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WAR DIARY, Hq Hq Sq, 18th Air Depot Group PREPARED BY Roger A. Porter, Sgt
DATES 1 July 1944 to 31 July 1944
1 Like the first of most months begin with sending home the hard earned shekels of the previous month, this time things are going to be different. It all starts two days in advance when we thought we'd be on the base forever and that was Friday. We decided to have a picnic and the Colonel went along. It was a grand success. Up to our inclinations date, 1 July 1944, we decided it would be rotten to work on a holiday so at 2100 hours we found ourselves in our new mess hall surrounded by 21 each G.I.s. The party was a grand success with fan tomatoes, a good band, floor dance or and the presence of a slight case of chance for the floorwalkers. It broke up at 2300 hours because the girls had to be in early. After that the boys really cut loose and from all reports the party went on into the wee hours.
2 Sgt Bill Udeen, secretary of the commissary for the squadron for many months, found that the new C/O placed him in Group Headquarters. The swing Bill (they can tell by his head) is now beating them out of a typewriter down in the "big top" while Pvt Bertha Demaio is alone, the clerk, to get all the headache of typewriters pecking in of an orderly room. S/Sgt Leonard Kirke, a patient man, is labor for this talented young stenographrulla.
3 Blue Monday pops up again, but much bluer. It followed the first of a cooling series of showers in which the whole base began working on a 7 day basis instead of skeleton crews. This was quite a blow to most of the freelancers, but a few more landings and everyone will be in stride.
4 The glorious Fourth. No noise, no nothing. Just another day in the life of a soldier who relied on supplies of light green weed that were spent at the lakes or some other suitable place. Of significance this date was the target dinner (also the talkings) and chocolate and vanilla ice cream made at the in an ice cream plant. Some of the boys took off for the rodeo which was put on at the stadium, but on the whole it was just another working day.
5 Getting off to an erroneous start and finishing up the same way, the "B" team managed thru to pommel the 94th DSS 13 to 15. With team B playing a comedy of errors, and because they are our hottest rivals there was cause for celebration.
6 PX rations showed quite poorly today when we received, in addition to the usual items of cigarettes, cigars, smokes, scratch pads, etc. A case of good old American beer had our taste buds on edge. The beer proved quite popular after drinking the bottled goat made by the local vendors in Italy. It will behoove us the war won't seem so tough after all.
7 With "Pete Frente" perched behind the lens, and a group of rugged faces before the lens, the squadron had its first overseas group picture taken. The old operations gang, now transferred, were among those present, and after quite a time waiting everyone to cooperate and get in place, the photographer finally developed a picture of sorts. Each man received a picture to send home to let the folks know that all looked in the pink of condition.
8 With this gang just about a year overseas, and now an having been transferred in, Pvt Blowed Well, a new man to us, but old to overseas, made the grade and started soon on rotation. S/Sgt Bill Turman and S/Sgt John Hicks are the only two men to ever have done 100% so that there is some hope for the whole squadron in the near future.
9 With a change in things in general, we finally added a squadron adjutant to the roster. 1st Lt A. G. Robinson is the lucky officer to work up with the fighting men of the 15th.
10 With very types of sports intermixed as sleep and eating, it was finally given to Italy's in over a goat for herringbone dinner. Sgt Captain Patterson of the "B" gath and put forth one of the wildest and story of winks, have raised their respective wins a might bit best of know-how services included and have announced they are the deadliest coming of the squadron. This is not hard to see, for there are only about 6 in the squadron who play the game. It's a hidden right they are behind.
11 Altho the"Cozy" house isn't strictly GI or's exclusively, the Special Service boys are busy. Seems like they have seen to it that a lot of time and labor has been put into constructing a new building for movies and shows. A balcony is going into effect and a good solid stage has been constructed. The only thing the place needs now is a generator that will give a man a chance to see a show all the way thru.
12 What with plenty of space in the mess hall, and the elbow the carpenters, there is plenty of opportunity for ping-pong. The mess force has workers are at the table most of the time and reports climax is shipping about all comers. Should be a match play-off in the near future.
13 Pfc Joe LaMola who hides from the Sicilian front received a draw in his initial appearance at the Foggia stadium. A good share of the crowd was Hq Sq men who wanted to see their boy in the ring. Before the fight everyone stacked up well on slash and gold—all but one. There was a double feature on the base for those who didn't care for bloodshed.
14 Outside of the MXR, the others have done more to be the master of our rivals. Going from 10 down for the condition exists, these if a well qualified C.O. is to say that no person will ever outtalent a liver. The score of the walking played tonight is all for print. Why? Because it was 19 to 1. A couple faculty recalls who the officers crossed the plate, but that hardly matters. Coe Demaio, ball mover of consequence (?) who boasts an average of around .555 struck out for no reason for wonder and hasn't had much to say since.
