Chapter 2: Road to berlin

By night stormed German planes to break the peace
By day we planned the Continent's release.

Action, in my case, was not aboard ship of war, not involved in logistical activities or other support of the Fleet, but as staff officer to a succession of senior Naval officers in charge of reconnoitering, restoring and operating Naval shore establishments to facilitate their early use in bringing ashore men, arms, and supplies to accelerate war's end.

I was a planner, one who gave advice, one who arranged to get things done through others – in our Navy and in many cases, the US Army, the British, the French Navy and French civil authorities, and ultimately, in Germany, the Russians as well.

Chairborne paragrapher and expediter – that's what I was. Imagination, perseverance, tact, endurance, persuasion, confidence were traits much needed for achieving any degree of success in getting assigned jobs done.

For security reasons we planned courses of action for many ports we were unlikely ever to see. Absent knowledge of what was there, and not knowing the possible degree of destruction of shipyards, docks, loading cranes, connecting railways, buildings required consideration of alternatives. Not knowing how much help we could count on locally, we had to plan to rely heavily upon our own units and train them in anticipation of uncertain tasks.

It was exciting, it was challenging, it was satisfying.

The two years ahead involved me in tasks of roughly four categories: first, as part of Admiral Kirk's invasion and occupation mandate, we studied and planned for restoring and operating ports and harbors on French soil; second, as part of Admiral Dickens' staff, we planned the role of the Royal and US Navies in Holland – with the ultimate objective of becoming Naval attaches once Queen Wilhelmina was back in charge; third, on Admiral Ghormley’s staff, looking to the day the U.S., British and Soviet governments would come to some agreement on how to govern a defeated Germany, we planned the disposition of the German Fleet and Merchant Navy; fourth, still on Admiral Ghormley’s staff, once in Berlin, we actually carried out the disposition of the German Fleet (much augmented by the ships it had captured by force of arms) as agreed upon by Truman, Churchill and Stalin at Potsdam.

The letters following, selected from among those I wrote my wife during 1944-45, serve to convey some of my impressions of what and how things happened as I traveled along the road which finally did find me in Berlin.

USS HUMBOLDT (AVP-21) 2 JANUARY 44
We had an uneventful trip from New York [to Norfolk, Virginia]. The coach was not crowded, but a poor one. The combination of dirt and draft made my throat sore. The ferry ride from Cape Charles was very stuffy and crowded, but very interesting. There were many Negroes aboard and they got into arguments about the Bible and religion. You would have enjoyed this.

We arrived in plenty of time and took a cab to the base. We were put aboard a fine ship – although a small one. . . . I can see that passengers like ourselves pretty much get in the way, and thoughts of making ourselves useful are unrealistic inasmuch as we are promised much sea-sickness.

OFFICIAL NAVY WAR DIARY USS HUMBOLDT (A VP 21)*
January 11, 1944:
Meteorological Data: Wind very high (50 knots).
Position: 0800, 47°15'N, 40°19'W;
1200, 47°21'N, 40°32'W;
2000, 48°02 'N, 38°38' W.

Remarks: Steaming as before. 0615 Ship rolled 52° to starboard due to heavy sea. Lost motor launch and motor whaleboat with all equipment overside. Five stanchion sockets alongside boats bent flat. One smoke tank carried away from fantail on starboard side. Other minor damage sustained. 0825 Reversed course and headed into swells. 1356 Reversed course and again headed for destination. No injuries to personnel.
* Operating with second fleet under TASK FORCE 28 (ComAirLant) as Task Unit 28.6.4.

LONDON 19 JANUARY 44
First to tell you something of our trip. I cannot say it was enjoyable. We came over on a small warship [USS HUMBOLDT (AVP-21)] and came alone. Conditions were crowded and the crossing rough. I was in a cabin with the ship's gunnery officer. [Marion] Boggs had a berth in a cabin also, but poor Ross [Berkes] had to sleep on the couch in the wardroom (officers' dining room) and often there was a poker game to keep him awake although none of us played. Boggs was quite sick to start with; I was sick the first night out; for several days I felt poorly but was not sick. After that was in pretty good shape. The crowded conditions precluded our having any place to do much and much of our time was spent in keeping out of the way of those who had work to do. The ship was over-staffed with officers for training purposes and hence we were not given any duties – which was bad because it is better to keep busy when underway. The ship as a whole went through a number of exciting experiences mostly involving operations which I cannot discuss. I can tell you that in one storm we had a roll of 52°. This means it was easier to walk on the walls than on the floor. A few more and we well should have turned over. Perhaps the most exciting (I tell you because I am safe now) was a personal experience. I'll try and describe it to you:

On the second day out I decided to go on the weather deck for a bit of air. It was bright out and white clouds spangled the grey skies though the sea was heavy. I went out to the forward starboard main deck and stood behind the torpedo shield in order to gain some shelter from the spray. It was not very cold; just good and refreshing. My thoughts were rambling and trying to adjust themselves to the sensation which always comes when one ponders the mysteries of the sea and the vastness of the skies overhead. After all, our ship was an atom afloat in the midst of a turbulent tea cup. Then I thought of you and the babies. I could look at the sky and once again be in the quiet of our home perusing a book while you rocked Elaine in the glow of the lamp with Nancy rocking her baby alongside. Or hear the strains of "Bobby Shaftoe" as you sang to Nancy while she sat quietly beside you; the baby being asleep in her basket not far away. With these thoughts came a feeling of contentment. Not sadness in any way but rather thankfulness for having you and as a result of that, of having had wonderful experiences which many live a lifetime and still miss altogether.

