h ':nU S

    per

    c

    a rs

    we r e a.sscn

    b le

    -d in

    our

    Jne

    manth s t ay

    a t t h i s l

    oca

    ti o

    n. w ~ r k i n g c0ndi t ions were not always th

    e

    ~ e s Black

    u t

    ho

    urs had tn

    be

    na in ta inod ,

    no

    c

    ossa ta

    t i ng

    the

    .

    use

    of

    e

    ver

    y ava i l ab le n i nu t e

    of

    the daylie;ht hours nnd t

    ho

    f r e quen t

    a i r

    ra ids

    r v 0 r e in

    n n

    w y helpf1.1l

    i n

    r.taking 0ru

    u11loa ding a

    nd bu i ld ing prngrm'1

    t ~ e

    suc

    ess

    th

    a t

    it

    wa

    s .

    Fr

    on

    Sopto r:1

    b e r

    43 m1ti l Novenber 43

    n

    ur

    ca r

    depnrtment

    wa s engaged

    11 ins t a l

    l i ng

    s team

    un i t s

    fo r

    h

    os

    p i t a l

    t r o. in

    s r..nd r

    onode

    l i ng

    a l l type

    ~ ~

    r s a t

    D o n c o . s t e r Y

    r k s h ~ r e . Th e re th e non ga

    ined

    a

    wor

    ld of

    expe

    r i enc e

    chat

    l a t e r

    proved

    inva

    lu

    a

    b l

    e

    in

    cnndi t i

    ons encountered

    nn t ho

    cnntin

    E

    n t

    ~ h o s e

    l o c a

    t i nns

    ·

    mentinnod w e ~ e of

    cnurse on l y

    one nf

    th e

    many

    where

    ca r s

    and

    l o c

    omo

    t iv e me n wo r e en

    gage d .

    h t th i s s ame t ime the l arge

    supp ly depot a t

    Th

    a tch11m,

    Sudbury, \rv

    e s tMoo r s ,

    Lock

    e ry Ha

    ll lJnr

    t on

    Bitzwo.r r en a

    nd

    others we

    re

    b

    e i

    ng

    supp l ied

    by locon ot v i os and

    cars

    s

    erv iced

    an d r e

    pa i red

    b Y Comp any B P1Bn. Aga

    in

    a t

    Sudbury

    in Nov e

    mber of

    ; 3 the

    carmen stD.rted

    anoth e r

    phase in

    th e

    ir in

    th e i r ca r b u i l c l i n ~

    )rog r Rm . From NOVen

    ber 22

    un t i l De c emb e r 1 ~ seventy (70) gnndolas

    roro

    bu i l t

    a t

    a r

    n.te

    of

    58

    YYJan

    hnurs

    ner

    car

    and

    e i(1'ht

    bnx

    cnrs a t a

    ~ t e of e i

    ghty

    ( 80) na l hnurs per car-. From DE:J c

    er.1

    b

    o r 23

    un t i l p ob ru o. ry

    of

    44

    161 box ca

    rs were

    bu i l t

    a t an

    avera ge of 80 man r ours p e r c a r

    ''l.nd a s many as

    tw

    e l

    ve

    (12) c a r s per day wore produced. Hon worke d f r om

    h y

    l i g h t

    un t i l

    dark in snow a nd r a in and un d e r advo r

    so

    cnndi ti o

    ns

    but

    No

    a r e s u r e

    th

    a t no t oth e r Rai lway Ba t t a l ion c a n c h ~ l l e n g e

    our

    car

    bui ld in

    g r

    ecord .

    Nr

    Jr

    t o

    n-On-Lu

    g

    f r

    or.1

    Ma rch 14

    un t i l Ap

    ril 26 j n J.S4

    4 ,

    27

    2

    more

    box ca rs wore built under s i mila r c nnd i t i on s and a t a of

    30

    man

    hrJurs p ar c ·

    -, r .

    -

    While th

    o m

    ain l:::, d y

    of

    tho

    c

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    12/26

    COiviPi\NY .B REPORTS

    (Cnntinued)

    Arr iv ing

    in

    Cherbcurg on D plus

    00

    tho

    pow

    e r

    s i t ua t i on and

    the

    c ond i t inns a t tho

    er tgine

    house lonkod

    a lmost hope les s . ~ r o c k a g o

    was

    s t rPwn f rnm nne end

    nf

    tho yard to tho

    o ther

    nnd 21 Of tho

    22

    locomotives in

    the engin e bouse had

    been

    sabnt nged

    as vvell

    as the

    tu rn

    t ab l e .

