The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1945-01-04

p,r;. pei. a result the dishes
got greasy.
In our cabin we had water only
twice a day - Z to 8 in the morn
ing, and $50 to $50 in the evening
1t was unheated, so we shaved in
cold water.
We correspondents know where
we were going. Some of the officers
knew, and the rest could guess. But
some of the soldiers thought We
were going to Russia over the Muir
mansk route, and some thought II
was Norway, and some Iceland. A
few sincerely believed we were re-
turning to America. 1t wasn't until
the fifth day out, when the army
distributed booklets on how to con-
duct ourselves in North Africa, that
everybody knew where We were 60
ing.
The troops were warned about
smoking or using flashlights
on deck at night, and against
throwing cigarets or orange peels
overheard. 1t seems a sub COM
mander can spot convoy, hours
after it has passed, by such float
ing debris.
One night nurse came on deck
with a brilliant flashlight guiding
her. An officer screamed at her-sc
loudly and viciously that thought
at first he was doing it in fun. He
beloved:
Put out that light, bzlankety.
blank blankl Haven't you got any
sense at alp"
Then I realized he meant every
word of it. One little light might
have killed us all, was sorry HI
didn't kick her pants for good mea.
sur.
Smoking was prohibited in tn,
dining room. There was a bar with
soft drinks, but no liquor was sold
As someone wisecracked. 1--WE catcl
it both ways. We can't smoke be.
cause it's a British ship, and W.
can't buy liquor because it's ar
American trooper"
CTS Show Talent
The trip no sooner started thar
rehearsals for an enlisted mems
variety show began. They dug w
an accordionist, a saxophonist, 9
trumpeter, a violinist, two banjo
players, q dancer, tenor, a cowboy
singer and several pianists.
They rehearsed every afternoon
The big night came a couple o.
nights before we got to Gibraltar
They put on two shows that night
for the enlisted men only. Word go'
around, and the officers and nurses
wanted to see the show, so the night
We were approaching Gibraltar they
put it on again.
The show went over terrifically
There was genuine talent in It, ano
serious music as well as the whiz.
bang stuff. But the hero Of the eve
ming was hairy corporal Joe
Comita Of Brooklyn, who did o
strip-tease burlesque of Gypsy Rose
Lee.
His movements were pure genius
Gypsy herself couldn't have beer
more serious. Joe twirled and strip.
ped, twirled and stripped. And ther
when he was down to this long
heavy CT underwear he swung to
the front Of the stage. lifted hi.
veil. and kissed q front-row colone1
on top Of his bald head.
The whole show was inarvelously
good. But there was something more
to 1t than just that: That was The
knowledge deep in everybody's mind
that this was our night Of danger.
The radio had Just brought word
that Germany's entire U-boat pack
was concentrated In the approaches
to Gibraltar. More than so subs
were said to be waiting for us. ]
doubt that there was q soul on
board who expected the night tc
pass without an attack.
And In the environment the boys
from down below went through Their
performances buoyantly. We "a,
with life preserves on and water
canteens at our belts. We laughed
and cheered against q background o,
semi-conscious listening for other
sounds. As the show ended Q majo,
said to me
That's wonderful, those boys
doing this when they're being
taken 10 war like galley slaves
down there In the hold. When
you think Of people at home
squawking their heads off because
they can only have 20 gallons q
gasoline Il makes your blood boil"
AZ Last-Fighting
From now onward. stretching fol