47. Mission Accomplished

Sunday, July 29, 1945 Arrive in St. Paul at 8 a.m., go by bus to Fort Snelling. Right back where I started 42 months ago. Start going through red tape for discharge. Monday, July 30, 1945 Get physical and go through other processing.

True Story: When I was in Fort Snelling getting processed for discharge, an old man was giving us a lecture on how to adjust to civilian life. He told us about a soldier who was stationed in England. He got acquainted with some Air Force babies who were making regular flights between England and New York. He begged the fly boys for a ride back to New York so he could spend the weekend with his wife. They told him no. They wouldn't dare do that as it was against the rules. He kept begging them until they gave in. They said, 'Don't tell anybody that you got a ride back. Don't say a word.' They also said, 'Tell your wife not to say anything, just keep quiet about it.' So he spent a weekend back in New York with his wife. A month later he got a letter from his wife that said, 'I'm pregnant. You explain that to the neighbors.'

Tuesday, July 31, 1945 Meet up with Alfred Oldenburg, have short visit. Get my discharge papers at 11:30 a.m. Get paid off. Go by army bus to Greyhound station. Leave Minneapolis at 12:00 noon. Get off bus in Hewitt around 5:30 p.m. Jap Carter is in town. He gives me ride home from Hewitt. I am home at 6:30 p.m. My army career is over.

Howard adjusted to civilian life by returning to farming in Oak Valley, Minnesota. He married Phyllis Walker on November 14, 1946. Together they raised three sons. Howard eventually retired from farming and went on to work for Mid-America Dairymen. He was a life long active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Howard died peacefully with his family by his side on February 28, 1997. Thank you for following Howard's journey. I hope you enjoyed this blog -- and perhaps you've learned a little something along the way...

46. Homeward Bound

Wednesday, July 4, 1945
Turn in my equipment and leave my company. Ride German bus to 27th Replacement Depot, near Marina de Pisa. On my way home. I saw Raymond last nite before leaving. I am now at Leg Horn [Livorno]. I get put on a few details. This is something like rest camp.

Friday, July 6, 1945
Get clothing checked and film developed.

Monday, July 9, 1945
Go through processing for going home.



My official "walking papers." My name is #19 on the list.

Friday, July 13, 1945
To sail by boat this p.m. Load on USS Henry Gibbons at 5 p.m.

USS Henry Gibbons; my ride back to the States. [courtesy: www.thunderbolt.ottocarter.com]

Saturday, July 14, 1945
Pull out of Leg Horn at 9:30 a.m.

The harbor at Leg Horn (Livorno). This is my last glimpse of Italy. [courtesy: Romatti at www.pbase.com]

Monday, July 16, 1945
Arrive at Oran at 6:30 a.m. I was last here 32 months ago. Pull out at 10:30 a.m. Pass through Strait of Gibraltar at 12:30 p.m.

Homeward bound.

WAR UPDATE: July 17, 1945. Truman, Churchill and Stalin meet at the Postdam Conference. Here, Truman tells Stalin that the United States has a secret weapon which can end the war. In just 20 days, an atomic bomb will destroy the city of Hiroshima, Japan.

Saturday, July 21, 1945
Run into stormy weather. Have had smooth sailing until now.

Wednesday, July 25, 1945
Arrive at Newport News, Virginia at 11:30 a.m. Go by train to Camp Patrick Henry, only a few miles. Nice feed. Get ice cream and beer, etc., and PX rations. Send telegram home in evening.



Camp Patrick Henry was a sight for sore eyes. [courtesy: public domain]



This is where I sent my telegram at Camp Patrick Henry. [courtesy: public domain]

Thursday, July 26, 1945
Leave Camp Patrick Henry by train at 8:30 in the evening

Friday, July 27, 1945
Go across Virginia, West Virginia, corner of Kentucky, into Ohio. Reach Cincinnati before dark. Then get into Indiana.

Saturday, July 28, 1945
In Chicago at 6 a.m. Train lays over till 6 p.m. We spend day in Chicago. Have good time.


It has been a long journey. On Friday, June 12th, the last entry will be made in "Oak Valley to Po Valley." At this time, I invite you to post any comments or thoughts you may have as this experience comes to an end. Thank you for following along. We'll see you on Friday!

45. "I'm Going Home"

Monday, June 11, 1945
Not very busy now. Do quite a bit of laying around. Do some work on truck.

Wednesday, June 13, 1945
Not doing much. Get 1,000 mile check on truck.

