The Secret Diary of Sgt. Robert Tompkins
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Sgt. Robert R. Tompkins, member of the 4th Platoon in Company B of the 603rd Camouflage Battalion, kept this account of the battalion's activities on random dates between January, 1944 and July, 1945. The original diary was a very small book, consisting of 56 pages and measuring 2 inches by 3 inches. Upon returning to the United States in July 1945, Bill Blass' mother, Ethel, offered to decipher the tiny writing and put it in typewritten form. This web version of the diary's contents was prepared from a PDF of the typewritten pages in 2020. Some typographical errors and misspellings have been corrected in this online transcription for ease of reading, and some commentary explaining terms was added in square brackets. Any links that appear have been added by the Ghost Army Legacy Project to provide context and additional information. Most of the photos are from the Bob Tompkins Collection of the Ghost Army Archive. Tompkins paintings and sketches are reproduced courtesy of the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection at Brown university. For permission to reproduce photos or publish diary excerpts, send an email to office@ghostarmy.org. |
Tompkins Diary entries from August 23 - August 30, 1944.
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Secret Diary from Rick Beyer on Vimeo.
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Right: Bill Blass and Bob Tompkins' wife, usually referred to in his diary as Bunn (Bunny) and Babe. Courtesy Bob Tompkins Collection, Ghost Army Archive .
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These artworks were created by Robert Tompins in April, 1944, at Camp Forrest Tennessee. Courtesy Anne S.K.Brown Military Collection, Brown University.
| May 2 | Left Kilmer to board Henry Gibbons [US Army transport] | |
| May 3 | 3 A. M. Left New York for England | |
| May 14 | Anchored off Cardiff [capital of Wales, about 150 miles west of London] | |
| May 15 | Docked Avonmouth [port of Bristol, England] | |
| May 16 | 4 A. M. Left boat and boarded train for Kineton (Walton Hall) [Estate, England, near Stratford-on-Avon] |
Tompkins' May/June destinations; click icon in top left corner of the map to see map key
| June 18 | Left Walton Hall and arrived Exeter [city in Devon, England] - 154 miles | |
| June 19 | Saw hundreds of C 47's [military transport aircraft] leave nearby airport to drop supplies and return a few hours later. | |
| June 20 | Left Exeter - arrived Hursley Camp [a marshaling camp where they stayed overnight] - 115 Miles. | |
| June 21 | Left Hursley for Southampton - Boarded the L.S.T. [Landing Ship, Tank] 335 late afternoon. | |
| June 22 | Laid in harbor off "Isle of Wight" | |
| June 23 | 11:46 P.M. pulled anchor for France | |
| June 24 | "D" plus 18 - Anchored off Utah beach about 11:30 A.M. drove out the big doors about 5:30 P.M. through traffic control area, etc. through Carentan, Isigny, to about 3 miles north of Treviers, arrived at camp about midnight. Ecranville. |
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At left, bombed out church in Trevieres. Courtesy John Jarvie Collection, Ghost Army Legacy Project Archive. At right, Bob Tompkins' sketch of the church. Courtesy Anne S.K.Brown Military Collection, Brown University
| July 1 | First mission [Elephant] about 2000 yds from front lines | |
| July 4 | Returned to base camp. Mission accomplished. Heard one plane shot down about 2 A.M. on first mission. | |
| July 5-6 | Moved to new base camp 2 Miles south of Treviers (Mandeville) | |
| July 14 | Saw first enemy aircraft shot down P-51 [American long-range, single-seat fighter-bomber] with German pilot. | |
| July 17 | On or about 17th, first alarm of gas (false of course) | |
| July 22 | Residue [term for the balance of our outfit] with Willy. [Bill Blass] | |
| July 25 Tuesday | While playing softball saw largest raid on front lines ever attempted. 1500 heavies and 1500 fighters. [Heavies are bomber planes that can carry larger bombs for longer distances than regular fighter planes.] Saw two columns of smoke indicating two planes lost. [Bombing of St. Lo in preparation for the breakthrough in Normandy.] | |
| July 28 | Reconnaisance trip - Treviers, Isigny, Coventon, La Haye, De Puits - turned back on road to Lessey. Too jammed. Returned by vicinity of St. Lo - 95 miles. Heaviest AA barrage seen yet about 11:30 and about 4 A.M. in morning got up and slept under truck [because shrapnel was raining down from anti-aircraft fire]. | |
| July 30 (On Guard) | 8:30 A.M. Lancasters [British four-engine strategic bombers] roar overhead. Hundreds headed due south. |
Tompkins' July destinations; click icon in top left corner of the map to see map key
Bill Blass and Bob Tompkins in July, 1944. Courtesy: Robert Tompkins Collection, Ghost Army Legacy Project Archive
| August 2 | U.S.O. [United Service Organizations oversaw and provided recreation and aid services for the armed forces] Not so hot! | |
| August 3 | Move 6 mi. on Coutances - Germans left on the run about five or six days ago. Equipment, lines, roads - dead cattle numerous. Towns shot to hell. Houses houses here and there. | |
| August 3 | Leave Camp at Trevieres for new camp south of here between Priers and St. Lo about six miles north of Coutances | |
| August 5 | PATTON arrived Brest 2 hours ago. | |
| August 6 | Reconnaisance to Coutances, Tourville and Agon. Coutance in rubble. Had calvadose [apple or pear brandy from Normandy] in Tourville and Agon (hotel). Were told hotel keeper pro-German. Took 9 snapshots. Saw first French armored division roaring up with our equipment. | |
| August 7 | Reconnaisance for 70th Division. Supposed to land at Omaha Beach. | |
| August 9 | Leaving any hour now to simulate Armored strength on Brittany Pen. [peninsula] while actually 6th Armored Division leaves this area to attempt 2 large scale trap of German 7th Army. | |