    In

    a l l there were

    appr

    o

    xamet ly

    fn r ty lncomntives in

    tho a r ea

    inc luding those

    in

    the h r

    mse b u t

    within a w e l ~ s tiPlO

    abnu

    t e igh teen

    of

    t

    hose

    had

    been

    made

    roady

    fo r se rv i c e .

    The rn

    en

    wnrkud

    in three

    s h i f t s

    ,

    H hours a day in

    r;rctor

    to

    supply

    the pnv:er noedod f or

    th

    o

    shn1•t

    runs

    i.n

    ge t t i ng tho

    mato r a i l

    to the

    advancing

    a rmies .

    Sovornl

    American

    hndo locomtoives

    w : r e

    fnnnd and

    put

    in tn se rv ice tl l ·, t had be en b r ought

    bo Franc

    e dur ing

    tho

    lRs t

    war

    and nns t

    of tho

    ntho: p ower

    wa s

    j u s t ~ B

    ·

    1ld

    or oldor

    than

    t h o s c ~ I t

    was nr)t u n t i l about

    a mn11th l n

    t o r

    th a t the ...

    1ow U.S.h. . l0cnnwtiv

    e s

    wer·eunlo8

    .ded e.t the Cherboui'g p o

    r t md

    put i n to

    ·.mmedio. te s e rv ic e re le ving the s i tua t ion . Pri ' l r

    to

    t h i s

    timo t

    wo

    and

    ;h

    ree

    engines would have to be s t r i p p e d of

    par t s to

    ge t one engine

    •oady fn r

    th

    o ro a d

    and

    th on

    usua l ly

    0n ly

    to break

    down

    u f t

    or a sh 0 r t

    '

    un

    d'.le to b e

    ing

    j u s t plo.in

    worn

    out .

    1'he b a t t o l i n n

    spont s i x

    months

    Cherbr:urg

    o p o r o . ~ i n g dotachrnents

    out

    of St Vaas t , C

    8.

    rent8.n,

    Va10gnes,

    Ls igny, Barf lour , a t t i v i l l e , S o t t e

    vas t

    and severa l o t h l oca t ions

    h a t wore a t t ha t t im r l we l l pub l i s i zed or knnvm a s tho f: ,JJFms b a t t l e

    : i e lds

    of

    other d a ys .

    n . U e c e f ~ b e r

    4 .J,

    1

    we moved ~ n t o i:..ntwerp,b o

    lghun ,

    the t a rge t fo r

    nj_net

    y

    J

    ercen t of Verm

    a

    ny

    s fmn 0us \i

    - l s

    a_n d

    V-?,s_ an d wo went

    to

    work

    in

    the

    ty

    proper

    and th e famous ): 11 r cls. 'I'ho fol_lowing

    informat ion

    i s

    ;aken from our recor d s of vvork

    o . c c o m p l h ~ h e d

    ln .Delgiwn f rom January

    m til the

    middle

    of Ma rch •15"

    LOC

    OMO'I

    1

    IVE

    . E P I 1 E J \ f T

    r.,

    oc

    omotlvos serv iced

    Tons

    of coa l

    nsod

    LOCOmotive

    ROller

    washod

    r o n

    t h l y

    r .ocomnt i VC; rnspec ti )

    J: S

    CJ R

    DEPARTMENT

    car s

    rnspoc te d

    car s nepa i red

    rpads r r 2 - 1 s f e r e d

    Ca rs Rorr:'li1 od

    3398

    lo990

    170

    95

    52917

    2 0   J4

    ;0

    . . . . ,

    78

    The

    above rocbrd shnws only

    the

    ~ a j o r jobs dons whiJ

    .e s t u t i on od in

    l g i u r n . In

    a d

    dt inn

    to

    tho

    above a f e w o f

    the

    m1

    7

     

    d.ot

    a i.l s

    co-rr,:p

    l e

    t ed

    ·o re

    l: i

    .

    gh t s

    ins

    t a l

    l ed

    nnd

    ahop

    off i ce

    b u i l t a t

    Nortl1

    Y

    n '

    d ,

    Brown

    -hr; is

    t

    nd

    AMerican

    Diese l cranes

    were

    asseMb l e d n t Antwe

    rp

    n om, wrecks we re

    l o a r e d and l ocomotives r o r r . d l o d ~ H

    undreds of

    c a rs

    wore cl

    :1

    c.

