The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1945-07-23
SQUARE MEAL AND TICKET HOME
II FOR VETERANS OF EUROPEAN WAR
BY EARL BERKELEY


NEW YORK "Redeploy-l
ment," a conservative word chos-
en- by the Army for "the big par
AIDE to the Pacific" is becoming
familiar to thousands of Ameri-
can households.
1t means first that sons, hus-
bands and sweeinearts will be
home on furlough; second, that
they'll go into retraining and
then turn toward the Far East.
The peak deployment month";
will be August when about AGO.
COO soldiers will switch through
New York and other ports, strain
ing transportation lhcilt les to-
the limit. The Army expects to
need 24,500 Pullman cars, 1885
coaches and 1000 baggage cars to
speed the troops home and back
to assembly areas.
To relieve the pressure the Of
flee of Defense Transportation has
banned the use of sleeping cars
to civilians and soldiers alike who
aren't goilg farther THAN $50
miles. The Association of Ameri-I
can Railroads says it expects the
ban to stick for four or five
months,
TIC Takes Over
The moving job is being done
by the Transportation Corps of
the Army Service Forces. TCl
took the men overseas and TIC is
bringing them back; it operates
all the big ports of embarkation,
largest. Its aim is to have the men
on their way home "a to SO hours
after arrival in the United States.
Service, cordially and speedy
travel is the Army's keynote The
returnees go first to a camp close
to the port, of arrival, thence TO.
the Army post nearest their
homes, Burroughs, usually of. 30
days, begin when the men leave
the post for home.
During the processing period
the soldiers are well-fed and en-
Acknowledgements" of the Army
for a change.
A rousing welcome greets the
men as the grey, packed troop
ships steam into port. Each boat
is derked with colorful signal
flags from stem to stern. All other
vessels in the harbur are sfnsiar-
ly decorated. WhistIed greetings
sound from every vessel i'll the
area.
A welcome ship, usually carry
ing a WAC band and bevies of
girls, meets the transports. Huge
welcome signs are visible from
the shores. AT, New York the SOD
diers look first for the Statue
of Liberty.
Before the men debark in pre-
arranged OruUt, LED Cross women
prepare coffee, milk, lemonade,
ice cream, doughnuts, sandwiches
and candy. NeWsmen from home
towns and the big press services
fish for items among the troops.
From New York the returnees'
destination is either Camp Kill
mer, near New Brunswick, N. j.,
or Camp Snanks, near Orange
burg, N. Y. Wounded men are
transported by ambulance. Able
bodied troops move by ferry to
railroads in New Jersey, and
complete the trip by train OF bus.
It's Meal Time
Arriving at camps, whatever
the hour, day or night, the CT gets
his first meal. It's really a meal
steak and all the trimmings, cake,
pic, ice cream, milk, tea and
coffee. Second and even third
hclpingS are there for the asking.
In a matter of hours, the sol
der is on his way to d station
nearest home, usually travelling
on a troop train with kitchen car.
Red Cross representatives meet
all trains with the customary re-
freshmcntS.
Once on his own, the soldier is
told to have 4 good time, but
don't talk too much-the war S
still on "