The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1945-03-08

Pea OUT OF camp Hucler, ALABAMA
where we had our basic training.
Upon boarding the train. We left for
an unknown destination on the west
coast.
The long train trip was very in
teresting. travelling through all the
various states. We went through
Mississippi. Tennessee. Illinois and
crossed the world famous Mississ-
tppi River somewhere in the vicinity
OF st. Louis, Missouri. We proceeded
on to Kansas, Colorado, Utah,
Nevada, and then finally our des-
tination, Camp Stoneman, Calf
ornia. AS we travelled through the
various states We saw many beauti-
ful works of man and nature. The
oil wells in Kansas, the deer in
Colorado. the floods in Missouri
and Illinois, and the Great Salt
Lake In Utah. Something I always
wanted to see was the snow capped
mountains, and to me they were
very picturesque. We finally landed
! IN sunny California.
! After a day or so at our Poe camp,
we were issued clothing and equip
ment for the tropical weather that
prevails In the Pacific. While at
Camp. Stoneman. zieske, Miller.
Mastone, Trwillian and I received
q night pass and We went to a
town called Pittsburgh. Had a very
good time. After spending sometime
there our time was drawing short
30 we left and hailed taxi back to
camp. was the only one who had
any money left, SO I paid the taxi
driver my last dollar.
Our orders came through April
the 18th to 60 overseas, and I sure
ahhorred leaving sunny California.
We packed all our equipment then
walked TO Pittsburgh, which was
about one mile from camp. There
we boarded the q. s. 8. Catalina
and proceeded on to San Fran
cisco Bay where we were greeted by
an n. band, which played Over
Their = their opening song. Sure
was q hearty welcome for all the
sorrow and trouble that followed.
We debarked from the q. S. s.
Catalina and entered the embark
alton building on Pier No. 2. I
noticed, In particular, sign on the
embarkstion building which read
, Through these portals pass the
best damn soldiers in the world,
which I later found to be true. After
being served coffee and cookies by
the American Red Cross, we i'm
mediately climbed the gang plank
and boarded the N. s. -. Again
we were headed for an unknown
Pacific Island. Sunday, April 30th
we pulled out Of the harbor and be-
gan our overseas voyage. We were
not told where we were going, but
my presumptions turned out pre-
cisely. We landed at Honolulu, Oahu
TIL, after a six-day voyage alone on
May the 9Th, 1914. Those six days
on the ship were the worst had
encountered so far in my army
career. I got very seasick and
thought for sure was going to die.
Then came the worst part of it, on
ship, I was showed on KIP. pro-
ceeded to carry out the detail but
was so seasick I layed down to my
hold until I felt better. surely
thanked the good Lord when that
day was over. After the third day
I felt much better and spent the
remainder Of the trip on deck play
ing pinochle and chess.
! When I arose the morning Of the
9Th Of May, / proceeded to the deck
for some fresh air and my morn
ing stretch. To my amazement I
saw planes over head, and in the
far distant I could see the silhouette
of land. 1t sure did make me happy
as this ship ride was no thrilling
matter.
As we came nearer the land, I'll
never forget the large sign that
read Honolulu. I though Of my
girl friend and my mother, and
thought If they could only see what
IL was seeing. I've always wanted
TO see Honolulu and Waikiki and
the other scenic places and now I
have nv chance. It sounds like all
peaches and cream but I'll assure
you 1t was not.
We departed from the q. s. s.
and boarded the Oahu Express. It is
q midget railroad system and we
rode In DO car. From Honolulu we
proceeded to our new home. Camp
Malakole. IN Oahu. T. II. While ON
the train I rode past the now world
famous Pearl Harbor" and Kick
am Field. The mere sight Of Pearl
] Harbor gave me peculiar feeling
and reminded me that 1t was due to
the Japanese bombing Of this har-
bor that forced me into this war.
me harbor contained many ships OF
m sizes and colors. After arriving
at Camp I've were put IN q bar
racks which reminded me Of q corn
srih. There wasn't the least bit OF
uniformity N the boards Of the floor
and 4 was screened around the top
to keep the insects out.
We finally settled down and were
I'm trshning again. but my thoughts
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