Cheers – Shipping Out

by
Lt. James “Grumpy” Smith

We’re all heroes, but no one seems to realize it. No one gives a damn. We were treated like dirt. Yes we were. About twenty five officers – twenty four infantry and one artillery – me! We were replacements – you know replacing the dead wounded or captured. Nice, huh?

We were full of the “old Harry”. See action – die for our country. But the officers at Camp Kilmer not only didn’t give a damn, they wanted to get rid of us, now! We were a truly terrible acting group, unmanageable, undisciplined, disrespectful. What a mouth on some of these guys! Why we even called ourselves “bastards”.

Lt. Schultz was our leader. We were all about twenty or twenty one. Schultz was older, about twenty six or seven. He was fearless. Camp officers were half afraid of him. Schultz had “done time” I think in the N.Y. area. He was a criminal. That’s OK Schultz took care of us. When we needed a little liquor he climbed the fence to go to Brooklyn to get us Seagram’s –7. He took us kids under his wing. A great guy for us; a monster for the camp people.

It was all supposed to be a secret. About a thousand or more soldiers were set to board a huge ship to go somewhere. There were many false alerts, and then “Here we go”. We’re out in a huge RR yard. Our coaches were way over near some old buildings – like the least important area. Other trains were on the move. Ours sat there for hours.

Then slowly we start moving down past those old dirty, shabby brick buildings. The windows are all boarded up. I guess no one even sees us.

Wait! What’s happening? Those windows! Arms are reaching out. Boards being removed; Faces! Faces are looking out! Girls' faces! Girls, girls, more girls! Windows are opening; girls are leaning out! They’re calling to us, cheering. Oh look a flag! A banner saying “We love you”. They’re yelling “God bless you!”, “Pray for You “.

They’re blowing kisses. “Come home safe!”, “Be Careful”. They’d kiss the glass window pane. One girl had a sign “Gloria – 1612 York Street – Write me!” Some on the lower floors we were singing to us.

We called back. What fun! What a send off! They all knew we were going overseas. Those girls were doing their best to show us how they felt. It was just wonderful. Now for the first time someone appreciated our sacrifice.

I was laughing, cheering, happy, but I was also choked up. It was very emotional. It’s difficult to describe how I felt. How I loved these girls! What they did for our spirits.

I real felt like a hero.

Slowly the train rolled down to the next building, where we got another ovation. I think the engineer was cooperating because we stopped at each building. I bet those girls did this all through the war.

We finally moved on. Now we’re down at the ship. Up the gangplank we went, and down in the “hole”. For two days afterwards I walked the deck remembering. Twelve days in that hell hole with vomiting, stifling heat, and fear knocked the high sprits out of us.

Editor’s Note: Lt. Smith was shipped out from Camp Kilmer, New Jersey to Casablanca, Morocco in February, 1943. The ship here described was a new passenger liner not yet outfitted for passengers and making its maiden voyage.

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