Last Visit Before Embarkation (9)

 John, Mary X and Jack Barrett

Beth writes: 19 March 1943
Dear Mary X,
     Hold your breath.  I think we are coming.  Gene has applied for leave from April 9th to 19th and it has been OK'd.  I spent most of the day at the RR station and have seats 10 & 12, Car 220 on El Capitan leaving Needles Friday evening.  We should get in Kansas City at midnight Saturday night.  I've written the folks to reserve hotel rooms for us and we'll meet them at the hotel and we'll stay there all day Sunday and take the C.M. & P. out Sunday night.  We'll get in Freeport Monday morning and will leave Chicago to return via El Capitan on Saturday evening being in Freeport 5 nights.  Gene will work out a complete schedule of time but he asked me to tell you to include no one else in your plans.  We want to concentrate on family.  He has told his mother already that the only people he will go see are Great Uncle Herman, Gus, Aunt Lizzie and 85 year old Mrs. Brockhauser [Gene's grandmother].  ...  He just wants to relax with family. ...
     Of course we are pretty excited.  There is big talk again of the unit being moved on - so all have to be back in camp by May 1st.  I dread going thru Trinidad! ...
     Not that I exspect to appear often in public but what does the well-dressed woman in Freeport wear in April?!  Will my felt hat be OK?  Hadn't I better buy a heavy coat?  I'm sure I won't need the sun suit I'm now in - stretched out in the swing.  California has the most persistent flies.  They do their best to keep me in.
     Grapefruit are in bloom.  They smell just like oranges, I guess, and the whole valley smells like a dream!
     I meant to spend the day putting in hems, mending, etc. and here it is 3:20 pm and none done.  I'll tell you all the news in 3 weeks!!
     Love to all, Elisabeth

Gene was not looking ahead three weeks in his diary.  For him it was still the day-to-day grind with occasional bright spots.

March 23, 1943  Yesterday I went to town to see my Honey - first trip for 16 days.  The Col. keeps us closer than a jail, cuss his hide!
     No new rumors, except we are not moving as yet!  But "we" were asked if we could be ready to perform a mission by May 1st!  Of course the Col. tried to side step it but Ireland (now executive officer since Mason is gone) said surely we could.  So we had a meeting and tried to fill in our T.O. [technical orders] and requisition what we need.  I need at least one man for the laboratory.  So we also started putting on a training schedule.
     They are preparing to ship our overages [surplus material] - the laboratory gave up 2 chests and received another in their place.  Our 2 new, good microscopes were taken and our tables.  The Col. thought we were getting hot! [ready to leave?] Supposedly we have stuff being shipped to us too, so maybe we are.  But the 21st Evac. has been complete for months and are still just sitting!  So none of us can be too excited.  I do wish we'd leave this d___ desert!

March 30, 1943 (Tuesday)  ...
     This morning I go for a tank ride at the 7Δ.  Maybe even to drive the tank!
     [Later] Yep!  We had about a 45 min. ride in a tank and I drove it for a while.  Lots of fun, but dirty as all get out.  They were the new light tanks with hydro-matic drive.  They do about 3/4 of a mile to a gallon of gas, out here on the desert.  2 Chrysler 8 cylinder motors!

April 4, 1943 ...
     I had the day trip Friday and brought the car back.  It certainly is a temptation to drive to town this afternoon, for the old goat is gone on a week end.  But with a leave coming up, I won't take chances.

