Army Training Down South

The division was preparing to go on maneuvers in northern Louisiana near the Oklahoma and Texas borders in October and November after which the division was sent to Camp Swift, neat Austin, TX. Joe and I became quite close on maneuvers. The weather got cold and Joe suggested that we sleep together so we could double up on our blankets. The only incident I can recall of our maneuvers- we were on a night move and I was in the company's last vehicle, a Jeep. Joe led the company and we were still the only two officers. Our kitchen truck ran off the road- we were all riding without lights- and two or three vehicles behind the truck and my Jeep stopped to see what we could do- which was wrong- we should have proceeded and left the truck to receive assistance from the engineers who were in the last convoy. After about fifteen minutes an officer pulled up behind and told me to get moving. By the time the convoy ahead had disappeared and we couldn't use lights! I got out of the Jeep with a flashlight that I should not have used and ran ahead of the Jeep holding the light close to ground so I could see the tire tracks. We finally caught up with the group ahead after almost an hour. I often wondered what would have happened if I wasn't able to follow the right tracks! That was once that Joe wasn't too happy with me!

We had assumed that shortly after maneuvers we would be on our way overseas. But the 2nd Armored Division which had also been on maneuvers with us got first call. But they also needed medical offers, and some of the replacements came from our division.The 2nd Armored was one of the first armored divisions to land in Europe after D-Day, so I guess we can thank them for postponing our early entry into France. Among officers going to the 2nd Armored were the 102nd Division Surgeon and his assistant, a 1st Lt. MAC. Our Battalion commander, Colonel Crouch was named our division surgeon and his adjutant went with him, as did the Medical Battalion Plans and Training Officer. A Col. Frank C. Eaton replaced Col. Crouch as our C.O. He called me in and told me he was going to appoint me the Adjutant. I think he was surprised when I told him I preferred to be named Plans and Training Officer because it called for a Captain while the adjutant was a 1st Lt. The colonel said he had checked records and felt that my legal training was best for the position of adjutant, and as C.O. he had the authority to do as he wished, so I became the adjutant on March 30, 1944! Incidentally, shortly before I assumed those duties I was promoted to 1st. Lieutenant.