| August 9 | Only A Co. C Co. [units of the 603rd Camouflage Engineers Battalion] and Signal Corps [communication specialists that linked land and air forces] and 406 [Combat Engineer Batallion, part of 23rd Headquarters Special Troops] moved out tonight for Assemb. area about 1/2 miles from Avranches. Took Lt. Gray down after chow with stencil men. Saw German horsedrawn carts littering the roads, 88's and tanks. Saw [Mount] St. Michel in distance. Had to drive in pitch dark all the way back. Had a flat about 7 miles out of Coutances. German prisoners rolled by us by the truck-loads. Coutance looked like a ghost town. Back about 1:30 A.M. | |
| August 12 | Heavy raid on; Sounded like Forts [B-17 bombers] went overhead this morning. Outfits return - captured several Jerries. [Jerries was a slang term for Germans] Col. Schrader missing. Reconnaisance being organized to look for him. | |
| August 13 | Col. Schrader found. Messages failed to get through. Problem [term for mission] reported a big success. Reports from German radio report 2nd Armored Div. on Brittany Pen. [peninsula] (aren't we the devils!) | |
| August 16 | Bombers continue to drone overhead. Just counted 102 Mitchells [North American B-25 medium bombers] headed for that 10 mi. gap: Trap should be completely closed by tonight. | |
| August 20 | Pulling out on problem - location Brest. Mop up job. Don't expect to return to this area. News today; we're now in outskirts of Paris (Coutance - Dol. [Dol de Bretagne, France] 74 mi.) 20,000 Jerries [actually 10,000] trapped in Brest. | |
| August 20 Sunday | Saw headless cow hanging from a 30 ft. tree on hill in Coutance - must have been a hell of a blast. On our way to simulate artillery fire on Brest - still a hell of a lot of Germans to be cleaned up out there. Pass I.P. [initial point] at 1:30 P.M. Bivouac in vicinity of Dol. [a bivouac is a temporary camp without tents or cover] | |
| [August 21-25: We were simulating 2nd Armored Division for 2 days, 3 nights, with dummy Sherman tanks et. al., on perimeter of Brest. Germans observed us from church tower about 1000 yards away.] | ||
| August 21 | Dol to 10 mi. north of Brest (164 mi) Pulled out 8:10 A. M. 158 mi. vicinity of Lesneven - about 10 - 15 miles north of Brest. Drove most of the way with top and windshield down in driving rain. Would give my right arm to be able to sit in front of a cozy fire with my little darling in my arms. Oh! Adolph, you son of a bitch. I feel like a frozen drowned rat. | |
| August 23 | Bivouac to front. Left here 2:30 P.M. arrived 1200 yards from front lines. about 3:30 Have dug in tonight with set-up. 2 Minutes ago one of our artillery observation planes was hovering overhead. All of a sudden German AA [anti-aircraft fire] opened. Three shells exploded - plane dropped off to left, flew back out of range. Looks like it will get hotter before it's over. | |
| August 24 | Maintained items - tore them down at 9 P.M. Moved up 500 yards to new area and set up 10 tanks. Willy and I set up our tent with our feet sticking out in the pouring down rain and passed out about 3:00 A.M. | |
| August 25 | Fireworks start. Artillery raising hell - stood on hedgerow and watched the whole show. Saw shells landing about 400 yards in front of us. Could hear machine guns, rifles, mortars, etc. Saw time firing - saw 4 thunderbolts strafing with rockets. They roared over our heads and then dove into the thick of it. Havocs came over and bombed. Couple of mortar shells came our way. Landed about 50 yards behind us. Whole front line is one screen of smoke. 20 -1/2 trucks burned to shit by German Patrol in our area night before last. Pulling out at 10 P.M. tonight to return to bivouac area. Looks like the battle of Brest is over for us. Thank God! I'm dead tired. | |
| August 25 | Leave front after tough 3 days, to bivouac area. | |
| August 26 Saturday | Getting everything straightened out today. Will start our drive to Chartres early tomorrow morning. Just beginning to realize how vulnerable we were the last three days as stories came in from various sources. Heavies giving hell to Brest today. | |
| August 27 Sunday | Lesneven to Rennes. Left Lesneven (super trip) 9:00 P.M. Thursday morning Rennes Arrived five Km from Rennes about 6 o'clock - Beautiful estate. | |
| August 28 | Rennes to Torce near St. Suzanne. Leaving 9.00 o'clock for Chartres this morning. Arrived just east of St. Suzanne near Ville of Torce- supposedly liberated by Reeder, last Sunday. Crowds wave and cheer and throw flowers. | |
| August 29-30 | Spent night in bivouac. Got drunk for first time since England night of 28th. Ray and I held each other up. [probably Ray Harford, a member of his platoon] Back to camp. | |
| August 31 | Torce to Mouny near Sens just about 50 miles E SE of Paris. Bivouac in woods. Left Torce on 225 mi. trip E of Paris to Mouny. Drove all the way. Tired, dirty, no water to wash with. Bivouaced in woods, Went through Chartres, La Loupe, Fontainebleau, Port Su Sanne, etc. Things seem more civilized. People seem very well dressed. Heard Yanks are in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Patton nearing border of Germany. |
Tompkins' August destinations; click icon in top left corner of the map to see map key
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Celebrating in Paris. At left, L-R, Bob Tompkins, Paul Seckel, Bill Blass and George Vander Sluis. At right, soldiers, L-R: Private Paul Seckel, Corporal Mordecai Reese Craig (moustache) Private John Kennedy, Private William "Buzz" Senat, unknown.
| September 1 | Waiting. No one knows what's up. (While on move no mail service. That's all I worry about) | |
| September 2 | Awakened at 1:00 A.M. Thompson and I have to take his truck on convoy for gas. Left at 6 this morning. Destination Cherbourg. Came by way of Argentan where German 7th was trapped. Just one mass of Bomb craters. Just missed going through Paris again. Traveled 245 miles to Q.M. [Quarter Master] Gasoline Dump. Giving up three or four truckloads. The rest of us will go on to the beach tomorrow. Insigny our destination. | |
| September 3 Sunday | Awoke at 8. Did a little sketch of a nearby farmhouse. Heard the Sunday school choir singing in a small church nearby. Thought of my little darling. |
This is the sketch Tompkins mentions in the September 3 diary entry. Courtesy Anne S.K.Brown Military Collection, Brown University.
