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.

43. War Is Over, But Work Continues

WAR UPDATE: May 8, 1945. V-E Day declared (Victory in Europe).


Tuesday, May 8, 1945
Very hot weather the last few days. Hear Churchill on radio. He announces V Day starting at midnite tonite. My truck is on run.

Wednesday, May 9, 1945
I get trip in convoy from company area. I pull PBS trailer to Q532. Back at 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 10, 1945
We get the dope on the point system for discharging. I have at least 92, possibly more. Our letters are no longer censored.

Friday, May 11, 1945
I find out I have 102 points for discharge.

Saturday, May 12, 1945
I go Q520 to Q540.


Sunday, May 13, 1945
We move to Verona.


We move from our soccer stadium camp in Modena north to the city of Verona.

Monday, May 14, 1945
I haul prisoners to Modena. Go to PBS 110 to get our trailers, then to Q52. Finally haul rations Q531 to Q533.

A snapshot I took of the thousands and thousands of German prisoners we are now transporting. Most of these fellows were not fanatical Nazis; they were farmers and tradesmen conscripted into the German army and forced to fight. They were looking forward to returning home to their families just as much as we were.

Wednesday, May 16, 1945
See movie, "Two Down and One to Go." My truck is out on prisoner haul. Schuster is laid up.


Two Down and One to Go was a war documentary directed by Frank Capra, pictured here editing a film as a major in the Signal Corps Reserve during World War II. [public domain]

Thursday, May 17, 1945
My truck gets back shortly after noon. I go swimming in Lake Garda. My truck has load of gasoline on it.

Friday, May 18, 1945
At 1:00 a.m. I get trip to Q546, a D company (3639) truck load of gas burns up. We get back in evening, a 283 mile trip.

Saturday, May 19, 1945
My truck was out and back in this morning at 10:30 a.m. I go to pick up prisoners on Route 47, haul to Modena and bring back hay to Q5-101. A 330 mile trip. Back in camp on May 20th in p.m.

Monday, May 21, 1945
Schuster starts driving again. Goes to Modena Q531 to haul rations to Q57. We have company formation in evening and find out our outfit will be broke up.

Tuesday, May 22, 1945
I get trip to Modena in evening. Haul gas to Q542. Get prisoners and bring to company. Back at 7 p.m. on May 23rd. Schuster takes load to Modena and comes back empty early next morning (May 24th).


Another letter home postmarked May 23, 1945.

Thursday, May 24, 1945
My truck is deadlined to get radiator fixed. We have a new colonel. I spend most of day tinkering on truck.

This is me refueling my truck in Verona, shortly after the armistice. Even though the war is over, we are very busy as a transportation unit.

42. Germany Surrenders!

Friday, April 27, 1945
Rain up here (Bologna). Had to drive in rain yesterday. Our bivouac area here is muddy. We are in a wheat field. We are tramping down a farmer's wheat. Get truck fixed, then lay around rest of day. We are back in tents now.

WAR UPDATE: April 28, 1945. Mussolini captured by partisans and executed.

Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini met an unceremonious end. After being shot, he was strung upside down with piano wire alongside his mistress and spat upon by the people he once ruled. This is a snapshot from my personal collection.

Saturday, April 28, 1945
Schuster goes out last nite at 6 p.m., gets stuck in mud at Q 544 in Florence and don't get back. It is awful rainy and muddy. We are to move again in morning to a better area in Modena. Fifth Army is now at the foot of the Alps. A German plane was over today.

Sunday, April 29, 1945
Company moves out of muddy filed to new area in stadium at Modena. At 2:45 I get dispatched to haul rations from Q531 (Modena) to Q537 on Route 11, 30 miles east of Verona.

Alberto Braglia Stadium in Modena, Italy. Originally built in 1936, this is where we set up camp on April 29, 1945. [courtesy: www.panoramio.com]

WAR UPDATE: April 30, 1945. Adolf Hitler commits suicide.

Two words which the world has waited to hear: "Hitler Dead". This was announced to American forces via The Stars and Stripes.

Wednesday, April 30, 1945
I return to camp at 7:15 a.m. from last nite's run, Schuster leaves at 2 p.m. to haul prisoners to Florence and bring back rations.

WAR UPDATE: May 2, 1945. German forces in Italy surrender.

Wednesday, May 2, 1945
I go in convoy at 10 p.m. from Q 520 to Q 532, a gas run. Haul empty cans back to Q 520. Germans surrender in Italy.

An announcement circulated from our Supreme Allied Commander of the Mediterranean Theatre.

