World War II Honoree

Rex Minnie

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Farmer City, Illinois

Honored By

John W. Overton

Relationship

Friend

SERVED IN 350TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION IN FRANCE AND GERMANY. WAS ONLY PERSON IN 1,000-MAN BATTALION WITHOUT RAILROAD EXPERIENCE; THUS, MADE DISPATCHER. UNIT’S SOLE MISSION WAS TO MOVE SUPPLIES TO FRONT LINES: ”ANYTHING NEEDED, WE DELIVERED.” DURING BATTLE OF THE BULGE, GERMANS BLEW UP TRAIN TRACKS NEARLY EVERY NIGHT AND BATTALION’S CREWS, CALLED “GANDY DANCERS,” REPAIRED THEM THE NEXT DAY.