June 14, 1943 At last, "Der Tag" ["The Day"] We were up at 4:30 and rolled our bed rolls. Breakfast 5:15. We had the luggage (including the men's A bags) - 4 big truck loads. The men did a good job of packing. Then Mac and I took our stuff back to our officers' car - #7 and took a seat. Then we wandered around until 9:30 when the personnel all arrived, and got on the train. We finally pulled out at 10:30! Our ride was a lot more pleasant than coming from Ord! We went to Los Angeles and then up the inland route. We were into and out of L.A. in 6 hours! We expected to arrive at Pittsburg in the afternoon but we got here at 6:30 A.M. - only 20 hours!
We had Pullmans - old ones, but nevertheless Pullmans! I had a lower all to myself. I slept quite well but they awakened us at 5:15! I was astonished at the speed with which they unloaded the baggage - the detail from the Camp Stoneman. We were the last to leave, Dick and I, but we were in time for breakfast. Then we went back to our barracks - in Section F. It is fine in barracks! No sand, no dust! Hot showers, wash bowls! The comments were varied - "Hey look, they have water running right out of pipes in the wall!" You could tell we'd been living out in the bush for a long time.
Meals at the mess hall are 25¢ each and fine meals! And how the men wait on you! You go thru the line serving yourself on a plate, take your drink of coffee or iced tea, go to a table. They bring you a glass of water, refills and dessert! All you can eat for two bits!
It was pretty hot here today and a little muggy. But it has cooled down this evening! We went to the personnel office and signed in, filled in cards, etc. At 1 we went to a lecture on censoring. We went to the main PX. I bought shoes at the QM sales.
We had officers' call at 6 P.M. Nothing much was told us. We will get impregnated clothing (against gas). I'm O.D. [officer of the day] tonight and tomorrow. I will have to officiate at retreat tomorrow and be on hand at our "Code HQ" all day to answer the phone. Here we are known only as 6529N
My directions are still as turned around here as at Desert Center and Freda.
We will be censored, both letters and phone calls. But we still aren't on an alert. When that comes we will be confined to quarters.
We are to get some training, including a 12 mile hike. I don't know when I'll get to see Beth. I hope she arrived OK and found a place to stay.
Christie and I are rooming together again. The water here is quite soft and so nice for showers!
June 17, 1943 (Thursday) ...
Beth was [came] out last evening but I hardly got to talk to her. She is having trouble with Jean, Mercy and the kids. I know she could take care of herself and do a better job of it and be happier, but it just doesn't seem safe for her to be alone! It seems like such a darned shame that I'll soon be leaving and not able to see her, the Light of my life, for who knows how long. Somehow the possiblity of my not coming back doesn't impress me at all. I have every confidence that I will. I just hope and pray Beth stays well. ...
June 18, 1943 This morning I went over the obstacle course. It was a dilly! At the "water jump" I missed the rope and flopped flat in the knee deep muddy water! I was a complete mess!! The wind whipped to rope when the fellow let go. I tried it over again and did OK. The rest of the course was not bad, but a grind - climbs and jumps, rope nets, rope slide, pits, walls, swings, bars, etc. Christie and Armstrong started with me, but I was the only one to finish. ...
Beth writes: 18 June 1943 (Friday)
Dear Mary X,
I have the afternoon free - am just waiting to see Gene. I can't tell a thing about him. He insists he knows nothing. If he did know he couldn't tell me. I've been told so many things I was not to mention that I hardly know what to say. Guess I'll have to talk about myself and will skip him. Jean Adams drove up with me. Mercy MacIlroy and her two boys followed in her car - except when I took a boy and Jean drove with her. Jean & I were on the road about 12 hours on Monday. At 40 mph we did well to make 375 miles with all the necessary stops. Had a nice tourist cabin in Fresno. Got off to a slow start Tuesday but got into Berkeley about 1:30 pm. Drove thru Berkeley & thru Oakland & found a place to stay. Spent 1 1/2 hours putting money in the telephone. Called at least 20 hotels in the two towns and found no vacancies. Were fortunate to find a nice tourist cabin place out of Oakland in San Leandro. The kids just about drove me wild. Of course the trip was hard on them but they have never had any disciplining and each time Mercy said "Don't do that" they tore into it with renewed vigor. That night they screamed & played until 11 pm. We contacted the men that evening. Gene was OD and I didn't talk to him. It took all Wednesday am to feed the kids & after a series fo telephone calls, we started out the 45 miles to see the fellows. They met us at 4:30 and we ate dinner & spent the evening with them. Then drove the 45 miles back to the tourist camp. As it appears that we can come & visit the men but they can't get out much, we spent all of yesterday - a terribly hot day - looking for a place closer to the men. At the last minute Jean & I took a room in Antioch. It is in a nice new home. The people are very nice, and the room is a sun room and not as big as your pantry [Mary X's pantry was about 6' x 10']! The 3/4 bed & chest of drawers leave no room to spare for a chair and 2 people stand with difficulty. We thot [sic] we'd stay 1 night & then could get an early start to look for another. When we got home last night the woman told us she had just found a friend who was leaving her house & we could sublet for 2 weeks. I went over this morning and took it. Of all the luck, this appears the best. It is a quick construction gov't project house. It is cute as can be & beautifully furnished even to bedding, linen & silverware. We pay $32 for the two weeks. Of course I had to deposit $12.50 on utilities. It is a gamble. I may be ready to start home by Monday - and I may want to stay past two weeks. Who knows. Anyway - please write me a letter pronto to
1143 Cook Street
Antioch, Calif.
I'd like to know how all goes on the home front.