Thursday, June 14, 1945
A convoy goes to Leg Horn to turn in trailers and bring back water trailers.

Friday, June 15, 1945
I wash truck and trailer. At one o'clock go in convoy to Mantova, haul salvage ordinance equipment to Bologna.


Area of operations during June 1945.

Saturday, June 16, 1945
Back from yesterday's trip at 5 a.m.

Sunday, June 17, 1945
Draw our beer and cigarettes.

Monday, June 18, 1945
Go to haul German hospital. Stay overnite near Milan. Sleep in German hospital.


A mobile field hospital during World War II. [courtesy: National Archives]

Tuesday, June 19, 1945
Haul German hospital to Ghedi and get back to camp around 4:30 in afternoon. See stage show put on by Greeks in evening.

Wednesday, June 20, 1945
Not much to do. Hot weather.




A souvenir booklet I bought, which I dated June 20, 1945. This outlines all of the action seen by the Fifth Army since the beginning of the Italian campaign some two years ago.

Thursday, June 21, 1945
Schuster goes on run to Milan. We get 14 replacements.

WAR UPDATE: June 22, 1945. U.S. forces capture Okinawa.

Friday, June 22, 1945
Change oil and grease truck. I get new assistant driver out of the replacements.

Satruday, June 23, 1945
Not very busy. We get a health lecture in afternoon.

Sunday, June 24, 1945
The following eight men go home: Schuster, Stracener, Wilbourn, McReight, Bowman, Gietzel, Grote and Delerie.

Monday, June 25, 1945
Laying around. Having hot weather.

Thursday, June 28, 1945
Parade at transportation section. 23 men notified to go home.

Friday, June 29, 1945
On pass. Go to Q52, but Raymond has gone to Austria for 4 or 5 day run. Get my notification, I'm going home.

44. Lake Garda and Venice

Area of operations

Friday, May 25, 1945
Get 6,000 mile check on truck. Radiator is fixed. We now have 8,061 miles on our new truck (tractor and semi).

Saturday, May 26, 1945
I got to Modena and haul rations to Q545, 242 mile trip. Takes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. to make run.

Sunday, May 27, 1945
Get shots (vaccines). Schuster gets prisoner haul, but turns out to be dry run.

Monday, May 28, 1945
Henshaw, LeCander, Stabenio, and Wicktrom get shipping orders for discharge. Schuster gets prisoner haul.

Tuesday, May 29, 1945
Change oil, grease truck in afternoon. Put repaired tire back on. At 11:15 p.m. I start in convoy to haul prisoners.

German prisoners await repatriation back to their homeland which has been utterly destroyed by Allied forces. [courtesy: U.S. National Archives]

Wednesday, May 30, 1945
Trip is finished at 12:30 p.m. Raymond is over in afternoon and evening.

Thursday, May 31, 1945
I go on pass with Nuss. Eleven more men are notified to go home. That takes nearly all the 111 pointers.


My copy of the May 31, 1945 edition of The Stars and Stripes.

Friday, June 1, 1945
Go in convoy to Modena for rations. Start at 4 a.m. Haul to Q546. I'm tail truck of convoy and get ticket for speeding. My first one!

Saturday, June 2, 1945
Spent last night on road. Stayed 4 hours at convoy mess. Haul empty gas cans to bivouac area. Arrive at 10 a.m.

Sunday, June 3, 1945
Send $50 PTA home.

Monday, June 4, 1945 Go on pass to Venice.

Me (far right) with buddies near Venice. We are eating C-rations.



A gondola ride through the famous canals of Venice, Italy. [photo by Martha Bakerjian]

Tuesday, June 5, 1945
Go to Lake Garda and spend day boating and swimming.


Beautiful Lake Garda is the largest fresh water lake in Italy. We enjoyed a little rest and recreation here on June 5, 1945. [courtesy: www.phombo.com]

Wednesday, June 6, 1945
Gas haul. Take empty cans to Q532, then get loaded at Q520 and haul to Q542 at Bassane. Back in camp at 10:00 next morning. Traveled 286 miles on trip.

Friday, June 8, 1945
In evening Schuster goes to Q532 for load of gas and returns to area. Movie in battalion C.P. "Between Two Women."

Saturday, June 9, 1945
Schuster takes load to Fifth Army rest camp north of Milan.

Sunday, June 10, 1945
Schuster gets back, he and 7 others turn in equipment. That will clean out everyone with 110 points and over when they go.