Beth writes: 4 April 1943
Dear Mary X,
     My last epistle - and then I'll see you.  Whoops!!
     We have $195.03 worth of RR tickets and seem to be all set. ...
     We are so excited we can hardly sleep.  Gene was in for a while Friday.  He telephoned me this pm and will call again Tuesday pm.  He has the car so I hope to stay on the spot and get some work done.
     Love to all, Beth

Some of the Trinidad delegation, including Dutchie,
Gene's and Beth's dachshund

April 8, 1943  I left about 10:30 P.M. instead of waiting until midnight, on my 10 day leave.  I arrived at Indio about 12 and surprised Beth.  We left Indio about 10 A.M. Friday April 9 and had an uneventful ride to Needles.  We couldn't find the lady whom Beth knew, so we just had to scout around and finally found a garage to leave it [the car] in, making arrangements for them to leave the key out.  $2.00 for 10 days - not bad.  The train arrived on time.  At about Winslow [AZ] the car (we were in the last coach of El Capitan) began to fill with sulfur and smoke.  They finally shifted us to the lounge car and took our car off.  At Gallup [NM] they put on an old Pullman [sleeper car].  Says one man, "I wish they'd show us the seat where Lincoln sat!"  So we had about 1 hour sleep that night.  We were 2 1/2 hours late.  At Trinidad [CO] we were 1 1/2 hours late, but a delegation of friends and patients met us when we hopped off - 30 or 35 or so!  It was very touching and thrilling. ...

The folks: Etta and Joseph Ferguson

     At Kansas City {MO] we were 1 hour late.  We were short a bag and couldn't find it anywhere.  The passenger agent sent a telegram to trace it.  Next day it was found in Chicago!   How it was left on the train, I can't say.

     We didn't get to the hotel (a female cab driver made money on us!) until about 1:30 A.M.  Lucky we had reservations (at the Muehlbach!)  We talked to Beth's folks a little while and then fell into bed.  Next day we just talked and ate.  It rained beautifully!  The town was full of WAAC's to salute!  It was so nice to see Beth's folks.  Her Dad looks quite pale.  Sunday evening we left for Freeport.  I'm so glad we took a Pullman for we were certainly tired out.

     Mother met us at the train, with her face tied up - abscessed tooth!  The last one she had was years before at my graduation.  Vernon [Gene's stepfather] came home at 10 to say hello before going out on his route [he was a postman].  In the afternoon we went to say hello to Mary X and Jack, and Grandmother that evening.

Vernon and Jessie Taylor, Gene's mother and stepfather

     Tuesday evening we spent with Grandmother.  Wednesday with the Barretts.  Thursday I went calling and Beth had her hair fixed.  Friday more running around and began saying adieus.  Saturday we took the early train to Chicago and saw some of the stores, and left in the evening.

Capt. Eugene Pfile in Freeport, IL

     Sunday morning some of the gang met us at the train in Trinidad and drove us to Raton.  Very nice.  We arrived at Needles 1:55 A.M. Monday.  We had difficulty in getting gas (Vidal Junction) to return to Indio.  We didn't know that civilian cars can't get gas after 8 P.M.  Reported back in at 2315 to find Evans and Pringly gone to a tank destroyer outfit at Yuma, Johnson to a med detachment there and Bourn and Beck gone across the road to the 55th Med. Bn.  They had asked for transfers and got them!  No other new rumors of any note except that we seem to be getting hotter!

22 April 1943

Dear Folks [Mary X and John],

     As Gene Autry sings (about the saddle) it is "Back in the Desert again"!  It hasn't changed while I was gone & is still warm! ...

     The ten days seems a long time past.  But very pleasant!  I enjoyed it all - seeing you, talking to you, seeing your home - everything!  Thanks so much!

     Sincerely, Eugene

Maneuvers (8)

Stationery Letterhead from the Desert Training Center

The town where Beth and the other wives of the 92nd Evac doctors stayed, Indio, was near the edge of the desert. Beth explains the topography to Mary X in a letter dated 15 February 1943:

...As to the mountains and Indio. This is the Coachella Valley and mountains are an all sides. The highest mountains are to the west. San Jacinto about 40 miles west is over 10,000 and snow capped. In all other directions they are lower and are just bare, eroded rock and clay hills. They look like "crumpled taffeta" in the morning and evening sun. In all directions are valleys and mountain passes. Indio is below sea level and 26 miles [s]out[h] east [of Palm Springs]. Camp Young is about 1700 feet above sea level. While Eugene's address is now Camp Young instead of Rice, he is 20 miles east of Young and quite isolated from other army units. At present they have no lights and water only in small amounts. ... Love, Elisabeth