After a bit my eyes wandered aft and I saw a seaman securing a port. Just as I was about to turn back the ship took a roll to starboard and waves of water threw the unfortunate seaman to the deck and he well would have gone overboard but for the fact that he caught at lifelines and held fast. I was protected by the torpedo shield and got very little water on me. At that moment I started aft immediately to help the seaman to safety lest he be unable to regain his feet alone. I had hardly got past midship when another roll brought new waves of water. These I could not escape. I claim no credit for what subsequently happened. I acted by instinct and God was good to me. In an effort to keep from going overboard I grasped at the lifeline. My fingers closed on it just as it was about to escape my reach. I shut my eyes and quit breathing while a tremendous force spent the next few instants trying to tear me away from the line. I was completely submerged. Just when I was sure my lungs would burst for want of air and my arms would be pulled from my body the ship began to right itself and once more I was above water on the deck still holding on. I got to my feet and grasped the side of a port. I looked aft and to my consternation the seaman had disappeared. I immediately went inside and reported to the Captain since it was obvious that the seaman had either gone overboard or had gone inside without having seen me. Fortunately the latter was the case.

It is strange what one thinks of under such circumstances. The sensation of fear was not evident though it is hardly possible that it was not present. My thoughts centered about the idea that it appeared I was gone. This had no feeling of tragedy about it but simply one of regret that I couldn't see my three sweethearts again.

When removing my clothes I discovered that though I had had my chin strap down to secure my cap, it had been ripped off like paper and was by now far out to sea. Both shoulder boards on my bridge coat had been opened. The cold salt water of the Atlantic had soaked me to the skin. For a week after this occurrence the muscles of my arms and chest ached as a result of the strain which had been put on them. All members of the crew joined me in saying that the seaman and I were indeed very lucky fellows to be aboard for mess that night.

LONDON 23 JANUARY 44
When I left off in my last letter I was still telling you about being on board ship. Don't believe I mentioned the effects of our worst storm. We lost a 9-ton launch, another boat, 2 rafts, and 1 smoke generating tank. We wore our life belts practically during the whole trip.

We came into port early one morning. During the first part of the trip inland up the river there was some fog and the fog horn was used quite a bit. Later it cleared up some but was still cold. People in isolated groups dotted both banks of the river as we steamed up and waved to us as we watched from the deck. Once we stopped a great crowd gathered. Many of course were kids who wanted gum, oranges, candy or anything we could give them that they could get little or none of in this country. We all bought things in the ship's store and gave them away. That afternoon Marion Boggs and Ross and I went ashore to have a look around. It was our first chance to see the results of rather heavy bombings. The whole thing seemed unreal somehow. The very buildings and harbor were like props in a play production. When we came to buildings in ruins and gutted by bombs it seems to increase the unreality of it all. Yet there was no doubt that not long since people much like ourselves, who loved and worked and asked for nothing more than to be left alone, those people were now dead or maimed as a result of this war. We got no other impressions that day for we went back to the ship to have supper and turned in rather early. The next day we got our things packed and caught a train for our final lap of this journey. We were in the train about 4 hours since we came in about 1 hour late. We had to split up in the train. In the compartment (1st class) that I found myself were 1 WAC officer who was a chubby girl, 2 British majors who had just flown in from Gibraltar for some leave, a nice looking lady in her early thirties, and a gentleman reading some Huxley essays. We chatted off and on to no great benefit to anyone. We were fortunate enough to have a dining car in the train – a rare occurrence these days I am told. Our porter had successfully negotiated arrangements for us to eat at the first sitting so we went back to our first British meal. I am happy to report that we have not had one as bad since. I had to ask some of the local talent what the dish was. It was allegedly curried eggs – obviously some concoction made with powdered eggs. We started off having Brussels sprouts and have had some ever since. Once in awhile there is a change from Brussels sprouts to cabbage or cauliflower.

Well we got to our destination about 4 o'clock pm and checked all our gear at the station. Then took a cab and reported to the Navy headquarters. Here we made arrangements to stay at the Bachelor Officers' Quarters until we could find more permanent accommodations. We were tired and dirty and hurried to our rooms in a car put at our disposal to collect our gear. This car is operated from a pool and the drivers are girls in the British Auxiliary Army Force. After taking a shower we went to the Reindeer Club for some supper. This is a club for U.S. officers run by the Red Cross.

LONDON 24 JANUARY 44
Another day gone – a Monday. Yesterday I left off with our moving into the Bachelor Officers' Club. The Club consists of the two top floors of an office building converted into bedrooms. In each bedroom is a single bed, a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, bed stand and that's all. You walk down a long hallway to find wash basins, toilets and a shower or tub. There is a common sitting room which is the only room heated. Unfortunately we didn't know this room existed until we were about ready to leave.

Our meals during our first week we took mainly at the Red Cross Reindeer Club for officers. This is about 7 minutes walk from the B.O.Q. Across the street from the eating room they have a writing room and a ping pong table.

Of course we get the ever present black-out. This is an extremely efficient affair and it is impossible to get along without a flash light. You always have to watch out not to get run over because the cars drive on the opposite side of the street and hence our habit of looking to the left when we first step off a curb is a very bad thing.

Last Friday we got our baptism of fire in our first air raid. In fact we got two in the one night each lasting well over one hour. Until this happened it was very difficult to realize that the Germans are but 70 miles away. Well it was quite a night. We were told that it was the worse raid they had had in over a year. The anti-aircraft barrage put up was the greatest in history. Some 8 planes were shot down in the first raid. You no doubt read about it in the paper at the time.

Soon after the first raid – which ended at about 10 pm – we heard a girl screaming bloody murder. We were six stories up and could do nothing before some people came to her help from the street. Still don't know what happened, but she was hollering something about somebody ripping her dress off or something. (P.S. It wasn't me that done it.)

