Re: 729 Railway Operating Battalion

Louie - Thank you.Don was not a member of the 729th. Don was newly assigned by the 78th I D from the 893rd TD Bn to 19th Reinforcement Depot. He was to report to the train commander on the AM of the 12, and to the 19th on the day of his appearance on the morning report - I think the 17th. As near as I have been able to learn the train he was on when injured was operated by the 729th Railway Operating Bn. I notice you use "RR" in the title of the Bn. I hope we are on the same track but I will assume we are. I have found a history of the 729th Railway Bn which reports that they were credited with occupation of Germany through Aug 14, 1945. Since the train was loaded at Kassel on Aug 12, 1945 I assume the items are the same. I have inquiries in at Ft Eustis and have spoken to the man who managed their reunions until they were no more. He was in train maintenance He does not remember the incident.

The baggage cars contained the possesions of those men. I also assume they would have been guarded until the contents could have been sorted, etc and the contents allocated to the proper persons. Don did receieve some of his possesions after the war was long over and he had been discharged. Among them was one penny enclosed in a squshed plastic bag. I never knew my husband to have only one penny in his pocket. I wonder what else was missing and how it was all managed. Mary