State Side
131st Infantry Regimemt
After Pearl Harbor, like most young men of the time, I tried to enlist. To my dismay I was designated 4F because of my poor eye site. I gave up and went about my life. On February 15, 1943 I received my "
Greetings from Uncle Sam" I was inducted into the US Army at
Bellmore School #7, Albemarle Place, Bellmore, New York on February 17
th, 1943. We were told that we would be used as "limited service" due to what ever medical condition had landed us in 4F status.
After induction, we were transported, by train, to
Camp Upton in Long Island. We received physicals, were processed, issued uniforms and received various shots. I don't remember much about Camp Upton. I do remember doing a lot of KP.
On February 20, 1943, we were transported, by train, to
Fort Brady, Michigan. We got the rest of equipment and started basic training in
3 feet of snow. I had a swell time there although I didn't know it until we shipped out to Van Dorn" After boot camp I was assigned to the 131
st infantry. We mainly stood
guard duty at the locks at Sault St. Marie. I was able to go into town on my off time. I met a Mary in St. Mary's Park. She was pretty and a swell girl. I lost touch with her after we left for Van Dorn. Under Fort Brady, in my diary, I entered "Basic, guard and guard, ding dong"
We were transported to
Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi in the middle of April. 1943. We arrived on April 23
rd. We really ding donged here. Most of our time was spent drilling' I got a pass to go to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and watch an LSU football game. I still have the
ticket. I have an
autograph book with the
signatures, home towns, and comments of some of the men I served with here.
On June 6, 1943 we were transported, by train to
Fort Benning, Georgia. Here we taught OCS, ding donged for a couple of months, continues training and did hot weather exercises.
We were transported, by train, to
Fort Ord, California in the middle of August, 1943. We arrived on August 23, 1943. Fort Ord turned out to be a place that would change my life dramatically. After the first day I was tired of it already. I couldn't go to the gas chamber with the rest of the boys because I have to wait for a new mask is prescriptive lenses. I worked in the supply room until the rest of the fellows got back from the gas chamber. The food here was crummy. On the second day the boys were alerted. Dammit all I wanted to be with them but the god damned Army said I need a gas mask before I can go over seas. The boys left without me.
I spent the better part of a month waiting on my gas mask. I did guard duty and continued to train. During this time, I broke my arch on the commando course. Went to the hospital and got a foot pad. I spent the rest of the day watering the lawn. During this time my girlfriend quit writing and I began to get mail from some of the boys.
I finally got my gas mask, new clothes, new shots and new glasses I was finally ready to go overseas.
They transported me to
Fort Stoneman, California on September 23, 1943. I had nothing to do there except wait on the boat.