We went for a hike today. We went into Bizerte. Boy that town is such a mess. They have prisoners trying to clean it up. When we got back off of the hike everyone was packing up and getting ready to leave. Well we didn’t go after all Butts and I took our sleeping rolls down to the truck, but had to bring them back as something came up and they had to rush more assault troops across.
We are on a half hour alert now so we may move out at any moment. we didn’t do much. I went over to another outfit and got into the P.X. line. They thought I was one of them as it was a new outfit. I got my weekly ration ha ha. After that I burned some chow and brought it back to the fellow. We played cards the rest of the day.
We are all wondering when we are going to leave, and how the fellows are making out in Sicily. I sure wish I was with them, but I will be soon enough. They seemed to be doing okay though. Wyengard and I went on a couple of long run hikes after a P.X. we did bring back some food from one outfit. It’s a relief to eat some good food, since we’ve been eating C-ration all the time. We went to the show tonight but it also turned out to be a dry run.
The fellows hit Sicily this morning at 3 AM. We are in a “C” ration camp and how I love “C” ration, now! We played cards all day long. Butts and I walked down to the truck after a few things. While we were there we walked over to the Bizerte airport to see all of the German air craft that was destroyed on the ground. We hitch-hiked back. We played cards until bedtime.
German Prisoners in rail cars
We are to fall out at 12 o’clock today. We played cards all morning until time we left. We moved over to Bizerte to the waterproofing area. We had to walk about 4 miles carrying a full field pack and our sleeping bags, so we were carrying about 100 lbs on our back up hills and down hills. Gee but I was tired.
There is nothing to do today but lay around and play cards. In the afternoon Frenchy, Butts, Myers, and I went swimming we had to walk 5 miles and it was really hot. We went to the show tonight.
Today is Rita’s birthday. I was hoping we would make the landing today. Well everything is packed now so until I get chance I will have to finish this in pencil. We moved down to Ferryville in the grouping area. Dug our foxholes and went to bed.
Well last night was the night and they were sure over. I saw four planes myself shot down. The raid lasted four about 45 minutes. HQ Co. lost one truck and a motorcycle. Down at Bizerte they sank a few barges. The damage was slight from the bombs that were dropped. The company moved out today and left us 4 pvt’s behind. I am in priority 1, group 3, so I should land about the same time the rest of the company does. Boy it is hot here today 113 degrees in the shade. I don’t have any clothes on except my shorts and then it is hot I can barely stand it.
There hasn’t been a raid for some time now so look out tonight or tomorrow. Many of the boats are getting loaded. I didn’t do a thing today. Just sleep that is all there is to do. The days were getting numbered now the General gave us a big talk.
Dear Mother & Dad;
Being as today is Sunday, I can catch up on my letter writing. How’s everything at home, OK? I have received your long letter yet but so far I have all the others for the month of June of 2 June 10th your 5th letter. Dad, so you have all of your windows painted. Good for you. I wish I was home to help you. Well it is not going to be long now. Yes I got the pipe and paper. I wrote you a long letter and answered all of your questions in all of your letters so you should get that one soon. I also wanted a Kaywoodie pipe, and only Kaywoodie, no others will do. I haven’t received any of the comic books, but I will soon. It’s still the same here, you go to the show at night and that’s about all the enjoyment you have. They also play a little pinochle now and then. Well mother and dad good bye for now and I’ll write whenever I can.
Your Son “Chick”
