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Russell C. Eustice Recalls the Troop Train 2980 Tragedy at St. Valery-en-Caux During World War IIWorld War II | Single Page | 14 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post It was 11 p.m. when Lieutenant Reed Morse of Company C, 782nd, marched his platoon away from Henry Gibbons. At the station they were loaded into 'Forty and Eights,' French boxcars built to carry 40 men or eight horses. The forward 24 cars of the train were wood, with sliding side doors and single pairs of wheels at either end. Simple couplings linked the cars, which were fitted with rounded steel bumpers to absorb the force of stops. As uncomfortable as these unheated railroad cars were, they were welcome refuge from the wind and rain. Lieutenant Morse and 20 of his men climbed into one of the boxcars toward the front of the train. Other units from Henry Gibbons loaded in turn as they arrived at the station. Subscribe Today
Trained in the repair and maintenance of heavy rolling stock, Lieutenant David Matteson and the members of the 1471st were not impressed by the French boxcars. The 1471st's Sergeant Lowell Sell vividly remembered the events of that night: 'The 4th Squad of the 2nd Maintenance Platoon was given an empty car, Number 13. Thinking we had plenty of room, this seemed lucky, so we spread out over the floor. Suddenly, the door slid open and two groups from the tank outfit filled our car. Fortunately, our squad decided to stay in a group. We moved in tight, sitting with our backs against the front of the car. Stafford was on my right, while Schonce was in the corner and on my left. Our 4th Squad and the tankers were jammed in tight. I remember a major in their group at the left side sliding door.' Meanwhile, the 553rd Ambulance Company climbed onto the train. The four officers and 170 men of the 656th Quartermaster Railhead Company were among the last to arrive. Activated in March 1944, they were well prepared for their mission to distribute rations to units operating on the front lines. Sergeant Horace Wesche recalled, 'We boarded the train near midnight in cold rain turning to snow.' Arriving at the station after most of the other units, they were allotted the metal cars at the rear of the train. After what seemed like a wait of hours, around 2 a.m. the engine jerked the cars into motion and Troop Train 2980 began to roll. The men removed their steel helmets and used their field packs as back cushions. The cold, the train's uneven motion and the hard floor guaranteed a sleepless ride. They did not know that their impatience to get underway was matched by that of the officials who were responsible for the train's schedule. The pressure was on. During January 1945, Le Havre had become the principal debarkation point in the ETO. Within a two-week period, the capacity of the port was almost doubled. Not far away, Camp Lucky Strike was designated the largest staging camp in Western Europe, with room for 66,000 military personnel. The plan was to move GIs by truck or rail from the port to the camp, where they were to remain about six weeks to assemble equipment and prepare for movement to the front. Hard-driving Maj. Gen. Frank S. Ross, the ETO's chief of transportation, demanded that the troop trains move quickly. Any delay had to be explained in detail to transportation officials. Troop Train 2980 was no exception. To assure continuous operation along the train's route, a second engineer and fireman rested behind the coal car in a passenger car equipped with a small stove and bunks. The train's two French crews rotated duty under the direction of a U.S. Army transportation officer. An English locomotive powered number 2980, drawing 45 Forty and Eight boxcars — 24 wooden cars with well-worn mechanical brakes and 21 steel cars in better mechanical shape. In the face of wartime demands, the British engine had been placed in service without a speedometer or speed-recorder. After departing Le Havre, the train crawled the 32 miles east to Motteville. It took five hours to cover the distance. A rest stop at Motteville allowed the engine crews to rotate duties. Some soldiers warmed themselves by exercising along the tracks while cocoa and doughnuts were served to the engine's crew. During the pause, one engineer took a moment to protest about what he considered the engine's poor brakes, but he was reassured by his superior that there was nothing to worry about and sent on his way to St. Vaast. The stop at St. Vaast brought additional queries from the concerned engineer about brake safety, but he was again ignored and told to head for St. Valery. Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: 20th - 21st Century, Historical Conflicts, World War II
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14 Comments to “Russell C. Eustice Recalls the Troop Train 2980 Tragedy at St. Valery-en-Caux During World War II”
My grandfather used to talk about a train wreck where some of his buddies died. He was in the 782d. Does anyone have any pictures of the plaque?