| September 4 | Start drive for Mouny at 8:00 Via Chartres, Fontainebleau, Port Sur Yonne, etc. Arrived in Camp 10 P.M. Monday nite 280 Miles. 640 Miles round trip. | |
| September 5 | Stay here indefinitely. Rumors we go to Versailles. Also "We sail on Nov. 23 for States". Sounds too good. (IT WAS) | |
| September 7 | Mouny to St. Germaine - six miles from Versailles and about 10 or 12 miles from center of Paris. Stucco barracks. Camp des Loges. What a set-up!. Leavy Mouny - St. Germaine 5 mi. from Versailles 8-9 miles from Eiffel Tower and Gay Paree. Left 3:00 P.M. for Torce. Pick up Dummies. Arrived 10:30 | |
| September 8 | Loaded. Went to Chateau Dun. | |
| September 9 | Returned to St. Germaine. Everyone gay. Wonderful quarters, tennis courts, stadium, swimming pool. Intend to do some shopping tonite. Spent evening in St. Germaine. Bought perfume. Saw Chat 14 - Visited a couple of dives and drank champagne in very nice outdoor cafe. | |
| September 10 Sunday | Left in truck and entered Gay Paree for first time. Truck parked in front of Notre Dame Cathedral and we went inside and then walked around in the department store section. Then walked up Champs Elysees to Arc De Triumph. Took pictures. Two Frenchmen offered to show us around town. Drank beer in open air cafe on the Avenue and met Mr. Ross. Returned to truck by way of Place De La Concorde across Seine to left bank and walked down to N.D. Little 16 yr old girl presented me with her own personal key to the city. | |
| September 11 | St. Germaine for the evening. Had champagne, by the way, while working in the motor pool this afternoon. Bought mom a charm bracelet with all the coat of arms on it. | |
| September 12 | Versailles - palace, etc. | |
| September 14 | Loges to Chalons - Bivouac over nite. Left Loges 4 P.M. on rush alert. 120 Mi. Bivouac E. of Chalons at 1 A.M. Drove black-out for 3 ½ hours. Eyes puffing. | |
| September 15 | Chalons — Bettembourg - Begins mission —- 248 mi. from Paris to Bettembourg. Left 8 A.M. through Verdun into Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Great ovation. Arrive Bettembourg about 6 mi. from city of Luxembourg. 12 mi. to German border. Front lines about 2 miles to east. Might go on mission tonight Everybody has a cold. Feel shitty. (248 miles total) We're the only outfit on this part of front except for 1 Cavalry Squadron spread very thinly. No one knows where front is. | |
| September 16 Saturday | Last night moved up about 1 ½ miles and pulled into heavy woods about 3 o'cl. Tanks moving all around us. Woke early. Sewed on patches. Set up tanks. Built fires simulating armored infantry battalion. Truck goes out every hour into village on atmosphere. Drank a quart of beer with a German family in Bettembourg. Spoke with woman who had been to New York and Chicago. | |
| September 17 Sunday | German soldier in civilian clothes gave himself up this morning, and Seckel interrogated him. Says Germany is in a miserable state. | |
| September 18 | Reports say Germans have withdrawn on Moselle River. Setting up tank obstacles, German 15th has left Metz to oppose us. It seems the 603rd has been given credit for pushing Nazis completely out of Luxembourg. Reports say we are a terrific success. | |
| September 21 | Still continue to maintain fires and general activity. Mail truck came in last night. Only one letter from Babe but it boosted my spirits as always. Heinie [slang term for German soldiers] patrol reported about three or four miles away. Platoon of 406 went out to look for them. Civilians seem to be getting too anxious about our set-up. We should have moved out a couple of days ago, but attack seems imminent so I guess we have orders to remain until it begins. I have exactly one week left on my prediction. Another problem immediately after this is now rumored. Went into Luxembourg this afternoon for about an hour and 15 minutes. Had hot shower and managed to get some odds and ends and a glass of beer. Beautiful city. | |
| September 22 Friday | Moving out! Outfit moves back about 10 miles to Uckange to make room for 83rd to move in. Platoon moved out with rest of Company this evening at 5 P.M. Bascharage 8 - 10 miles to rear. Lt. Gray and I remained to check fires and signs. Slept at Mercy-Cort. (Old 23rd C.P. [command post]) Our water Point [source of drinking water, with pump and purification devices] was sniped at and a couple of the wires cut according to report. Three Infantry Divisions have also been opposing us. New problem commences. | |
| September 23 Saturday | Lt. Gray and 1 leave to join platoon at Bascharage. Rained early this morning. Arrived at Company area at 8:30 A.M. Saw collaborators being marched to work by Luxembourgers at point of rifles this morning. | |
| September 25 | Into barracks. Seminary in Luxembourg. 4:15 leave woods for quarters in a Seminary in Luxembourg. Thank God, we'll be dry and able to sleep in beds. Arrived in outskirts of Luxembourg at about 5:45. Beautiful huge building "B" Co. residing. 1 Squadron to room on top floor. What a haul with equipment trying to get lights fixed. Great commotion. Jerries pulled all the fixtures out. Bastards! Hope to hell we stay here until it's all over! | |
| September 27 | Have the hives. Oh my, Christ, do I itch. Too many green plums I guess. Stored dummies in former Nazi auditorium. Large plaster gilt eagle with swastika on stage. Rumors now wild again - such as sailing for home Oct. 15th. Looks like my prediction was all off. |
Tompkins' September destinations; click icon in top left corner of the map to see map key
| October 1 Sunday | Had dinner with a wonderful Luxembourg family tonight. On our way to a movie when they called us in. Home made ice cream and cake. Wow! It was terrific. Sherry, shlutz and upper Moselle wine. Getting up at 4;45 tomorrow to leave on problem near Metz. Just taking flash equipment. | |
| October 4 | Yesterday afternoon Lt. Gray and I spent great part of afternoon at 344 FA [field artillery] Hq. at Coutance until telephone could be put through. Had coffee and doughnuts at RC. About fifteen minutes after we left village two German shells landed about 100 yards from Headquarters. Supposed to set up a couple of batteries today in front of heavy artillery. Tentative problem called approximately Drian at 6 P.M. Watched wonderful show put on by 12 P 47's [Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft] strafing Maginot Fort on right flank of Metz. We stood on a hill about 3/4 miles away from fort. Planes came down in long dives. ACK ACK all around them. They then would open up and we could see their rockets and 50 cal. Tracers streak out in front of them. Then they would disappear behind the trees, and then roar right over our heads and then go back again for another crack. Could hear the roar of machine gun fire. | |
| October 5 Thursday | 6 Shells landed off to our left flank about 600 yards away last nite. | |
