13 FEB 2021, Memorial notes at or near time of transfer. Added gender. One of the photos added is a photo of an unknown U.S. Soldier during World War II, standing guard duty in front of a guard shack, at a railroad bridge in Alaska; note he is not wearing a military uniform. This is just one example of the kind of duty Corporal Boatman was called upon to do. He was a rare type of soldier, not the typical "grunt." Men in a Railway Operating Battalion had very specific duties and challenges.
1) Service in Company C of the 714th Railway Operating Battalion, Transportation Corps of the US Army. He served in both World War II and Korea. In World War II, the 714th Railway Operating Battalion deployed between 1943-1945 and the Alaska Railroad was used by the army to transport military personnel, supplies, and construction materials between Seward, Whittier, Anchorage, and Fairbanks.
2) In the summer of 1950, the 714th departed Fort Eustis for Korea to perform duty with the Third Transportation Military Railway Service (TMRS). They arrived there on 26 August 1950, commanded by Major H. W. Martens. The 765thRailway Shop Battalion (RSB), commanded by Major James K. Hanks, had also arrived. Unfortunately, these units were not at full strength. On 30 August, the total number of officers and men in the headquarters and its assigned units was only 229. Even worse was the fact that, in spite of the conditions that existed in Europe during World War II, only 20 percent of them were experienced railroad men. Headquarters, Third TMRS, was first set up at Pusan. On 1 October, they took over the responsibility for the railroad including the station limits of Chinju in the southwest and Waegwan in the north, giving them a total of 359 miles of railroad. On 25 September 1950, they moved their headquarters to Taegu, and by 1 October 1950 they had a total of 427 officers and men in the headquarters. The 714thTransportation Battalion and the 765th RSB had 153 locomotives, all classifications, 344 passenger cars, and 3,655 freight cars of all types. They then made arrangements to transfer equipment in from the United States and from Japan. During the month of September, 1,540 trains were dispatched handling 265, 553 Tons. Much like the Seabees, the 714th gained fame in that they also had to fight, not just run the trains. They had to engage in combat with North Korean guerillas on several occasions, even though that was not their primary task. [Bio section from Wes T.]~
1) Service in Company C of the 714th Railway Operating Battalion, Transportation Corps of the US Army. He served in both World War II and Korea. In World War II, the 714th Railway Operating Battalion deployed between 1943-1945 and the Alaska Railroad was used by the army to transport military personnel, supplies, and construction materials between Seward, Whittier, Anchorage, and Fairbanks.
2) In the summer of 1950, the 714th departed Fort Eustis for Korea to perform duty with the Third Transportation Military Railway Service (TMRS). They arrived there on 26 August 1950, commanded by Major H. W. Martens. The 765thRailway Shop Battalion (RSB), commanded by Major James K. Hanks, had also arrived. Unfortunately, these units were not at full strength. On 30 August, the total number of officers and men in the headquarters and its assigned units was only 229. Even worse was the fact that, in spite of the conditions that existed in Europe during World War II, only 20 percent of them were experienced railroad men. Headquarters, Third TMRS, was first set up at Pusan. On 1 October, they took over the responsibility for the railroad including the station limits of Chinju in the southwest and Waegwan in the north, giving them a total of 359 miles of railroad. On 25 September 1950, they moved their headquarters to Taegu, and by 1 October 1950 they had a total of 427 officers and men in the headquarters. The 714thTransportation Battalion and the 765th RSB had 153 locomotives, all classifications, 344 passenger cars, and 3,655 freight cars of all types. They then made arrangements to transfer equipment in from the United States and from Japan. During the month of September, 1,540 trains were dispatched handling 265, 553 Tons. Much like the Seabees, the 714th gained fame in that they also had to fight, not just run the trains. They had to engage in combat with North Korean guerillas on several occasions, even though that was not their primary task. [Bio section from Wes T.]~
13 FEB 2021, Memorial notes at or near time of transfer. Added gender. One of the photos added is a photo of an unknown U.S. Soldier during World War II, standing guard duty in front of a guard shack, at a railroad bridge in Alaska; note he is not wearing a military uniform. This is just one example of the kind of duty Corporal Boatman was called upon to do. He was a rare type of soldier, not the typical "grunt." Men in a Railway Operating Battalion had very specific duties and challenges.