Gene looks fine - a bit tired out and decidedly on a strain. His outfit has never worked very smoothly. I guess none do. The army does the darnedest things. I'll keep you posted on where I am and what goes on. Do hope you are OK and I'll hear good news from Daddy soon.
My love to you, John & Jack, Elisabeth
June 20, 1943 We haven't really had much of a training program! I stayed the night with Beth in Antioch and came back to camp early this morning. I met Beth for dinner. Then we started to Frisco about 2:30 P.M. (I had a 24 hour VOCO). We finally had a place to stay at the Plaza Hotel after the 4th try.
We ate at Bernsteins Sea Food place. I was brave enough to try a half-cracked crab! It was good and fun too. I bought my Honey a gardenia (after a bit of hinting - dumb me!). We walked around some of China town and weren't much impressed. Then back to the hotel room for a stop and then out to have some Tom Collins - only 40¢ a drink! We certainly slept like logs. The Bay Bridge was something!
June 21, 1943 Did we ever have fun riding the Powell St. Cable car from end to end and then another to the Ferry Bldg. The motorman was nice enough to point out points of interest while we rode up in the open air part.
Then we shopped. I found some plug pipe tobacco on Market Street. Then we ate at the Pig 'n' Whistle. Then got the car out of the 4 story underground Union Square garage and drove along the piers. Being an officer got us a lot farther than we would have otherwise. We got to Fisherman's Warf finally. Then on the Ft. Mason, thinking it the Presidio. Then to the Presidio thinking it was the Golden Gate Park, then to the Park. Among other things we saw the dandiest armor! [He was always fascinated by armor; years later Gene bought a breast plate and helmet to have on display.]
Then back here to Antioch, where we spent the night at the Robinson's. I saw where we are to leave foot lockers and bed rolls ready by Wednesday morning. Sounds as though the time is coming when I'll be on one of those gray transports such as we saw out in the bay!
June 22, 1943 (Tuesday) ...I called Mother this morning. I think that she knows I'll leave soon, although she was so good not to ask questions. ...
I went shopping with my Honey and we had such a good supper and such a wonderful evening. Our time together is drawing to a close so rapidly. It is hard to be going and not a thing of the future! But my Honey is so brave about it. I wonder when again we can spend such a nice evening together, alone. I hope it won't be too long!
I went over the obstacle course again today. Monday Rathman broke 2 fingers while going on it and Swanson got a fibula fracture - dislocation of the astragalus [a bone of the foot] on it. Lucky me! [Although lots of pages are left in the diary, it ends here abruptly, probably because he gave it to Beth to keep, and he continued on in a new one.]
June 25, 1943 Left Camp Stoneman 1 P.M. by truck to pier 43, San Francisco. S.S. Lurline (Matson Line). Norman passenger capacity - 720. Now carries 4500 to 5000. Built 1932. Speed up to 22 knots (1 knot = 1 1/8 miles). B deck, starboard, #111: Niemeyer, Pfile, MacIlroy, Mihalick, Christie, Hagman. Travelled the ship top to bottom and thru supper by 6 P.M.
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| A photo of the S.S. Lurline taken in 1962 |
To Beth: To be read after you are reasonably certain that I'm on the way!
Dearest Beth,
I'm writing this while waiting, still on the desert. I wrote a note last evening - much too melodramatic! So I'll try again at noontime.
First (as also "last and always"!) I want to tell you that I love you so very, very much - I love you more than life, but I fully expect to come back (and to find you here!) to do more of it. You are the most wonderful, the sweetest, the dearest wife (or paramour!) that a man ever had. And I am the luckiest man there is, to have such a wonderful wife and love. I've told you that before, but it all bears repetition!
I wish I could continue to look after you personally, but it gives me such an immense amount of comfort to know that you can look after yourself!
Needless to say, I don't like the idea of separation, but it can't be helped. So we'll both make the best of it. I'll try to be a good soldier, and I know you will. It will be tough on you, especially at first, but I know you'll be able to snap out of it. Our trust is in God, so things will work out OK. Just think what a happy reunion we'll have! You are my Sunshine!
Here's tae us! None like us!
All my love, Eugene
Beth writes: To be read at sea. How I hope for no sea sickness!
Tuesday, 1 June 1943
My own Sweet Husband,
I've tried for days to write a letter to you and I couldn't do it. Just the thought of your leaving the country reduced me to tears. I still hope it doesn't happen - and yet I'm quite sure it will. I hope it will be for the best. The war has changed a lot of things for us and it has changed us, too, dearest. But it has only strengthened our love of each other and convinced us more than ever of our need of each other. I have always been so grateful for you but each day I am away from you I realize how much more a necessary part of me you are. Each day I am with you I become more conscious of the joy of your love and companionship. We do have so much.
Then, too, my own, the army and the war mean a different thing than they did. I still feel war is useless and the winners lose as much as the losers - but I am proud that you are one ot the men who is doing his best for his country instead of one who is hiding behind a defense job or phony illness. Oh honey I'm so glad you are too proud and too courageous to pull a stunt like Stanley or Mauchin. At one time I would have been anxious for you to do anything, even that, to have you stay near me. I am so happy now to know you are not that kind.
You are My Man, dear heart, and you can do no wrong. As you said to me - so many things we have dreaded have become mere nothings - so perhaps when it is all over we can laugh about this parting as we now laugh about our concern last July in Denver. I shall do my best, dear one, for I know you are doing yours. Army regulations forbid my going along but nothing can keep me from being with you in spirit. You will be in my heart always and in my thots [sic] constantly and dreaming of your sweet smile - I shall be smiling back at you.
All my love, dear one, Beth