By Stephanie on Aug 20, 2008 at 4:33 pm
who was in the in all of their names ,please.
was julian brazear?
brazier?
By bill abbott on Oct 24, 2008 at 6:19 pm
My grandfather was Reed Morse. I have a booklet put out on the crash. There are some great photos in it.
By neil morse on Dec 16, 2008 at 3:10 am
My Uncle Otis Sebren was on the train. He was injured (both legs were broken. They were pinned by wreckage.) I wonder if he is the one mentioned on page 2. He still is a card player. Thank you Mr. Eustice, for the story and for your service to our country!
By Lisa on Jan 18, 2009 at 10:28 pm
My father was on the train and was killed. His name was Walter "Red" Weatherford. I had always been told that the wreck was as a result of some type of derailing. I never knew any more than this. I had never seen photographs or knew any more until today as I decided to do a little research to see what I could find out since the anniversary of his death was last week.
By Donna Weatherford Mora on Jan 22, 2009 at 4:51 pm
My father was on this train and was killed. Above is my sister's posting. I visited my father's grave at Normandie Beach and even now there is no record of how he died. He was in the 782 Tank Batallion. His name was Weldon W. Weatherford better known as Red. If anyone reads this that was on the ship going over to France, I wonder if you remember a man in one of the bands that played the "fiddle". He was half Irish and had a band in Texas before joining the Army. My sister and I have tried throughout the years to find out anything we can about him as our mother would not talk about him nor were our questions ever answered by her or his family. He came from a large family in West Texas and was the baby in a fatherless family. We were told the family was devastated at his death. He was the favorite. Please contact me at drkayschanzer@sbcglobal.net if you know anything about my father and/or how he died in the wreck. Thank you Mr. Eustice for making this information known. You have done a great service to us all.
By Kay Weatherford Schanzer on Jan 23, 2009 at 1:25 am
My granddad was a medic in the 782nd Tank BN and was in this wreck.
By Bill Alsobrook on Feb 2, 2009 at 10:00 pm
My father was a tank commander in the 782d. He told me about the train wreck. He was one of two men in the box car to survive the carsh. He was taken to a French hospital about six miles from Camp Lucky Strike. He told me that the only food they could get there was saur kraut. He had both legs broken, but after two weeks, he could no longer stand the food and walked the six miles back to Camp Lucky Strike on Crutchs. My Dad passed away in 2002 and I still miss him but am thankful for the sacrifice that he and the others on this train for the freedom that we enjoy today. God bless the families of all of the men and women on this train.
By Joel F Hanson Jr on May 4, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Marion Beavers was my Uncle and recently passed away he was on the train and part of the 782nd Battalion.
In Memoriam of William Marion Beavers
Facts
Born: November 4, 1922
Place of Birth: Kay County, Oklahoma
Death: May 31, 2009
Place of Death: Ponca City, Oklahoma
Memorial donations can be made to:
Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 N. Union, Ste. 103, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601
William Marion Beavers
November 4, 1922 – May 31, 2009
William “Marion” Beavers, Ponca City resident, died on Sunday, May 31, 2009 at the Ponca City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was 86.
Marion was born the son of William Steven Beavers and Ruth Ellen (Manahan) Beavers on November 4, 1922 in Kay County. He enlisted in the United States Army on January 19, 1943 and served in Europe with the 782nd Tank Battalion, Patton’s third army during World War II. Marion also served with Patton at the Battle of The Bulge. He survived the train wreck at St. Valery in France on January 17, 1945. Although 89 soldiers died and 152 were injured, the U.S. government did not recognize this incident. He was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and honorably discharged on February 7, 1946, at Camp Chafee, Arkansas. Shortly after returning from Europe, Marion married Una Marie Jones on July 23, 1945, in Newkirk, Oklahoma. The couple made their first home in Blackwell, Oklahoma and moved to Ponca City in 1950. To this union, three children were born.