The area encompassing the Desert Training Area was bleak.  The APO of the 92nd Evac was changed from #545 to #441, Desert Maneuvers.  Their name was changed from the 92nd Evacuation Hospital (motorized) to the 92nd Evacuation Hospital (semi-mobile).  Maneuvers near the Salton Sea began, and Gene records the proceedings in his diary:

Looking towards the area where maneuvers were held

February 26, 1943 (Friday)  Yesterday I went with Mason to Niland to inspect our new site.  We turned at Young to go to Mecca thru a rather scenic canyon.  Very interesting erosion there.  87 miles from here to Niland.  We went looking for Iris - out thru the Marine area along the All-American canal, tried side tracks in deep sand and almost stuck - finally back to Niland where we found the officers from the QM [Quarter Master corps] who were laying out the sites and had us slated for an area at the edge of town - such as it is!  Returned here late for supper.  Found Ireland had returned.  The "Great White Hope" as Armstrong called him, who has nothing to offer.  He talked to me and gave me the old line about how the SGO [Surgeon General's Office] had nothing to do with us, that he had talked to the AGF [Army Ground Forces] Col. [W.E.] Shambora and that there was still hope , to try to keep the chin up.  Es is zu lachen [translation: It's laughable].
     I heard that things in our forward echelon are not all peace and quiet - everyone mad at everyone else.  That also is to laugh! ...

February 28, 1943 (Sunday)  We were up at 0400.  Breakfast 0430.  Were to leave at 0600.  The forward echelon came in almost at 06-- and we stopped in by the canyon below Young for a "pee" (I don't think the nurses did!)  Things were certainly Tarfu [Things Are Really F___ed Up].  The trucks became separated from the carryalls at Niland.  We pulled into the designated place I had seen Thursday.  But that wasn't it!  Luckily the trucks didn't follow us, for one small truck with a water trailer got stuck.  It was a sight to see the 4 wheel drive just about burp the whole car!  We parked at a cross roads, the convoy pointing every direction, to await the Col. who had gone ahead to scout.  He came flying back, screamed at Terstegge as usual and we started out East of town 5 miles along the (Route A) maneuver route, thru the Marine Camp Dunlop.  We settled in a fairly good spot - lots of small rock and sand, palo verde trees and some bushes.  We began to set up in a dispersed fashion - scattered to heck and gone.  It is rather fun.  Officers 2 to a small tent. ...
March 1, 1943  Constructed a fire pit.  Went to the Marine dump and got 2 good buckets, a painted wash stand, etc.  The Marines, to our good luck except for the hordes of flies, have the sloppiest dump I ever saw, bar none.  Piles of boxes, cans, discarded stuff including precious wire [electric wiring?], and garbage!  It really is a disgrace to have such a dump!  I hope some General sees it!
     Today we have a two-seater throne to replace our straddle trench of yesterday.
     Trucks all dispensed and camouflaged.  A large red-cross (3 bed sheets square) on the ground.
     We can see the Salton Sea from here.
     My feet are bothering - several large blisters due to fungus, I'm certain.  It is rather warm in the sun.

March 3, 1943 (Wednesday)  Left our Niland camp on Red Route - about 1/2 the outfit, finally found the green route, went east thru Salvation Pass - not really a pass at all over some very tough roads.  I rode in a command car with top and windshield down and it began to sprinkle.  The field jacket did rather well, especially drying out.  At Wiley's Well we turned north to the highway, and west along it (not on it - no fair to go on it!) to Hopkins Well [neither hot springs is reliably located on any current map, but there are hot springs in the Niland area].  The rest of the convoy turned up about an hour later.  We left at 9:30 and arrived about 15:30 - 60 miles.  A lot of second gear it was so rough.  We really bounced around.  We had the top and windshield up for 2/3 of the trip, rules or no rules! 
     I started them to setting up the mess for we were all hungry.  It showered at intervals.  But we positively enjoyed it, having had so little rain.  This Hopkins Well has natural hot water.  There are showers with it, but we can't use them because of maneuvers!  Silly!  It will be 2 weeks Saturday since I've had a shower - only sponge baths!
     Rathman and I helped put up a small wall tent for ourselves.  Blowing up the air mattresses always makes me laugh.