    nod beforo

    .bey could be us

    ed

    f or s e rv i c e .

    ov

    e r

    000

    skates

    used

    to s l nw tho

    spe

    e d

    1f

    cars

    c0n :i.ng ov or t ho hunp wer e pa i n t e d a nd a shnw or s y ster. i n s t a l l e d

    ,Jy hooking a

    steo.

    m l i ne -

    from

    an 0-6-0 lncomntive to a wr e

    cked to.nk

    car

    ~ h a t had b

    ee

    n p r : ~ a nd

    c

    ) O t up

    fo r use as

    a

    s h

    w e r ~ b&th. Al l these

    h i n g s a nd o th e r s t oo r n u s to mention arc

    only

    a pa r t

    of

    the work

    l one in

    Antw

    e rp ,

    Late in March

    wo n Gvod i n to nur f i r s t

    l o c a t i

    on a nd assignment in

    }ermany a t Krefe ld

    jus t

    west

    of

    the

    V

    veser Hiver .

    He r e as in Cherb o

    urg

    jho

    yards

    and

    engine

    house had been

    damaged

    by

    boot ing

    bu t

    not

    to such

    1.

    l a rge

    sca le anc .. so wl th in se v e ra l cln ys tho l o c r : w t i v o dep a r tment ·

    :

    as

    able to ne e t the demand

    fo r

    locomotiveo, In

    tho

    th r e o months t ime

    ;h e b a t t a l i o n has been

    Germany,

    Company headqu a r t e rs ha s been loc a t ed

    .n three d i f f e r a n t r a i l r o a d c i t i e s namely Kref e l d , Leinhausen and

    1

    0hr to . It was

    dur ing

    the r1onth of May

    with

    E :;G.dqtw.F

    t;

    e rs

    in

    Lehr t

    c h ~ : t

    oth the ca r and

    locomotive

    dep a r tments have t u rned

    in

    t h e i r bes t

    work

    ocoPds to da te b r i o f ou t l ine

    of

    the produc ;inn

    roc

    t) rd i s

    as

    fo l lows

    nd covers the work turned out

    a t

    Lchr t e , VJ'i th

    de

    c ~ : t m c n t . s a t Le lnha us en

    or fo rd , Oobisfolde and Mindeno ·

    Locomotives ~ e r v i c o d

    Boi le rs ~ ~ a s h e d

    Locomotives Stenc i l ed

    Tons

    of

    Cnal

    Used

    1706

    116

    500

    8530

    • • • • • ' • • 0 • • • • • •

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    13/26

    :.

    C 1vPANY B HEPuhT i J

    (Con t inned)

    ~ o n t h l y Locomotive

    ~ n s p e c t i o n s

    ca rs

    s t enc i l ed

    ca r Repah•ed

    r .

    oads

    Transfered

    r .o comoti vos Roro.iled

    Trains

    inspected

    each t ra in having

    and

    nverago of 45

    cars .

    93

    1t1:80

    389

    16

    1286

    In a ll

    of

    our time spcmt in Ger:rnaby from 22 r c h un t i l

    15

    June

    the

    fn l lowins work record

    ~ s

    been turn ed nut by

    th

    e

    Lncomotivo

    departmonte

    Loc omo t ives worked on

    T n

    ns

    of coal used

    Locomotives s t enc i l ed

    Boi lers

    washed

    Monthly Inspect ions

    3475

    17375

    563

    168

    152

    The

    f n l l awing r e cord has

    been turned

    in

    by

    the c a r

    nopar tnent

    fo r

    the samo per in d

    in

    GermRny.

    cars

    Repaired

    ca rs s t enc i l ed

    Trains Inspec t

    ed

    and Air Tes ted

    Cars

    Rorai led

    Locomotives Rorai led

    Loads

    Transfero d

    604

    13220

    2736

    29

    7

    20

    Personal message from

    Capt

    a in Fa r l i ch to the mon of Company B

     

    I wish, thrnugh

    th i s

    anniversary

    edi t rm

    o f

    11

    rrwn

    in One to

    express . my thanks and approcia t i rm to

    every

    mo.n in Cnnpn.ny B

     

    for a

    jab well dol1e.

