During my twenty-one months with the 94th Division, I frequently wrote to my parents. Unbeknownst to me they squirreled away each and every letter and so advised me when I returned home. When my mother died in 1975, I recovered the boxes but didn't read them until recently.
 

• Our quality of life was improved in November with the issuance of rubber arctics and sleeping bags in December.
• En route to Germany we stopped at a rest camp with tents and electricity --- true luxuries.
• January 29, 1945. Shoepacs replaced combat boots. Greatly reduced trench foot.
• March 5, 1945. After crossing the Saar River, two of us were pulled out of the line from Company B. One fellow was sent back to the States to become a member of the Class of 1949 at West Point. I was given a three-day pass to Paris.
• March 15, 1945.  Company B captured one of the few German villages at night -- Gusenberg as reported on the BBC.
• March 17, 1945.  In the rush of the Rhine River our Company Commander and I were investigation a barn when we found pigs feasting on two dead German soldiers.  The animals were dispatched.
• "Axis Sally" in her propaganda broadcasts labeled us "Roosevelt's Butchers" or "Maloney's Maulers."
• April 1, 1945.  In transit from Ludwigshaffen to Kefeld our jeep went through Belgium on Easter Sunday. Wen passing through small villages the natives were most generous with their Easter eggs, candy and flowers.
• May 8, 1945.  Our platoon was occupying the Hotel Metzgerie in Wulfrath outside of Dusseldorf as hostilities ended.
• During 8 months of combat, Company B had many officers including five company commanders.
• June 21, 1945.  I left Czechoslovakia by jeep while the Division moved by 40 & 8 boxcars. When my Company arrived we moved into a schoolhouse in Sedlice. I learned that many village names ended in ice -- Sucice, Strakonice, Horazdovice, etc.
• In late June three of our buck were busted for picking cherries.
• Czech families raised may geese, partially to pay a national tax of four geese annually.
• Our rations of Cokes was two per day; beer sold for 2 and a half cents per pint while a haircut was 6 cents.
• A gasoline shortage in July cut down on a number of activities.
• July 16, 1945.  General Patton reviewed the Division.  Our helmets had been lacquered black for the occasion.  He claimed we didn't brag enough about our wartime exploits and successes.
• In late July we left Sedice and replaced the 26th Division.  Our company moved fifty miles in open rail cars for ten hours.  Located four miles southwest of Budweis opposite Russian troops.
• Many Russian soldiers were looting nearby farms so we had to provide security for the Czechs.
• August 1, 1945.  Commenced taking wood burning trains to Krumlov in the evenings.
• August 8, 1945.  Bob Hope and his entourage performed for the Division at Vimperk.  It took us five flat tires and 14 and a half hours to get there and back, but it was worth it.
• Got my first pass to Pilsen when a Division detachment marched in a V-J parade.
• In one of the educational programs we had initiated, Col. Hodges (our Battalion Commander) was teaching psychology.
• August 23, 1945.  Company B medals and citations were awarded including four Silver Stars, eight Bronze Stars and twenty-eight Purple Hearts.
• September 27, 1945.  One-day pass to Russian occupied Prague where we lunched at the Hotel Paris and later partied at the Barrendorf Club on a hill high above the city.
• Took train on another three-day pass to Paris via Budweis, Passau, Reganberg, Nurnburg, Augserg, Ulm, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Strasborg and Chalon.
• October 12, 1945.  Started a three-day pass to Corps rest area in Marienbad, Czechoslovakia. Only time I played golf in E.T.O. -- can't believe an 89!
• October 22, 1945. Division put on a demonstration for the Czech War College where I explained the 300 radio operation.
• October 26, 1945.  Czech currency was revalued. We were tightly monitored on the pay we received versus the amount we sent home.  Army was endeavoring to control black market profiteering.
• October 31, 1945.  Company moved to Oberplan, Czech., located northeast of Passau, Germany.  Our platoon located in a schoolhouse with showers!
• November 5,1945.  Due to higher point men returning home I was the last remaining member of our original company from Camp McCain.
• November 12, 1945.  Sent to Third Army Headquarters in Bad Tolz, Germany to represent the 301st at a basketball referees school.
• November 26, 1945.  Transferred from the 94th after twenty-one months.  Prior to leaving Krumlov the Czechs paraded and awarded us medals.  After a four-day train ride, assigned to Co. B 317th regiment 80th Division near Frankfurt. Our route included Budweis, Pilsen, Schwandorf, Amberg, Nurnberg, Bamberg, Wurzberg to Aschaffenberg.
• December 17, 1945.  Moved to camp Herbert Tareyton at Le Havre, France via Thionville and Amiens awaiting embarkation.
• One of my tent mates was Happy Chandler's nephew.
• For some reason the French government paid us $17 each.
• December 31, 1945.  Boarded the Colby Victory for the U.S.A.
• Discharged at Fort Dix, New Jersey.