You'll notice I am only writing on one side of the paper this time. Officers are to censor their own mail here. However a fellow told me that they were going to open our letters this week. Hence they may decide to cut some of this out. I don't think so since I try to be careful in what I write.

Anyway, we went to bed after the first raid. The second came over about 5 am. This really made a racket with ack-ack and bomb making noise and flares and shells exploding lighting up weird patterns all over the city. Don't mind telling you I got a little scared. After watching thru the window a while we decided to see how to get to the shelter in case things got too rough. Well we certainly made some picture. Some in robes and coats – some with slippers, some with shoes. And some with helmets, others with caps. We went down the staircase, lifted the bar to a handrail and down a sort of fire escape affair into an ice cold basement shelter. We got back to bed after six and got about 45 minutes sleep before getting up again. I think after this we'll just stay in bed regardless of the raids.

Well the hunt for rooms kept on until Friday or Saturday. First we were going into a hotel, then an apartment, then a house (built like an apt.), then rooms in someone else's apartment. Considering the amount of time we would have and the relative amount of responsibility as well as the cost we decided on the last alternative. We got fixed up and moved in yesterday (Sunday). I'll tell you about the rooms in the next episode.

Finally succeeded in getting a cap made up here. You know I lost mine on the ship. I may ask you to send my other one but you'd better wait. I'll make up a little list of things I need and it probably will be necessary to send a little at a time because of limitations on package size. You'd better check with postal authorities.

LONDON 16 FEBRUARY 44
About my being out of the city. I was sent to a school for a week. I am the only Naval officer here. Most are British Army staff officers. . . . It is the Civil Defence Staff College [at Stoke D'Abernon, Surrey]. The course has to do with P.A.D. (Passive Air Defence). It will help me in the planning work have been doing. The school accommodates only 40 officers and is a beautiful and charming place, an old estate; the oldest portions of its buildings date back to 400 A.D. Though the instruction is intensive we are spoiled. E.g. at 7:30 am a maid serves hot tea in bed. Shoes have been shined during the night. 8:30 breakfast – 9:30 to 11:15 class – 11:15 hot bouillon – 11:30 to 1:00 class – 1:15 lunch – 2:30 to 4:00 class – 4:00 tea – 4:30 to 6:00 class – 7:00 supper – 8:15 to 10:00 class. The atmosphere is not like a school at all. We are all "officers and gentlemen" preparing ourselves for different tasks. The gardens here must be beautiful in the spring. They are extensive and the grass and trees are green even now (as they are all winter). A stream flows by the front yard. Within a few yards of the mansion an old church stands (the church of the estate). We visited it the other day and it was a delight. I wish you were here with me. It would be like it was in Mexico.

OXFORD 27 MARCH 44
I am at U.S. Army General Hospital No. 2. . . . Last Wednesday I ate some food which poisoned me. After a bad night of it I went to the Navy doctor. He sent me to an Army station hospital in London in order to get proper attention, but it has not been doing x-ray work since the air raids have been bad, which accounts for my being sent to Oxford. . . . Yesterday was a lovely day and many of us spent part of the day outside in the sun. There are about 900 patients here, many of whom were hurt during maneuvers, and many who got severe colds and sinus trouble owing to the inclement weather. I feel badly at being away from the office since we are very busy there.

ROSNEATH, SCOTLAND 30 MAY 44
It is the end of Memorial Day. I am writing in my bedroom; sitting on the edge of the bed and using a suitcase placed on a chair for a table. My new roommate, Allen Moreland, is in bed. It is 10:15 but still light outside. Moreland was in the fourth section at Columbia; maybe you knew his wife. She is expecting a baby next month. I haven't written in about two weeks. Where the time has gone is hard to say. I have been incredibly busy with many last-minute details which must be attended to. By the time you get this letter the big event may well have started. If it has you will know about it from the newspapers. You will also know that I have left the British Isles and gone in with the boys near the beginning. It is useless for me to ask you not to worry. But you can do as I have; prepare yourself mentally to accept whatever comes. It will not be an easy thing to do. It hasn't been for me – to realize that what I hold most dear in all the world is far away and events may make it impossible for me to see you again. But I have faith that we will be reunited. Whatever happens you must know that I shall make every human effort to be again with you and Nancy and Elaine. Once again to share your wonderful love which is really the thing I am fighting for, to earn what you have given so generously.

A week ago Sunday I practically didn't work at all. After church and then lunch [Seymour] St. John, [Walter] Moberg, Van Peursem, [Allen] Moreland and I got a station wagon and drove to Inverary. We got an old Scotsman to open his store long enough to buy a few things to send home. Hope you like them. There should be a sweater, tam, and gloves for you. Also a sweater for Nancy. Poor Elaine – they had nothing which I found good enough for her. The day was marvelous and we went to various lochs including Loch Lomand. Flowers were in bloom and hills were green and water was so blue. We took a few snaps – precious few since film is not to be had. Since you asked for a picture I requested the two snaps in which I was included but the roll isn't finished yet and it is difficult to know when you will get them. If I could but get in town again I would see that you got one.

On the way home we got one of two girls on bicycles to take one of the snaps. It developed one had a flat tire so we crowded them and the two bikes into the wagon. They were WRENS in civilian clothes. We all had supper together and sang songs all the way home.

