Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- Military record of Thomas Anthony Fante, who served in the United States 716th Railway Operating Batallion from October 23, 1943 until September 30th, 1946.
- Extent:
- .03 Linear Feet 2 folders
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Fante (Thomas Anthony) War Department File, MS 646, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Military record of Thomas Anthony Fante, who served in the United States 716th Railway Operating Batallion from October 23, 1943 until September 30th, 1946. Information in Army file 201 includes: records of appointment, assignments, promotions, a copy of his honorable discharge, record of separation, names and addresses of members of the 716th Batallion, and his application to become a reserve officer. There is a letter to Southern Pacific Company President A.T. Mercier, praising Mr. Fante's work in France and Germany.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Thomas Anthony Fante was born on May 27, 1917. He grew up in Roseville, California. He worked for Southern Pacific as a trainmaster's clerk, clerk-stenographer, and secretary to the assistant vp of operations. In 1943, Fante was conscripted into military service as an officer and was assigned to the 716th Railway Operating Batallion, which was sponsored by Southern Pacific, whose employees made up the bulk of the officer class. The Batallion deployed to Europe in December 1943.
Fante served in the Batallion as a trainmaster, yardmaster, assistant chief dispatcher and transportation officer in France before he was transferred to Germany in 1946, where he was given the responsibility of denazifying and reorganizing the German Railway Division. He received the rank of captain. After his service concluded in September 1946, he returned to Southern Pacific's headquarters in San Francisco, where he worked as a transporation specialist. Mr. Fante became a reserve officer for the Department of the Army. He served in this capacity until February 18, 1955 when he received an honorable discharge.
Mr. Fante died on January 27, 2010. He was survived by his wife Floradale Maxine and a son Thomas M. Fante.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Tom M. Fante, 2017
- Physical location:
- Statewide Museum Collections Center
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research by appointment. Contact Library Staff for details.
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the CSRM as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Fante (Thomas Anthony) War Department File, MS 646, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
111 I StreetSacramento, CA 95814, US
- Contact:
- (916) 323-8073