Table of Contents < - - - return Chapter 2- Boarding the ships < - - - next Don Bennett's War Chapter 1 - Camp Shanks _______________________ It was dark now, and we were spending the night on one of the camp's fields for barracks were nailed shut that day. We sat in circles and talked (sleep was impossible for most) until finally at two in the morning, loaded down with our packs and equipment, we were transported to the waiting trains. The train trip through the Midwestern states up to Chicago and up through part of Canada and down the Hudson River to Camp Shanks, New York, was uneventful except that I was on KP the third and last day of the trip. Our stay at Camp Shanks was short and little time was wasted, for we were on our way for big business now. We heard a few more speeches, saw a few more films, changed our allotments, and received new gas masks and other new equipment. Chow there was the best. A buddy of mine and I received two passes while there and both times we took the bus down the Hudson through part of New Jersey to New York City. The first night we walked all over town, rode the subways, and tried a few of their fancy drinks (they weren't so fancy). We went to night clubs down at Greenwich Village and up around 42nd Street. "Stage Door Canteen" didn't nearly live up to the standards portrayed in the movie - it was only a small 2x4 place. We did see Barry Wood and Patsy Kelly, though, and heard them sing "A Tree that Grows in Brooklyn." The second night
we first dined in the Plantation Room of Hotel Dixie - it only cost
us eight bucks but it was worth it. While there we met a couple nurses
from Newark and took them dancing at the Hotel New Yorker - the total
cost there was $11.98 and we made one drink last us the whole night.
After we saw the girls (I'll never forget the way they said "Let's
dance" and "Oh boy, oh boy") on their way home, we took
a subway out to Coney Island. All of the amusements were closed, so
we walked down the famous "Boardwalk" and then walked along
the beach. Boy, that was a pretty sight to see the moonlight on the
breakers - don't know why but I was really lonely for the rest of the
family and Ginny that night out there on the beach. Chapter 2- Boarding the ships < - - - next Table of Contents < - - - return _________________________ Copyright, Donald Bennett
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