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.
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.
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.]
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