    In

    the pas t t

    vn years ynu

    havo,

    through your

    un t i r i ng

    e f fo r t s

    c

    rJ

    mpiled a recnrd t ha t I am sure

    can

    not be oqualod by any nther Railwo

    i3 a ttalir:Jn in

    any

    thea t o r of operat i rms . Wi th ,•ut th e f u l l coopora ti,.,n of

    every man in

    the

    crn:npany th i s record wnuld n

    ,;

    t have boon possib le and

    s to a l l of you fnr ynur

    l oya l t y

    anG

    devotion

    t o d

    uty

    ~ l l say

    thanks

    '\.ga in

    W

    F .

    \RLICH

    Cc,p t •

    l C

    C

    )m;.:J.

    c .ncling.

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    14/26

     

    1943

    COMPANY C REPORIJ'S

    1945

    Janua ry 11,19 43 was the day of i

    c t iva t ion

    for ?29th R.O . B . in

    camp Har

    a

    han, La.

    Th e C

    :

    J.dre h a d

    be

    en

    chos

    en

    from

    th

    e

    ?59th R.O.B. and

    a

    few of our off ' ic8rs wor

    e

    of the ne

    w Yo

    rk ,

    Nen

    Hav

    en a

    nd

    Ha

    r t f o rd

    which

    wa s

    to

    s ponsor

    our

    b a t t a l i o n .

    The asse

    m

    b l ing

    of

    thos

    e man in

    t h e i r ass ignud

    a

    re

    a took only a f ow

    days . Tho

    r o

    ut ine

    of

    d r i l l

    a

    nd

    night

    pr ob l m

    n:;:J,

    w

    hich

    w

    i t h

    co l d

    n i

    g

    hts

    a

    nd

    ho t

    da ys

    in

    th

    e

    mud,

    s o

    on

    pr

    o

    ved us

    wo

    r th

    y a

    nd

    we

    11 qu

    a

    lifi

    e d

    for

    such

    so

    l d i OI'

    in

    g a s we

    wo

    r e t o

    .

    enc

    oun t e

    r .

    Tho l a

    s t g r

    a nd a

    vant of pa r t i c ip

    a

    t ion

    w

    as

    a p a r a de r o

    v i

    ow

    fo

    r Gon or a l

    nunter in which

    o

    ver 5000

    mon

    an

    d

    of f i ce r s to

    ok pa

    r t .

    With

    o

    ne ch

    a

    p t e r of

    0

    u r his tory c l ~ s o d

    we mnvod in Ma

    rch

    t o F t .

    wa

    yne, In

    d i a n a , c a

    mp Sco t t . Hero

    we enc oun t e r e d th o

    work

    mo

    s t

    of

    us

    had

    aqua in t

    od

    nurs o

    lvos with

    in

    c i v i l i

    an l i f e . Wo wo

    rke

    d w

    i t h th

    e

    Pennsy ~ . R .

    and f u l l G.I . crows

    opera ted

    with

    tho

    regu l

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    of h omes

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    many

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    e

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    of

    Ft .

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    yne

    vvill ma

    ke

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    memorL :s of Co

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    e l L

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    e p .o . E.

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    Boardin

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    nia lying in

    New Yo

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    h a

    rbor

    we

    s t

    a y ed

    till th

    o

    mn

    rh ing

    of

    th

    e

    8 th

    Ju ly ,

    when

    anchor

    was

    lift

    e d

    an

    d we movocl o

    u t

    of

    the ·h a rb or b i dd i ng f o r we

    11

    to

    th

    o U.S

    .A. We

    had a j ob t rJ do

    even

    a

    boar

    d t

    he

    b c)a t s o C C:

    Jmp

    a ny r u

    l l od up

    t h e i r

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    c l

    f o

    ught the

    b a t t l

    e of K.P. a l l

    the

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    seven

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  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

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    -

    ..

    ·

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    '}913

    COMPANY C REPORTS

    (Cnntinuect)

    19 4n

    Ili

    vis

    inn cnns i s tin;:':

    of

    125 Mi l e s nf dnuble t r ack exclus ive of

    the

    h

    ran·ches

    nur j01> of 1 1 . n v i n : t r o n : r s D . P s P . V v ~ an r1 frie:o;ht over th1.s div is inn

    caMe tn

    alMost

    a new

    r ecord

    ·which was cnns i s ten t with '

    nnr

    han0lino-

    of

    ~ e r M a n PWs rmt 0f tho R.uhr PncTte t a t

    the r a t e

    of

    10:,000

    Jf.lr cta;r

    rr;;er

    ~ t ·

    en

    day ~ e r i n r l .• v i n _ : : : 92,900 t ron r s ~ 9 5

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    a nd

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    26,540 tnns

    had ke.rt the uOXOs on the b a l l .

