Hispanics in Americs Defense Home Medal of Honor
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Hispanics in Americas Defense The 713th Railway Operating Battalion (or the Santa Fe Battalion), New Mexico During wartime, public attention generally focuses upon the people who do the shooting, shelling, and bombing. Combat troops, however, constitute a relatively small percentage of people in uniform and engaged in war-related activities. Often under extreme hardship, Medical, Transportation, and Quartermaster personnel, provide supplies, equipment, and life saving services. Hispanic Americans made outstanding contributions in these units. One such noncombatant unit was the 713th Railway Operating Battalion of the Military Railway Service. The 713th, or "Santa Fe Battalion", was formed at Camp Clovis, New Mexico on March 12, 1942. Its members were experienced railway personnel who had been inducted to clear, repair, and build military railways and to operate the trains which moved vital supplies to the front line troops. Although they did not expierience direct combat, they were subject to enemy bombing and shelling in addition tothe occupational hazards and dangerous climatic conditions associated with railway work. After receiving military training, the 713th left New Mexico on January 21, 1943 for Fort Dix, New Jeresey and shipment to North Africa. On February 19, 1943, the unit landed at Casablanca in Morocco. From February through September 1943, the 713th operated trains, cleared and repaired track, and built new track all along the North African from Casablanca, Morocco; to Ovan, Setif, and Tebessa, Algeria; to Sbeitla and Sousse, Tunisia. From February to May 1943, the 713th transported over 500,000 tons in 47,255 cars by rail. They provided the bulk of the rail supply to the American 2nd Corps and the Allies which ensured a victory for the Allies in North Africa. Later in the war, the 713th moved to Italy from October, 1943 to June, 1944 and then to Southern France in September, 1944 and up to Western Germany in early 1945. Most of the Hispanics in the 713th were assigned to Company A which was responsible for the repairing of existing railway systems and the laying of new track. Among the Hispanic members were: Eulogio Chavez, Lionzo Chavez, Juan Cornejo,
Their unsung contributions to the war effort should not be forgotten.
Links to other United States Railway Operating Battalions: America's Soldiers Railroaders
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