THE HISTORY OF COMPANY C 752ND ROB [RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION]

Published by Privately published [printed by Chr. Faass], Karlsruhe, Germany, 1945

8vo. (22 cm.) [4]5-56p. Illustrated with 10 black and white captioned photos. Cream colored paper over boards with an olive green cloth spine. Title printed in black on the front cover. Besides a narrative of the movements and activities of Company C, this book contains NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF OFFICERS AND MEN WHO COME [SIC] OVERSEAS WITH COMPANY C [pp. 49-55]. Covers lightly soiled, interior pages turning brown because of the cheapness of the paper, all photos present and in near fine condition, no internal markings (except for a very small mark on the title page and corrections described below), else very good to near fine. This is a first person, eyewitness account , which repeatedly uses "I" and "we", of the movements and activities of Company C from its formation, May 4, 1944 until just a few days before its departure from Karlsruhe, Germany in December, 1945. The 752nd Railway Operating Battalion was officially activated on May 4, 1944, at Camp Plauche, New Orleans, Louisiana. Major Henry G. Balch was the Battalion Commander with Major Robert E. Triggs, Executive Officer and Captain Harry Wilson, Adjutant. Company C also came into existence at this time with First Lt. Robert D. Anderson as Commander and Edward A. Ryan as First Sargeant. Training of the new recruits included work at Slidell Rifle Range. On July 4, 1944, Company C moved to Camp Claiborne, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, north of the present day town of Forest Hill, where they took over the Great Claiborne and Polk Railroad in order to sharpen their skills for combat. On Dec. 17, 1944, Company C moved on to Camp Shanks, New York, from where they shipped out on the U.S.S. J.W. McAndrews, arriving in Swansea, Wales on Jan. 7, 1945. On the 25th of January, 1945, Company C arrived at Le Havre, France, from where they removed to Hirson, France on Feb. 9 in order to be able to transport supplies to the front lines. On Feb. 27, Company C moved on to Namur, then Ronet, Belgium, where they remained for several months. On July 23, the Company moved to Sechenheim, Germany, near Heidelberg and Mannheim, where they remained for some time until they moved to Karlsruhe, Germany, where this book was printed. Company C returned to New York City in November, 1945, some 13 months after leaving. This book is unusual in that it was printed in Germany before Company C returned to the U.S. Indeed, the dedication reads as follows: "We dedicate this book to our wives and loved ones who are so faithfully awaiting our return." In this copy, several of the addresses are updated in ink by hand and one person is added at the end of the list: Dave Jones 119 East 52nd Tac[oma] Wa. Seller Inventory # 005300

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE HISTORY OF COMPANY C 752ND ROB [RAILWAY ...
Publisher: Privately published [printed by Chr. Faass], Karlsruhe, Germany
Publication Date: 1945
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good+
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket as issued
Edition: 1st Edition