| October 6 | Last nite 1-2-3 Platoon fired Flash Equipment several times. Had to leave guard 10:30 to go out and pick 3rd Platoon up. Has been continuous thunder of artillery today. P 47's strafed again. Took Lt. Gray down to Div. CP this afternoon. Going back for mail at Luxembourg with Gray tomorrow morning. | |
| October 7 | Successful trip. | |
| October 8 Sunday | Watched F.A. Battery fire German 100 mm at Metz. | |
| October 9 Monday | Leave bivouac for Luxembourg 9:30 AM. Arrive 11:30. Lead convoy home- had dinner at Hotel Cravat. | |
| October 10 | Week's extra duty for being over hill. [absent without leave] Eating according to rank. Shit runs high. Would like to shit on every officer in this damned Company. Going on reconnaisance with Momma Gray tomorrow. | |
| October 11 Sunday | Left 8:30 south to Mars - Letours and then down to Pont A Mousson. Crossed Moselle came up East bank about 12 k from Metz, then took bridge shielded by smoke screen and returned by way of Belgium. Three Countries in one day. | |
| October 19 | Stood 9 hours straight guard. | |
| October 21 Saturday | Saw first robomb [V-1 pilotless buzz bomb] a few minutes ago at chow. Headed in S.S.W Direction. Hell of a noise. Might be headed for Metz. | |
| October 25 | Saw second robomb about 8:45 this morning. Just a tiny speck in the sky. Going S.S.W. Motor cut off. Heard nothing after that. Whoops! just heard explosion. Must have been it. Probably 10 miles away. Another one at 1:45 about same direction. Saw what must have been a Jerrie plane circle City twice this noon. Looked like J U 88. [Junkers Ju 88, a German twin-engined multirole combat aircraft] Another robomb about 2:30. | |
| October 26 | Two more bombs about 6:30 and 6:45. Seem to be low - noisy as hell. | |
| October 28 | Around 3 A.M. this morning a couple of shells were thrown into town probably by Nazi railroad guns. Hit right next to heater outfit and knocked out a half truck. Two civilians reported killed. | |
| October 29 Sunday | Went for walk this morning. Bill, Paul, Sac - took a roll of films and did a couple of sketches. Beautiful day, first in a long time. 9:30 P.M. Jerrie just came in over our building and then a few seconds later we heard about 10 bomb explosions. Couldn't see anything. Looks like they are gunning for headquarters. | |
| October 30 Monday | Took Lt. Holeman into Verdun for payroll - 110 miles round trip. Colder than hell. Louie from 3132 says push is on. Start within next three days. Hope so. |
Tompkins' October destinations; click icon in top left corner of the map to see map key
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At left, Bob Tompkns sketching in Luxembourg City. He is in the Grund, part of the lower city, which the soldiers referred to as the "Gulch." At right, Tompkins, Bill Blass, and an unknown soldier. Courtesy Robert Tompkins Collection, Ghost Army Archive.
| November 3 Friday | Back at Metz. Line has been so static that they have set up barbed wire all front. Put up 105 Howitzer in old emplacement deserted yesterday. Setting up flash equipment. Ready to fire tonight. Expect long Siege. Six months ago today left the dear old States. It's muddy as shit by the way, and very cold. If this isn't our last job, I guess maybe then your Butch was all wrong about Christmas. Will it ever end! | |
| November 7 | Election Day. Our kitchen is set up in railroad station-in Batilly. We're now eating with C Bat. [Battery C of the corps artillery] about 1/2 miles down valley. Squads alternate firing and guard every day. Rain, wind and mud make for horrible existence. Our hut is leaking like a sieve. Everything is soaked. Don't see how attack can start in this weather. Was scheduled to begin a couple days ago. Hope to God they went for the mail. That's all there is to look forward to. It would be great to know that Dewey had won, however, have my doubts. Probably won't know until at least the end of the week. | |
| November 8 | Rec'd bad news. Spent horrible night on guard. Cleared today. Just been stuck for hour and half. Good news. Leave for Luxembourg tomorrow, Thank God. Soaked to skin. Is pouring again. Thinking only of my Sweet Darling and home. 9:30 P.M. Have fired twice this evening. 8:40 and 9:27. Can plainly hear machine gun, mortar and rifle fire about a mile away. Artillery shakes the hut. Must be attempt crossing on the river. Beginning of large attack to circle Metz. Simulated 949 F.A. 20 corp. 193 F.A. Group. | |
| November 9 Thursday | Arrived back at Seminary at 1:00 P.M. after tearing down dummies and having to push one truck up the hill. What a hell of a trip. Terrific gale, cold as hell and just a few minutes ago it began to snow. Got back just in time. Can be recorded as my most miserable week in the army. | |
| November 15 Wednesday | Luxembourg becoming a living hell at night. Last week 5 G.I.'s were found dead, in the Gulch. [the lower city, known in Luxembourg as the Grund] Shooting every night. Boys arriving from Front for rest. Get drunk and spray street with machine guns. Five civilians killed the other night. Still many collaborators working under cover of darkness. Several Signal Men and 406 men were awarded Bronze Star today. We paraded down to field where General Doran made awards. | |
| November 16 Thursday | 9 P.M. Jerry just came in over city - wandered around. Some flak went up. Sound disappeared then we saw light flash on and off at various points around the city. Looked very much like signals. All clear 15 minutes later. | |
| November 17 | Robomb just came over very low and loud. Could see light of a rocket on tail. Hell of a noise about 9:30. 10 o'clock another raid alarm. Heard no planes this time. | |
| November 18 | Two more air raid alarms this evening about 45 minutes apart. Heard no bombs fall. Probably just Jerry reconnaisance. | |
| November 20 | [German-American actress and singer Marlene] Dietrich put on a show here today. Really swell. Nearly knocked her down as I was coming down the hall. | |
| November 21 | Several Jerries flew over tonight - little flak. Tied 406 0-0 I Star. [results of a football game with the 406th played in Luxembourg Stadium] |
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The 603rd football team at Luxembourg Stadium. Bob Tompkins is standing in the back row, third from the right. Photo from the John Kennedy collection, Ghost Army Archive.
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| November 22 Saturday | [Bernard] Parke shoots [Bernard] Bier in Hall of Seminary with Army 45. [Parke was drunk; Bier survived.] | |
| November 23 | Thanksgiving Day. Beat A Co. 13-6 Starred again. Pappy won goose. Luxembourg Stadium. | |
| November 24 | Last night about 5:00 robot came over very low, shook entire building. This morning about 9:15 another, further away. |
Tompkins' November/December destinations; click icon in top left corner of the map to see map key
Dealing with increasingly harsh weather conditions in November and December. All photos from Bob Tomkins Collectin, Ghost Army Archive.
