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June 16, 1944:
Went to "Camp Embro" where I met my new pals and as
I noted in my diary, "I hope these guys stay with me".
June 17, 1944:
I went to Mass and Holy Communion in honor of Mother and Dad's
wedding anniversary.
June 19, 1944:
Left Camp Embro and traveled by bus, thirty miles to a new repple
depot, Camp Barwick.
This was the best camp I was at in England.
We were lucky to be here one month. I had the opportunity to
form new friendships. We went through a lot of training that
simulated the Normandy terrain. We had huts here (no tents) and
regular toilet facilities, even though they reminded me of plumbing
of the late 1890's. The grub was pretty good.
Yeovil, a nice little town, was a stone's
throw from camp. I spent quite a few enjoyable evenings here
with Collen Ogden, Harry Weber, Lebenaskus, Leiner, and Sang.
I never did get accustomed to walking home at 11:00 p.m. in bright
daylight. It only got dark around midnight. The reason: you've
heard of the Northern Lights? Well that plus the fact the English
had their clocks set for War time. They were set two hours ahead
rather than the one hour we have for Daylight Savings Time.
July 17, 1944:
After one month at Camp Barwick we packed and headed for a new
adventure. We hiked two miles with full field pack (about seventy-five
pounds) then boarded a train and landed at Brockenhust, a few
miles from Southampton. We hiked another two miles in very hot
weather and arrived at another camp. Here we were issued live
ammunition. I now knew we were approaching the "real thing".
This night we were taken by truck to the coast and we boarded
an LCI (Landing Craft Infantry).
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