GETTING THERE! (Where?)To The Front Lines in Germany, 1945
By Br. James E. Lenon, Jr.
Phase I. You're in the Army Now!
Graduating from Infantry Basic Training, at Camp Roberts, California, in late 1944, I soon had orders for duty in the European Theater of Operations. Traveling by rail from Camp Roberts, California, to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, a staging area, and part of the New York Port of Embarkation. We were there about four days and then boarded the Troop Ship, Queen Mary (I think). The biggest and only ship I had ever set foot on.
Phase II. Journey From New York to Scotland
Together with approximately 15,000 other replacements, we headed overseas, a 3200 mile ocean voyage in war time conditions. Soon after departure, everyone (except maybe, the ships crew and Captain) got seasick!! Most everyone recovered by the 4th and 5th day and time was spent doing physical training, shooting the bull, playing cards, and carrying on conversations. There were card games (a blanket on the floor) everywhere you went. I remember being part of a four man singing group, one of the songs was "I'll Be Seeing You".
It was a fully loaded ship! I had the second bunk of a tier of four in some hold. We ate in two shifts, morning and evening. (If you were well enough to keep the food down). The mess halls were gigantic halls with narrow tables with side rails. You stood while trying to hold on to your mess kit, because the ocean was not just lying still while we had breakfast, for there were huge waves and of course everything in your mess kit was reacting to the lunging of the ship and hard boiled eggs were going everywhere. Eleven days later, we arrived in Scotland and were transferred to smaller ships to complete the journey to Le Havre, France.
We traveled a day and night with rumors that a German submarine was lurking somewhere out there. We made it without incident and disembarked at Le Havre, France.
Phase III. Spring of 1945 Getting There
We boarded some tiny railroad box cars known as 40 & eights, or " The French Box Car" I learned later, which meant they were designed to carry 8 animals or 40 troops. This meant you had very little space and were packed in like sardines. After 2-3 days of this, I checked in at a replacement depot, did guard duty and other jobs that were assigned. We kept moving towards the front and I eventually was assigned and joined K Company, 331st Inf. Regt., 83rd Infantry Division, as a Rifleman.
I had finally made it to the front. Learned how to get along, how to dig foxholes, and stay alive.
It took 2-3 months and over 7200 miles to get there, but I got there and best of all I came home to tell this story.
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!!!!! JEL 1-13-10