Last Wednesday I left for London for two days. It was all business. The one night I stayed there, however, I got together with Ross and Marion and we played poker for a couple of hours just as we used to while away the time during an air raid. I came back here with Commander Tuck who is head of civil affairs activities in the Theater of Operations, and with Robbins, with whom I had spent the night – chatting until 2:00 am. Since I was a courier, I got a first class berth. Both Cdr. Tuck and Robbins had to take 3rd. Cdr. Tuck wouldn't trade with me, so we finally compromised and flipped a coin to decide. Luckily he won the first class berth – though he still thinks we framed it so he would. We got in on time and so had time to spare after breakfast before our car met us. This we used up by walking around the main town in these parts.

They left Sunday morning. Lot of things happened during their stay which kept Hugh and me so busy we had little chance to be very good hosts. I got to bed 1:30 Sunday morning – got up at 3:30 to get my roommate off on a special mission – then up at 6:30 to see Cdr. Tuck and Robbie off. Then to the office, to church, back to the office, to lunch – etc. the rest of the day.

You will be glad to hear that I have been recommended for promotion to Lieutenant Commander. I don’t expect to get it, and in any case it will take weeks since Washington must act on it.

ROSNEATH 13 JUNE 44 (D-DAY + 7)
All is ready and Hugh [Awtrey] and I are about to go aboard our ship with the skipper. All the men and equipment have already been aboard for some time and we have been standing by for sailing orders. From the previous correspondence which I sent you, you may wonder what I am doing on Captain [Norman] Ives' staff. You see I have been loaned out on temporary orders from Admiral Stark's staff for this particular job.

Your letters have been coming through splendidly and are a great joy to me. Also heard from Mother and Pierre last week; and from [Lt.] Joe Rush yesterday.

Things have been going quite satisfactorily in the invasion from all indications here. At last we will play our part. Hope to be up to the job and pray to be able to do the right thing above all!

One thing I need no convincing on is that I have more to come back to than anyone in the world.

USS THOMAS JOHNSON 18 JUNE 44
Life aboard is quite interesting. There are nine of us in the cabin where I stay: three tiers of three bunks each. The main area where the men stay holds 500. There bunks are piled five deep, with very little clearance between the body and the next bunk up when the men are in bed. Each of us is allowed to send ashore one letter today.

CHERBOURG, FRANCE 12 JULY 44
Although I have been here for quite a while already, this is the first letter I am writing from France. The days past were hectic (they still are) and eventful; even exciting. They also were long, and when I turned in, sleep would come immediately. Sometimes I never bothered to take off my clothes. Just piled down on my bed-roll leaving tent poles and other gear under the thin mattress, not even noticing the bumps. All in all, however, it has not been nearly as bad as it might. I'll try and tell you a little about it:

I went ashore with the first group. The Captain and Hugh had taken a PT boat from the other side of the channel. In getting into the PT from the ship, Hugh jumped as the PT was rolling and, as a result, broke his foot. He was therefore hospitalized on the beach and could not make the trip overland with the skipper. He is now here and over the protests of the doctors, is working in the office using crutches as a means of locomotion. He will be in bad shape for ten weeks or more.

Anyway, about ten of us came ashore in our group. Sort of an advanced guard before bringing in the main body of men and equipment. We traveled in jeeps over the dusty roads which for the most part were not altogether clear of mines. My first contact with the dead came as I stepped off the boat to hit the beach. We had to pull alongside another boat, and step over a dead soldier to land. It gave me a very queer feeling. Soon the whole affair seemed altogether impersonal, and we went about our business.

In spots the devastation was terrific. Scarcely a stone seemed untouched by the explosive power of giant shells and bombs. In other places, war seemed very remote indeed. Fat, sleek cattle and German horses grazing in the green countryside. The course of battle weaves a pattern all its own. There were quite a number of French civilians. Many cluttered the movements of troops over the roads. Along the roads, disabled tanks stood, grimed by fire. In adjacent fields planes and gliders rested in grotesque positions with the light of day shining through the wasted skeletons of these craft. In the distance, the rumble and roar of guns persisted throughout the course of our journey.

On the fourth of July, small groups gathered to celebrate the day by a simple speech and rally. I got into our town just in time to miss the surrender of the Naval fort to my skipper. It would have been nice to be on hand for that.

One lucky break we have had is that we have not been bombed much. During the first few days, there was considerable shooting, but mostly by our own troops and snipers. We did a lot of destruction. Souvenir hunters and men drunk with wine and cognac. Now the Military Police has the situation well in hand and machine gun duels among our own troops are less frequent. More later about the war –

CHERBOURG 21 JULY 44
It's 11:30 pm and I've had a very full day. Always work late, but don't get up until about 7:30 am. By the time the day is over I'm ready for bed. Don't know how much I weigh but know it is less than usual. My belt hasn't enough holes in it and my watch slips around my wrist too easily. Day before yesterday is first time we sat at table again. Have been eating field rations standing up for past three weeks. But things are coming along nicely.

CHERBOURG 31 JULY 44
I am writing you this letter from a German captured typewriter. A few of the keys are different than the ones on our American machines so my typing will be even more rugged than usual. It is quite possible that I will leave tomorrow for another destination but it will only be a temporary move. I will probably come back here since the skipper plans to use this as a headquarters.

Today and the past few days have been a little on the discouraging side. The civil affairs program is going all right but the fact that the skipper has a very small staff makes it often necessary for me to be occupied with administrative duties which take time which should be spent on the civil affairs end of the business. I never worried much about this before because Awtrey was responsible to see that civil affairs were adequately looked after. Now that it is my business to look after things it does concern me at times. However, I know that everything can't always go smoothly and try not to get worked up about it since it would only make matters worse. After all I'm here to take orders rather than to give them and my duty is done when I have made the very best recommendation that I can to the skipper. Then it is up to him if he wants to take it or not.