    }ITan:r

    ~ t e r n s cnns t i t u t e a ~ o n d

    job and

    a l l records s h ~ w compa ny C with a job

    we   drmo. Thrnu   hrmt a l l

    the foreto1c1.

    on ora t inns we were fnr tuna te

    tha t only 3 Men ~ a i d th i supre

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    s a c r i f i ~ o .

    • • • •

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    V T

    AL

    ST

    A

    rrsrtCS

    The follrwrin '" fj_C'"UrEJs renres en t 011r 'Nnrk under th e 42nc1 Her. .Grrmn

    < ts

    ind ica ted :

    ·· "

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    i To. En:;ines

    us ec'i

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    June

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    22 Apr

    to 9

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  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    16/26

     

    T h ~ _ M e d c _ l _ . ) G § ' . ~ ~ ~ ~ - n

    t

    Th e

    Me

    d ic

    a l DetachGent b ega n Jpe r a ti Jns i m m   i t u n

    ~ ~ i n

    c

    e s h ~ r e a t c ~ a h a

    Beach, t ak ing

    c or a

    f pa

    ti e

    nt

    s f r Jrn

    pup

    t en

    t s , end

    during th e f i r s t

    n igh t

    ev

    acue

    ted pa t i en t s t J th A n

    ea

    r es t

    b

    eech

    Ev a

    cu

    o

    ti

    Jn.

    HJs

    p i t e l

    .

    .6

    r r i

    v i n c:, in C h e r b ~ u r g the Bc. t ta lLm Di

    ep

    c n::J8 ry end Den tE' l

    Office

    were

    se

    t up-

    th

    : r

    c ,

    and m

    d i c

    were

    pleced

    with

    the

    r

    c e s t

    a c h ~ e n c l J ng th 2 l i n e end

    in

    th e i s J l a t c d

    p loces .

    Th 2cc me n h ~ th e ir n i ~ s t a ti

    Jns

    se t up in ve r i :

    us

    p la c

    es

    , EOm = in

    , ,

    t

    , II • II •

    bu1l d1ngs

    wh

    e n

    r J :m l d

    b e f J und , end

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    r s 1 11 c r u

    ~ m c s

    , 1n

    11

    f )r ty :'no e i gh t s

    11

    ,

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    17/26

     

    Bat ta l ion

    Tribute

    VJe

    aro

    humbly

    tbankfu l

    t ha t

    det lp i te our dangerous

    job

    of hau l in

    g

    ;sas o l i ne , ammunlt ion t r a in s coupled with enemy a c t i v i t y ex.porionced in

    f r ance ,

    Belgium and

    Germany, tr.te

    ba t t a l ion as

    a

    who

    l o

    has bo

    on

    f or t una t e in

    ouff

    e

    r in

    g

    only

    f iv e

    f a t a l

    ca

    s ua l t i e s .

    wo

    wish to

    take

    t h i s

    lppo r tun i ty

    to

    paus o and p a y s i l e n t t r i h u t

    c; to

    thes o

    f in

    e

    m n

    who

    made

    t

    ho supr

    ene

    s a c r i f i c

    e a n d

    w i l l not nu

    .tk e th e t ~ r L p

    hon

    o vli th us .

    we

    dedic a te th iu Annivorsar ) Edi t ion in h o n ~ r

    nf

    th oso mon

    whoso

    1oa

    t h s hav e b c,o n

    tho

    only cloud in

    tho

    Ba t t a l io n s P.luo

    Sky

    of

    o

    morios

    11

    -; ·

    - ; ~

    l

    I

    t Bf.l. t t l o

    s t a r s

    ----:-·-:

    :

    ·

    For a ll those who

    uro

    swo [t t in g 011t poin t

    tJcor cw

    a roum

    i.

    th p pr osont

    0r i t i c a l .

    scoro ,

    r c

    H.:

    o ivod o f f i c i a l

    ETO orderD

    g

    i.v os

    us

    ano tho

    ·r s t a r

    1aking four b a t t l

    e

    s tu r s in &11. Tho

    s t a r s w

    ill

    r upros o

    n t th

    o

    pa t t l u s

    Jf Normandy,

    North e

    rn

    Franco, Rhineland a

    nd

    c

    an t r

    u l

    Europe.

