*716th, 732nd, and 744th Railway Operating Battalions * Northern France* Rhineland * Central Europe *

Uncle Raoul and the Soldier-Railroaders continued their work in the Metz sector until orders came down for the 716th to depart for Germany. On 5 May 1945, two days before the German surrender and the end of World War II in Europe - the 716th  left France and headed for Kornwestheim a small town northeast of Stuttgart, Germany, where they arrived on 10 May 1945. The 716th continued to billet in the railway cars until living quarters were found.new orders then came down for the 716th to move yet again. They crossed the Rhine River near Mannheim, Germany. After crossing the river they stayed in the town seven days before moving on to Esslingen, Germany.  Esslingen is a city of about 50,000 people located about ten miles southeast of Stuttgart, Germany. On 17 May 1945, they moved from their railcars and commenced to live in the city's buildings.  It was while the 716th Railway Operating Battalion was stationed in Esslingen that they commenced to Phase III operations,  turning the operations of the German railroads back to their German owners. The 716th was not alone at Esslingen the 100th Infantry Division was also stationed in and about Esslingen during this period. While Uncle Raoul was stationed here at Esslingen he managed to go and Visit his sister, My Great Aunt Frances Santos who was a WAC with the 9th Air Force stationed nearby at Erlangen, Germany as a Telephone Operator. Also, It was there where Uncle Raoul was transferred from the 716th.

732nd and 744th ROB 

Uncle Raoul was transferred and assigned to the 732nd Railway Operating Battalion.  They were on their way to Southern France in preparation for being re-deployed  to the Pacific Theater of Operations to continue the fight against the Japanese. Very shortly after he arrived with the unit the war with Japan ended in August 1945 and it was sent home instead. Raoul did not have enough "Points" to go home with the 732nd, so he was transferred yet again to another railway battalion. this time it was the 744th Railway Operating Battalion. The point systems was set up by General Eisenhower as a fair way to send men who had been in the European Theatre the longest, home first. these points were based upon length of service combat assignments, campaigns, decorations, dependents and other considerations.  The soldiers with the lowest number of points were being reassigned to other military units all over Europe while those soldiers with the larger number of points were sent back to the States for separation from the service. Why Raoul was not sent back to the 716th is not known.  Meanwhile the 716th was quickly disintegrating, the veterans were all transferring home. The last man from the unit transferred home in February 1946. Uncle Raoul was sent home with C Company, 744TH Railway Operating Battalion and was discharged on 16 January 1946. from Fort Devens, Massachusetts the same base where he attended basic training. He returned to his wife and family and then went back to work for the Naval Torpedo Station. He remained there and at the same address at 190 Earle St, In New Bedford until he passed away in 1978. His wife Yvonne, is still alive and will be 104 this year.

Raouls Decorations:
1. European African Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars
2. Good Conduct Medal
3. WWII Victory Medal