Yesterday was a good day. Though it was Sunday I was not able to go to church. I left early in the morning with a French official and we went along the coast of the Cap de la Hague to get fishing started in that area. I took my jeep and put the top down and loaded my mussette bag with 'K' rations, gun, canteen, notebook and toilet paper (just in case). A mighty handy thing to take on a picnic. It was swell to get away from the dusty city and the stacks of papers that it takes to run a war (so they say anyway). As it turned out my lunch was augmented by some vegetables and meat made available to me at a village inn so that we had a nice meal. We do not eat in restaurants nor buy food on the market since it would be depriving civilians.

In mid-afternoon while waiting for some of the fishermen to bring their papers and credentials (we must be careful of enemy agents) I got the car loaded with little French kids and took them all for a ride. I always take a little something along in the way of candy for them too. All of which makes me a favorite son. They call me 'Lieutenant Paul,' in French of course. Got back in the early evening and spent the rest of it at the skipper's house discussing the general situation prior to his leaving today.

I always like to be with these kids since it brings home to me my two little sweethearts. At times it is very difficult to be away from you dear ones. If you could but know how my heart goes out to you it would warm you and make you feel like you are not alone and that we are in fact very close to each other.

CHERBOURG 11 AUGUST 44
The Captain's death was quite a shock. It is only by chance that I wasn't with him when it happened. At the time he went on this trip into the Brittany peninsula he had me stay here at the last minute to clean up some work for him. He told me to join him as soon as I could. We both thought it would just take about a half day to do. Instead it took me almost two days and when I got to where we were to meet I found he had left a few hours before and gone ahead towards the front again. I was about ready to leave to catch up with him when word reached me by newspaper men that he and his party had been ambushed by Germans and he was killed. So were others, and there were some wounded too. I helped organize the party which escaped and got them back here. On our way out we were shot at by snipers and some three bullets hit my jeep. One entered the spare tire, into the back of the car and went between me and the officer next to me smack into the dashboard. That was a little too close for comfort. Anyway I'm back and safe. The skipper had been a good friend to me and I'll miss him. I'll miss Herb too. Even though I haven't seen much of him lately, I liked him. He was a good kid and he and his family were always good to me.

One ironic thing, and tragic, about the Captain going is that the day after my return here I was handed a telegram addressed to him (I took care of his personal effects) telling him of the birth of a new granddaughter – his first. His wife and mother are also in the states.

This whole business has of course made for big changes in our organization. In the shake-up it seems I'm to be the Civil Affairs Officer for the Admiral in charge of all Navy activity in France. He hasn't had one before and now that many new commands are being set up it will take someone to coordinate their work. It means starting on a new job again just when things were easing up a little and getting organized. That's one reason I can leave my old job of course. Then too others have come over from England in the last few days and can take my place. It also means that I'll have very little contact with my good friends the humble fishermen. (Had some good lobster the other night.)

CHERBOURG 31 AUGUST 44
I've been to London. Was sent there on a little mission by the Admiral. It was a wonderful flight because of the clear weather. The sight of our powerful convoys as seen from the air was thrilling. As in most cases, one spends almost as much time getting from the airport to the destination as one does in the air. Found London very quiet as far as activity is concerned. A great many troops and offices have naturally moved out with the progress of operations. Some were evacuated because of the buzz bomb raids. . . . We got quite a few bombs while I was in London. It gives you a strange feeling to hear (and sometimes to see) these heavy missiles. All of a sudden the buzz stops – then you know it is on the way down. The explosion comes next, which tells you how near it came to getting you.

Admiral King, anticipating that the United States Navy would take part in the administration of conquered European territory, had assigned to Comnaveu staff in July 1943 several members of the first class to be graduated from the Naval School of Military Government and Administration at Columbia University. By the end of the war, Admiral Stark had about a hundred of these specially trained officers under him. (p. 325).

The Germans, in obedience of Hitler's orders, left Cherbourg a demolished, ruined and booby-trapped port. . . . Clearing was begun by the Navy reconnaissance party, of which Captain Ives took command on 28 June, Commander Walsh becoming his chief of staff. Commodore William A. Sullivan and part of his famous salvage outfit arrived shortly after. Rear Admiral John Wilkes, now Commander United States Naval Bases, France, arrived 14 July with his capable staff, a few hundred Seabees and two "Drews," to operate the port. . . . (p. 216).

On 2 August, the United States Navy suffered its first casualty in this campaign. Captain Norman S. Ives, Commander of the naval base at Cherbourg, headed a party of 97 naval officers and men which moved west with the Army to reconnoiter the liberated ports. They entered Granville just ahead of evacuating Germans, then proceeded along the road to Brittany, intending to reconnoiter Saint-Malo, on a false rumor that it had already fallen. At a hamlet near Pontorson, they ran into a German ambush. The Captain, Lieutenant Commander Arthur M. Hooper USNR and four sailors were killed; eight were wounded; the rest took up defensive positions alongside the road until a column of tanks belonging to the 6th Armored Division arrived from Pontorson and rescued the survivors, (p. 299).

Samuel Eliot Morison, The Invasion of France and Germany, History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Vol. XI, Little, Brown and Co. (1957).

CHERBOURG 29 SEPTEMBER 44
Yesterday was quite a day. To begin with it seemed like a quiet day during which nothing much would happen. The day before I had arranged for a French Naval officer (who formerly was in command of the "Normandie") to join a Russian Naval mission visiting here. The head man of the Russians was a commodore.

