14 August, 2010

14 August, 1943 (Route of the ?)

No letter today. The next letter was written on 16 August.

Route of the Question Mark

Here are pages 12 and 13, transcribed from The Route of the Question Mark, giving some of the memorable events in Greg's Army days in the year prior to meeting Wilma. Click on the tab above of the same name, to see the scanned originals.

pp. 12-13


"Here Are The Things We Remember:

     Inspections at Camp Edwards, with Lt Col Aldrich, wearing his white raincoat, dissatisfied with everything... Firing practice at Scorton's Neck, the searchlights on the target, and all the tents shining in the moonlight... The case of poison ivy... The 25 mile hike when we lost our way and ended up by marching 30 miles... The cadre rushing back to Paterson every weekend... Betty, who used to tend the soda fountain at the PX... Our succession of Battery Commanders: Bolick, Whiting, Power, Hall, etc. etc... The train-ride to Fort Jackson... The taxi-cabs that used to call at the barracks door to take us to Columbia and bring us back... The memorable formal dances at the Service Club with Grand Marches and everything... Our first problems... The day we marched out into the country to see an exhibition of dive bombing, along with the entire 77th Infantry Division... the Christmas Dinner and the impressive tree that we had, Bill Person's pride and joy... Callahan and Cook, entertainers extraordinary... The miraculous cold beer at the PX, and the way everyone used to gather around 1st Sgt Waters to sing the Woodpecker Song... The furloughs home, and the crowded trains to New York and all points north... Our New Year's celebration, when we had a snake-charmer to entertain us, and all the beer in the world to drink, and which ended up in the mess hall at five in the morning... The arrival of Lt Col Pereria to take over as CO... The Farewell Dinner for Lt Power, and the speech he made: Never be afraid of anyone!"... The first appearance of The Battalion Reporter, and its spectacular issue which was delivered on the train as we took off for Louisiana and the maneuvers there... The icy morning when we stepped off the train in Maney, Louisiana and wished that we were dead..."

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