| December 1 | Two years in the Army today. Beat A. Co. again 13-6 Feel like I had a steam roller go over me tonight. Alerted to go on reconnaisance. Won't leave until tomorrow. Only a matter of days now until L.B. arrival [Little Butch, his as-yet unborn son] Wow! | |
| December 4 Monday | Three separate air raid alarms this evening. Planes droned overhead. Heavy A.A. tracers lit sky. Went down to shelter for ½ hour during movie air raid. Could hear real AA outside "Until we meet again" Terribly fidgety last couple days. L.B. due very shortly - my Sweet Darling is my constant thought. | |
| December 6 Wednesday | Have funny hunch tomorrow is the day We'll see! Air raid siren just started. More A.A. Fireworks on display. | |
| December 8 Friday | Lt. Gray and I left at noon on simulated reconnaisance for billeting 75 X-290 [75th Infantry, 290th Regiment] who have supposedly just landed Charbourg. (Actually still in England) Company still follow to simulate division on Sunday. Went over to main road from Arlon Belgium, then cut back N.E. about 15 miles from Luxembourg. Went to Junglinster. Gray questioned by couple Colonels and we had discussion with 83rd man. Said we should try schnopps and get down to Luxembourg some time. Also that we had missed all the hedgerow fighting. Went to see mayors of small towns about billeting. Sleeping on top floor of converted school house in little village near Junglinster. Sore as hell because this way there may be added delay in receiving word from Babe. | |
| December 9 | Found billets in Eschweiler about 7 miles from front. Drove in driving snow this morning. Cleared a little this afternoon. Had 3 cognacs in small cafe few hundred yards from here this morning, and got dozen eggs. Gray got stuck with another Colonel this afternoon. It's really getting to be a joke. Boys arrive tomorrow at 2 P.M. Col. Schraeder said we'd get mail. Thank God. I don't feel quite as fidgety as I have the past week and I think it's an indication. Terribly anxious to get word. | |
| December 11 | Men arrived yesterday afternoon from 3 P.M. on. Waited with Gray at fork for three hours. Froze. Went on mach convoy about 9:30 — snowed hard. Led convoy over route second time around after Robinson's driver was blinded. Nearly smacked into Shil [Art Shilstone] with jeep. Returned 12:30 A.M. frozen. Eating chow in hall downstairs. Took Gray down to Div. C.P. this afternoon. Reeder simulating 2 Star General rides in Staff car. On Guard tonight. lst Platoon putting up Dummy Artillery. I know for sure that L.B. has arrived and on pins and needles waiting to get word. No telling when it will come through with this set up. | |
| December 12 Tuesday | This afternoon went on a reconnaisance for simulated attack with Sac [Norman Sakowitz] and Gray and went up on hill overlooking Moselle River and looked through binoculars at Germany on other side still held by Jerries. Heard small arms first and then drove through artillery installations. Cold as a bitch and Gray made me furious. Gets more like an old woman every day. Towns all evacuated in that area. Eerie and ghostlike. Third Platoon killed two deer today. Will have venison tomorrow. | |
| December 14 | No word yet! Yesterday morning drove out to Mosell again with Van, Roy and Ray followed [Lt.] Stapp with Shil, [Paul] LaHive and Goozy [Sgt. Guzik]. Dropped them off outside Maternach and they went on for reconnaisance. We met them on hill overlooking river after they shot deer. Got word about 5 PM that we were leaving to return to Luxembourg. Took McGill and picked up signs and then pulled out at 8:25, drove blackout all the way - dead tired when I got back - arrived about 10 P.M. Went back to Eschweiler this morning to pick up lister bag. Crossed air strip and saw 3 Star Generals C 47 -— Also cracked up P 38 and two wrecked JU 88's. Practically off my nut waiting word from Babe. 11 more shopping days ‘till Christmas. HA. HA. | |
| December 17 Sunday | Suddenly alerted about 4 o'clock. Germans reported counter attacking heavily around Eschweiler area. Reports spy Three German divisions on this side of river. Supposedly only 8 km out of Luxembourg. All trucks have been dispatched to Factory Section loading all special equipment in case we must pull out. On guard at main gate tonight. Worried and really low tonight. No word yet. Nothing seems to be right. Shit!!! | |
| December 18 Monday | On guard, Last night, had about five air raid alarms. Several Jerries were constantly flying over. Two dove out of flak over our building in power dives. One came in very low over south part of city. | |
| December 20 Wednesday | Suddenly realerted. Told to pack everything - ready to move out - 80 Div. coming into town. Civilians going wild in fear of Germans returning. Loading belongings on trucks and wagons. Bringing out their rifles and pistols again. No news yet from Babe. | |
| December 21 Thursday | All ready to leave for Doncourt tomorrow; situated in old French barracks in Maginot line. Wondering if we'll ever come back here. Several Jerries wandering overhead tonight. Lot of A.A. Still no word from Babe. Got drunk last night. Killed a bottle of champagne tonight but it didn't help. | |
| December 22 Friday | Left Seminary at 9:36. Arrived outside Doncourt about 11:00 French Army Post. Pink and yellow stucco houses. E M in large building - 2 Platoons to a room. 67 men on guard. About 3 inches of snow on the ground. Temperature about zero. Maginot pillboxes all around us. Planes overhead at night occasioned by A.A. fire - Report brought plane down last night. Playing orderly and valet with other jeep drivers to the officers - bastards! | |
| December 24 Sunday | On guard tonight - Christmas Eve. No Christmas rations for tomorrow. Several trucks left today, destination unknown. Stapp went back to Luxembourg. Hear we are going to Metz area soon. Paul insists I'll get word today. It would be a wonderful Christmas present. Fellows cut big tree for our room. | |