March 4, 1943  It showered most of the night and leaked in a little on Omer [Rathman].  I slept fairly well.  This morning I went chasing after rations but with practically no results.  The roads were fairly muddy in spots.
     Mail came in from the base camp.  I have a letter my Honey mailed only 2 days ago!
     This place we are at is quite sandy and in a large flat valley.  My sense of directions is still very much off.  This morning I had a new experience - eating breakfast in the rain.  It was funny to have the rain plopping in the coffee and on the grapefruit!  But we actually enjoy the rain, we've had so little.

March 5, 1943 (Friday)  Last night I again made a trip to the 6th Division Motorized Ration dump and could get no rations!  We drove about 6 miles blacked out when some MP's [military police] told us to turn our lights on - the maneuver was over!  This is really some experience - driving black out over bumpy, strange roads.
     Omer built up a fire this morning and it was very pleasant.  About 8:30 we went over to the showers and had a naturally hot one!  Was it ever enjoyable!  Then we came back and aired our bedding which was somewhat damp.
     We heard rumors last night that the bunch at Niland was to remove to Freda!
     Suddenly at 1100 they told us to pick up, we were going back to Desert Center.  But I'd had a hot shower at our Hot Well!  We finally got started at 1:30 and returned here by 2:30 to find most of the "A teams" back and eating.  Except Matthews and most of the officers who had not been told and had gone on to Freda.  A messenger was sent to tell them, but they didn't arrive back here until 5:30 P.M.!  Matthews looked distinctly crestfallen.  They had gone cross country to Freda.  It seems as though the higher up really deliberately withheld information from him!

March 7, 1943  Maneuvers ending gave me a week with my Honey!  The first I'd even spoken to her in 3 weeks.  Fried spring chicken dinner - I chopped off his head and picked him and my Honey cleaned and fried him.

Valentines Day Approaches (7)

The 92nd Evacuation Hospital moved to a new area on February 4th.  Their new location was called "Desert Center Observers Camp".  Gene and Beth both reported on their new situations:

Capt. Pfile at Desert Center Observers Camp

92nd Evac. Hosp. Mtz
Camp Young, Calif.
10 Feb. 1943
Dear Folks [Mary X and John],
     As you see by the address we have finally moved.  It was 6 months to the day that I left there.  We are now 50 miles closer to Indio - 3 miles west of Desert Center (on the map if you look - all it is, is a gas station and lunch stand).  10 of us (officers) came over a day early to supervise setting up here.  It takes about 100 big trucks to move us, with all our "extras".  This is a much more interesting spot.  It is only a mile to the foot of the nearest hill.  I've already been there!  I saw a dozen quail and there is more vegetation.  In fact, they left a number of huge ocotillo around our area.  There is a world of mineral specimens - copper ore, quartz crystals, ets.  There is an old mining road that I want to follow some time.
     But we won't be here long!  Maneuvers begin Monday and this is considered our first move.  After the first problem [tactical problems are devised by the commander, and the troops utilize maneuvers to solve them] we'll move somewhere, and it will be actual combat conditions - bed roll, pup tent, barracks bag!  This morning it was 32º.  You can bet we'll wear long underwear, and stay in it!  We have only lanterns and candles - they took away our big generator.  While out in the field, we won't even be able to have camp fires or much light of any kind.  I hope I get over my present cold before we start out.  I contracted this one because of the move.