Marion was employed with Continental Oil Company for 17 years and then went to work for American General Life Insurance Company, retiring in 1985. Marion was a longtime member of Sunset Baptist Church, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1201, American Legion, Masonic Lodge and the Shriners. Marion had several enjoyments which included collecting coins, fishing and camping in Broken Bow at Beavers Bend. Marion took pride in maintaining the memory board that he designed and built. He created this board to honor members of the 782nd Battalion who passed away. Marion also loved country western music and loved to dance.
He is survived by his loving wife, Marie of 63 years; son, Ronald Kent Beavers Sr. and his wife, Nora of Port Arthur, Texas; grandchildren, Ronald Kent Beavers Jr., and wife, Rene of Khema, Texas, William Troy Beavers and wife, Coretta of Groves, Texas and Stephen Marcus Beavers and wife, Kathryn of Houston, Texas; great grandchildren, Tiffany Beavers, Christina Beavers, Candace Beavers of Bridge City, Texas, Tori Caylen and Jacob Ryan Beavers, Christian Bryce Beavers, Autumn Hazel Beavers, Alyssa Denise Beavers and Ashley Beavers of Groves, Texas; one great great grandchild, Jazymn Beavers; sister, Genevere Lois Clements and husband, Louis of Edmond, Oklahoma; nieces and nephews as well as many dear friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Donald Marion Beavers and daughter, Brenda Leigh Beavers; one brother and two sisters.
Casket bearers for the service will be the Amen Sunday School Class.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Marion’s honor to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 N. Union, Ste. 103, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601.
A funeral service will be held at 3:00p.m., Thursday, June 4, 2009 at Grace Memorial Chapel with Chaplain Mike Sweetman officiating. Burial will follow at I.O.O.F. Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.
Funeral Service
Thursday June 4, 2009, 3:00 p.m.
By Richard Harris on Jun 3, 2009 at 7:43 am
The Transportation Corps, then and now, have had some of the biggest REMFs, panzies and wussies the US Army has ever entertained. The article makes it plain: moving freight was the priority; moving soldiers was an afterthought. Railroad management is an oxymoron of the first order!!!!!!!!! If it is true that those injured in this incident were never able to prove Service Connection for VA benefits, it is a travesty!!!!
By Chris Hager on Aug 13, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I got to meet Marion Beavers in 2004 when I took my father to a 782nd reunion in OK City. He was an engaging man with a good memory of the war. My father was a replacement tank driver for the 782nd; he joined the unit after the train wreck. I have a photo of my dad and Marion at the reunion; it is a special memory.
By Mike Oliver on Aug 18, 2009 at 11:09 pm
My father was in this unit and I never got a chance to talk to him about WWII if anyone remembers him I would love to hear more about him his name was Raymond William Mercy
By Jon Mercy on Nov 12, 2009 at 3:19 pm
My grandfather, Budd Stout, was part of the 782nd (headquarters company),and was a survivor, in fact uninjured, in the train wreck. He took photos after things had calmed down. I have only seen a few of them but it appeared like the tragedy he had described. He often mentioned he thought there could have been some type of sabatoge, although unsure, he commented on how the french tried to help the best they could under language barriers and other obstacles.
By David Stout on Dec 14, 2009 at 2:29 pm
My late father, Lt. Philip C. Greene, was platoon commander in the 3rd platoon of Co. B, 782nd Tank Battalion. He spoke sparingly of that morning, as the memories of the human carnage were unforgettable, except to say it was a horrible. The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming. Energies were spent trying to make the wounded and those in shock more comfortable with morphine, bandages, and blankets. It is incredible that any service member wounded on that train has ever been denied any medical benefits. And none have ever been able to receive the purple heart for their sacrifice, because in was not in combat. The US Army has something to be accountable for! It is an abominable travesty to little recognize the sacrifices of so many that cold morning in St. Valerie.
By Rod Greene on Jan 22, 2010 at 5:14 pm