| December 25 Monday | Had a swell little buffet supper last night and a song fest before going on guard. Had champagne and brandy but it seemed to help the blues. Clear as a bell and plenty of air activity - strafing and bombing off to East and N.East. Drove fellows to church this morning and took the rest into Doncourt and gave villagers our rations. Got pretty tight on that terrible schnopps. Had dinner at 3:00. Feel pretty low tonight. Reminiscing of last year's Christmas with Babe. Things look blacker tonite than they have for a long time. Jerries still raising hell north of here. Can't help thinking of those poor guys in the foxholes. Moving over to the barracks in the morning. Still no word from Babe. | |
| December 26 | Levy, Brogdon and a couple A Co. boys brought in two escaped Jerry prisoners from out on the road to Doncourt this evening wearing GI clothing. Seckel first went down to question them - one had his face bashed in by a civilian. Drove out on that same road this afternoon in jeep. Lucky I wasn't picked off. | |
| December 29 | Left Camp at Doncourt yesterday at 1:30 P.M. arrived Verdun about 3:15. Cold as a bitch - loaded tools on trucks. Ate 4 rations without getting warm. Left leading convoy at 5:20 for Gravelotte and Metz. Arrived Metz about 8:00 briefed by Captain Seale - simulating 87X "B" Co. 87 Q.M. - "B" "G" "D" Cos and Heater making up Division. Sleeping on 3rd floor - no heat - no glass in windows- Temperature about 20 deg. All bridges blown up over Moselle and canals. Baileys have replaced them. Outskirts pretty battered up. All large buildings still intact. Put out signs this morning. Will put the rest of them out tonight. | |
| December 29 | JUST READ IN "STARS AND STRIPES" IT'S A BOY. DEC. 18th WOW !!!!!!!!! | |
| December 30 | No mail yet from Babe. Possibly today. Feeling greatly relieved and very happy today. Trucks went out to secret area this morning then returned. Gray and I removed signs. Had shower. May move out tonite- nothing definite as yet. | |
| December 31 Sunday | Left Metz at 9:00 this morning and returned to Verdun on very slippery road. Light snow last nite caused slippery condition. Set up here similar to Doncourt. Two stoves. Stone floor is pretty cold though. Tonight is New Year's Eve altho you'd never know it. Rumors are that entire outfit will return to Metz shortly for permanent base. Six letters from Babe today but all November. Still waiting for THAT letter that will give me all the details. Jerry just came in over town and very heavy AA barrage opened on him. Looks like hot spot and these damn buildings are right next to railroad yard. G.I's shooting it up tonight. Small arms fire all over town. |
1945
| January 4 Thursday | Received first letters from Babe. Col. Fitz left 603rd today. Hooper takes over. Certificates of merit presented to several men today by Gen. Doran. | |
| January 6 Saturday | Verdun to Metz simulating 90th - Have two good stoves in 4th Platoon room. Warm and comfortable. Marking bumpers this morning, stenciling helmets, etc. | |
| January 7 Sunday | Left Caserne Rouge 6:00 P.M. about 3 Mi to Mosel Caserne. Arrive across from main part of city. Stood guard. Pull out individually between 8 - 9 on route from Metz to Uckange to Dalstein to Friestroff to Metz. About 60 mi. Dalstein to Metz closed convoy. Led convoy all the way. Snowed heavily. Never been so cold (except G.M.) Arrived Mosel Caserne 12:00 Rumors are we stay here awhile. Continue to simulate 90X (B Co 358 I) until 90th is committed. What a hole. Get bluer every day. I want to go home to my wife and baby. To hell with this foolishness. Big attack imminent according to Schrader. | |
| January 9 Tuesday | Restricted to garrison. Painted out bumpers 2:00 P.M. Hiding some vehicles in garages in rear. Problem over, don't know when will leave. | |
| January 10 Wednesday | Leave Mosel Kaserne 11:30 arrive Briey about 1:30 - billeted in large apartment buildings. Officers living downtown. Unload everything. At 7:00 P.M. told we are to leave on problem at 12:00 midnight. Got Gray. Then orders change. Move out at 5:30 tomorrow morning. | |
| January 11 Thursday | Men arrived yesterday afternoon from 3 P.M. on. Waited with Gray at fork for three hours. Froze. Went on mach convoy about 9:30 — snowed hard. Led convoy over route second time around after Robinson's driver was blinded. Nearly smacked into Shil [Art Shilstone] with jeep. Returned 12:30 A.M. frozen. Eating chow in hall downstairs. Took Gray down to Div. C.P. this afternoon. Reeder simulating 2 Star General rides in Staff car. On Guard tonight. lst Platoon putting up Dummy Artillery. I know for sure that L.B. has arrived and on pins and needles waiting to get word. No telling when it will come through with this set up. | |
| January 12 Friday | Continue effects. Will be here tonite Thank God! Living like kings - that is to say we are warm. | |
| January 13 Saturday | Leave Les Bulles 1:00 P.M. to woods. Remove patches and markings and then returned to Briey. arrived about 5:00 P.M. Snow now drifting 2-3 ft. deep in some places. Problem over. What next? | |
| January 19 Friday | Survey reconn. Gray & Tool 8th Port Au Mouson 35 wi. South of Briey. Had lunch with 84HQ and then went to Metz and spent an hour and a half eating doughnuts in R.C. and a beer in cafe. Saw two 2 Star Generals in R.C. Had flat tire on return. | |
| January 23 Tuesday | Coal detail to just west of Sarrbrucken on border 65 mi. Miserable day. Froze - sore throat and ear ache on return. Got back after 8 o'clock - Got doctored up and went to bed. Feel better today. News looks good altho Russians seem to be slowing a bit but I think we are on our way very shortly. | |
| January 27 Saturday | Painted trucks all white !!!! (Coutence - Out of Granville 175 Co.) yesterday afternoon. Will leave either this afternoon or tomorrow on 95 Div. problem area. M[...] Metz. | |
| January 28 Sunday | Corporal of the guard B Co. takes over guard. Still await orders to move out on 95th problem. Everyone else will be gone tomorrow. | |
| January 30 | Briey to Les Estanges [Les Étages] simulating 95th Div. "B" Co. 378 Inf. C.P. [command post] in Major's house - 4th Platoon billeted in attic of farmhouse. Old lady downstairs is Nazi. | |
| January 31 Wednesday | Our Squadron moves into cafe. Have better set-up than anyone yet. Guard tonight. |
Tompkins' January destinations; click icon in top left corner of the map to see map key
Bob Tompkins Painting of Briey. Courtesy Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University.
