Help interpreting Final Pay Work Sheet

Hello all, I just found this website and know people before me have had some luck interpreting a Final Pay Work Sheet and I'm hoping someone can help me do that same for my grandfather Frank Tobin. I understand that a unit number and other info can be gathered but I can't make heads or tails of it. I've attached an image on the Work Sheet but I think the pertinent info is as follows:

615-365 RR 1-1 W 1838 38


I've already done a little research and have the following info:

He trained at Camp Claiborne-Polk in Louisiana
He worked on supply trains (maybe explains the RR in the info above)
He was in Belgium at some point and possibly work supply lines for Patton's Army
Was a Technician 5th Class

I'm hoping to track where he was in Europe and get a little more info on what he did in the war. Any and all help is very much appreciated and I'm so glad to have found this wealth of knowledge.

Thanks,
JTobin

 

Welcome to the forum JTobin !

 

I think the box that says "Previous Organization ..." indicates the 718th Railway Operating Battalion. If that's correct, I found this file that contains some unit history:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/37292210/718THROBCOMPLETE1-20rs

The file name says "complete" but the last page states "over" at the bottom and there are no reports for April, 45, or later.

Just found this: http://www.worldcat.org/title/history-of-the-718th-railway-operating-battalion-transportation-corps-with-photographs-anecdotes-and-roster-as-of-v-e-day/oclc/1088931&referer=brief_results

Take the book title and published date to your local library and they should be able to bring the same page up on their computers and, hopefully, have a copy of the book sent to them through the Inter-library loan program. You can then check if out locally.

Steve

 

Steve hit the nail on the head. I found the rest of the documents on Scribd. They are posted in segments of 20-25 pages:

www.scribd.com/doc/37292233/718THROBCOMPLETE21-40rs

www.scribd.com/doc/37292250/718THROBCOMPLETE41-60rs

www.scribd.com/doc/37292274/718THROBCOMPLETE61-85rs


I also found a digital copy of the 718th Railway Operating Battalion that you can download. Your grandfather is listed in the Company B roster on page 111 of the book:

www.paperlessarchives.com/FreeTitles/Historyofthe718thRailwayOperatingBattalion.pdf


I did not look for his name in the documents on Scribd, so you may want to look through them. There are several soldiers listed by name for various reasons.

 

Steve figured out the unit and steered me in the direction of Scribd. Hat tip to him.

One more thing that may be worth reading, JTobin. It may give a more personal angle on what it was like for the guys in the 718th.

Making a Memory: The war letters of William Chase, 1943-1945

William Chase was an officer in Company C, 718th ROB.

 

Wow! I am truly impressed with the speed you were able to find exactly what I was looking for. I've been staring at that work sheet for two years, but you guys found the answer in hours. I really really appreciate it. Thank you so much!