It seems everything was all set for the French commandant here to entertain the Russians on one night and our admiral to do so the next evening. Then plans were changed and the admiral decided to have his supper on the only night the Russians would remain here so that the French were out in the cold. This I had to explain to the French and invite the commandant to supper with the admiral. Of course the French were indignant and refused to attend and proposed to make an international incident of it by writing a note to the French Minister of the Navy at Paris. I finally pacified the French by suggesting that their honor would be saved if the Russian commodore made a formal call at the Prefecture (French Naval Headquarters). So I dashed out to the airport and got the commodore between planes and he kindly agreed to accommodate.

At 6:15 p.m. I met the commodore again at the airport, took him to French headquarters and he paid a formal call amid bugles and a guard of honor. At 7:15 p.m. I called for the French commandant and the officer we had arranged to have attached to the party and escorted them to dinner with the admiral at his chateau. Everybody was satisfied and had a good time – and Borel had done his bit to maintain friendly relations between allies. I am enclosing a nice view of the chateau where the dinner was held. There was an interesting melange of English, French, and Russian thrown around during the course of the evening.

So you see by this little example, I have to do some fancy explaining and arguing sometimes.

This of course is one of the highlights only. You must not get the impression that I am in such a distinguished milieu all the time. There are days when one wonders what the hell the use of it all is. Days when you pick up fleas and you wake up in the morning with as many as 65 bites which itch terribly and are bad enough they almost leave scars. Days when we have no lights and no water – and the dust from tank convoys is thick on your skin when you go to bed at night. Days when some harbor craft hits a mine and men must go out to recover pieces of the bodies of their friends with a basket. Days when all Frenchmen seem greedy and Americans sour, and you feel like just "sitting" the war out because you feel you're stuck.

But is it a little like golf. One good solid smack with the driver makes up for the times you curse the sand traps. And war too, is only a game, with adversaries playing rough, and for keeps.

Well, my lovely, among all this, I miss you terribly – and need you much. Need you in many ways – just as we love in different ways. When I am alone not infrequently I call out your name. But in your absence, the sound of my own voice is unreal and you are far away. God grant that we may be together soon.

LE HAVRE 9 OCTOBER 44
. . . Want to drop you a line before the tide goes out – and the lights with it. I’ve been busy as an old hen again and haven’t unpacked my stuff, but lived out of my hat for a week now. Am no longer in Cherbourg but have moved to [Le Havre]. . . . Came here among the first from the Admiral’s staff and we are yet without water and electricity, except when the tide is in. This is the first time the tide was in during night time.

LE HAVRE 12 OCTOBER 44
At last to settle down and write you a more sane letter. It is 5:00 p.m. and I am in my new office. Things are more quiet this afternoon and soon I will go down to supper. As I sit here on the fifth floor I can look out the window and see the channel, for we are close to the shore – only a hundred yards or so. Directly in front of me, however, is a fireplace. The fire has just gone out. My yeoman, for I have one of my own now, is pecking away at the typewriter. He is a nice boy named Sam Brown. A graduate of Yale University who speaks French and German. I had a tough time getting him assigned to me, but now hope to keep him with me as long as I am in Europe.

I feel swell, for this afternoon Lt. Comdr. Crane, the Public Relations Officer, and I went to the Seabee billet and had a hot shower. It was my first bath in ten days.

The first night I spent here was kind of scary. We took over a nice villa-like house on the side of a hill overlooking a portion of the town, and further on, the water. At the gate a sentry was posted to prevent looting. I stayed in the house alone in pouring rain. There were naturally no lights and it was cold. There still were Germans around in hiding and things were just not as settled as they might have been. But I hurried and got in my warm bedding roll and went to sleep. Of course nothing at all exciting happened but at least the possibilities were there and when you are tired, cold and alone, everything is somewhat magnified.

Was wrong, when I said it was the first night because the first night we got in late and I stayed with the enlisted men in a school house. So the above was the second night. Next day another officer showed up (Lt. Comdr. Crane) and we have since become good friends. Now there are about twenty officers in the house. One is the Chaplain, Rev. Wilson, who was President Roosevelt's rector at Hyde Park prior to entering the Navy as a Lieut. St. John and Moberg, my Cherbourg side-kicks, have not yet arrived on the scene. On his recent trip through Brittany I had Seymour order some gift for you as a token of having put up with me for five years, but it will be late getting there.

LONDON 19 NOVEMBER 44
Last night Seymour and I went to see Hamlet. It was very well done. . . .Next Wednesday I am giving a little dinner party at the Senior Officers' Club, ostensibly to celebrate my promotion, but more to get some of the boys together before we all go our separate ways again.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 14 JANUARY 45
We have arrived at our final destination – of a temporary nature. We got in last night quite early. That was Saturday. Already we know something of this beautiful city. Our trip over was quite something and I want to tell you about it in some detail so I may not do it all in this letter since I am still tired enough to want to go to bed early (it is now 10:15 p.m.).
I made arrangements for the Captain to go over by himself on a despatch boat so he wouldn't have to be bothered with getting our stuff over the slow – comparatively – way. Wednesday last at 0930 we began loading our vehicles and by 1130 we were ready to leave London. There were a British Lt. Comdr. by the name of Morrell; Westerbeek, myself as officers – then a British Royal Marine rating, two Dutch seamen, and my four enlisted men. We had two trucks, a pick- up, jeep with trailer, and our Ford sedan. It all made a compact and cosmopolitan little convoy.

