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July 19, 1944:
Moved fifteen miles up the coast to our present location. What
I have seen, I can't put in this book, nor do I have the time.
My memory will have to hold that until later.
July 21, 1944:
I have noted this in my diary, "Couldn't forget Sis on her
birthday".
July 22, 1944:
Today I am writing this in my tent and wondering what the future
brings. I pray God that His guidance be with me.
July 25, 1944:
Witnessed one of the most awesome sights I have ever seen or
probably ever will. The Great Armada of planes that shuttled
back and forth from England this day was amazing.
I was awakened in early morning by the drone
of squadron upon squadron of bombers escorted by fighter planes.
This continued all day. Three thousand planes took part in this
exercise to demolish the German stronghold at St. Lo. Because
these were American and English planes, to me it was a beautiful
sight. As they dropped their bombs and hit their targets, the
noise sounded like the end of the world. This has to be a day
of air history.
NOTE: The newspapers later verified my
assumption. This day opened up the front and the American troops
now began to move. I have noted in my diary that I will have
to catch my breath before I make any more entries. I will have
to catalogue in my mind all that I see until I have a chance.
July 29, 1944:
We had a terrible bombing last night. One bomb hit near us and
jarred me out of my fox hole. The bombing hit thirteen trucks.
Ninety of our guys were killed and many more are missing and
injured. What a sobering experience. You should have seen the
guys digging their fox holes deeper the next morning. I experienced
many bombings and strafings during this period. They finally
ceased after the Battle of the Bulge when the Germans shot their
last wad. Their war production finally dwindled to a trickle
and their gasoline supply was finally shut off.
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