gault1.page

On April 29, 1943, we boarded ship in New York and sailed for Africa. At Casa Blanca, "F" Company took 40 & 8 boxcars and trudged to Marinia in French Morocco. 2nd Battalion had acquired Major Swenson, a tough West Pointer from the class of 1938 whose previous services was Calvary. Major Swenson, with the pointed Cavalry overseas cap and swagger stick, bugled us off train by "Dismount" and on with "Mount". The train was so heavily loaded that there were lots of bugle calls, and we actually helped push the train.

Here in Marinia, "F" Company endured "C" Rations, French cigarettes, dust, wind, and heat. We did make a couple of glider rides, but mostly it was Ol' Army Infantry Tactics. And also here, we encountered the worst epidemic of dysentary you can ever imagine. Regular accommodations were soon over run and Lt. Greene's and Lt. Gault's latrine demonstrations were completely abandoned. This was the one and only time I can remember that Lt. Woodruff lost his cool. Hands down he had the worst case of dysentary in the regiment and no one dared go near him. I promised to write a book after the war and call it "Woody in the Wadii" - wadii being the name for a draw many feet wide and long in Africa. The training was more than hot, and I am sorry to say that at times we posted sentries to warn of approaching brass and then rested in the shade of a wadii. I think to this day no harm was done.

On June 16, 1943, we moved closer to the war front at Kairouan, Tunisia. We had missed combat so far in Africa as the front continued ever east. In Kairouan I contracted jaundice that was to dog me for several more years. At first I couldn't stand the smell of food in the chow line, and then one night I was found on my hands and knees crawling down the company street. After one hell of a ride by army ambulance, and all the way my thinking I was dying, I arrived at the Army Field Hospital. I stayed there for the next six weeks - until the yellow in my eyes disappeared. So 1st Lt. Irvin Bloom took over "F" Company and ably led them on to Italy. "F" Company, along with the rest of the Regiment, pushed the Germans from the commanding mountain top of Mt. San Angela and held defensive positions until the Regiment, with the rest of the Division, moved into Naples. At San Angela, the Company lost Lt. City during a shelling attack. Lt. City was from San Antonio, Texas, and in civilian life was a liquor salesman. He was a 90-Day Wonder who had a hard time doing left and right face, but the men liked him and he gave the supreme sacrifice.

On October 1, 1943, the 82nd Airborne occupied Naples, Italy. To the conqueror goes the spoils, and the 82nd was given the mission of policing Naples - a pleasant assignment. Here I returned to the Regiment from the hospital which is a story in itself, not meant for here, but vouched for my love of "F" Company. Lt. Bloom, a wonderful Jew, had won the hearts of many an "F" Company man, and when I took back command and he reverted to executive officer, the private war of Lt. Gault, the only man in the company who had not been in combat, began. It was to be a rough road. My daily orders and methods were not too popular, but discipline became excellent again. To make a long story short, my worst adversary came to me during Normandy and asked if he could shake my hand.

"F" Company occupied an apartment complex. It was fancy and the men really enjoyed it. The apartment building was probably 10 or 12 floors high, and each platoon had its own floor. The officers occupied the top floor, each with his own private rooms. The company mess was in the garage, and one day during a German air attack, a false wall blew out and there, stacked to the ceiling, was furniture by the truck loads. The air attacks were the only nuisances. We had our own area to patrol and each unit on schedule sent out squad or platoon patrols. We did take our time to enjoy some Italian girls and visit with them in their homes. Of course, we didn't understand a word they said, but Lt. Hahn had some Spanish and Latin in school and we could say hello and goodbye. Naples was no place for Good Ol' Infantry Tactics, but we did close order drill and inspection of arms. Each week or so, someone would accidentally let his hand slip and fire his rifle, but to make matters worse, Lt. Hahn fired his pistol by accident and so all was forgiven. We went to some Italian gatherings and stage shows. All Italians want to sing and do a pretty good job.

All good things must come to an end and we bid Italy adieu in the latter pert of November 1943. We left by ship and spent Thanksgiving Day in Oran, Africa. When we left Italy we were issued 6 sniper rifles. They were old Springfield 03's equipped with a scope, but we did not land with them. The last rumor that I heard was that sniper riflemen were the first to go into combat.

Just around Christmas we landed in Ireland, after nine months overseas already. Our guides told us that we would only get one Coke a week (none for nine months) and only a ration of cigarettes (we had been smoking Chelsa and other off brands - some French). The 2nd Battalion was scattered all over North Ireland. "E" and "F" Companies were bivouaced on an old farm. There was an immense two-story farm house with quonset huts around. The mess hall was on the bottom floor and officer's quarters were on the upper floor. These were our dark cold days. There was very little fuel as is the Englishman's plight. We used bag coal very sparingly. Because of the short day, we took marches on Ireland roads until daybreak and then had some good Ol' Army Infantry Tactics. Captain Bob Dickerson was camp commander, he being the senior. He posted sentries and upon the approach of Major Swenson by jeep, he took off and I had to go on inspections with the Major. "F" Company had their Irishmen, and on pass a goodly portion of Irish beer and whiskey was consumed. Irishman Sergeant Robert C. McCarthy, from Burlington, Wisconsin, consumed his share, and several of the other boy's shares, and was not quite fit for duty a few Monday's. His only vice - the rest of the time he was an excellent sergeant squad leader. On this occasion, he was in bed during duty hours when Major Swenson and I made our inspection. About the time we got to him he groaned and fell out of bed. The Major asked me what was wrong, and I said he was sick. "He's drunk!" shouted the Major, "Court Martial that man!" To be brief, they forced me to bring court martial proceedings against McCarthy. The Regimental Executive Officer - a Lieutenant Colonel - was selected to try a lowly sergeant for intoxication!!! I asked that one member (which was legal) be excused - the Regimental Executive!!! Regimental Headquarters company commander became President and I understand that the Regimental Executive advised him to reduce the sergeant in rank. That occured and McCarthy became a private. I issued a company order that McCarthy have the company rank and privileges of a sergeant with private's pay. Sergeant Robert McCarthy led a squad, went to Normandy, and was shot in the head (later recovered)... all as a private!

In Ireland, "F" Company received a fresh new 2nd Lieutenant, and he took Lt. City's platoon. Now, this nameless 2nd Lt. was the first of the 18 year old type. Probably a good kid, but we needed a seasoned Lieutenant for the platoon. The Lt. never did get the attention of his men, and the platoon morale was low. One day, he came running in and said that Squad Leader Sgt. Edward Bojack from Cleveland, Ohio, was chewing tobacco in the ranks. I told him that if Bojack spit in ranks, to bring him in and I would discipline him. He never came back on that line. The Lt. flunked out early in combat and Sgt. George Heyduck took over and commanded the 2nd Platoon the rest of Normandy.