6.4 inches
Mort Cohen collection
ROBs were the smallcsi-sized aclive
units of the U.S. Army Military Railway
Service (MRS) in World War I. The 800
man battalions bad four companies in the
TO & E, and each bsttalion was consid-
ered a self-sustaining "division" along the
rail lines upon which they operated. (1)
Each company had its awn specific
duties. Company A, consisting of'two track
platoons and one bridge platoon, handled
construction. Two of the ihrce platoons in
Company B were responsible for keeping
the equipment in running shape, utilizing
their own rounóhouse; the third platoon
shopped the roiling stock. Company C was
the largest company, because it supplied
the train crews. H & S Company supplied
dispatchers (train controllers), iclegraphers,
and other support persooncl. Four to five
separate RODs, and usually one Railway
Shop Battalion (RSB), were dirocled by a
Railway Grand Division (RGD) which was
an administrative group consisting of ap-
proximately100 personnel.
The 748th Railway Operating Battal
ion was activaled at Camp Harrahan, (near
New Orlans) LA, on 19 May 1943, with a
cadre from the 725th ROB. (2) A portion of
Camp Harrahan was localed under the cast
end of the Huey P. Long Bridge in New
Orleans. The sponsoring railroad for the
7481h was the Texas and Pacific RR. The
only commanding officer was Li. Col. Alva
C. Ogg, who was a fonner Assistant Super-their own roundhouse: the third platoon
shopped the rolling stock. Company C was
the largest company, because it supplied
the train crews. H & S Company supplied
dispatchers (train cootrollers), iclegraphers,
and other support persooncl. Four to five
separate RODs, and usually one Railway
Shop Battalion (RSB), were dirocied by a
Railway Grand Division (RGD) which was
an administrative group consisting of ap-
proximately100 personnel.
The 748th Railway Operating Battal-
ion was activaled at Camp Harrahan, (near
New Orlans) LA, on 19 May 1943, with a
cadre from the 725th ROB. (2) A portion of
Camp Harrahan was localed under the east
end of the Hucy P. Long Bridge in New
Orleans.
The sponsoring railroad for the
7481h was the Texas and Pacific RR.
The
only commanding officer was Li. Col. Alva
C. Ogg, who was a fonner Assistant Super-
intendent of the Texas and Pacific RR.
Training commenced immediately, in-
cluding more than a weck at the Slidell Rifle
Range
The men familiarized themselves
with the M-| Garand, M-1 carbine, and .45
pistul. Subsequent 1o the battalion's move
10 Camp Jesse Turner, near Van Bunn. AR.different sections trained on different rail-
roads and in yards, within Arkansas, 10
improve their soction's specific technical
skills. This included dispatching, signals
(telegraph and wireless), engincering (rail.
way maintenance operations), road and
yard operation, crew dispatching (using
first-in and first-out basis), and repairs,
There was limited cross-uaining in the re-
pair shops to insure that training cadres
had technically trained specialists.
The
battalion subsequently provided training
cadres for two other ROBs.
T-4 Joscph Allison, who became an
engineer, recalled, "I was working as a fire-
man for the Chicago and Illinois-Midland
when I got drafted. I established my se-
niority with then - you couldn't be a fire.
man until you were 21 cars old. I don
know if that was law or policy. I also worked
in the roundhouse and hesiling,
"I almost didn't get in to the service.
I
had some bad burns on my body, and my
family docior told me I couldn't get in 10
the USO, let alone the U.S. Army. I was still
firing engines, and was coming upon a pro
motion with the CIM. I was hoping that I
could get into the signal corps, because I
had been fooling around with ham radios.
Anyway, about three or four Army dociorspassed me.
: " (3)
Capt. James Weatherby. HQ Co. re-
called, *| joined the 748th ROB when it was
activaled at Camp Harrahan I worked for
the T & P as a signals supervisor before
the war - I started with them in 1935. I was
in charge of the department which installs
and maintains the signals that trauns us 10
operate. I was a circuit designer when I
went in.
"The officers for the 748th ROB, most
of whom had just completed basic training
at Fi. Slocumn, NY, were assigned to the cn-
listed personnel for basic vaining at Camp
Harrhan. I was commissioned as a lst Li.,
with principal duties as a Signal Supervi-
sor, the added responsibility of Battalion
Mess Officer, and later was designated
Class A Finance Officer with the responsi
bility of paying the battalion personnel."
(4)
Ist Sgt George Crow recalled bis ser-
vice with the 748th ROB, which began at
Camp Jesse Tumner.
*I had several year
experience as a machinist and apprentice
for the Cincinnati Union Terminal, an all-
passenger railroad tenninal, before the war.
We had seven railroads operating into the
terminal. I thought I'd eventually be called
for service, and tried volunteering for the
Navy, Navy CB's, and the Army Air Corps.
I was tuned down by all of them becauseI was tuned down by all of them because
of I'd lost sight in my left eye during sur.
gery. It had been injured in an industrial
accident.
When I joined the 74Sth at Camp Jesse
Turner, I was on guard duty because of my
damaged eye. The rest of the battalion was
sent down o the Missouri-Pacific RR for
technical training
I wasn't happy being
on guard duty, and with my pre-war experi-
ence, I told the captain that I was really
necded in the shop where I belong. Afterl
showed him what I could do. I got a shop
assignment.
"Li. Shechan told me to assign the Gl's
1o work locations. As new recruits came lo
camp, the lieutenant told ne to hold classes
aner chow to teach them about scam loco-
motives. I picked up a couple of promo-
tions along the way." (5)