Tompkins' February/March destinations; click icon in top left corner of the map to see map key
| March 5 Monday | Leave Briey at 7:30 A.M. to Enney [Ennery]- extremely secret will have to wait until problem is over to enter details. I'd be shot on the spot if I were caught with this in my pocket as it is. Return same afternoon end spent two hours in RC. Problem called off. | |
| March 11 | Briey to Ittersdorf, Germany. Simulating 80 Div. 318th 1, 3rd and 4th Platoon 905 FA. Went to town of Ittersdorf with old artillery position. Set up nets and flash stuff. Flashed 1:59 - 4:00 and 5:30 - 5:45 and 6:15. Put up dummies in the morning. | |
| March 12 | Artillery all around us living in town at road junction. Saarlatan [known today as Saarlouis] several thousand yards in front of us. Went back to Ittersdorf after show this morning. Shells landed around last night by the way - hit the dirt a couple of times but they landed just over the rise about 200 yards in front of us. Retd to Art. area at 5 P.M. Learned Capt. Wells was killed by mortar fire this afternoon just up the road a ways. First fatality since we landed. Firing tonight. Have removed dummies. Leave at 6:30 tomorrow. Returning to Briey. Another problem pending. | |
| March 13 Tuesday | Stood guard 12:00 - 1:45 last night. Heavy artillery, Finished firing at Midnight. Came back to CP at 6:30 this morning. Left Ittersdorf at 10:30 arrived Briey 12:30. late this afternoon got report that 7 men in D Co. were hit by shells on the way beck including Capt. Rainer. S/Sgt in Signal Co. was killed this afternoon too. All happened on the same road we were on this morning. It was under enemy observation from opposite side of valley. Saw Tom Weir's jeep had hole right thru front panel and steering post. This has really been a hell of a blow to us all. We just thank God that ours wasn't up today. We were darn glad to get out of that hole. Reports are that we move out Friday to the north near Cologne. Maybe permanently. Just a little shaky tonight. | |
| March 16 | Entire outfit moves to Sittard, Holland. Am remaining behind with 30 M.S. men. Will pick up Gray in Verdun Monday and leave for Sittard Tues. B. Co. hauling 170 some odd dummies - rumors are that we will destroy many. | |
| March 20 Tuesday | Briey to Dulken, Germany. 120 I of 30 X Bn of actual 30 X are attached to us. This evening we set up all our trailers and 2 1/2's [2 1/2 ton trucks] just N. of Bosheim. Lt. Gray and I put up all signs. | |
| March 21 | Put up signs all day - Tonight we put up all our own M-4's and 5's [dummy tanks]. Finished about 2:30 A.M. We also have AA attached to us and they put on a show tonite. Get up 5 A.M. | |
| March 22 | Checked items and then chow. Slept in farmhouse for 2 1/2 hours. Took it easy today. Will pull guard at CP in town tonight. Have more dummies up now than we've ever had before. Not permitted to speak to civilians. White flags on every door. Feeling very lonesome and homesick tonight. Got those wonderful photos today. | |
| March 24 Saturday | Last night removed signs and took down 15 items. Heard bombing and saw flashes in N.E. about 10:30. Jerries were roaming back and forth all night. Heard that Patton crossed the Rhine yesterday. Col. Schraeder just came in with report that we had started heavy bombing and artillery barrage last night in fake crossing - and British and Canadians crossed at Weislewith [Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany] hardly any opposition. Generals who viewed our stuff from air yesterday claimed a great deal of credit for this deceptive move goes to us. Jerry must have copped it all with his camera past couple of days. 83rd Corps really think we're hot stuff. Will take down items tonite end move to rear area. Who knows what's next on the bill. | |
| March 25 | Palm Sunday. Slept in town at CP (Dulken) last nite after taking down all items in record time. Moved into farmhouses in devastated area this morning. Supposed to leave for Briey Tuesday. Rumors have it that a lot of items are being given away. Sounds good. Received batch of mail this morning. Feel much better. | |
| March 27 Tuesday | Leave Dulken 7:15 for Briey. Saw remnants of 21 Sherman tanks near Houfalaize. Battle must have been terrific. Forests of trees completely flat from artillery and machine gun fire. Arrive Briey 6 P.M. |
This photo of dummy tanks being set up during Operation Viersen, March 1945, was taken by Bob Tompkins. Taking snapshots that showed an actual operation was strictly against regulations - just like keeping the diary. Bob Tompkins Collection, Ghost Army Archive.
| April 12 Thursday | Leave Briey 8:45 for Witlich Germany via Luxembourg and Trier. Arrive Whitlich about 2:00 87 mi. Briey still base camp. Have job of policing Displaced Persons Camp. Sleep in schoolhouse tonight. Move into two houses across the street tomorrow. May be here a month or wore until they hear from Washington. Have five posts, one morning patrol. On 24 - off 24. 4 Russian girls clean barracks and 2 boys do K.P. | |
| April 13 Friday | Our second anniversary and not a very happy one either. I pray that next year will be different. Stood guard last night. K.P. until 4:30 today. Have heard report of Roosevelt's death. Still a bit skeptical, but it seems to be true. God, whet a mess!!! 4th Platoon begins patrol duty tomorrow at noon. Supposed to be 6,000 Russians and Poles in camp. They've been having a lot of trouble with the niggers. Most of these people came from Coblenz area- have only been free for two weeks. Steal sheep, raid German homes, throw stones at the Heinies and you can't blame them, poor bastards. They wonder why we don't shoot the Germans. I wonder myself. | |
| April 14 | Went on raid on Russian barracks about 10 P.M. lest night. Recovered 2 truckloads of clothes. Herded everyone into the building then M.P.'s searched the rooms. I guarded latrine exit. What confusion. | |
| April 15 Sunday | Rode in on German's milk wagon as guard against Russian bandits 7:00 this A.M. Russians and Poles stealing everything they can get their hands on and I don't blame them. Resented having to guard a Goddam Heinie. Some Russians are hiding in hills with weapons and raid German homes at night. If we were smart we'd turn our backs. German stopped to look at his watch in street today and a big Russian came by and took it right out of his hand. It's really a joke. They steal bikes right out from under the rider. | |
| April 18 | Butch is 4 months old today. Bless his heart!! Last night Six Russians went into a nearby village to buy flour from Heinies. They rang town siren and whole populace came out and murdered two of them and pitchforked the others. There's going to be hell to pay now. | |
| April 19 Tuesday | On guard last night at camp gates. 1st and 2nd platoons went on raid in village where Russians were killed. Russians went first and when crowd came out with pitchforks, Jeeps with 50's closed in. Russians choked hell out of Heinies and Tony [Young] let loose with 50's to stop Heinies from running away. A Russian hopped a German who was coming at Beef [Charles Boulliane] with pitchfork. Six of them were arrested. | |
