History of the Transportation Corps The Transportation Corps is one of the youngest and smallest of the Army's Service branches. Established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 1942 in response to the overwhelming mobilization demands of World War II. During World War II, the Transportation Corps conducted operations in Europe and the Pacific operations. Moving 30 million soldiers in the United States and carried 7 million soldiers and 126 million tons of supplies overseas. Playing a decisive part in the Allied victory. By George Goetzelman.

744th Railway Operating Battallion

This is a typical steam engine that we used to take supplies up to the front lines during World War II. Our crews consisted of the conductor, engineer, fireman, brakeman and flagman. The steam engines were 2-8-0's (designated by the wheel arrangement).

FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS

Inducted in the service, we wait for the men to converge from all parts of the country to form our battallion.

ANTI AIRCRAFT ARTILLARY

A dummy run--preparing for the real thing. This outfit shipped overseas while our battallion went to Fort Sam Houston, Texas for basic training.

Old painting of Fort Snelling, Minnesota.

After leaving Fort Sam Houstan, Texas --- 744th ROB was stationed here for technical training before departing for Europe.

Round tower

All that remains of old Fort Snelling is the original round tower, Now a museum.

* * * EMBLEMS * * *

The insignias of the Transportation Corps. Supplying the ammo, food, clothing and everything to win a war. Not to mention the transporting of millions of troops.

This very old postcard shows the Kungsholm (before the war) in New York Harbor. The U.S. government converted it to a troop ship and renamed it the John Ericsson.

We set sail about midnight with over 5000 troops aboard. We were in for a 2 weeks cruise. We headed South near the Azores and joined several other ships. This was one of the biggest convoys of WWII.

The John Ericsson just before it was scrapped.

Kungsholm Specs: Length - 609 feet, Beam - 78.1 feet, Speed - 17.5 knots. In it's hey-day, the Kungsholm carried 1575 passengers back and forth the Atlantic Ocean only to succumb to the rigors of war.