Dizard and I have been playing tennis this afternoon at the W.Gabba police courts. Things have happened fast since my last entry. The war fronts are as follows:
In Normandy, the Americans cut Brittany off with a lightning armoured thrust to Nantes and then cut up toward Paris and outflanked the Germans holding the British around Caen and Liesiese and Argentan. The strategy working beautifully and resulted in the liberation of Paris and the destruction of most of the Nazis in that area. They are at present trying to escape over the Siene but the Air Force is giving them a bad time and they are losing everything in the way of vehicles, tanks, and men. The past couple of weeks have brought new landings in the vicinity of Merseilles and Toulon. Thsoe two cities have fallen and the Americans are advancing up the river to meet the other Armies and cut off all the reinforcements the Germans ahve in the Bayonne Area and on the Border of Spain. Besides this the Maquis (French Underground Army - Free French Army) have taken a lot of territory including Vichy and some other big towns and are a big aid to the Allies. The battle for Germany is nearing and the battle for France has been practically won. Our Theatre - the SWPA hasn't brought any new landings since Sansapor but we know unofficially that we have landed on a little island half way between Sansapor and the Halmahera's. Things are getting ready for some big happenings but we don't know just when or where. Mop up operations are still going on in Biak, Wadke, Sansapor, and those areas while they are still fighting defensive battles against the Japs trying to escape the Aitape trap which has many thousand Japs trapped. Nothing new has happened in the Central Pacific so they are undoubtedly building up the bases on Guam and Saipan and Tinian.
The big news around the office is the move, which is progress. On Wednesday we heard rumors about moving - the first that anybody had knowledge of. On Thursday we were given orders to dispense with routine matters and pack all the office equipment except desks and chairs. On Friday we packed our foot-lockers and brought them to ship by air with the office equipment. Everything went out Saturday except the desks, which apparently aren't going immediately. We stenciled ATR SURGEON, FEAF HOLLANDIA and the box number on all our items so we all know we are off to Hollandia pretty soon. Everybody in the Headquarters that is moving has been placed on a manifest and the planes are number A, B, C, etc. So far A, B, and C have gone and I am on H so it may be a few days as yet. Since all the files and everything is gone except the 65 pounds we are to carry with us we have been taking it easy and sort of having a furlough right here in Brisbane. The entire Headquarters is flying up in C-47s and C-b4s the rumors have it. It is going to be hell leaving Brisbane after spending ten months here for I have made lots of friends. I was down to the Riverview dance last night and am going again tonight. I will miss everyone but this move is one of those things that must come if we are to ever win this war over here. We are spending our last few days stuffing ourselves with food that we won't be getting in Hollandia. Mainly milk and more milk and steaks. The way I have taken on weight it won't particularly do me any damamge but I don't want to waste away to nothing.
Friday I received a letter that sent me nearly crazy. Weldy sent a V-mail in which he says that he has been notified of Don's death. His letter was brief and just stated those few facts. I haven't heard any more but it doesn't seem possible to me. I know that he has just gone back into combat but I didn't expect anything too terrible. I am afraid of what it will do to his folks at home. As yet I have been hoping against hope for a mistake but it doesn't seem possible, as Weldy seemed too sure and he is up there in the Admiraltys. Luckily Weldy has been with Don the past few months, almost as if fate had planned it to be so - if fate plans anything. It knocked me pretty low and I haven't felt like writing any letters to speak of because I don't know what to say. All the letters I wrote home kicking about ratings and such stuff seem so insignificant now and I am ashamed to have written them at all. Weldy's letter was the real shock. I was feeling so good because this move is more like an experience than anything else and I have been looking forward to my first big plane ride and along comes this thing. First is makes me sad and then it makes me fighting mad and then I feel like it isn't worth it anymore. Nobody understands the situation because nobody know Don at all. Dizard knew Weldy quite well and I can talk to him. Dad's letter arrived the same day and it was a wonderful letter. Dad mentioned how we were so lucky that the casualties hadn't struck close to home as yet and along with his letter come's Weldy's V-mail. All the boys will hate to get the news.
No comments:
Post a Comment