By 1400 (2:00 p.m.) we had arrived at where we were to go aboard an LST (Landing Ship, Tanks). Unfortunately we were told that we couldn't go aboard until the next morning. So we reported in at the Transient Camp near Movements HQ. This whole thing you must keep in mind was handled by the British since our boss is a British Vice Admiral. (By the way his name is Dickens and he is a grandson of Charles Dickens, the writer.) This camp was an old 15th century estate which had allegedly been improved from time to time. The vehicles, all but the sedan, we left at a concentration point – with drivers who had to sleep in them. It was bitter cold with ice on the ground and we felt sorry for the drivers. We might well have spared our feelings since they made themselves quite good beds in the backs of the trucks among the cargo. The rest checked in at the camp. We saw to it that the enlisted men were looked after then had a meal. It was about 1700 by then I imagine. The whole camp except the Hq was in tents. The Hq as I have said was in the old manor house. As we had not unpacked any utensils we were given a plate and some hot food on it but had to eat it with our fingers. This led to some amusing incidents and the eating of great quantities of bread since part of the meal was stew. The tent was open and great gusts of wind cooled the food so we ate rapidly. After this session we viewed our beds. They were to be in equally open tents and consisted of a wet, straw tick which lay on the ground. With this as a future we decided to interpret camp rules rather liberally and drove about 23 miles away to a seacoast resort town to have some supper. After lingering over food and having waited for Comdr. Morrell (Charles) to call his youthful bride – I must tell you about that affair also – we almost decided to book (reserve, to you) a room for the night. Our better judgments prevented this, however, since an early morning fog may well have caused us to miss our ship. Then too we had to look after the men. (It was only Bill, Charles and I who went into town).

So we came back, and reached camp sometime after midnight I should say – or maybe it was eleven, I don't remember.

BRUSSELS 19 JANUARY 45
Let's see in my last letter I think I left off with our coming back to that primitive camp prior to our departure. Charles Morrell the Britisher and Bill Westerbeek and I couldn't face the snow drifts for beds so we decided to sleep in the car. We flipped for position – the back seat being allocated to taking one body since there was quite a bit in the way of suitcases and loose blankets about. I won the flip and chose the back seat. Bill ended up behind the steering gear in the front, with Charles alongside of him. We all slept – not well – but we slept with only an occasional awakening. Every time Bill moved he either pressed the starter with his knee (it is on the dashboard) or hit the horn with his arms.

We left at 0730 to join our other cars and embarked at mid-morning. We got cabin accommodations, four to four beds, each bed being a double-decker. Shortly after that some colonels came on board and relieved us of our beds. Nice people. I was damned mad and decided if they wanted to pull the rank stuff I could do the same. So I ended up kicking a British captain out of his bed (the colonels were British too by the way). Later I cooled down and invited the capt. to share his bed with me. The cabin for four ended up with ten. Two in each bunk and two on the floor. The bunks were so narrow we slept with a head at each end and couldn't turn over really. Lights stayed on all night because no one knew how to turn them off – until morning. All in all it was some fun.

During the day, to relieve the congestion in the wardroom, Bill and I would sit in the car, which was secured on the deck.

We landed the evening after the day we had started. We didn't travel all the time but did some waiting to get space to unload. By the time we landed on the shores of Belgium it was dark.

We got the men and cars looked after then had supper at the officers' club – called "Navy House." The rooms assigned us were about two blocks away from the club in a small hotel with a cafe-bar arrangement on the ground floor. We each had a room on the fifth floor – no elevators, and cold – no hot water. The place was possessed with all the atmospheres of a bordel – so I was told by my colleagues. Then I've read books you know. I joined the boys for a beer at the cafe and we were joined by first one then a second daughter of the woman that ran the place. This was one way of running up the bill since it is customary to ask them to join in. They had done much the same with the Germans. One girl told me – we talked French here – that her name was Gilberte (pronounced Jill-beart). During the German occupation she changed it to simply Berte since this was one familiar to the Germans. Now with the English and Americans around she is known as Jill. So life goes on.

(I started to write this letter before supper at the office while waiting for the Royal Marine orderly to get back from his supper so I could go eat. I have the watch tonight and will be here until 0900 tomorrow morning. Then "home" for shave and breakfast and back to the office. Ran out of ink but finally located it – a tough job in the absence of my faithful secretary.)

The following morning we pushed off and got to our destination about 1400. Here I saw a Civil Affairs Officer Lt. Comdr. Geo. Boas who is the Senior U.S. Naval Member of the SHAEF Mission to Belgium. He had spent a few days in Cherbourg on the way through to an assignment sometime last August and since I was able to help make him feel at home there, he has been very nice to me here.

The Captain stays with the Admiral here and I fortunately talked myself out of that deal. Bill and I got a temporary billet in a very nice hotel which has been taken over by the Army (Br.). Always when you think of things here you must realize that this is a British sector and that Americans only appear on certain staffs and are therefore very much in the minority – in fact practically extinct.

We were only supposed to stay a maximum of three days in this hotel since it is for transients and fellows on leave. So we've had to renew because they haven't found us "permanent" accommodations yet.

The room is swell, overlooking a busy square, the middle of which has been turned into a military vehicle parking lot. The room has been all done over and we are the first inhabitants since the change. The coal supply is just beginning to run out in the hotel so we've had some hot water lately. In the rest of the town it is very scarce – worth its weight in gold almost.

Saturday night – our first night in town – Charles, Bill and I took in the ENSA (British for our USO) show "The Merry Widow." They had brought over the London cast and it was darn good – and for free too!

Meals are quite good: Army rations dressed up by Belgian cooks. A nuisance to go to lunch from office to hotel since it takes about ½ hour each way by tram (streetcar to you). Sometimes we take the jeep but it's a bother to park in the lot since it is often full and you can't park on the street. Am enclosing program. You can tell show was good since it's been extended twice now.