Laboratory tent at Observers Camp

     I'm stuck in a job now that I don't particularly fancy.  I've been put in charge of the laboratory!  It sounds like something, but isn't!  I have 1 sgt., 2 corpls and 1 pvt to do the work.  My chief work is the autopsy part, and that is a headache.  I've had no special training, but I may be able to wangle a 2 months course at U of Michigan in clinical pathology!  That would be fine!  Then we could certainly visit Freeport! ...
     The Col. (by the way, has the full stuff now - just received his chickens yesterday [army slang for the eagle insignia a full colonel is awarded] ) bought some dupes [duplicate slides] at Palm Springs of desert flowers.  Beth says they are beautiful.  I hope to get some of the desert blooms this year, as it should for we have had a few nice rains.  You just can't buy film in Indio, but I am trying to get some thru our Px. ...
     Sincerely, Eugene

Beth writes: 11 Feb. 1943
Dear Mary X,
     ... Eugene had a spell with his stomach and then took another cold but claims he is quite OK.  He was in last weekend - I had expected him the two previous weekends but the d___ Colonel took his name off the list.  The Colonel himself has been in 5 out of the last 6 Sundays.  He can come on official business.  Anyway, Gene and I had a lovely time.  He came in at 2:30 Saturday afternoon and left at 11 pm Sunday.  Saturday night we had a big dinner with roast lamb and chocolate cake.  Then we sat in front of the fireplace.  Sunday morning we packed a picnic lunch and drove 35 miles up on the Palms to Pines Highway [California State Route 74]  - up at 5000 feet there are pine trees and cows and things and we played like it was Colorado!!  And when we got back Gene took his materials to Dr. Smiley and they worked making a bow and arrows.  Gene wanted to get a good start and then can finish out at camp.
     He moved company spots just exactly 6 months after they first hit the desert.  We are quite pleased about the move.  The hospital sight [sic] was 96 miles from Indio.  It is now about 45.  That means they should get in oftener.  Of course the Colonel may have other ideas.  He seems to enjoy making life as unhappy as possible for them.  Poor Gene always gets what he doesn't want.  When he joined the unit, the organizer, Dr. Ireland, promised him a lot of surgery.  Once here on the desert he was given "medicine" instead of "surgery".  Now he has been taken off that and given lab work.  He at least had contact with sick people in the ward tents but now has nothing but red tape and book work and nothing which will carry over into private practice.  I'm especially sick about it for I can't help but feel a girl I thot [sic] was my friend told the Colonel's wife, Bobby, that she was sure Gene wanted the job, just so it would be taken off the shoulders of her husband.  Often I wish I could be a hermit!!  Of course the girl claims that the Col. told her husband he wanted the most consciencious [sic] man there to have the job so he had chosen Gene.
     I had to drive the Christies to San Bernadino Thursday and bot [sic] myself an $8 Dobbs hat to wear back to Freeport!!  I really don't expect we will get there in March but I still hope to.  We have given up the idea of flying.  It costs too much.  I fear the train trip will cost us $400.00.  That is enough!!  If you would like to have us stay at your house if we come, do mention it to Eugene.  I'm sure his mother [who also lives in Freeport] won't let him - but again, perhaps he might do it in spite of her.  Now Grandmother's [Gene's step-grandmother's] people have moved I suppose we will stay there.  This trip all plans are to be Eugene's (I hope!).  And again I'm sure the Colonel won't give us the necessary 10 days.
     Love, Elisabeth

They may be closer together, but Gene still misses Beth, which is evident from an entry in his diary the day before Valentine's Day:
February 13, 1943:  These lonely, lonely twilights and evenings.  They may be beautiful, but without Beth they seem wasted.  They don't give me any morbid thoughts particularly - just a feeling of sorrow and a loss, for another day of life is gone, never to return and I was not able to hold her hand or hear her sweet voice.  All I can do is to hope for future days with her, and enjoy them if they come.

Beth and Gene at Tyson's ranch in Indio

But on Valentines Day Beth paid him a visit, as reported to Mary X on 15 February 1943:

I drove out to Gene's new camp yesterday afternoon. It is wonderful to have him just 46 miles away.  I took a picnic lunch and we climbed a hill and ate - and looked at the desert varnish on the rocks and a little lizard.  I stayed with him for 4 hours.  ...
     Love, Elisabeth