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."

36. Another Run to the Front

Saturday, January 27, 1945
See movie at Apollo, "When Ladies Meet," Robert Taylor, Joan Crawford, Herbert Marshall. Russians 95 miles from Berlin.

[courtesy: www.imdb.com]

Sunday, January 28, 1945
On guard. Get 4 letters from Betty, Jean, LaVerne and Mother. Allies are making gains on Western front. Have gained back more than was lost in big German counter-attack.

Tuesday, January 30, 1945
See very good movie, "Since You Went Away."

[courtesy: www.dvdbeaver.com]

Wednesday, January 31, 1945
Pay day. Pull our small trailers to PBS (Peninsular Based Section) ordinance, turn them in.

Thursday, February 1, 1945
Go to hospital to visit Quinton Goynes in forenoon. Russell gets out of hospital. Write letter to Rene. Radio report Russians 45 miles from Berlin. Rumor that we will get semi's soon and haul for 8th Army and move to Rome.

Friday, February 2, 1945
Haul trailers for 3638 and 3605, turn them in to ordinance.

Saturday, February 3, 1945
Go in convoy haul diesel oil from Montecini rail head to Q544. Leave at 12:30, get back at 8 p.m.

Another convoy heads out on another assignment. [courtesy: pro.corbis.com]


WAR UPDATE: February 4, 1945. Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin meet at the Yalta Conference.

Sunday, February 4, 1945
Schuster leaves at 1 a.m. hauls ammo, Montecini rail head to 0428, gets back at 9:30 a.m. Lovely day. Raymond is over in forenoon. Take pictures.

Raymond Stokes (left) and me outside my quarters in Florence, Italy. Sunday morning, February 4, 1945.

Tuesday, February 6, 1945
A seven day training period has started. All trucks in battalion are deadlined. But a convoy of 4 ton'ers go out in evening. Manila is liberated.

Wednesday, February 7, 1945
In spite of training period, Schuster and I get a trip with Diamond T and trailer. Go to 1108 Engineers north of Lucca. Stay overnight then to 23 miles north of Lucca to Fornair, which is 4 or 5 kilometers from front. We could machine gun and other small arms fire. This area was shelled quite frequently. We get load of sheet aluminum at plant there. Get back to camp at 6 p.m. on Feb. 8th. Trip started 2 p.m. on Feb. 7th.

Another run to the front.

35. Fire Damages Our Quarters

Monday, January 1, 1945
See football game, "Spaghetti Bowl." 5th Army beats 12th Air Force 20-0. I get 4 Bertha Heralds.


My copy of the "Spaghetti Bowl" game program.


Clipping from The Stars and Stripes.


Thursday, January 4, 1945
Company formation and parade. We get War Dept. citation. In evening Raymond comes over for visit.

Saturday, January 5, 1945
Three men go home. Sosa and Musil on rotation. Rickstein on furlough.

Monday, January 8, 1945
Articles of War. I go on pass, visit 52nd Q.M. in forenoon. See Raymond. In afternoon I go downtown see movie. Walk home with Varinoskus. Snow today. Get 4 letters from LaVerne, Mother, Dolores, Vera. Lately, the rumor is everyone goes home after 30 months overseas. We have one month left according to that.

One of my buddies, Vincent Varinoskus.

Sunday, January 14, 1945
Go to church at Apollo Theater in forenoon. Fire caused by oil burner in our quarters burns some of our equipment. Mashburn, Malley, Jergensen and myself lose equipment. Quinton Goynes gets burns on hands and face, is hospitalized.

Monday, January 15, 1945
Work all day cleaning and painting our quarters. Job pretty well done. Will move back soon. Get new style blouse issued to us today.

Tuesday, January 16, 1945
Seven of us move into different building. Company sends truck load to shows in evening now.

Wednesday, January 17, 1945
Putting new living quarters in shape. Install another oil burner. Get two letters from Doris and Opal and Jean.

Thursday, January 18, 1945
Our battalion starts a training schedule. 1,000 mile check on truck. Our company has dance.

Friday, January 19, 1945
Exchange windshield and top with Jergensen's truck.

Saturday, January 20, 1945
Install de-froster on our truck.

Sunday, January 21, 1945
My 30th birthday, a quiet Sunday morning. Got letter from Rene.

Wednesday, January 24, 1945
Drive GMC no. D to Q 53 get trash detail there, then haul load of matress covers to 102 bakery in Florence. A 66 mile run. In evening see "Buffalo Round Up," a 92nd Div. orchestra. Am seeing quite a lot of shows. Russians have been on big push for week and a half. Are around 140 miles from Berlin.

A GMC "deuce-and-a-half." [courtesy: www.roadandtransport.com]

WAR UPDATE: January 26, 1945. Auschwitz concentration camp liberated.

Prisoners escorted by Russian soldiers after liberating Auschwitz. The world is shocked over the brutality discovered there. [public domain]