| April 24 | [Lt.] Gray, Harf [Ray Harford], Belcher and I go on reconnaisance for kitchen equipment to Kochen. Beautiful trip - Scenery magnificent. | |
| April 26 Thursday | Rain on Russians - wermacht sympathizers who were raiding town. Senat killed two and one was wounded. Messy business. It's one hell of a problem. You don't know what to think. LeHive and I went out this evening to bunt a couple of Russians who were supposed to have kidnapped 8 children. No luck. Parked the jeep on hill overlooking countryside, and discussed what a wonderful golf course this battlefield would make. | |
| April 27 Friday | Go out to local estate to sleep overnight to act as protection from raiding Russians. Four of us, Van, Paul, Masey and I. Woman spoke good English. 4 or 5 babies in the house. One 3 1/2 months old. God, it made me homesick. Family Seemed to be old Germans, but two sons were killed in Luftwaffe. It made me cringe to think we were actually protecting then. I thought of Dick right away. [Dick Field graduated with us from Bronxville High School and was shot down and killed over Germany.] Suddenly called back. Leave for Trier tomorrow at 2:30 with Tony. Will stay there at Castle [high on a hill overlooking Trier and the Moselle River] and Company will go down Sunday. | |
| April 28 Saturday | Hear that Himmler has offered unconditional surrender to States and Britain, but not Russia. It looks like it's all over. At least within the next week anyway. Wittlick to Trier and sleeping in castle. Marvelous news. All sorts of rumors. Lt. Gray said today we'd be home by July 4th. Others say Northern Germany. Being with 15th A of Occupation isn't so good. Getting Eisenhower jackets. Have to wear ties now. Things are very composed and no one seems to know where we turn next. |
| May 2 Wednesday | Hitler dead! Have transferred 2300 DP's [displaced persons] into [prisoner of war] Camp. Should have 5700 by end of week. Running back and forth all day. Rumors have it we leave for Briey Sunday. Rumors very strong for return to States. I think I'm really getting a bit punchy from driving that damn jeep constantly. I guess it must be "jeep fatigue". | |
| May 7 | It's a beautiful world tonight naturally. It's been a long hard road and we thank God it's over. Let's hope it won't be many weeks before we leave for Utopia and our loved ones, and God bless the guys that are finishing it off on the other side of this messed up world. Got a keg of beer, a bottle of wine from some Heinies, and I drove into town with some of the guys and we raided an empty wine cellar. However, we eventually had champagne, wine and beer. Hear we may leave within six weeks- sooner the better. Heaven and all that goes with it awaits my arrival. | |
| May 8 | 6:01 P.M. Cease firing. Tuesday official. Signed 2:41 A.M. May 7 Monday by German Generai Jodl, Lt. Ge. Smith, Sonietz - Ivan Susloparaff - French F. Senes in Rheims, France. | |
| May 18 | Butch 5 months old today- Friday. | |
| May 19 | Got word to be ready to leave Tues. 22nd. Be ready to leave Europe by June 7th. | |
| May 20 Sunday | Luxembourg- all day pass- came back in terrific thunderstorm. | |
| May 21 Monday | Left our palace on the hill Trier at 12:30 P.M. for Oberstein - East 51 miles. Arrived Oberstein about 3:00 about seven miles outside. Oberstein way up in hills in wide open field. Has been raining all day. We're supposed to be here until the 7th of June awaiting orders from post commander. Will crate equipment, have inspection, etc. Two more stars supposed to be official, giving me 78 points, still not enough. On, God, will I be glad to see that bout. Yipe!!!!!!!!! | |
| May 27 Sunday | Oberstein to Mainz on Rhine sightseeing trip. Mainz in ruins. Saw largest army engineer bridge in world. Went north along river through wonderful picturesque villages. Took 4 snaps. Saw huge P.W. Camp just west of Mainz. |
Tompkins' destinations from April to June; click icon in top left corner of the map to see map key
| June 5 Tuesday | Oberstein, Trier, with Switzer. Will greets me on return that I've been recommended for Sgt. What a surprise. | |
| June 6 Wednesday | What a holiday. Go to Frankfort with Gray, Van, Mo, Welentz, Taffae and Goozy. | |
| June 9 Saturday | Official order out. Now Sgt. Tompkins. Will save it to surprise Babe. Have taken over 2nd Squadron. Gunther, Thompson, Belcher and Martin. Switzer now jeep driver. Quit 9973 miles, 27 short of an even 10,000 [mileage on jeep since landing in Normandy]. | |
| June 14 Thursday | Start trip to Le Havre from Oberstein. Staying in transient camp at Montmedy France 120 miles tonight. Go on tomorrow to vicinity of Rheims and third day LeHavre and then WOW!!!!!! | |
| June 15 | Montmedy - Soisson - go on pass after pitching tents took in movie at Red Cross. | |
| June 16 Saturday | Soisson to Twenty Grand Camp. Huge camp - turning everything in here. About 35 miles from Le Havre. If we complete our P O M [program objective memorandum] in time, will be on the boat Monday or Tuesday. Otherwise we wait possibly two weeks for another convoy. God, let's go. | |
| June 20 Wednesday | Sightseeing town of Rouen. Beautiful cathedrals, considerable damage. | |
| June 21 Thursday | Alerted to leave. All set to go at midnight. | |
| June 22 Friday | Have chow at 1:00 A.M. wait for trucks which arrive about 3:15. Pull into LeHavre about 5:30 A.M. City completely flat. Largest and most devastated city I've seen yet. Trucks drive out on concrete piers. Wait about an hour and a half while preparations are made. Up gang plank about 7:30 A. M. The last European soil has passed under my feet, Thank God. Sleep all day. Have first meal at noon on ship (Not bad at all because the Navy runs things here) Name of ship "Leonard O.H. Ernst" Supposed to sail tomorrow the 23rd. Rumor is that we land at Norfolk, but are naturally a bit disappointed. | |
| June 23 Saturday | This is it! Raise anchor at 7:25 P.M. and get under way. Will arrive July lst. or 2nd Norfolk. Au Revoir France. | |
| June 26 | A little woozy first few days. Today we were called by a Swedish freighter to come and remove one of her officers for an emergency operation. Met in the afternoon and sent small power boat to Swedish vessel to pick up patient. Took us about 60 miles off our course. They asked for blood donors and I volunteered, but they had already picked their men. | |
| June 28 | 1736 miles to go. | |
| June 29 | 1327 miles to go. Perfect weather past two days. |
| July 2 | Happy Birthday honey! U.S.A. Virginia Beach dead ahead 06:45 AM. Ft. Story 7:45- Drop anchor off Newport News 10:10 dock 10:30 Debark 11:45 Board train to Camp Patrick Henry. | |
| July 3 | Processed. Leave Camp Patrick Henry about 6:00 P.M. for Ft. Dix | |
| July 4 | Arrived at Dix. about 10:00 A.M. Processed. | |
| July 5 | Called Babe. Receive furlough papers [paperwork for his temporary leave] about 5:30 P.M. after waiting in rain for about four hours. Nardiello's drive us to New York. Arrive Blass's apartment about 7:00 P.M. Wellllllll - you know the rest!!!!!!!!!!!! (It was the most wonderful moment in my life.) |