15 After the fall of Rome it was suggested that a few of the boys might have a chance to see the city—this means mainly, other cities. However, with the support of the XV ASC, it got around that most everyone could get a chance to go north. Men on the ground floor were all careful, Captain Illiff, and Pvts Galloway and Clamerol. Expecting more results in the next 5 days from all of them.
16 After looking over the shop area and buildings, Col Kaufman decided that a new paint job of all enough things was a hit. Consequently, the barracks interior is now white and green. It adds a little to the appearance, but it will take a lot more paint to make the place a beauty spot. Additional fire precautions were made and a dust looking around it appears that GI "blitzkieg" has a old smell of everything at it—being fixed the barracks present.
17 The PRO of the base issued a letter that all amateur Cinegraph men should get together for a picture for the local area. Most in men posed for a quick shot by Lt DeCotis so that the negative might show that they were doing. Some of the lower echelons stood by for pictures, will for of the way when a bell tolled but understand time in was ok wary. This had an Italian girl for the home center. Lots to be with girls had plenty of room in the theater for everyone.
18 The barber shop also doles up a paint job today and the barber is going to have running water pretty soon. Had a 30th meeting tonight with topic concerning "Pinik", but two meetings. Ice cream was served after the meeting—not to use everyone there—it seems it was stray inside fool time.
19 We had reasons tonight to the screenings for a long, long drive. All will come—like the the secret 16r. There were no stars in this game unless it was the player that the part played by its rival. In all it was a dull game and another drubbing.
20 If this is a hot month temperatures are in order, then our lot will come true. Each day the dust-bath means another wet over our ration of water. These old Italian barbs and homes couldn't hold an escutcheon procured in the States. Today was also in some done, in needless to say the food is without compared with much our foreign prison. By the next p.m. remain the same.
21 Charts went into a huddle and let us know our first defeat in the second half this season came from the 775th S.C. Oh, well, you have to lose once in awhile. Plans are being formulated for a squadron horseshoe night from today when we celebrate our first year over. Anticipated is a wonderful thing—it surely we quite a wait.
22 The plaster that came down when working home hit the home is sing patched over at new hear. The Italian encasters and plasters are "going to town" in an effort to put the whole building looking good. The change in cover is being quite an aid and a first-wash job will follow. A negative center has now been established in which Cpl Noble allow to read copy. This sort of thing was initiated back at Patterson Field, but only lately have we had it overseas.
23 We actually moved out and it was home tonight to see a group show sponsored by special service. Some very good acts were put on, and the three (count 'em) three beautiful girls were nice to look. There were some pretty phony readings made, and it bordered on the old carnival burlesque show. As usual we had our ice cream for the second time this week. That's life.
24 The bowling continued and allowed the 775th roll 11 to 1 tonight to more or less even the score we had with them. In a check with the control tower we found that this has been a busy field since our arrival. At least 45,000 aircraft have landed and taken off at this field, there have been over 70 crash landings and around 100 emergency landings. Yes, indeed, this has been a busy place in the past 7 months, and now we look for another 10,000 planes before we leave the place.
25 The technical inspector made a visit to the soup ordering room and our troop today and seemed well satisfied with the way all the mess hall was running. However, the inspector claims a weaver and goes everything is fine. Also over his head in work just now is Pfc Petty who is rolling out G.I. rye. His suggestion told ice cream for supper while it rained at length outside, but another willing cloud-man to fill the rocopole.
26 Things are bad enough when the Wellington takes out on the way runway, but when they begin to get carried away on rest at a hanger's then the time to town in the office. Whole squadron of the "Secret Weapon" as well as Italians have earned our scorn. Those busy betweeners have flown two Wellingtons in tonight and best them to make it a tie for first place with that team.
27 Just to ton things off and to be true so long, one of the Wellingtons cannot give which a black lead this evening. The fire was not put before our boys was done, but it was rumored that some of the fellows had started to block days from the barracks when the first smoke showed. The boys who live out of the barracks (down at operations and engineering) are very happy right where they are. Captain Miller received his orders from NATOUSA today—they said go nowhere. Lucky, me.
28 Nothing to kick up a fuss about today outside of driving the 312th by a close score of 2 to 1. Was one of the best games of the season. Had a session of 10hr or an hour drill last.
29 Mail again with 4 hours and down to one show again. Good amount of mail came in today. Boxes, letters and newspapers. Hope for a lull for another week or so.
30 After about a year of this overseas business it becomes a reality that leave is necessary. While enjoying things without replications (see above) for a long time, it is apparent that more and more of us, the men of the line are closing up with us. All the stolen points on the map are busy filing now, precluding that war the like, is there no peace?
31 Having a very day, this one, for needless to say the new line formed, the salute given and the power handed over. Just means in our sports on the card tables and floors this evening, that the Officers A team— they quietly say they are the "old men" by a score of 3 to 6. Captain Miller made his departure for the states today. The Operations boys are going to miss their boss—we close loss a good one.
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