Thursday, May 3, 1945
Trip over at 10:00 a.m. Fighting in Italy was officially over yesterday. Get radiator fixed today.

Friday, May 4, 1945
Schuster is out on gas haul Q520 to Q532.

WAR UPDATE: May 5, 1945. Cease-fire on Western front.

Saturday, May 5, 1945
I leave at 9:15 a.m. in convoy, go to Florence to E237. Haul bridge girders to E 243 at Modena. Arrive in Modena at 3 a.m. (May 6), takes 4 hours to get unloaded. Get to camp at 7:30 a.m. Schuster gets same run at 10 a.m.

WAR UPDATE: May 7, 1945. German unconditional surrender is declared!

Monday, May 7, 1945
I haul gasoline from Q520 to Q540 (convoy) start at 1 p.m., back next 5 a.m. War in Europe is over. Italians having fireworks along road celebrating end of war. [Editor's note: Howard often told the harrowing story of the night of the German unconditional surrender. As word spread that the war was over, overjoyed Italians poured into the streets of villages, shooting off fireworks, several of which nearly landed in Howard's truck which was loaded with thousands of gallons of gasoline. He said on many occasions that he thought he was going to die that night, after having survived nearly three years overseas in combat conditions.]

41. Pounding the Enemy into Submission

Saturday, April 14, 1945
I haul from rail head to Q 57 only 6 1/2 hours work and drove 13 miles. Visit Raymond in evening.

Sunday, April 15, 1945
On guard. Schuster hauls ammo to 0427. Very good weather. Expecting push to start on Italian front at any time.

Monday, April 16, 1945
Haul to Q 543. Push starts on 5th Army front.


Allied forces attack the Nazis once again, forcing their backs to the Po River (highlighted in yellow). By now, the Germans have just about lost their will to fight.

Tuesday, April 17, 1945
Haul from 0433 to 0431, 88 mile trip, start 3:30 a.m., back in camp at 2:30 p.m. and Schuster goes out at 7 p.m. on another ammo run.

Wednesday, April 18, 1945
Haul 0433 to 0427. When I get in, truck goes back out.

Thursday, April 19, 1945
Truck gets in at 4 p.m. I go out at 5:10 p.m. and get back next 5 a.m. Hauled from rail head to 0430.

This is me with my truck somewhere in north-central Italy taking a quick break during a convoy haul. We are putting in long hours transporting ammunition to the front in a final effort to pound the enemy into submission. Note other trucks in the convoy behind me, as well as the shelled out building, evidence of the fierce fighting just hours before.

Friday, April 20, 1945
Sleep till 3 p.m.

WAR UPDATE: April 21, 1945. Soviet forces enter Berlin.

Saturday, April 21, 1945
Bologna falls into Allied hands today. I got out in convoy at 3 p.m. and haul to 0431. Back at 3 a.m.

Sunday, April 22, 1945
Sleep until 10 a.m. Turn in wool underwear. Trucks start going to Bologna.

Monday, April 23, 1945
My truck is parked in company area. Most trucks are out. Get 1,000 mile check, then I go on pass and Schuster gets trip hauling bridge equipment to Po River.

Scenic Po River in the spring as it appears today. This picture was taken near the city of Turin, in northwestern Italy. [photo by Miguel Trimblay]

Tuesday, April 24, 1945
I'm taking it easy while Schuster is still out.

Wednesday, April 25, 1945
Company prepares to move. My truck gets in at 11 p.m.

Thursday, April 26, 1945
Company moves out at 4 a.m. I get trip hauling for 15th Army group for English Engineers. Haul from Florence to Bologna. Get into new bivouac area 9 miles N.W. of Bologna about 11 p.m. Have a little trouble in English Engineer dump. Break a brake hose.


Our company once again moves northward, nine miles northwest of Bologna.

40. We Lose Our Leader

WAR UPDATE: April 1, 1945. U.S. invades Okinawa.

Monday, April 2, 1945
Work on truck half day (1,000 mile check). T-5 rating today (promoted from corporal to Technician, 5th Grade).

A promotion from corporal (left) to T-5 (right) meant a slight increase in responsibility and a slight increase in pay. [courtesy: public domain]

Tuesday, April 3, 1945
Work on truck. Nice weather. Go to 3638 at 8:30 p.m. to see compulsory movie, but projector don't work and movie is called off. Send pictures to Lois.

