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August 12, 1945:
We left Gross Gerau about 5:00 p.m. and traveled south to Schwabish
Hall, a distance of 125 miles. A beautiful drive. We passed through
Mannheim, Heidelberg, Heilbronn, and followed the Neckar River
practically the whole way down. We drove on the super highway
into Heidelberg. Our house is on the top of a hill overlooking
the town. We find "Hall" as the natives call it, a
Nazified town and the people don't seem to have much use for
us.
Several days have passed and we are getting
the feel of this town. Such things as the sports platz; the bridge;
Route 19 leading to Aachen, and Route 14 to Crisheim, Gaildorf,
Grund, the Kitchen, Ratskeller, and Mrs. Reith.
On August 22nd I got my Corporal stripes and
on September 4th I became a Sergeant.
So much has happened to me this past ten days
that I'm overwhelmed. Our move of August 12th, the Japs surrendering
on August 14th, getting situated and finding our way around the
new area delivering our rations has kept us on the go. Now since
we are settled down it's beginning to sink in. I now am beginning
to realize what the Japanese surrender means to us all and how
grateful we all can be to the Dear Lord that He has taken such
good care of us all.
I now realize that I won't have to worry about
any future combat in the Pacific. I realize my brothers, Bob,
Paul, and John, will be spared from any future combat, since
they are all now in the Pacific Theatre. Above all our mom and
dad will no longer have to worry about us. All we have to look
forward to now is the big and glorious reunion we will be having
in the near future.
Just heard over the radio that the biggest
force of C-47's ever assembled in Okinowa is preparing for a
special mission. It's hinted that they are full of occupational
troops that will land in Japan. I'm wondering if brother John
is involved. This Japanese deal has me thinking. I have a feeling
that even though the war is over it is going to be a big task
to take over without incurring some casualties.
How are we in the civilized world going to
live at ease with this atomic bomb around. It must be a dreadful
weapon. I just hope they destroy the blue prints of this bomb.
I am getting itchy feet and want to get home.
Rumors once more are beginning to surface. The latest has us
sailing for home on December 23 which would get us home for New
Years.
August 29, 1945:
Still managing to work seven days a week. Get up around 7:00
a.m. Go get the rations, break them down and deliver them. We
usually wind up about 7:00 p.m. We have to drive seventy miles
one way to get the food.
Some more fellows left for home. Went with
the 106th Infantry Division. We in turn received some men from
the 106th. They are low pointers. Ranging between ten and twenty
points. There are two fellows here from Johnstown. One's name
is Beerman, who lives in Westmont. His family operates the Beerman
Auto Wreckers on Ferndale Avenue. The other is a fellow by the
name of Urchak, who lives on Bridge Street.
Had a letter from John and Paul today. Both
claim to be doing okay.
They have revised our points. I now have a
big fat "seventy-four" and they say all seventy plus
pointers will be home before Christmas. Rumors also have it that
the division will be home by Christmas. In fact the sailing date
has been set for December 3.
Regardless whether I am transferred out of
this division (like they have been doing) or staying with the
division I stand a good chance of getting home before Christmas.
Personally, I would like to stay with the good ol' Third Armored
even if it meant staying over here a few weeks longer.
Have been working hard and long but don't
mind it. Keeps me busy and doesn't give me much time to think
of all my friends that have left.
Looking back a year ago the 3rd Armored took
Liege, Belgium, and a few days later will celebrate the anniversary
of landing on German soil, south of Aachen.
NOTE: I have noted in my diary that I will
prize this diary in years to come since already giving me access
to accurate information just a year later. Here it is 1989, forty-four
years later (nearly one-half century) and, yes, I prize this
diary since much of what I have written would have been forgotten.
I lost some more of my best friends. They
were Paul Lubke, our first sergeant, Frank (Bozo) Gerace from
Philadelphia, and Jim (Whitey) Custard. So goes life. All I look
forward to now is getting home myself and into "civvies".
Some day in the future, I hope we old buddies can get together
again for a reunion.
NOTE: How prophetic this statement was.
Little did I realize that forty-four years later we would be
constantly corresponding through a newsletter and meeting annually
throughout the country.
I have lost six men in my ration section.
This has added an extra burden on me trying to keep things running
smoothly. I'm working harder now than I was when in combat.
I received a nice box from Lale (cookies,
gum, and candy bars). I have made a note to tell Lale not to
send any more boxes because of the nearness of going home.
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