Don Bennett's War - Chapter 6

Chapter 7 - First pass to Marseilles < - - - next

Don Bennett's War

Chapter 6 - Marseilles dock duty

_______________________

We walked through the narrow and crooked streets out the northwest part of town and out through the country. Soldiers stationed at each crossroads guided us on our way out. After dark we seemed to be walking aimlessly and apparently lost (we were, for we found out later that one of the guides fell asleep at his post and we had gone past our turn). By this time, we were getting hungry and very tired of carrying our heavy packs. About eleven o'clock, someone discovered our plight and told us the Division was supposed to camp at a spot in the distance, where we could see a fire burning. Knowing not the roads by which to get there, we took the shortest way, direct across country. It was a hard and tiresome journey and many of the boys dropped back and a few passed out cold. Lundeen and I had been taking turns carrying his B.A.R. but during this last cross country hike, he was having a hard enough time making it without the extra weight of the B.A.R. so I carried it all the way. When we finally pulled in the staging area, more than half of our squad did not make it. We were made to line up on this rocky, bush but fairly clear hilly country, pair up with whoever was next to us, and put up a tent which was to be our home for two weeks. A Mexican kid and I happened to be together, and so tried to make a bed in that hard and rocky soil. After a few nights on that stuff, our hips were so sore we couldn't lay on our sides and I wasn't used to sleeping on my back.
Our two weeks there were spent standing inspections, going on a few squad problems, cleaning equipment, and unloading ships in Marseille. I spent two days on the boat unloading detail on Dock H, where we unloaded boxes of food and howitzers. Since most of us were hungry because of our small meals at the area, a box of rations was dropped once in a while and the contents devoured or taken back to the area in our inside pockets. Since many Frenchmen were working with us, they also conveniently dropped and broke cases and swiftly disposed of the contents. It was all right to take the rations if we found a broken box, but an unopened box was not to be tampered with. One big, black French Moroccan broke open a box of "D" rations (concentrated chocolate), and as punishment, the officer made him eat twelve, which he did with relish and no after effects. I couldn't eat two and not feel sick.

A few ships could be unloaded directly onto the dock, but because of the extent of the dock damage, many ships anchored in the harbor and were unloaded by Army Ducks. (DUKW)

Chapter 7 - First pass to Marseilles < - - - next

Table of Contents < - - - return

_________________________

Web Site By Webmeister Don
Websites and Graphic Design