WWII Diary of Chick Bruns – 70 Years Ago

Boy was it ever cold up here in the mountains last night. It was swell sleeping though and there was a beautiful sun rise. We were up at 7 AM this morning and didn’t leave the Bivouac area until 9:00 AM. We went 177 miles yesterday and only have 140 to do today. Here we are at Oujda. We came across the desert today and I saw many old forts that were once used by the French Foreign Legion. This has been a very interesting trip. I have enjoyed it very much. We arrived here at 5:30AM and I have just finished chow. Badali and I are going to play cribbage and then I will go to sleep. This is all for today.

We were up at 5 o’clock this morning. Ate and got all of are equipment are on the trucks to get ready to leave. We are to pass the I.P. at 8:05. Here it is 6:30PM and we have just pulled into Taza. Boy have we had a wonderful trip. I have really seen some beautiful country and winding roads through the mountains. I have also seen many all Arabic and Roman cities. I took a few pictures so I hope they turn out O.K.

Well we finished loading everything today. All of our supply tents were torn down so we will be sleeping out in the open tonight. I am sure tired. We had mail call tonight and I got a couple of letters from Mom and Dad. We went to bed early so that’s about all for today.

We worked pretty hard today getting things ready to move. We loaded the three half tracks and that took about all day. In the evening we went over to HQ Co. to a show and saw the “Life of Knute Rockne”. It was late when Badali and I got home so I went right to bed.

Today was just like every other day. We worked hard all day. I didn’t even get to go to church. They sprayed our tents and just about finished up the camouflage nets today. I had to issue out a few clothes and got most of our things packed. Tonight I wrote a few letters and then went to bed. Good night.

From all indications we are going out in the desert. We have all been working very hard and are anxious to get started. We should be leaving in a few days. We will probably have to work tomorrow to get ready for the move. I think I will write a few letters and then go to bed.

Vincent A.Badali

We went for a small run this morning before breakfast. Boy we were busy all day today and I worked like a sun-of-a-gun. I took a shower in the evening and then did some laundry. We are getting ready to move. In the evening I went to a shout out in the open over at HQ Co. It was pretty good and something different. After the show Towslee and I ate my fill that the cooks baked for me.

Well today is April Fool’s Day. We should be moving so I am glad. I got all of my salvage ready, made out my certificates and turned it in. We had a small lecture on mines this morning and in the afternoon I worked on the clothes. We had mail call this evening and I received a few letters. A couple of friends came in tonight with some champagne so we had to drink it up. Champagne here costs $0.80 a pt. and home it costs $12.00 a pt. Well I guess I had better write a few letters and go to bed.