1) Service in Company C of the 714th Railway Operating Battalion, Transportation Corps of the US Army. He served in both World War II and Korea. In World War II, the 714th Railway Operating Battalion deployed between 1943-1945 and the Alaska Railroad was used by the army to transport military personnel, supplies, and construction materials between Seward, Whittier, Anchorage, and Fairbanks.
2) In the summer of 1950, the 714th departed Fort Eustis for Korea to perform duty with the Third Transportation Military Railway Service (TMRS). They arrived there on 26 August 1950, commanded by Major H. W. Martens. The 765thRailway Shop Battalion (RSB), commanded by Major James K. Hanks, had also arrived. Unfortunately, these units were not at full strength. On 30 August, the total number of officers and men in the headquarters and its assigned units was only 229. Even worse was the fact that, in spite of the conditions that existed in Europe during World War II, only 20 percent of them were experienced railroad men. Headquarters, Third TMRS, was first set up at Pusan. On 1 October, they took over the responsibility for the railroad including the station limits of Chinju in the southwest and Waegwan in the north, giving them a total of 359 miles of railroad. On 25 September 1950, they moved their headquarters to Taegu, and by 1 October 1950 they had a total of 427 officers and men in the headquarters. The 714thTransportation Battalion and the 765th RSB had 153 locomotives, all classifications, 344 passenger cars, and 3,655 freight cars of all types. They then made arrangements to transfer equipment in from the United States and from Japan. During the month of September, 1,540 trains were dispatched handling 265, 553 Tons. Much like the Seabees, the 714th gained fame in that they also had to fight, not just run the trains. They had to engage in combat with North Korean guerillas on several occasions, even though that was not their primary task. [Bio section from Wes T.]~
1) Service in Company C of the 714th Railway Operating Battalion, Transportation Corps of the US Army. He served in both World War II and Korea. In World War II, the 714th Railway Operating Battalion deployed between 1943-1945 and the Alaska Railroad was used by the army to transport military personnel, supplies, and construction materials between Seward, Whittier, Anchorage, and Fairbanks.
2) In the summer of 1950, the 714th departed Fort Eustis for Korea to perform duty with the Third Transportation Military Railway Service (TMRS). They arrived there on 26 August 1950, commanded by Major H. W. Martens. The 765thRailway Shop Battalion (RSB), commanded by Major James K. Hanks, had also arrived. Unfortunately, these units were not at full strength. On 30 August, the total number of officers and men in the headquarters and its assigned units was only 229. Even worse was the fact that, in spite of the conditions that existed in Europe during World War II, only 20 percent of them were experienced railroad men. Headquarters, Third TMRS, was first set up at Pusan. On 1 October, they took over the responsibility for the railroad including the station limits of Chinju in the southwest and Waegwan in the north, giving them a total of 359 miles of railroad. On 25 September 1950, they moved their headquarters to Taegu, and by 1 October 1950 they had a total of 427 officers and men in the headquarters. The 714thTransportation Battalion and the 765th RSB had 153 locomotives, all classifications, 344 passenger cars, and 3,655 freight cars of all types. They then made arrangements to transfer equipment in from the United States and from Japan. During the month of September, 1,540 trains were dispatched handling 265, 553 Tons. Much like the Seabees, the 714th gained fame in that they also had to fight, not just run the trains. They had to engage in combat with North Korean guerillas on several occasions, even though that was not their primary task. [Bio section from Wes T.]~
Inscription
ROBERT H BOATMAN JR
OKLAHOMA
CPL CO C 714 RY OPR BN TC
WORLD WAR II KOREA
(DATES)
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