World War II Honoree

Albert 'Al' L. Childress

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Memphis, Tennessee

Honored By

Iris

Relationship

Wife, Daughter, Son, & Family

AFTER BASIC TRAINING IN TEXAS, HE SHIPPED OUT TO ENGLAND. HE CROSSED OMAHA BEACH 28 DAYS AFTER THE BATTLE. HE SERVED WITH THE 720TH RAIL ROAD OPERATIONS BATTALION, COMPANY 'C'. HE WAS A LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND FREQUENTLY FOLLOWED MAJOR BATTLES IN RESUMING RAILWAY OPERATIONS. THEY SUPPLIED FRONT LINE ACTION WITH AMMUNITION, FUEL, FOOD, HOSPITAL OPERATIONS, ETC. THEY FOLLOWED LEADERS INCLUDING GENERAL PATTON OUT OF FRANCE, GERMANY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM AND THROUGHOUT THE THEATER. DUTIES INCLUDED FOLLOWING THE RULES, RUNNING THE TRAIN, AND RETURNING THE OPERATION OF THE RAILROADS TO PROPER AUTHORITY.