Liberation
There's an American tank under all those men.
"April 29 - No Appell. Had Reville instead. At 12:30 the American flag was raised in Moosberg. Fighting close to camp for possession of the city started about 9:30 AM. At 12:50, American and other allied flags were raised in camp. Lt McCracken's brother was one of the first Americans in camp. Liberating force was the 7th Army, 14th Armored Division attached to the 3rd Army. Heard artillery all night, it was Allies firing at retreating Germans. SS troops in church steeple firing at Allies could be seen from camp 1."
"April 30 - Still sick from Saturday. Stayed in bed most all day. Still no sign of movement. Mortars were set up around camp and set up an awful din firing at Germans. Rainy and cold."
"May 1 - Rainy and cold. General Patton inspected the camp conditions. First saw him come in the gate at 15:45. Had 3 other Generals with him, 3, 2 and 1 stars."
"May 2 - Spent most of day talking with infantry fellows. Very cold and rainy out."
"May 3 - Got hold of a German rifle and cartridge case. Went off the post to get it. We're alerted to move tomorrow. Four Senators came into camp this AM. Ohio, Illinois and the liberating 2-star General who liberated us. Very cold and rainy all day. Went to Moosberg (through the fence) in afternoon and picked up two goon rifles and other souvenirs."
"May 4 - Supposed to leave this morning but it was postponed again. Fairly nice day out."
"May 5 - No sign of leaving. Showered most all day. Went 'through the fence' and visited Moosberg."
"May 6 - Went to church. No word about leaving. Went 'through the hole in the fence' and hitchhiked a ride to Munich. Could see the Alps from Munich. Spent all afternoon fooling around with two motorcycles. Went into a wine storehouse with couple of GIs and got about 4 or 5 gallons wine. Got two .44 cal revolvers, one .25 cal carbine, a SS bayonet and other souvenirs. Motorcycle broke down on way home so I stayed up all night drinking yellow and red wine and cognac."
"May 7 - Left about 4 AM for camp. Found out we were marked AWOL. Boarded trucks about seven and arrived Manching about 10:30 AM near Ingolstadt. Waited all day and only 15 C-47s came in and left. Spent night in Ingolstadt in a castle on the Danube River. Picked up a bayonet and a few other souvenirs. They shot down a Mosquito as we were leaving the airport at dusk. Tracers were coming pretty close to us in trucks."
"May 8 - Heard rumors the war is over. Waited around all day for C-47s but only one came in. A Stuka Dive Bomber came over the field today and artillery ack-ack opened up on it. Got it in quite a few places. It landed and three Germans got out and gave themselves up. Went swimming in an old swimming hole in the afternoon. Got an altimeter and other souvenirs off a 190 FW.
I and three others walked into a town nearby and demanded a bed for the night and we had eggs, meat and spuds for supper and flapjacks for breakfast. Took over a motorcycle and rode back to airport and C-47s started coming in about 7:30 AM and I got on about the 30th to arrive at the field. Took off for Ramstadt (possibly Ober-Ramstadt or Darmstadt as there is an airfield in the neighboring town of Griesheim that was captured from the Luftwaffe and later used to evacuate former POWs and wounded from the area) at 9:45 AM goon time, 28 POWs on board, 10:45 our time. Arrived Ramstadt 12:50 at airport. Went to the half-way house and was processed consisting of delousing, all new GI clothes, shot in arm. All took about 29 hours. Could have done it in 2 hours if run right. Food in mess."
The Journey Home
"May 10 - Left half-way house at 06:15 and boarded hospital train for Le Havre. Spent all day on train. Stopped at one station for dinner and other necessities."
"May 11 - Arrived at Camp Lucky Strike near St. Valery, France, about 70 kilometers from Le Havre. About 10:00 got mess kits issued and bedding. Spent rest of day sleeping in tent."
"May 12 - Spent most all day sun bathing and sleeping. Went to a movie."
