| Table of Contents < - - - return Chapter 8 - Good Times < - - - next Don Bennett's War Chapter 7 - First pass to Marseilles _______________________ Because of the promise
given us by our platoon leader for our good work carrying the B.A.R.
on the first night, Lundeen
and I got the first passes into town. A few other guys also had passes,
and we hitchhiked our way into the town of Marseille. We just walked
around town, not knowing where to go or how to ask where to go. Jerry
Wack knew a little French, which helped considerably. The main thing
which struck me about the people was the lack of good and colored clothes.
There were many in shabby, dark clothes. Here and there around town
we could see the rubble of the buildings wrecked by the fairly recent
American air raid - a ten minute raid which killed thousands. When nearing
some of these rubble heaps, we could smell the sweet, sickening odor
of decaying human bodies lying beneath them. We dropped into a few restaurants
and tried their wine, which was weak and green, and cognac which was
sour and strong. We saw very few drunken Frenchmen, though. The streetcars
in town were few and as a result were very crowded and had many riding
wherever they could hang on. The fare for American soldiers was one
cigarette. I had nearly two packs of cigarettes on me, and sold them
to some dark skinned, sword bedecked, fezzed French soldiers for 80
francs ($1.60). the stores had little and poor quality of goods but
quite a few souvenirs to sell to GI's. There were a few shoes and hats
in the windows and, of course, perfume was in most stores. The streets
in the town were very narrow, some with room for one car, and cobbled,
and were traveled mostly by people afoot and a few small French cars
and a quite a few U.S. Army trucks, driven by G.I's, English and French
soldiers. There were servicemen from many countries in this town. We
went into a restaurant and ordered a good dinner (50 francs), which
turned out to be cabbage, potatoes, a dark colored sausage the size
of a wiener, and bread. Most of the people brought in their own bread
with them. We noticed many people on the streets carrying unwrapped
cigar-shaped bread, which was their main food. We stopped at a small
street fountain and bought an ice cream cone about one third the size
of those in U.S. for 5 francs, and I think it was made out of ice and
starch. When we headed back that night, we stopped by the ration stockpile,
found a few broken cases, and when the MP's had their backs turned,
we made off with some good food and took it back to the area with us,
and divided it with those who didn't make it to town. We had one more
pass to town, but this time we went into a movie theater. We saw half
of the show, then walked out because, strangely enough, we couldn't
understand what they were saying. Chapter 8 - Good Times < - - - next Table of Contents < - - - return _________________________ Copyright, Donald Bennett
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