The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-02-08

Pvt. Charles r. Hull, Clear Spring,
Route 2, and Pvt Jack D. Sanbowcr,
whose home is at 80 West Side ave-
nue., Hagerstown, are members OF
the 727th Railway Operating Bat
TALON, which covered itself with
glory for jobs well done in the Tu-
nissan, Sicilan and Italian cam
paigns, and Is now doing an encore"
in France, helping to rush supplies to
the u S. 9TH and French LIST Armies.
Commanded by 1t. Col. Fred w.
Dixie, Somerset, Ky, former division
superintendent for the Southern
Railway System, the 727th shared
recently in a commentator of the
Military Railway Service by 1t. Gen.
Jacob l., Devers, commanding gem
eral Of the Sixth Army Group.
In Sicily the 727th was cited by
1t. Gen George S. Patton, Jr.
There, with demolition damage
tremendous, hundreds of enemy
mines planted along the way, and
smashed trains blocking the tracks,
the Yanks had steam UP within four
hours of landing, and just as fast
as the track was wrested from the
Germans it was put into use.
In Italy IL was the same story.
Railroad parties on the Salerno
Beach found no Italian engines fit
to operate. Undaunted they placed
Hanged wheels on CT trucks, put
them on the rails and shunted sup
plies from The docks to the dumps.
For that and other achievements, the
Military Railway Service won the
5th Army Plaque and Clasp, award
ed by 1t Gen, Mark Clark
The 727th, oldest unit in the en-
tire Military Railway Service, was
organized in 1929 as a reserve unit
of the Southern Railway. It was
activated March IS, 1912, trained at
Camp Shelby, Miss, and sailed for
North Africa in December, 1912.
Cpl Raymond r. Diffendal, son
of Mrs Mary l.. Rcichert, 1923
Pennsylvania avenue and husband
of the former Miss Betty Cromcr,
who makes her home with Mrs Rel
ebert was overseas four years
and three months in the Asiatic-
Pacific Theater Of Operations, where
he was crash boat operator. He ar
rived at Army Air Forces Redistribu-
ton Station No 2, in Miami Beach,
Fla, on January 30, and will remain
at the station for about two weeks
much of which will be devoted to
rest and recreation, after which he
will receive his reassignment.
The corporal was lucky enough to
get back to the States for a furlough
last summer, and he was married at
that time. On his last return to this
country he came home for a 21-day
fErlough (last Christmas), after
which he reported to Miami Beach.
Here is news Of the two sons of
Mr., and Mrs. A. G. Grooms, 534
Mcdowell avenue-Carroll and Cal
win.
S/Sgt Carroll r. Grooms, who
for some time was a member of the
Office staff at Woodrow Wilson Hos
pital, Staunton, Va, has more re-
Gently been stationed in the person
mel office at Camp Somerset, Md. He
is, however, now enroute to new
base, but has not yet advised his
parents of his new address.
Air Cadet VIM Calvin Grooms,
who after graduating from a radio
school at Truax Field, Wis, last De-
cember, began his training as an air
cadet at Jefferson Barracks, Mo-, is
now stationed in Texas. After COM
pleting his course at Jefferson Bar
racks, he moved to other cadet train
ing centers, before arriving at his
present base. His address is: A/C
VIM. Calvin Grooms, Group K,
Squad SO, Glass 45-B, A.A.F.P.S.-
S.A,AC.C., San Antonio, Texas.
Cpl William A. Grove, Jr., son
of Mrs. Bertha Grove, 1913 South Lo-
cuts street, whose wife, Mrs. Gloria
Grove, and their daughter, Sherry
Ann, reside at 1612 Lee street, I'M
derwent an operation at Newton D.
Baker Hospital, Martinsburg, w. Va,
recently, to restore the perfect use
of his arm, and is getting along fine.
He writes home that he is now able
to sit up in chair and expects to
get a furlough home soon.
Corporal Grove, who was injured
in plane accident at Tonopah Field,
Nevada in April, 944, has been in
hospital ever since. He has been
ar Newton D. Baker Hospital for
several months, having been trans
ferred there from a hospital in Cali
fornia.