"May 13 - Mothers Day. Missed church (didn't realize it was Sunday until too late for mass). Every day seems the same over here. Went to movies in evening."
There's an American tank under all those men.
"May 14 - Still no news of moving. Got a haircut. Went down to beach, about 3 kilometers, and looked at caves and gun emplacements, mines, etc., the Germans left."
"May 15 - Had a shower. Laid around rest of day. Went to movies."
"May 16 - Slept and sun bathed most all day. Moved over to the ready area in evening."
"May 17 - Busy all day being processed. Had a 63 physical exam, had a screening intelligence questionnaire and got an officer uniform complete with ribbons and bars."
"May 18 - Spent the day sleeping and sun bathing. Went to a movie."
"May 19 - Finished getting processed. Took a shower. Got paid but PX and gift shop were closed. At 9:15 we were loaded on to trucks and taken to Le Havre and billeted in another camp. Arrived about 1 AM."
"May 20 - Went to church. Rained most all day so I spent most of the day sleeping. Wrote Rita a letter, will mail it tomorrow. Couldn't buy anything at the PX, only permanent party can purchase anything. Only had money one day and then had to turn it back in so couldn't buy Rita a present."
"May 21 - Slept most all day. In evening went up to Red Cross Do-Nut dugout and ate about 12 donuts.
Had a shot in arm in evening."
"May 22 - Loaded on trucks about 1415 and was taken down to the boat USS Monticello, an Italian liner which was taken over by the US. Got on board about 1500. Boat carries about 8,000."
"May 23 - Boat sailed about 2230 last night from Le Havre and arrived at South Hampton about 1000 this morning. Chow very good in the mess hall. Slept on B Deck Companionway in immense sleeping quarters in 4-tier hammocks. About 200 in the whole room."
"May 24 - Got up at 0600 and 'sweat out' the PX line until 0830 to get candy and peanuts, then 'sweat out' chow line for breakfast. Left South Hampton, England, for States at 0745. Went on duty as Watch Officer from 1600 to 2000 on C Deck."
"May 25 - Spent most all day reading. Got a little exercise with punching bag on aft deck in the morning. Started out with about 15 ship convoy but ships have been joining up with us all day. An aircraft carrier joined us this morning. Went on duty as Watch Officer 2000 to 2400. Lost $5.25 in poker game."
"May 26 - Very tired from last night's guard watch. Slept and read most all day. Won $39.00 in poker game. Went on watch from 1800 to 2000 (P.S., time of duty changed and I wasn't informed). Sea getting rougher, feel a little seasick. Set watches back 1 hour at 1900."
"May 27 - Went to church in morning. Stood guard duty from 1200 to 1600. Set watches back 1 hour at 1900 hours."
"May 28 - Went on duty as Watch Officer from 0800 to 1200. Got my candy ration of 3 chocolate bars (every 2 days). Saw a shark (about 6 feet) alongside ship. Saw ship's orchestra play in mess hall in evening."
"May 29 - Guard duty 0400 to 0800. Beautiful day. All the other days were cloudy on trip so far. Saw school of about 200 porpoises about 1900. Made $14.00 in card game. Made out customs declaration."
"May 30 - On guard duty from 2400 to 0400. Slept most all day. Beautiful day, rained early in morning but cleared off. Changed clocks back 60 minutes at 1800. Sent Rita arrival telegram. Saw school of whales spouting."
"May 31 - Bad storm in morning. Ocean very rough all day. Ship's screws came out of water 15 feet."
"June 1 - Ocean still very rough. Sun shone most all day, beautiful day except for rough seas. Stayed in sack most all day. Watch Officer B2 compartment from 1600-2000."
"June 2 - Slept most all morning. Watch Officer from 1200 to 1600. Saw 2 whales. Beautiful day out. Ocean calmed down in afternoon."
"June 4 - Went through some more processing in morning. Stocked up at the PX and got a haircut. Called Rita on the phone (first time since I left for European Theater of Operations). Left for Fort Devens at 1755."