Wednesday, April 4, 1945
Platoon has been in uproar for two days since Sgt. Schwartsfigare asked for bust. Work on trucks in forenoon. At 1:00 p.m. company plays softball against 3639 (D Co.) and we win 2 to 0. [Editor's note: unfortunately no details exist on the meaning of the "uproar" in the platoon].

Thursday, April 5, 1945
Not very busy, work on truck. Platoon has meeting in afternoon. In evening Raymond comes over and we see movie in our company area.

Friday, April 6, 1945
Work on truck in a.m. Take shower at rest camp in afternoon and write letters. Send pictures to Doris B. and Ruth B.

Saturday, April 7, 1945
Get trip in convoy, from Florence rail head to 0427. Start 3:00 p.m., get back next 3:30 a.m.

Sunday, April 8, 1945
Get up at noon. Get letters from home and Naomi. Sent pictures to August.

Monday, April 9, 1945
Assistant driver gets ammo run to 0431 from Florence rail head.

A massive ammo dump -- much of our work now involves transporting ammunition throughout north-central Italy, preparing for a massive assault on the German front in northern Italy. (courtesy: Bob Fagelson]

Tuesday, April 10, 1945
At 7:30 a.m. I go in convoy from Florence rail head to Q53 and bring salvage to Q545 in Florence. Finished at 9:30 p.m. and at 11:30 p.m. partner goes on ammo run to 0427.

Wednesday, April 11, 1945
Schuster hauls to 0427 and brings back salvage ammo to rail head. Fan belt pulley is broken and truck is deadlined.

WAR UPDATE: April 12, 1945. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies. Harry S Truman sworn in as 33rd President of the United States.

Harry Truman takes the Oath of Office on April 12, 1945. [courtesy: public domain]

Thursday, April 12, 1945
Get truck fixed

Friday, April 13, 1945
I go out at 1:30 a.m. to 0431, back at 12 noon. President Roosevelt died yesterday. Schuster goes out at 5 p.m. to 0427.

39. Buying Souviners

Friday, March 16, 1945
Get back to camp 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 17, 1945
Saturday, usual inspection. Tinker on truck, put weapons carrier seat in our truck.

Sunday, March 18, 1945
1,000 mile check on truck. On pass in afternoon. Visit Raymond in afternoon.

Monday, March 19, 1945
PX day. I buy cigarette lighter, shampoo and other items. First chance to stockpile these articles. In evening take semi to ordinance salvage yards and load up.

Tuesday, March 20, 1945
In convoy to Leg Horn, bring beer back to Florence. 127 mile trip.

Wednesday, March 21, 1945
Take shower at rest camp. See Laurel and Hardy and girl band at Apollo in evening.

Comedy legends Laurel and Hardy. [courtesy www.bbc.co.uk]

Thursday, March 22, 1945
Go to rest camp for rest period.

WAR UPDATE: March 22, 1945. Allied forces cross Rhine River into Germany.

Monday, March 26, 1945
Back in camp at 11 a.m. after 5 day rest period in Florence. Fifth Army rest camp. Write letters and send pictures which I had taken in rest camp to folks and Edna.

A souvenir book published by the Fifth Army which I bought while at rest camp in Florence.

Tuesday, March 27, 1945
Do a little work on truck in morning, send pictures to Richard Marsh. Rainy day. Last night I saw basketball game. Mitchell Bombers beat Oran Port Pirates 65 to 58 and Bull Dozers beat Buffalo Big A's 58 to 43.


A pick-up basketball game during World War II. [courtesy public domain]

Friday, March 30, 1945
Trip to Montecini, haul to E 237. Send picture to Lois.

True Story: I was sitting in my tent writing a letter one day. A German prisoner stuck his head in my tent and said, "Goodbye!" He had gotten mixed up in his English. He was selling souvenirs that he had made. I think that's where I got that German Iron Cross that I brought home.

The actual German Iron Cross that I bought from a German prisoner of war. So much for the Thousand Year Reich.

Saturday, March 31, 1945
Pay day. Play ball in forenoon on diamond we cleared off on March 29th. Take shower in afternoon at rest camp. Send another picture home.

38. A Brush with Greatness

Thursday, February 22, 1945
Stay in camp. Get my carbine back from ordinance. Sand it down and varnish stock.

Friday, February 23, 1945
Schuster is out with truck

Saturday, February 24, 1945
I haul old paintings from south of river. They were hid in caves in the mountains. Haul them back to a church in Florence.