    Ba t t l e pa r t i c ip n t i on s t r onr;

    lOrs

    H. r o avm r doLL t o

    uni t s

    en t i t l e d t0

    b c1. t t l e

    c red i t s

    a

    nd

    a r o

    flown

    w

    i t h

    m l tion a l

    u n i t

    f l

    ag

    ::;.

    1Nh

    on

    -':.l.ttallon

    supply

    g G

    t s

    on

    th

    o b a

    ll

    vw

    t ch

    f or

    th

    cfJG

    st roamors

    wo.ving

    i th our colors u t our

    B :L

    t n l:L rm Hol.lCl

    ql  t::: r t crs

    .

    11

    OCS

    Nevw

    11

    Tho fo l lowing

    o n l i s t

    od ~ e n of t h i s b a t t a l i o n s ucces s f u l l y p as

    sed

    t ~ e I n f an t r y OCS

    c o

    urso

    n

    nd arc

    nnw

    2 ~ Lieutenant s .

    -

    our cnngru tu ln t io -

    rw to

    thom,

    T/Sr , t .

    Willio.m

    p .

    G

      ;

    i s l or a

    nd

    T/5 .

    George

    w.

    p u rson s

    fror

    a

    ;]oo.

    dquar tors Compa

    ny,

    T/5 .

    Donald R.

    nc t r l ch . ,T /5 .

    Allen G. Hulv

    c r

    son , , P f c a r r ~ M· Ch

    e ll

    L

    11tl

    pfc .

    Er ic F.

    Kgrlson from compuny A.

    T /4 . Go argo

    Yarberry

    and

    pvt .

    c r

    o.

    i .:i Glad::.; on f l O U C

    uq

    p any B.

    l s t / s g t ..

    way

    ne F'· Th om sen , , s / s g

    t ,

    uuc E· noe;ors.

    , I /

    1

    1 US.

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    p

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    ny C.

    • t • t t t t t t

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    18/26

    t

    1 - ~ ~ - - ~ - - -

    r

    I ; f :

    HEDALS AND DECOR

     \

    .T

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    Men

    s s i n e : : l . t r

    t h i s

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    l i ~ n

    as

    of

    t h i s

    date have been awarded t h ~ f o l l o w i ~ g me da

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    an d d e c o r ~ t i n n s . I11 sone

    cases ,

    personne l have been awa rded

    [10mo while

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    th en s to. t ed t b L " I 8. '1 1 h r and 20 mir.1s l e t e nn s ch c clu l o

    which c a

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     ::.

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    nrunswick

    at. 1 43 0

    hrs .

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    of

    t h l s

    schednle a s T h qve an i npor t an t

    r.J.ceting

    a t

    9 t

    h

    )\rny

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    qs

    a t

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    hrs

    mho

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    rop l iod

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    i t i n

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    'J

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    r.1e i

    the

    729th

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    f u l l

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    th

    o c n t r o l s and gave

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    ck

    25 m

    i nu t

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    h i s

    sch ed

    ule

    FLr rivi:or; a t prunswich 1 ( 05 hr s .

    rnhe Rnad pnrer,

    1o.n

    fu r th e r s t a t

    ed

    aftorvvarcls to tho r:hiof n i spa tchor

    t ha t

    due

    to

    the f ine conporo. t i0n and cUspa t cher s o f h i s Train

    Mnve

    ment s e c t i

    rm t h i s

    typ e flf run

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    ve ,:y

    ea

    sily

    accor.J.plished.

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    e

    nd

    of

    th

    o

    run , the h i

    gh r Rnkln g n.

    f f i c

    e r c ane t o th e e n g in eer

    and

    axten0ed h i s

    appre c i a t

    i nn t o th o 729th

    t he i r

    sp lend id

    co

    npera ti nn

    a

    nd ~ n n d se r v ic

    e wh

    i l u his tr

    a

    in mo

    v

    ed

    nv e r th o t

    e r

    r i t o r y .

    • • • • • •

    • • • • •

    • •

    • • •

    • •

    • • •

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    20/26

    The Chap la in s

    Act i v i t i e s

    One of the unique terns of

    t h i s

    Bat ta l ion fo r which t can always

    boast i s i t s Chapel Ca.r . Otrwrs hnve

    claimed

    :i.t and use e'\. t because

    of t h e i r admira t ion for

    it

    L u t the wor·k of your hands i s in it. So

    f a r

    as

    we ·know it i s the on J.y Clmpo 1 Cur on whe e 1 in Ge rmany.

