In the spring of 1943 and still carrying out my duties as a Private full time in the Communication Section ,another Field Problem was on the Training Schedule in the tick infested woods of Blessing or Francitas, Texas. When I arrived at the Headquarters Battery location, I was informed that I would be on switchboard duty until relieved by another operator (there were several qualified operators available in the group). A large pit had been dug and a pup tent had been placed over the entire below ground level setup. The switchboard was already in place and operational by the time I arrived. A few calls came through and completed without incident. It was just light enough for me to do my job, when suddenly someone lifted the front flap and I could see daylight again. With the left hand holding the tent flap and the right hand holding an object, poised to throw it, as a pitcher would in a baseball game, I turned around to face the man who was about to play a dirty trick on me with a "smoke bomb". He couldn't see the grin on my face, as I was prepared for this by wearing my gas mask when I began my shift. Too bad he couldn't report the fact that communications was "knocked out", at the critique usually held at the end of a field problem. How did I know all about this beforehand? A good friend told me! Shortly afterward I would be out of a permanent job and would be part of what today is called Temporary Help or Manpower Services,(these are my words, not the Army's) a group of four Buck Privates. When all the others were dismissed to report to their assignments, the four of us would be left standing by, waiting for any officer to take their pick for various and sundry jobs. In early April 1945 while on Okinawa the Warrant Officer assigned to the Personnel Group informed me that I would become the Personnel Sergeant Major carrying the rank of Technical Sergeant. I didn't say a word even when he gave me his reason for arriving at such a decision, which meant replacing someone who already had that job for the past few years. The WOjg was already on his way back to the States when I was promoted to Sergeant by the Battery Commander after VJ Day.

Our PX (Post Exchange) only served cold sodas and cold beer and possibly cigarettes. Popular brands of cigarettes sold for 50 cents for a carton of 10 packages. On the voyage back to the States they were available for free and even used for prizes in Bingo Games.

A friendly game of volley ball during the hottest part of the day in the California desert, 1943.

The base theatre is shown at the left. Phil Silvers, Virginia Grey, Glen Gray and the Casa Loma orchestra and Blackstone the Magician were some of the performers who appeared here at the Camp Hulen theatre in 1943. A small detail including myself, was sent to the theatre hours before the show started, to unload the magicians equipment.

On the right is our supply of drinking water stored in a Lister bag, supported by a wooden tripod. The water was very warm but it was all we had to fill our canteens from time to time. Special canvas water bags capable of holding about a quart or so could be purchased for about a dollar. The water was kept cool and refreshing by the evaporation process. Civilians would have these type of bags hanging outside their vehicles while travelling along the desert highways.

I apologize for any errors and/or omissions in my descriptions relative to time and place of events depicted herein and I would like to thank you for taking the time to view my Web Site.