[Editor's note: Howard mentioned many times that it was believed these paintings were classics by the masters, including those by Leonardo Da Vinci, Rapheal, Botticelli and Michelangelo. They were each wrapped in a protective covering, so none of the soldiers actually saw what they were hauling. Italian partisans smuggled these priceless works of art out of galleries and into mountain caves to both protect them from falling bombs and to keep them out of Nazi hands; interestingly, a documentary covering this intriguing story was featured on the History Channel a few years ago.]


It is known that Botticelli's The Birth of Venus was hidden in a mountain cave near Florence during World War II. Could this have been one of the paintings I transported? The masterpiece currently resides in Florence. [public domain]

Monday, February 26, 1945
I have a cold and don't work for couple days.

Wednesday, February 28, 1945
Pay day. Quenton Goyne gets back from hospital. We start driving semi's.

Thursday, March 1, 1945
I get trip Montecini to Coca-Cola plant in Florence.

Friday, March 2, 1945
I go in convoy to Leg Horn, turn in old truck and drive semi's back. I sign up for rotation. Raymond is over in evening.

Me with the new semi tractor-trailers were are now driving.

Tuesday, March 6, 1945
Drive in convoy. Go to Q 58, get coal and take to ARC rest home in Florence.

Wednesday, March 7, 1945
Get semi-auto car cab over engine.

Thursday, March 8, 1945
Work on tractor in morning, in afternoon go on limbering up drive to Siena.

The public plaza in Siena, Italy. [courtesy www.instructional1.calstatela.edu]

Friday, March 9, 1945
Continue to work on semi and tractor.

Sunday, March 11, 1945
In evening I take semi and get load of salvaged jeep motors at 5 A ordinance salvage depot.

Monday, March 12, 1945
Go in convoy to Leg Horn, get rid of salvage and get load of beer (650 cases) at 5L52 near Leg Horn and bring it to Florence at 10F52.

Thursday, March 15, 1945
I and Willis Ropp go to Pistoia to 70th Ordinance. Stay all nite and truck's rear end [trailer] is inspected by ordinance the next day.

BACK IN THE WORLD: March 15, 1945. Academy Award Winners: Best Picture, Going My Way; Best Actor, Bing Crosby (Going My Way); Best Actress, Ingrid Bergman (Gaslight); Song of the Year, "Swinging on a Star," by Bing Crosby (Going My Way).

The city of Firenze is also known as "Florence." Some of the cities I've recently made hauls to are circled in red.

37. The Same Old Routine

Friday, February 9, 1945
Training continues. Some trucks go out occasionally.


Another local boy sees action. From the Fergus Falls Daily Journal.

Saturday, February 10, 1945
P.B.S. semi job comes here for a few days to let us practice driving it.

Sunday, February 11, 1945
I go in convoy, starting at 9 p.m. to Montencini 0428 (ammo) get back next 6:30 a.m.

Monday, February 12, 1945
I sleep most of the day after last nite's trip. Taining period ends today. Today is my third anniversary in the army. I get good conduct medal and driver's medal today. Training film shown at battalion headquarters while I sleep. I'm on guard tonite. Rainy nasty weather. Raymond is over tonite.

Tuesday, February 13, 1945
Not much going on. Go to rest camp for shower.

Wednesday, February 14, 1945
Go to show in evening at rest camp. Stage show, "Blue Busters" and movie, "The Slim Man Goes Home," with Myrna Loy and William Powell

The name of the movie was actually The THIN Man Goes Home. [courtesy www.impawards.com]

Thursday, February 15, 1945
Turn in our Diamond T's to 56 Q Co. 3376 and get their old beat up GMC's. Spend rest of day working on and washing truck.

A GMC "Duece-and-a-half," which we reluctantly drew in place of our Diamond T's. [courtesy www.therangerstation.com]

The Diamond T logo meant reliability. [courtesy www.cartype.com]

Friday, February 16, 1945
Work all day on old truck. Put in new bearing in pillar block and take radiator off and have it fixed. Get letter from Naomi and Bertha Herald today.

Sunday, February 18, 1945
I drive for Italian co. at transportation. Drive 129 miles.

Monday February 19, 1945
Go on pass. See Wallace Beery in "The Barbious Gent." Also USO stage show "Pardon Me." Visit Raymond in evening.

Wallace Beery [courtesy www.silentladies.com]

WAR UPDATE: February 19, 1945. U.S. invades Iwo Jima.

Tuesday, February 20, 1945
1,000 mile check on truck.

Wednesday, February 21, 1945
Convoy, Leg Horn signal dump to signal dump in Florence. In evening movie, "Arsenic and Old Lace" at Apollo, also "Meet Me in St. Louis" at rest camp.

The city of Livorno was also known as "Leg Horn."