    During

    our

    t rav

    o l s of the p9.s t

    fov.J

    months tp n ro l l i n g

    Church

    has s orvod as

    a

    reminder

    of

    the

    s o i r i u a l phas o of

    our

    l i f e in

    t h i s

    Ba t t a l i on •

    11

    01J

    church

    on wheel8

    11

    ' is

    s ign i f l can t in i t s e l f , l1

    u t

    the rea l

    necrot

    of

    keeping

    the

    church moving i s by tho suppor t of each and every man.

    Ju

    Church :i.s as s

    t r tmg

    a::; are i t s mer;1box•s and i t s

    vi[i 'i

    to ,s •

    .Liuring tho month

    of

    i

    .io:y, .L

    C()nductod.

    o i t;htoen .t}ro tos t an t

    \vorship

    se rv i ces ,

    f ivo rrnly

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     '

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    f D 8 V-E nay

    pr

    a y e r

    and modita t i rm.

    'l 'hroo hu

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    21/26

    . . . . . . - - . - , . . . . - . - - . - - . - . - . - T - . - - . - - . - . - . . . . . . . . . . . - r T - m - . - - . . - T , - ~

    7 9 U l  

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    - -  ~ _ _ _ _ . . . . _ . _ _ _ _ _ . . . _ . . . . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . . . _ . . . . . _ _ . . . . . . . . . . _ _ .

    0-0-0 0-0-0

    - - - - - - - - - - - -   ·- - - - - ·

    729th

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    This

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    the only one of i t s

    kind, i s

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    i n e d

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    yet

    it i s

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    ~ n o u ~ h

    to

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    ::::,

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    to tu rn out

    300

    f in ich ed

    p ic tu r

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    d 2y, i f the

    occ ::::,c ion

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    tine;

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    4 _X 5 inch

    cut

    filn . F ;.,

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  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    22/26

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    nev e r mr; r e t n p u t on

    hr.1es a n d r oam.

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    :

    i t h

    ou t th i s

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  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    23/26

      l l 1 J < ~ h , h ~ ) ~

    H

    • k

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    pnnsess

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    shn\"TS u:r tho }foJa:rs, ann

    0ns

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    we

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    h n p i n ~

    t ha t

    t h i s

    i s thn l a s t tirne fn r

    ~ n s n i t R l i z a t i n n nn r . t . J l f : ' . A n : ~ n l n . T,ots hnre

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    can not

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    t ime .

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    c iv i l i ze the Prass

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    12

    Dn:i.nts t h i s Xmas. In

    the menntimo

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    th0se l ~ G c l s . . strni,'l;h

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    c : r l i n d ~ r

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    Lt . R . J . IL ::1 u r 1 ::--nc;- l Ae;g, ed adjuta11t i u e

    pers:Jn

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    :, f h i s human

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    Signed ,

    n y · : n : J u l

  • 8/9/2019 729th Railway Operating Battalion: The Soxos double anniversary 1945 WilliamPoch - Copy

    24/26

    >J.

    .The

    Athlet ic

    Proc;ram.

    At

    tho

    time tha t th is r e ~ n r t was wri t ten

    we

    wer e s t ~ t i n n e d

    a t

    Hannover,

    Germany

    but we

    thought tha t i t w0uld be

    placed

    in th is

    bo ok to show whRt wa s avai lable for us.MRny

    of the

    things

    have

    gone

    with our

    movin

    g but hero,things are about to

    s t a r t

    up again for us •

    . A

    Bo.

    t ta l i rm Athlet ic Council w a ~ ~ recent ly appointed to arrange

    and maintain

    a

    1,ocrea t:l .rm

    prosr[:tm for the

    0rgan iza t lon . I t is

    cnmpos ec

    of Ufficors ahd

    Enlis ted

    mon.ln

    case you

    wa

    n t the namG

    of

    your

    c o m p a n ~

    ~ e p r e s e n t ~ t i v o they a re as f o l l o w s : c h a ~ l a i n Charles A• ~ r n c i s , l s t . L t ,

    r e c l e ~ i c l : A. Kroll , WuJG VVilliam G. L.u.hn,

    u/Sgt . Harold

    F. Skillman

    (Cn.CJ,T/sgt.