BRUSSELS 22 JANUARY 45
There is a coal shortage here and everyone is freezing – especially me. We are working with our overcoats on and look forward to the next hot meal with a great deal of anticipation. Coal shortage also means no lights except a little while at night and early morning. We've brought Coleman lamps but you almost need a gas mask until we find out how they best work.

It has snowed every day, sometime during the day, for the past three days. Fortunately we all have plenty of clothes and blankets. Many people do not and it must be tough. Here in the city people are fairly well off compared to some in Holland. Relief supplies are available but the lack of transport makes it impossible to solve the problem. (This means don’t send me a lot of old clothes to give away – I couldn’t help.)

BRUSSELS 7 MARCH 45
My trip to London went well. And there averaged two baths a day. When I first got back I was busy catching up. Then I made a quick trip to Holland. We are having success in our efforts to get more fish into the country to help feed the people. Actually, things are getting to where they are fairly good in the part of the country held by the Allies. It is in the part that the Hun holds that it is bad, and will therefore be when we get there. . . . Things are looking up some as far as personal comforts are concerned. Have arranged to have my baths at the place where we eat, and yesterday we got a bit of heat in our apartment. Our new addition to the staff, Marine Captain John Magruder, has moved in with us.

BRUSSELS 3 APRIL 45
To begin with, I am leaving the Mission in a few days to take up a new assignment. In a way it is too bad to leave a smooth running organization before we get settled in the Hague. But then I'm not running the Navy. My new assignment will be on the staff of the Admiral who is going to Germany. Will be connected with the Allied Control Council and our job will be to run Germany from Berlin. Have to report back to London and sometime after that go with an advance party on the continent somewhere. Haven't any details and couldn't give them to you if I did. Should be a good job and I'll be teaming up with St. John again.

This may affect when I can take some leave. The way it stood before nothing was certain. It was not decided if we were a post-hostility organization or not; this is the criterion as to whether leave is forthcoming or not. The new outfit definitely is a post-hostility organization. However, it will not be possible to leave it until things are such that a systematic scheme can be inaugurated.

My feelings are very mixed about leave. Now I have it to look forward to. After a few days together it will be extremely hard to leave you and know that many months of separation are once again ahead. However, the main thing that keeps coming up is that I want to be with you and tell you I love you. Hence the answer is, yes I want leave, as long as I can, and as soon as I can. Is that how you feel about it?

What joy it must be to Pierre to be home again. Am glad you and he can spend some time together. You can give him some good advice if he'll listen. . . and I think he will to you.

Got a nice letter from Mark from Hawaii where he and John had spent some time together. Also a letter from your mother just before she left for a trip with your dad to Washington.

Once again I am packing up. The new Lt. Comdr. should be here soon. Our various units are moving up and I should have had to take my secretary and leave the others anyway. Magruder left this morning for duty with another outfit. That is, he still is one of us but assigned by us as a liaison officer with a unit with which we must maintain contact.

The sweater that the Salvation Army sent me got here all right but it is much too small. Must be about a 35 or 36; I wear a 38 or 39. Am giving it to a needy Dutch boy. Have written to the woman who knitted it telling her so. (Her name was pinned on inside). No use sending another now.

VERSAILLES, FRANCE 1 MAY 45
Am no longer in London. My last ten days or so there were busy ones. Worked every night but three. . . . Last Sunday was an interesting day. Seymour St. John was preaching in an old 14th Century Anglican church about half hour's ride from London – Mortlake Parish. It was a special service at which the Lord Mayor and his Corporation were present wearing their colorful robes of office. Seymour's subject was "St. George or the Dragon." Quite appropriate because it was St. George's day (or week or something). Good sermon. Afterwards the head man, a Father Charles Douglas, invited us to his house for dinner where we were joined by another churchman. We had a most enjoyable visit during and after dinner. These two churchmen were enthusiastic mystery story fans so we had at least one thing in common on which to build a friendship. . . . Monday morning I spent some time making last minute preparations to leave and caught a plane at 2:00.

SAINT CLOUD 2 MAY 45
. . . The house where I share a room with another Lt. Cmdr. is a lovely old manor formerly occupied by the King of Egypt it is said. One rings a bell at the gate and an old gatekeeper lets you in – all the while bowing low and removing his hat in the bargain. It is a short walk to the house. The lawn is smooth and green from the cold moisture it has sucked to itself during the past winter months. Great trees almost shake hands across the path. There are bronze statues which stand naked and unashamed. One almost expects to see goosepimples on them, for it is still chilly. (Only yesterday morning much snow fell; but by noon the sunshine had melted it all away again.)

Having come by plane I had just one suitcase. After having a nice visit with two old friends from Columbia I was about to unpack when my roommate came in with a girl. I had known Duff before – both in Scotland and in Cherbourg. He was an older married man who had served in the last war. In any case it was obvious that I had not been expected that night, and as a result his plans very much included the young lady who was now with him. Well to make a long story short I slept in another room that night and after each having taken a bath the anxious couple retired for the night. The next day I moved in and informed "me old buddy" I was there to stay. He in turn promised to bring only those girls to the room which had no objection to having someone else present during the "period of adjustment." So I am probably in for some entertaining nights before the fortunes of war deal me another roommate.

VERSAILLES 3 MAY 45
Don't get shocked at having three letters sent off in three days. I don't know if it is supposed to prove anything except that when my work in the office is not demanding my thoughts invariably turn to you and I like to write and tell you about it and to tell you what you must already know: that I love you very much and live only for the day of our reunion. As Julie would say: it's been a pleasant day. Or rather last night was a pleasant evening. Two fellow officers I haven't mentioned to you yet and I went into Paris on the 6:10 for a look-see at the ballet at the National Opera House. One, