Training at Fort McClellan

September 3 – December 22, 1943

Friday, September 3

We shipped out today at about 10 am. There is a train that comes near the camp, so we were ordered to board it, and we left Fort Bragg by train. Clayton Kivett, Fred Allen, and Bill Wright are in our group.

Saturday, September 4

We rode on the train all night last night and arrived at Atlanta, GA about 6 am today. We were not allowed to leave the train, and they brought some food to us in paper bags. We were getting restless, so they arranged for the train to go into Atlanta a ways to see the city. About noon the train started toward Alabama, and we arrived at Fort McClellan¹ about 10 pm central war time² tonight. We unloaded and were assigned to our barracks.

We were fed in paper bags on the train and were very hungry when we arrived at Fort McClellan, so they opened the mess hall for us. We were all sitting at a long table, but Bill Wright, Clayton Kivett, Fred Allen, and I were sitting together near the end of the table.³ So, being gentlemen, we passed the dishes of food near us up the table believing that those up the table would pass dishes of food down to us. We were wrong. The dishes that came down to our end of the table were empty except [for] one dish of pickle[d] beets. While we ate the pickle beets, we complained to the boys up the table from us. “You fellows come up for air occasionally,” called Bill Wright.

Sunday, September 5

No revelry this Sunday, so I got out of our area and spent the day looking the camp over and locating the PX, service club, and other places of interest. I spent some time at the service club writing letters. You could get milkshakes at the service club. They were good.

Monday, September 6

We moved to different huts this morning. The buildings didn’t look like they were fit to raise pigs in. And I later found out that it was cold in the huts. We were told that this part of the camp is known as the IRTC (Infantry Replacement Training Center).⁴ 

We formed our squads, 12 men in each squad. Four squads made a platoon. We were assigned to our squads in alphabetical order according to our last names. I am the second man of the 3rd squad of the 3rd Platoon of Company D, 31st Battalion, 8th Regiment. 

I have to learn the General Orders of the Army by tomorrow. We have one radio in our hut. We also took some exercise and were shown how to pack our field pack. We were issued a gas mask and a new Garand M1 rifle. After supper, we had to clean the grease off the rifles before we went to bed.

Tuesday, September 7

We had classes on guard duty, gases, gas masks, and packing field packs. Many of us were told to quote part of the general orders. I was asked to quote the 5th general order. I was able to do it. We had to go see some G.l. training movies after supper.  

Wednesday, September 8

This morning we took exercise for an hour, drilled some, had a class about gases and how to tell them apart, [and] also what to do if we became a victim. This evening we had a class on military courtesy, how to put up tents, drilled an hour, had a gas mask drill, and saw another training film. After supper, we cleaned up an area near the drill field until about 7:30 pm.

Full field equipment includes a full field pack (shelter-half, two blankets, raincoat, tent pegs, tent pole, tent rope, toilet articles, towel, and other personal items.) Also rifle, gas mask, helmet, cartridge belt, canteen, first aid kit, leggings, another change of underwear, shirts, and pants. Full field equipment weighs about 70 pounds or more.

Nettie writes to me every day, but the letters don’t get to me every day. She says she is doing well, and being so busy helps to keep me from worrying so much, but I am concerned. I am trying to learn to be a good soldier.

Friday-Monday, September 10-13

I had shots for typhoid, tetanus, and smallpox on Friday.⁵ Had a footlocker inspection, classes on sighting and aiming rifles, pitching tents, and saw a “Why We Fight” film. I had my hair cut short and went to the service club Saturday night.

On Sunday I failed to get out of the area fast enough and got put on KP at the regimental officers mess hall. I found out that if you don’t get out of our area fast enough on Sundays, you are subject to being put on details. 

It is very cool here at night.⁶ 

On Monday we drilled, took exercise, had classes on first aid, hand grenades, studied parts of the M1 rifle, and saw a G.I. training film.

Tuesday, September 14

We had a hike (without our packs) this morning for three hours. We hiked 45 minutes and rested 15 the first hour, then we hiked 50 minutes and rested 10 the next two hours. After the hike, we had classes on throwing hand grenades, the manual of arms, an exercise period, the different types of enemy tanks, and how to best attack them.

After we came in, we had to double time around the company area for an hour or two.  The area is hilly with lots of rocks and ditches. We double-timed until I was almost given out. Another man went crazy. He was shaking, talking to himself, and crying. They called an ambulance and took him to the hospital. I don’t know what happened to him.

Wednesday, September 15

We went over to the demonstration grounds and they showed us how to keep a camp clean while on maneuvers. We were instructed that when nature calls, you go [to] the edge of the camp, dig a hole, and then cover it up. Back at our area, we played softball until noon. This afternoon I went over to the medical center and had my eyes tested for G.l. glasses, but they didn’t issue me any. 

We have a new company commander, a Lieutenant Dixon. 

Thursday, September 16

We studied poison gas, what it smells like, what to do if we are in a gassed area, and how to put on our gas mask. They exploded some of every known kind of gas around us so we could get a little whiff of it. We went into a gas chamber that had tear gas in it to test our gas mask. I could breathe very well with the gas mask on. Then we had to walk into the gas chamber with our gas mask in our pack and put it on in there. I put my mask on as fast as I could, but the tear gas burned my face and hands. After that, we had classes on sighting, aiming, and throwing hand grenades. 

Friday, September 17

This morning we drilled on the parade ground for about three hours. Then had classes in practicing different firing positions with the M1 and BAR rifles.⁷ In the afternoon we studied hand grenades and how to throw them.

I am getting used to the army chow now and seem to be gaining weight. I am getting stronger and can handle all the training. I write to Nettie as often as I can. Usually, I tell her that I am well and what kind of training I am getting. I look forward to getting letters from her.

Saturday, September 18

We hiked about 5 miles up Bain’s Gap this morning.⁸ We walked 50 minutes, rested 10 minutes. I have learned to carry some candy in the cargo pockets of my dungarees to eat when I get tired. Some of the fellows would fall out by the wayside, but I never did.

This afternoon we had an exercise period, some column movement drills, manual of arms, and an inspection about 4:15 pm. Major McIntosh, the 31st Battalion CO inspected us. 

Here are my officers and noncoms (Non-Commissioned Officers):

• IRTC Commanding Officer: General Philoon
• 8th Regiment Commanding Officer: Colonel Williams
• 31st Battalion Commanding Officer: Major McIntosh
• Company D Commanding Officer: First Lieutenant Dixon
• 1st Platoon Leader: 2nd Lieutenant DeMattie
• 1st Platoon Sergeant: Sergeant Allred (from Burlington, NC)
• Company D Tech. Sergeant: Sergeant Levenko (Regular Army)
• 1st Platoon Corporal: Corporal Lewis
• 1st Platoon Corporal: Corporal Greenwell
• Acting 1st Platoon Sergeant: Private Plum
• Acting 3rd Squad Sergeant: Private Dixon
• Acting 3rd Squad Corporal: Private Cramer L. Crider ( my buddy)⁹ 
• 3rd man, 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon, Company D, 31st Battalion, 8th Regiment, IRTC: Pvt. Elvin C. Cox

Sunday, September 19

It is Sunday, cold, windy and rainy here, but we trained most of the day. We practiced quickly getting into M1 and BAR firing positions. The BAR has two folding legs at the end of the gun barrel to be used when firing from the prone position.

The CO gave us a long talk about marksmanship this evening. I stenciled C-8255 on all my clothing for identification. My army serial number is 34-678-255 and I will never forget it.¹⁰ 

Nettie still writes to me every day, says she is OK, but it is about time for the baby to arrive.

Monday, September 20

Today we had some more practical work in extended order drill, mostly by hand signals. This evening we spent entirely in practicing different firing positions. We had to see how fast we could get into position and fire. Tonight I went to the PX and bought a box of candy. 

Tuesday, September 21

We went on a hike first thing this morning. After the hike, we had a course in digging different types of foxholes. After dinner, we had some extended order drill. Also, we had a demonstration on the results of machine gun fire. I had a wisdom tooth pulled at 3 pm.

Wednesday, September 22

I went on KP at 5 am this morning and got off KP at 7 pm this evening. And I was busy most all the time too, washing dishes, pots, pans, scrubbing the floors, peeling potatoes, and doing several other things.

Once, up in the morning, the mess sergeant came by where we were washing dishes. He picked up a dish that I had just washed, looked at it and said, “Do you see that grease on this dish?” “No,” I said. He appeared angry and said, “By God, if I say there is grease on that dish, there is grease on that dish. I want you to wash those dishes faster and cleaner. Understand?” I replied, “Yes.”

Thursday, September 23

This morning we threw some hand grenades (dummies). We had a period of practice aiming and sighting rifles. We also had an hour of exercise and an hour of close order drill.¹¹ This afternoon we dry-fired our rifles until about 3:30 pm. Then I went and got a tetanus shot. Tonight the 1st Platoon did detail work around our area for about two hours. We picked up rocks and carried dirt to level up some of the area.

Friday, September 24

I received a cake from my mother today. We ran the obstacle course, threw some (dummy) hand grenades, camouflaged some foxholes, machine guns, ourselves, helmets, and we even had to smear our faces with mud. 

We had a physical inspection this evening. 

Saturday, September 25

We hiked to the top of Bain’s Gap, about 8 miles. This afternoon we had a parade before Major McIntosh and Colonel Williams. We marched to an army band and did some manual of arms at the major’s commands. Saw Fired Wife tonight, starring Diana Barrymore. 

Sunday, September 26

I went to the main PX and Enlisted Men’s Service Club early this morning to avoid details. I wrote letters and drank chocolate milkshakes. We wear our winter uniforms now. I am very concerned about the condition of Nettie.

Monday, September 27

We were on the firing range at daylight. I did my firing at 8:30 am, and I fired again at 1:30 pm. I was high scorer for our company today on the range. My score was 155, and the nearest to me was 152. 

I had to leave the firing range at 3:00 pm to go on guard duty. We go on guard duty for 24 hours. We are on duty for two hours and off four hours. My first duty was from 8 to 10 pm. 

Tuesday, September 28

We are not allowed to leave the guardhouse between our guard duty hours. I was on guard duty from 2 to 4 am, 8 to 10 am, and 2 to 4 pm. 

Wednesday, September 29

I got up at 4:30 this morning and was on the firing range at daylight, and we came in after dark. I still had to help scrub our hut, attend mail call, clean our rifles, eat supper, and shave before I went to bed. We fired on the 300 and 500-yard range today. This was practice firing with live ammunition, and we were graded on our score.

Terry Clark Cox was born today, but I didn’t learn about it for two days. I have been very concerned about Nettie. 

Thursday, September 30

I was on “table waiter” today. I had to be at the mess hall at mealtime, but trained with the company the rest of the day. We had two classes of extended order drill of squads, had a short ball game, and took a swim for about an hour. The 1st Platoon didn’t fire on the range today; the 2nd and 3rd Platoons fired on the firing range. But the 1st Platoon will fire again soon.

Friday, October 1

We fired our weapons on the range again today. We were out there all day. I saw Bill Wright tonight, and he told me he had received a letter from his wife today saying that Nettie and I have a boy. He did not know if Nettie and the baby were alright.

Saturday, October 2

I was on KP all day today. We got paid this evening. I got $4.53. The 1st Sergeant gave me a telegram from Nettie (rather from Mr. Moody, her father) when I got my pay. The telegram said, “Baby boy born Sept. 29, come if possible.” I gave Dusty Cook $2.00 to work the rest of my KP for me (about two hours), and tried to get a three-day pass or short furlough.

Lt. Mazzara was in charge here tonight, and he OK’ed a five-day furlough for me. I went and dressed, but when I went to pick up my furlough papers, the company commander had called in and turned it down, so I didn’t get to go. About 9 pm I sent Nettie a telegram asking her (Mr. Moody) to send another telegram with Dr. Smith using some medical terms about her condition.¹² I did not know what her condition was at that time.

Sunday, October 3

I talked to the company commander this morning, but he wouldn’t give me a furlough. He said I needed to stay in camp and train. This afternoon I talked to the Red Cross Officer, but I still couldn’t get off. 

Monday, October 4

Another telegram came this morning from Nettie. It had some medical terms in it, and I showed it to the company commander. This time the company commander let me have a five-day furlough, but he warned me that I would have to make up on Sundays the training time lost. 

Tuesday-Sunday, October 5-10

I spent much of this time at the hospital with Nettie until she came home. We were living in one room at her father’s home. We were able to get a Mrs. Parks to help with the care for Nettie and Terry. Also, Mrs. Alma (Nettie’s mother) was very helpful. 

Also, I spent as much time as I could with my father and mother, brother and sister, and other relatives and friends.

I received the following letter from Parks Cross Roads Christian Church:

Dear Elvin,

By authority vested in us by the Parks Cross Roads Christian Church, we wish to inform you that your name is included on our Service Men’s Prayer List. We at home are continually hoping and praying for your safe keeping and soon return to be in our midst. May God bless you and keep you in perfect health, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ, 

The Deacons

Signed by: G. Howard Cox, W. S. Cox, W. M. Cox, R. D. Craven, W. M Dorsett and Pastor G. M. Talley.

My response:

Parks Cross Roads Christian Church:

Dear Deacons and Pastor,

I received your letter stating that my name is included on the Service Men’s prayer list of this Church. I am honored that I have been so remembered in prayer. I want to ask that the Christian people of this Church continue to pray for mine and all Service Men’s good health and safe return from this war, if it be the will of God. 

Yours in Christ, 

Pvt. Elvin C. Cox

The five days leave went all too soon as two of the days were spent in travel. On Sunday morning my brother Howard took me to Greensboro where I caught a train south. I had to change trains in Atlanta and I got to Anniston about 7:30 pm CST and came straight out to camp. I had to stand up most of the way on the train.

Monday, October 11

Today we had classes and practical work in reading military maps, [and] finding our way with compasses and without compasses. We also had some practical work in charging machine gun nests and other enemy gun emplacements. We had to crawl and move up, keeping low and taking advantage of all cover and concealment. We also learned something about how to use our bayonets. I have the hide wore off both knees from crawling and falling on them after charging.

Tuesday, October 12

We had a hike this morning up Bain’s Gap. Bain’s Gap is a road in the low place between two high mountain peaks and is quite a long and tiresome hike. We went almost to the top of the mountain, and then turned around and came down. We walked 50 minutes and rested 10 minutes. 

On these hikes, they usually give us sandwiches in a  paper bag for lunch. On the way up the mountain, one boy fell out and lay down beside the road. He was red in the face and looked very tired. But we were all very tired, but we didn’t fall out. They soon came up in a jeep and picked him up. 

This evening we had lectures on proper soldier conduct given by the officers.

Wednesday, October 13 

“Josephine, come out of that there ‘tater patch. Don’t you know that them ‘taters have eyes and you ain’t got no drawers on?”

“She’s got eyes of blue, I don’t care for eyes of blue, but she has eyes of blue, and that’s my weakness now.”

“Blondes are for loving, Brunettes are for kissing. When it comes to redheads, you had better stop, look and listen.”

You can tell we are all very homesick. When we police up the area, Sergeant Allred will say, “Let’s go fellows. I don’t want to see anything but elbows and asses.”

Thursday, October 14

This morning we drilled for about 2 hours, then had a class on reading military maps and some pictures taken from the air. This afternoon we saw a training film about enemy tactics and tricks. 

This evening we studied the U.S. Carbine Caliber 30 M1. It is a small rifle, weighing only 5 pounds, and is used instead of a pistol in combat because it will shoot farther. Usually in combat, the officers carried the carbine. We had some more bayonet practice this evening.

Friday, October 15

We ran the obstacle course this morning. They timed us and I ran it in 1 minute and 59 seconds. This was about as fast as anyone. The course consists of a place where you pull yourself up by a rope, and walk across a scaffold over a creek with our hands [and] our feet hanging down. Then jump over a pole about waist high, and a couple of fences including one about 8 feet high (it is boarded up like a baseball park), swing back across the creek on a rope, [and] crawl through a tunnel about 20 feet long and about 20 inches high. Then climb over several ladders about 10 to 15 feet high, several crooked paths, also a couple of gullies, and several other things.

I signed the payroll tonight.¹³ 

Saturday, October 16

I was on table waiter today. This meant that I helped bring food to the table for the others each meal before I ate. But I had to train like the others. This morning we had a rifle fire demonstration. The noncoms did the firing and we watched. They had BARs and M1s. Every fourth bullet was a tracer bullet so we could tell where the bullets went.¹⁴ 

This afternoon we had a class on cleaning the carbine and a two-hour class in bayonet practice.

Sunday, October 17

I left my company area very early to avoid being picked for detail work, and I spent most of the day at the Enlisted Men’s Club writing letters and eating chocolate sundaes.

Monday, October 18

This morning we spent studying the Browning Automatic Rifle [and] how to assemble and disassemble it. This afternoon we practiced firing as a squad. We used 22-caliber rifles. 

Tuesday, October 19

This morning we fired the carbine on the range. This afternoon we had a class in map reading and location. Our company (Company D) is moving to a new location tomorrow, so we had to pack all our stuff tonight to be ready to move.

Wednesday, October 20

We moved to our new location this morning. This location is not as good as the one we left. The huts wouldn’t make good chicken houses. The huts are painted black. I am in hut seven. We carried all of our stuff except footlockers.

I have a tooth that needs filling, so I was given permission to go to the dentist this afternoon. The dentist was very busy and didn’t get to see me. The tooth doesn’t hurt. 

Thursday, October 21

I was on the firing line this afternoon. We were practice firing the M1 rifle. At the 500-yard targets, I fired 5 shots and hit 2 targets. At the 300-yard targets, I hit 3 targets with 4 shots. At the 200-yard line, I hit 3 targets with 3 shots.

Friday, October 22

I was on kitchen patrol (KP) all day today. After breakfast I was washing dishes when the mess sergeant came up the line, as usual chewing everyone out about something. He stopped where I was washing plates. He picked up a plate I had washed and held it up. “Not bad, but I want you to wash these plates faster.”

Saturday, October 23

We had practice firing of the BAR using dummy ammunition to get used to firing it. We will be firing it again next week on the range using live ammunition and will be graded on our scoring record with medals  being given for the best shots. We also had a class and instruction movie on map reading with a written examination at the end. We also had an hour of physical training. I wrote a long letter to Nettie after 9 pm.

Sunday, October 24

I got out of the company area early to avoid being picked for a detail and spent the day at the Enlisted Men’s Service Club writing letters and eating. Tonight I went to see a movie called Princess O’Rourke with Robert Cummings, Olivia De Havilland, [and] Jack Carson at Colin Kelly Hall.¹⁵

Monday, October 25

It is cold and cloudy here today.¹⁶ We studied light machine guns, took some physical training, and an hour of mass drilling. Tonight we went out on the range and watched a demonstration of firepower at night. The noncoms did the firing. They used tracer bullets so we could see where the bullets were. We also had to listen in the dark to different kinds of sounds and tell what they were. Some of the sounds were a metallic sound like a gun being cocked, a twig being broken, a man walking in the distance, and men walking in the distance. We also had to look at some distant lights and tell what they were and their distance from us.

Tuesday, October 26

We fired the BAR on the range early this morning. When we got back to the company area, they issued each of us a paper bag of sandwiches for lunch and we started on a 24-hour bivouac. We went over Bain’s Gap to Chock-a-lock Valley.¹⁷ There we dug prone shelters and ran field problems most of the day and part of the night. It was cold and rainy. We slept out [on] the ground in our prone shelters with our shelter-half over us to keep the rain off.

Wednesday, October 27

I slept in my prone shelter wrapped in two blankets, my overcoat, and covered myself in my shelter-half to keep from getting dirty and wet. My feet got cold though. We ate breakfast at 4 am in the rain with no lights except a couple of flashlights they used to see how to put the rations in our mess kits. We ate in the dark, had oatmeal, powdered eggs, potatoes, and coffee. Also, we pitched tents before daylight.

During the day we had tactical training in squad movements, [and] the use of compasses and maps in reconnaissance problems. We got in from the bivouac this evening about 7 pm. 

I received a nice letter from Mr. Alton Craven today.

Thursday, October 28

It is cold here. We had classes on firing the light machine gun this morning, and this afternoon we went on the firing range and fired .22 rifles at moving targets.

Friday, October 29

We had a shakedown this morning for a watch and ten dollars that was stolen from someone. I don’t think they found it either.

We had four hours practicing putting the light machine gun into quick action. After lunch today, I got into a softball game. I got two doubles and a home run in five at-bats. After the game, we drilled for about an hour, and then we had a class in dirty fighting. It was pretty rough.

Saturday, October 30

This morning at breakfast we had to swallow four pills for Infantile Paralysis (Polio).¹⁸ We fired the BAR on the moving target range this morning. That BAR sure is hard to hold while firing. It is a good weapon though. Our platoon has high score in our battalion. This afternoon we saw a training film about Germany and how the Germans fight. Also, we had two hours of bayonet practice. Also, I had to clean a light machine gun tonight. 

Our regular army Sergeant Levenko is on furlough.

Sunday, October 31

This morning I washed some clothes and then got into a baseball game that was going on. I got one for four. I came in and changed to ODs before dinner.¹⁹ After dinner, I went over to the main PX and had a chocolate sundae. Then I went over to Colin Kelly Hall and saw, True to Life, starring Franchot Tone, Mary Martin, Dick Powell, and Victor Moore. After the show I came back by the PX and had a chocolate milkshake, then I came back to the company area and wrote letters in the day room.

Monday, November 1

This morning we studied map reading for two hours, and then 60mm mortars for two hours. After dinner, we went out into the woods and had both ammunition and practical work on scouting and patrolling. After supper, we had to carry and haul dirt and rocks to fill in the street in front of our huts.

Tuesday, November 2

It has been raining off and on all day today. I went on KP at 5 am this morning and got off at 7:30 tonight. I got off KP about 2 1⁄2 hours this evening to go out on the range and fire my M1 rifle at some combat targets. The company has gone on a night problem, but I didn’t have to go because of the KP. 

My right foot is sore today. 

Wednesday, November 3 

I had two teeth filled this morning. The dentist didn’t deaden them at all. It sure did hurt. 

Some German prisoners²⁰ were painting the porch there and the guard said that at first the prisoners just painted light bulbs and all. They had to remove the bulbs and tape up the socket. The Germans sang some German songs, also some American songs, “South of the Border” for one. They were part of Rommel’s Africa Corps and looked plenty healthy and tough.

This evening we had some physical training in rough hand-to-hand fighting. Also, we had a class on the 60mm mortars. After supper, we got paid, $12.65 for me. It was raining, so we had mail call in the latrine tonight.

Thursday, November 4 

We had a battalion parade this morning. We were dressed in our ODs and did the manual of arms with Major McIntosh giving the commands. The whole 31st Battalion was out there.

After the parade, I asked First Sergeant Stanford for permission to go over to the personnel office to get Terry’s allotment fixed up. He said, “OK, but get permission from Sergeant Levenko first.” I told Sergeant Levenko how it was and he asked, “Is your rifle clean?” “Yes,” I told him. “When did you clean it?” “I gave it a good going over last night,” I said. “You gave it a good going over last night, eh?” “Yes,” I replied. “Well if I find that your fucking rifle isn’t clean, you will suffer a damn sight more than your baby does and you will remember it for some time to come. Understand?” “Yes,” I said. “Alright, get going.” He hasn’t checked my rifle yet. My rifle was clean that day anyway. 

This afternoon, we had practical work in putting the BAR into action in combat conditions. We did not use any live ammunition though.

Tonight we went out about three miles over hills, through woods, and pitched camp. We put up our tents and were supposed to dig prone shelters, but I was an out-guard instead. We were not allowed to have any light or do any talking while out there. We had a password and counter-sign and had orders to let no one pass unless they knew the counter-sign. I stopped a couple of persons, but they were lieutenants and knew the counter-sign.

Friday, November 5 

We had practice firing of the light machine gun all morning. This afternoon we spent two hours on the 60mm mortar. I am told that the sight on the mortar cost around $500 and is very complicated, but also very accurate. It is so small I could put it in my pocket. After that, we ran the bayonet course.

When we got in this evening, we had to take off all our clothes except overcoat and shoes and march out to the day room for a physical inspection. I weighed 150 pounds stripped.

Saturday, November 6

We are getting close to the end of our basic training and it seems to be more intense. This morning we had an inspection of all the clothes and equipment that was issued to me. If any was missing, we had to pay for it unless we dug it up. I failed to get one of my barrack bags back from the laundry a week or two ago. The supply sergeant is checking on it. Anyway they don’t cost much.

After inspection, we went out on the drill field and played football and ran races until 11 am. Then we came in for chow and fell out at twelve for the BAR range. We each fired the BAR 20 rounds or one clip. It is a good weapon, but it is heavy and has a heavy recoil. I like to shoot those automatic weapons. When we came in tonight, I had to help clean the BARs we used today. It took a couple of hours. I got off about 9 pm.

Sunday, November 7

It is raining here today. I stay around the company area as I go on guard duty at 6 pm this evening. We wear ODs, leggings, helmet, cartridge belt (no canteen), M1 rifle with bayonet on it and the scabbard on the cartridge belt, field jacket, and probably rain coat tonight as it is still raining.²¹

Monday, November 8 

On guard duty last night I was on the second relief. I was on duty from 8 to 10 pm, [and] again from 2 to 4 am. The whole guard was relieved at 6 am this morning. It rained all night, and I got wet and cold walking guard. My post was around the PX. I was wet, cold, tired and sleepy, but I had to fall out at 7:30 this morning and join the company out on the machine gun range. 

We had chow out on the range at lunch and fired the Browning Light Machine gun about all day. We had to carry the guns back to camp this evening and clean them.It is about two miles over there, and the guns weigh about forty-five or fifty pounds besides our full field packs and our own M1 rifle. I was tired, but I had to clean my M1 rifle as I had it out in the rain last night. My feet are still sore in the arches. I can hardly get my shoes on sometimes.

Tuesday, November 9

I went on sick call this morning because of my feet. The doctor said that I had a “march fracture” in my left foot, and sent me to the hospital in an ambulance to have it x-rayed.²² They x-rayed it from two angles and sent me back to the company. We had classes on the 60mm mortar and a physical training period. My feet hurt. 

Wednesday, November 10

This morning we had practical work with the squads in attacking snipers. We used blank ammunition.

This afternoon we had to dig foxholes and observe a road. Several military vehicles and some troop formations came down the road. We had to make a report every 30 minutes and send it to the CO. We had to tell about everything that went along the road and in the area in front of us. I dug my foxhole, and about the time I got it deep enough, Lieutenant DeMattie came along, looked at it and said, “That’s OK Cox, now fill it up.” My foot is still sore, but we are going on a hike tonight. 

Thursday, November 11

I am a table waiter today. This means that at meal time I have to help serve the others and clean up after the meal, then I join my company for the training. We studied the 60mm mortar this morning.

This afternoon we had four hours of tactical training of the squad. And you guessed it, I had to dig another foxhole. I have a bad cold from laying on and digging in the wet cold ground. Last night we hiked 12 miles out and made camp, and spent the night until 4:30 this morning when we broke camp and came back to the company area. 

When we got out there last night, we pitched our tents and each man dug a prone shelter (a hole as long as our bodies, two feet deep, and two feet wide). This is the third foxhole I have dug in the last two days. About the time I got my prone shelter dug, I was told to stand security guard for the company. I got to sleep about an hour and a half, I guess, and I was about frozen during that time. When we got back to camp I had a headache, not much appetite, a terrible cold, and my feet were so sore I could hardly stand on them. And I was very discouraged.

Friday, November 12

I went on sick call about my feet this morning. The doctor said that he couldn’t do anything for my feet. I said, “Something has got to be done. I can’t walk.” He said, “You’ll walk, all right.” He was very rude. I persuaded him to let me have arch supports to put in my shoes. March fractures are very common in the infantry, and the doctor said he didn’t think arch supports will help me much. However, he authorized arch supports for me and made an appointment for me at the hospital Monday at 1 pm. 

When we got back to camp this morning, the company got to stay in our huts until 11 am. We couldn’t sleep though, we had to clean our hut and equipment. At 11 am, we dressed in our ODs and went out on the drill field and had a group picture of the company made. After the picture taking, we had classes in studying the mortar..

Saturday, November 13

This morning I went on sick call to get something for my cold. The doctor gave me a box of aspirin.

After I got back from sick call (about 9 am), I joined my company which was having practical work in the tactical training of the infantry soldier. We (the squad) had to capture a couple of hills that had snipers, machine gun nest, and enemy headquarters using blank ammunition. We got the hill OK, but the officers showed us some mistakes we made. The cadre noncoms were the snipers. Sergeant Levenko was one of the snipers, and I was in the group that captured him. Sergeant Levenko talks rough to us trainees, and some were saying we should shoot him, but we didn’t have any live ammunition. We wouldn’t have hurt him anyway.

This evening we had classes on how to pick good locations for machine gun emplacements in different kinds of terrain.

Sunday, November 14

Sergeant Levenko is a regular army man and has been in the army for several years and has helped train several groups of draftees. Here is a typical Sergeant Levenko speech to the company. We get one or two about every week:

“Now, I don’t know whether you gentlemen have noticed it or not, but here lately you have been slowing up. It will cease immediately, if not sooner. When that whistle blows, I don’t want to see anything but a cloud of dust, and when the dust clears up, I want to see four rows of statues standing out in the street. If you don’t have any clothes on, you fall out anyway.”

“If some of you God durn people don’t start waking up around here, we will have a little get-together down in the piss house some night and some of you gentlemen may find yourself with a fucking pick in one hand, and a shovel in the other, and we will use the God durn things too. Is that understood? OK, hit it.”

Sometimes someone will say, “Sarge, I thought we were on the ball pretty good today.” He will say, “That is not the point. The point is that I know that you have not been on the ball. Who in the hell told you to think anyway? In the army, you don’t think. We will do your thinking for you. You God durn people had better start waking up and stop moping around here. Get the point?”

The other day we were learning dirty hand-to-hand fighting. I had been on sick call, came in late, and had no partner to practice on. Sergeant Levenko said, “Hey beautiful, come over here. I will be your pardner.” I looked him in the eyes and said, “OK, that suits me.* He didn’t say anything, but grabbed me around the neck with both hands. We had been taught how to break holds like that, so I broke his hold and almost had him on the ground before he knew what it was all about. He said, “So you have had some of this before?” I said, “Yes.” He tried two or three more holds on me and I came out of them alright. He wasn’t rough anymore though. Then he told me to go over there where some other fellows were practicing and work with them.

Monday, November 15

This morning we had more training in fighting in the woods. I got killed. A sniper shot me. I knew just about where he was, but I couldn’t see him so I stuck my head up a little to get a better look and he shot me. An observer said I had been shot and was dead. We were using blank ammunition. I had to tie a white handkerchief on my rifle so everyone would know I was dead.

This evening I went over to the hospital and got arch supports put in one pair of shoes (the shoes I was wearing). I have an appointment to get arch supports put in my other pair the 29th of November at 1:30 pm.

Tuesday, November 16

We put in about 16 hours of duty today, including a night problem tonight. After the night problem, I was tired, sleepy, dirty, footsore, weary, and disgusted.

Wednesday, November 17

We had a long day including a night problem in the woods tonight.

Thursday, November 18

The training now is very intense and long hours. We have been studying the mortar today, especially the complicated mortar sight. Also, we have been having tactical training in fighting in the woods. I was a sniper one day and shot four enemy soldiers (with blanks). The observer gave me three kills, but one got away.

I tried to call home tonight, but I couldn’t get the call through. Nettie writes me every day, but I don’t get the letters every day. Sometimes I get four or five letters at a time.

Friday, November 19

We studied setting up and firing the mortar with live ammunition on the range this morning. We each fired once and had to see how close we could come to the target. I came very close. This afternoon we had tactical training of the squad in the woods. This training is in a sheep pasture in the woods, and the ground is covered thick with leaves. One of our men fell into a sheep dip trench that had knee-deep sheep dip medicine in it.²³ The leaves had the trench almost covered.

I sent a telegram to Nettie today about her and my sister Ruthie coming down to visit. I didn’t get any mail. My feet are better.

Saturday, November 20

This morning we fired the 60mm mortars again. I can do very well with it. The sight is rather complicated, but if you know how to work it right you can hit a target over hills up to 2,000 yards. This afternoon we had tactical training in the woods. I kept a close watch for sheep dip trenches.

Someone higher up than I has decided that our company streets need filling in and leveling up. And who is going to do it? We are, in our spare time. Tonight we had to all work on the company street carrying rocks and dirt for about an hour and a half.

Sunday, November 21

This morning we had to start working on the company streets at 7 am. I was shoveling dirt into sacks that were being carried to the street. I shoveled dirt until about 9 am, and then I had to change around and help carry the sacks of dirt until 11 am. We quit for dinner then.

At 1 pm we started carrying rocks. We carried rocks until 2:30 pm when we were all dismissed. I came to my hut and wrote letters and shined my shoes. After supper, I got a haircut.

Monday, November 22 

We have been crawling over hills and woods with light machine guns and mortars today. We are learning how to pick the best location for these weapons without being seen. I don’t think we will do much tomorrow except clean up for general inspection Wednesday.

It is cold here. It was so cold one morning that when we poured water on the floor of the hut to mop it, the water would freeze before we could get it mopped up. At night I would spread my overcoat over my blankets to keep warm.

Sergeant Allred came into our hut after supper, and we have been having a bull session. He said that I could probably get a pass this weekend. This will be the last weekend we will get passes before Christmas, and I haven’t had one. If I can get a pass, I hope Nettie and Ruthie can come down here. I have written them about it.

Tuesday, November 23

I went on table waiter this morning a 5 am and got off at 12 midnight. In the mess hall, we scrubbed all the floors, tables, windows, chinaware, silverware, pots, pans, and everything else except the cooks. This was for tomorrow’s inspection. Boy, was I tired when I got off. Then I had to shave, arrange my footlocker, shine my shoes, clean my rifle, arrange my clothes, and a lot of other things to get ready for the morning inspection. I got about 2 hours sleep.

Wednesday, November 24

It is cold here. We had to get up early this morning for the morning inspection. We were inspected in our huts by our company commander. I got by OK. Then we (the regiment) went out on the parade ground at 9 am, and the entire 8th Regiment was inspected by Brigadier General Wallace H. Philoon. There were several officers there including a Colonel Hains.²⁴

In the afternoon it was back to training. Mortars, BARs, M1s, and field tactics. I am expecting Nettie and Ruthie to come to the camp this weekend, probably by train. I will get a weekend pass and meet them in Anniston.

Thursday, November 25, Thanksgiving

This morning we had to get up at 3 am, ate breakfast, left the company area about 4 am, marched over to one of the mountains that can be seen from our company area (Howitzer Hill to be exact), and set up defensive positions (we all dug foxholes). The whole 31st Battalion went along. We came in at about 9:30 am and had time off until noon. I took a nap. At lunch, we had sliced baloney and a couple of vegetables.

In the afternoon we had an hour of close order drill, and then we saw a G.I. movie in the field house (the movie was about the Russians), and then we had a parade. There were several people out at the parade grounds watching us. We were dressed in ODs, field jacket, and helmet liners, and of course, we had our rifles and bayonets. The whole 8th Regiment was out there in the parade.

For supper tonight we had turkey and dressing with giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, celery, assorted pickles, candied sweet potatoes, peas, lettuce and tomato salad, corn, rolls, butter, pumpkin pie, apples, oranges, mixed nuts, coffee, fruit cup, and candies. The supper was very good, but I copied the list of food off their Thanksgiving dinner bulletin. 

Friday, November 26 

Today we had training as usual on mortars, the BAR, and a lecture on proper soldier behavior, and the danger of catching a social disease from the ladies that often hung around the army camps. At mail call this evening, I got a letter from Nettie saying that she and my sister Mary Ruth were coming to Anniston by train and would arrive Saturday morning. I put in for a weekend pass and got it. I could be out of camp from Friday night to Monday morning. I had to be in camp for company roll call Monday morning.

Saturday, November 27

This morning I took an early bus from camp to Anniston, went to the train station, and waited for Nettie and Ruthie to arrive. Their train was about on time, and I can’t tell [you] how glad I was to see both of them. We got a taxi to take us to a hotel, but the hotel was full and they said that all the hotels in town were full. They suggested that we try the USO, that sometimes the USO could find private homes that would keep soldier families, and called the USO for us. The USO did find a home that would keep us for the weekend and called the home for us. 

We took a taxi out to the home where a very friendly lady greeted us and showed us to our room. She had only the one room with two beds to let, so we used this room as our home for the weekend. We were within walking distance to main town Anniston, and we looked the town over. 

Sunday, November 28

This morning, after eating breakfast at a nearby café, we took a bus out to the camp. We rode most of the camp buses, and I explained to them things about different parts of the camp. I showed them where Bain’s Gap was in the mountainside. We went to my company area, and I showed them my hut. We also went to the main PX and to the Enlisted Men’s Club where we had chocolate sundaes and milkshakes. I showed them where I often came on Sundays to write letters.

The weekend ended all too quick, but it did improve my morale which was at a very low level. Late Sunday evening I paid the kind lady (she didn’t charge much) for using her room, including for Sunday night, and we talked to her quite a while. Early Monday morning, I caught a taxi and got back to camp at about 5 am, and the taxi took me right up near my hut, and the taxi ride cost me 60 cents. 

The people of Anniston were very kind to us soldiers. Nettie and Ruthie stayed until later Monday morning and took their train out of Anniston to Atlanta and Greensboro. Our good friends, Frank and Edith Kivett, would meet them at Greensboro. 

I asked Nettie to keep writing me about Terry. I feel very bad about not being there to be a father to him. I am sure that both he and I will lose something from my not being there for him. All the hell of war is not on the battlefield.

Monday, November 29

This morning we had a lecture about writing home things about our training, equipment, troop movements, or ship movements. After the lecture, we had some physical training at the parade field. 

After lunch, I went to the hospital. The doctor said my feet were OK, and I am scheduled to get my other arch supports tomorrow morning. We had a training film on the bazooka this evening.²⁵

Tuesday, November 30

Today it was business as usual in the training. We hiked out near the south gate and fired the light machine gun at field targets on the side of one of those beautiful mountains that one can see from our campsite. The mountains don’t look quite so beautiful when you are hiking over them with a full field pack though. We also drilled some and had a group exercise period with one of the noncoms leading us. We have been having the group exercise periods three or four times each week since our training began. And, of course, we are in top physical condition. I weigh 180 pounds now.

Wednesday, December 1

This morning we had a lecture about the bazooka and how to fire it. Firing it requires two men. Then the noncoms²⁶ gave a demonstration on firing the bazooka, but we didn’t get to fire it ourselves. We were out on the range most of the day. 

This evening we are in our huts getting ready for a week-long bivouac. We are to start at 6 pm this evening. We will go over Bain’s Gap to Choc-o-lock Valley and pitch our tents tonight.

Thursday-Wednesday, December 2-8

We are getting near the end of our basic training with the week long bivouac out in the Choc-o-lock valley boondocks. We got here last night OK and pitched our tents, but we have to sleep on the ground, and we will run field problems in the mountains today.

The mess hall prepares us sandwiches for lunch every day, and we carry them in paper bags. We have mail call every day, and we have a campfire at night.

It is raining here today (Friday), but we run problems anyway. One day we were instructed to dig a tank trap in a dirt road. It was hard digging with our small picks and shovels. There were several men digging on the ditch, and by afternoon we had a pretty good size ditch across the road. 

About the time we were about ready to congratulate ourselves on a job well done, a colonel drove up in a jeep. “What are you soldiers doing?” he asked. One of our soldiers spoke up, “We are digging a ditch.” “A ditch? A ditch? You are digging a ditch?” the colonel said with his face getting red, and I thought the colonel was going to gig us and give us extra duty. The colonel asked another one of us, “Soldier, what are you doing?” “Sir, we are digging a tank trap,” this soldier said. The colonel’s face broke into a smile and he gave us a lecture about the importance of tank traps in combat. The colonel started toward his jeep, but then he turned around and said, “Dig it deeper.” Then he got in his jeep with his jeep driver and they drove away. “Ah ha,” I said to Wimp Crider. “We did get gigged.”

We dug some more, but our heart wasn’t in it. After about an hour or two, our company commander drove up. Our CO congratulated us on having dug such a good tank trap. And we began to feel better. After a few minutes, the CO said, “Now fill it up,” and got into his jeep and drove away. Our hearts and morale sank, but we filled it up. 

Some of the boys said there was a store about two miles away to our left. We were not supposed to leave our bivouac area, but after supper one night some of us decided to go over to the store and get a few things. We thought we would be back before we were missed. We started out and had gone about a mile when jeep headlights came around a curve and caught us in its beam. We immediately left the road for the bushes beside the road. The jeep went past us but turned around, came back, and shined its lights into the side of the road where we lay. Wimp and I got up and ran all the way back to our bivouac area. After a while, the others came straggling in. We went to bed in our tents.

Here are some of the things we learned to do on the bivouac. We learned to build a boat out of a shelter half, build a brush raft, build a pontoon bridge, how to set up defensive positions, how to assault enemy positions, different types of marches in enemy territory, scouting, placing mortar fire where it will do the most good, camouflaging, marches at night, and several other things.

Thursday, December 9

We got back from our bivouac about 6 pm this evening. We came over Bain’s Gap for the last time, I hope.

Friday, December 10

This morning we had free time to clean up our equipment and exchange what was worn out. After lunch, the whole 31st Battalion went over to one of the heavy artillery firing areas, and the heavy weapons people put on a firing demonstration for us. We were between the big guns and where the shells would fall. I lay on my back some and could see the artillery shells as they went over our heads, and see them land in the target area. I saw Marsh Hodgin from Ramseur there.

Tonight we signed the payroll. I got $6.15.

Saturday, December 11

Today I was on KP from 5 am to about 7:30 pm. I was very tired. While on KP today, I learned that we are going on another bivouac tomorrow, this time to Morrisville which is about 19 or 20 miles away. The 1st Sergeant, who remembered my sore feet, said if I would help load the kitchen stuff in the morning, I could ride with them out to Morrisville. I was glad to do this as I was not looking for a 20-mile hike with full field equipment.

Sunday, December 12

We were loaded up and started out at 7 am, and got to Morrisville about 2:30 pm. I helped unload and set up the kitchen equipment, then joined my company. I helped set up our tent and later went to chow. The kitchen crew remembered me and tried to get me to stay with them. Unfortunately, neither they or I could make that decision.

I don t know why they call this area Morrisville.²⁷ If there is a house within 5 miles, I don’t know it. It is just woods and sage fields. But it is a good place to camp and run field problems, and we will be running field problems tomorrow.

I wrote some letters in my tent by candlelight. Also, I got a fruit cake from Howard and Blanche this morning. I got a letter from Nettie tonight. I often think of home and wonder if my father and mother make [it] over [to see] Terry. I am sure they will when he grows some.

Monday, December 13

It is sleeting here today and is very cold. Where is that good old sunny South? But we dug a trench around our tent and piled dirt around the edge. It is warm inside the tent. 

I seem to be taking a bad cold. My throat is all choked up, but I don’t go on sick call. I don’t want anything [to] delay me getting through this training and going on my furlough.

We had some classes today – how to count the number of troops in a troop column at a distance, and how to tell directions without a compass.

My tent mate, Pvt. Dixon, and I are writing letters by candlelight again tonight. 

Tuesday, December 14

We are still out at Morrisville and run field problems all day. The cooks bring us a paper bag of sandwiches for lunch and, morning and evening, the cooks have a mess line set up and we get warm rations — no tables though. We have to set our mess kits where ever we can. We learned a long time ago how to clean our mess kits with dirt when there is no water available.

We have been studying land mines, booby traps, and street fighting with live ammunition, and had to take a German village using live ammunition, but we were shooting at dummies.

We had mail call tonight, and I got a very nice letter from Mr. [John} Wrape (my boss at Bossong hosiery). Also a letter from Nettie. She says that she and Lucille Wright²⁸ are thinking of coming down soon.

Wednesday, December 15

After breakfast this morning, we broke camp and prepared to leave Morrisville. Sergeant Levenko would not let me ride back with the kitchen crew, so I had to walk back with the company. We would walk 50 minutes and rest 10. I made the trip back OK. My cold seems to be better.

The kitchen crew was back and had a warm supper ready for us. They are a good group, and very good at what they do. After supper, we had mail call, and I had several letters. One letter from Nettie said that she and Lucille are still planning on coming down for the weekend. I am almost sure I can get a weekend pass.

When we got back, we found that our company had moved to a new area. After supper we had to clean up our new area, arrange our footlocker, polish our shoes, and clean our rifles.

Thursday, December 16

Today we haven’t done much, cleaned up around the area some, and after lunch, we were told to go to the company day room to sign up for our end-of-training furlough. I looked for Bill Wright in the day room but didn’t see him. It appears that he will not get a furlough with us, but will probably have to stay here for more training. He was on sick call a lot and missed some training. While there I asked for and got a weekend pass for this weekend. I understand that the furlough will be after our training is completed here, and will be for five days. 

After the furlough, we will report to Fort Meade, Maryland for further training until we are assigned to a regular company. At this point, we don’t know if we will go to the Pacific area or Europe. There is not much chance of many of us staying in the States.

Friday, December 17

Today we continued to train. We attacked another German village. There were dummy targets that would pop up unexpectedly, and we were using live ammunition. We had a paper bag of sandwiches for lunch and continued to run problems. About 4 pm we returned to our area to have supper.

After supper Bill Wright and I catch a bus to Anniston. We soon found Nettie, Lucille, and another couple. They had driven down in Bill Wright’s car. Bill wanted to immediately drive back to Ramseur. Bill had not done well in training and wanted to go home, if only for a few hours. I was reluctant to do this as I was to get my five-day furlough within a week or so. But if they went to Ramseur, Nettie would have to go with them. I couldn’t leave her down here alone. 

There were some patches of snow and ice on some of the roads, but after a brief discussion, we turned the car around and started back to Ramseur. There were six of us in the car. We pooled our money for gas to go back. We drove all night and were back in Ramseur about noon Saturday. We were very tired but glad to be home. 

Saturday, December 18

Sunday, December 19

After dinner, we did take Terry with us to visit my parents. They were glad and told us that he was a pretty baby. My mother held him, but he was too small for Dad to hold. Terry was 2 1/2 months old, and the birthing marks on his face had about cleared up. He was a very pretty baby, and his mother and I were very proud of him.

About 4 pm (as we had agreed), Bill and Lucille, and the other couple, came by for me to start back to Fort McClellan. Nettie did not make the trip back. We traveled all night. They switched drivers some.

Monday, December 20

We got back to our company area about 8 am. We were a bit tardy, but I was not considered AWOL. I got a candy bar from my locker, changed into my dungarees, and joined my company. They were taking exercise out on the parade ground. I joined them at the back, but I am sure Sergeant Levenko saw me, but he didn’t say anything. I thought that I would surely get gigged some way. But Sergeant Levenko is not as harsh now as he was in the beginning. Sergeant Levenko appears to be about 45 years old, is a regular army man, and has helped train several groups. He has a red weathered face and can look and talk very severe.

About 10 am we were told to go dress in our OD’s, and we drilled about two hours on the parade field.  

This afternoon we had to go through the infiltration course.²⁹ This involved crawling about 150 feet on our belly under coils of barbed wire with machine gun fire going about 4 or 5 feet over our heads. If anyone panicked and got up they would be killed. I noticed that the machine gun barrel was laying on a box to keep it from accidentally firing low.

This evening we were told that tomorrow we will be taking a 30-mile hike with full field pack and rifle. We should get our packs ready tonight. 

Also, I noted that Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson were scheduled to do a boxing exhibition at the fieldhouse tomorrow night, and I wanted to go see that.

Tuesday, December 21

It is cold here.³⁰ Some mornings, as we mop the floor of our hut, a thin sheet of ice appears on the floor. We clean it up as best we can. We have to be ready to fall out when they call. At this late date I don’t want to be gigged about anything. At 5:30 am we had to fall out into the street in front of our huts. At 6 am we had breakfast, and at 7 am we started our 30-mile hike. I felt good. The heavy training is paying off.

We walked at a brisk pace all day. We walked for 50 minutes and rested 10 minutes. Before we started, we were issued a pack of K rations for lunch, and about noon we had a 30-minute lunch break. Long ago I had learned to carry some candy bars in my fatigue pants cargo pockets when we go on hikes or bivouacs. I made it fine until over in the afternoon [when] my legs seemed to stiffen up some. But under no  circumstances would I have fallen out.

As soon as we got back to camp and I could get away, I headed for the field house. It was about 3/4 mile away. The boxing exhibition was about to begin when I got there. I enjoyed seeing Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson spar together. They didn’t hit each other very hard, but they went at it fast and furious.

My legs were very stiff and tired when I got back to our hut. I quickly crawled in my bunk and went to sleep.

Wednesday, December 22

After breakfast this morning, we were told that our five-day training end furlough would begin tomorrow. We were instructed to turn in any items and equipment that we had that belongs to the army, including our rifles. And we were told that if we didn’t have everything that we were supposed to have, we would have to pay for it. I had all my items and turned them in at the day room.

This morning I joined a group from our company that was talking to Sergeant Levenko. He has been in the army about 20 years and his face has the weather beaten look. He was laughing and talking and didn’t appear as tough and rough as he was in training. He said that it was necessary for him to be rough and tough with us trainees. It was part of our training. If we could not handle the roughness in training, what would we do in combat? He wished us all well.

I wrote Nettie a letter telling her the good news. And tomorrow, when I get to Anniston and find out the train schedules, I will call Nettie to get someone to meet me at Greensboro. Bill Wright is not in our group. He will have to stay here for more training.

Thursday, December 23

I got up and had breakfast, then I caught a camp bus for Anniston. At the Anniston train station, I checked the train schedule to Greensboro and found that the train would get to Greensboro at noon tomorrow. I called Nettie, gave her the news, and she said she would get Frank Kivett to bring her and meet me there.

The train was crowded, and I had to change trains at Atlanta, but we rode all night. I was able to get some food on the train, but I was smart enough to bring several candy bars and other snacks with me. 

Friday-Monday, December 24-27

The train pulled into Greensboro about noon, and Nettie, Frank and Edith Kivett were there to greet me. Boy, was I glad to see them. After the greetings, we got into Frank’s car and headed to Ramseur. It was good to see Terry again. I had a five-day furlough and then was to report to Fort Meade, Maryland. Frank and Edith Kivett lived across the road from Mr. Moody’s house and were very good to me and Nettie.

The five-day leave was very short as I had to report to Fort Meade on Monday morning. It was good to be home for Christmas, and we went down to my parents’ home Christmas day and had dinner and gave gifts. Mother, Dad, Nettie, Terry, Ruthie, Howard and Blanche, Nancy, and Galletta were there. Alton was in the army.

Sunday evening, Howard, Blanche, Nettie, and Terry took me to Greensboro to catch a train to Baltimore. From Baltimore, I caught a bus out to the camp at Fort Meade. I found that several of my basic training friends were in my barracks. 

We did not do much training on Monday, but our squads and platoons were organized, and the company commander gave us a talk, and we were issued new M1 rifles. Wimp Crider, Leon Boatwright,³¹ Chambliss, and I put our things in order (footlocker, clothes, shoes) in the barracks and explored the camp in the evening. We also went to a movie.

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Footnotes:

1. Fort McClellan is located in Anniston AL, During World War II, it was one of the largest U.S. Army Installations training nearly half-million troops. ↩︎
2. On February 9, 1942, “War Time,” a year-round daylight saving time, began in the U.S. requiring clocks be moved ahead one hour for the remainder of the war as a national defense measure to conserve energy. ↩︎
3. George Clayton “Jack” Kivett attended Ramseur High School with our dad. He received the Purple Heart, and was a member of the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. William Fred Allen was from the Coleridge area, and likely a distant cousin of our dad. He was killed in Normandy, France on July 12, 1944. Bill Wright survived the war and later served as Ramseur’s mayor. ↩︎
4. Training corresponded to combat in European areas such as simulated urban areas, actions under live artillery fire, and crouching in foxholes with tanks moving overhead. Men trained at an IRTC would be replacing the dead and/or wounded on a WWII battlefield somewhere. ↩︎
5. The introduction of tetanus vaccine (administered in a series of shots) for WW2 military personnel virtually eliminated the occurrence of the disease as a result of war-related injuries.  ↩︎
6. Birmingham, AL airport weather records show lows in the mid 50s the weekend of September 10-12, 1943. ↩︎
7. The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) had a removable bipod and two different firing modes. It was essentially a light machine gun, but still weighed almost 20 pounds. ↩︎
8. Bain’s Gap crosses the southern part of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east of Fort McClellan. ↩︎
9. Nicknamed “Wimp,” Cramer Labryant Crider was from Columbia, SC. ↩︎
10. The first number being 3 identifies him a draftee, 4 is the geographical code. ↩︎
11. Close order drill comprises the formal movements and formations used in marching. ↩︎
12. Dr. Melvin Bowman Smith served the Ramseur community for four decades. He was the Cox family doctor until his retirement in 1978. Dr. Smith’s son, Bill, was born a month earlier than Terry. Bill and Terry attended school and played baseball together. ↩︎
13. The men lined up, received their pay in cash from an officer, and signed a payroll roster. ↩︎
14. Tracer bullets contain chemicals that burn brightly when ignited, making the projectile’s path visible to the naked eye.   ↩︎
15. Colin Kelly was the first American B-17 pilot to be shot down during WWII. ↩︎
16. Daytime temperatures were in the 40s on this date at Birmingham, AL airport, followed by several days of clouds and drizzle. ↩︎
17. This is the Choccolocco Valley in the foothills east of Fort McClellan.  ↩︎
18. In the 1940s, Polio was one of the most fearsome diseases in America and considered a major threat to the war effort. ↩︎
19. OD is the abbreviation for army uniforms made of olive drab wool. ↩︎
20. In 1943, a Prison Internment Camp with a 3,000-person capacity was completed at Fort McClellan for the prisoners of war. ↩︎
21. Weather records at Birmingham, AL airport indicate rain and thunderstorms November 7-8. ↩︎
22. March fractures are metatarsal fractures caused by repetitive stress. ↩︎
23. Sheep dip is a liquid formula of insecticide and fungicide that farmers use to protect their sheep from external parasites. A trench is used to completely immerse the animal. ↩︎
24. This Colonel was most likely Peter Conover Hains III. A member of the West Point Class of 1924, he became an Army cavalry officer and competed in the 1928 Olympic Games. Hains led the First Armored Regiment during World War II. ↩︎
25. The bazooka is the common name for a shoulder-type rocket launcher adopted by the U.S. Army in World War II. ↩︎
26. Non commissioned officers, non-coms, entered the military as privates and advanced into an officer role, becoming a corporal and later a sergeant. ↩︎
27. In 1941, the War Department acquired 26,000 acres near Fort McClellan, including an unincorporated community named Morrisville. The property became known as the Morrisville Maneuver Area. ↩︎
28. Lucille Bray Wright was the wife of Bill Wright. Bill and Lucille were school mates of dad and mom. Bill and Lucille both were standout basketball players. ↩︎
29. The combat infiltration course subjected troops to battle noise and danger. Soldiers crawled across a field with obstacles, and hugged the ground because of the machine gun fire above their heads.  ↩︎
30. Overnight lows were below freezing according to historical weather records. ↩︎
31. Leon Boatwright was from Saluda, SC. Elmer Chambliss was from Roanoke Rapids, NC. ↩︎