Area outlined in red is the general area of operations.
Sunday, November 7, 1943
I work for ration dump [supply depot]. Air raid at 9 p.m. (strafing and bombing). In afternoon enemy shells hit around dump. Homblad and I got back to camp. Having lots of rain and cold, bad weather.
Tuesday, November 9, 1943
I get bad case of tonsilitis and go to hospital (36th Division Clearing Co. near Capua, Italy).
Friday, November 12, 1943
I get back to camp in afternoon.
Sunday, November 14, 1943
Enemy shells falling all around our bivouac area. Rain! Rain! Rain! Mud and slippery.
I snapped this picture of friends Raymond Snyder and Lee Payne. I stayed in contact with both of them after the war. We were truly a band of brothers. (Notice the boots, mud and more mud... and my shadow in the foreground.)
Sunday, November 21, 1943
I start to work again [after tonsilitis] and we move to new area over by Varaina.
Friday, November 26, 1943
Air raid at Naples and ack-ack [anti-aircraft] barrage over our bivouac area. We are hauling from Pignato rail head. Very busy. Rain! Rain! Flat tires all the time. Mud knee deep.
Rain! Rain! Mud! Mud! The weather was horrible in November and December, but it was nothing compared to the constant air raids. [courtesy: top - www.nzetc.com; middle - National Archives; bottom - www.history.army.mil]
WAR UPDATE: November 28, 1943. Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin meet at the Tehran Conference.
Monday, December 6, 1943
Postcard home. This marks my second Christmas overseas.
Wednesday, December 8, 1943
I sent $80 home.
Saturday, December 18, 1943
Our outfit is changed to 235 Quartermaster Battalion, Company 3640.
This is me with friend John Dockum in Italy, 1943.
Tuesday, December 21, 1943 Several men transferred to new company which is being formed out of our battalion. Our area is very muddy. We are doing lots of gravel hauling to fill in mud holes.
BACK IN THE WORLD: December 26, 1943. The Chicago Bears defeat the Washington Redskins 41-21 to the NFL Championship game.
Tuesday, December 28, 1943
Articles of war are read to us again.
Friday, December 31, 1943
On New Years Eve I go to pick up 3rd Infantry Division. Stay in truck all nite in snow storm. Next morning take them to staging area near Naples.
1 comment:
My name is John Dockum and I am wondering about that John Dockum fellow in your dad's picture. Do you know any more about him? I suspect he is from Upstate, NY around Au Sable forks and he was my grandfather's cousin. Thanks
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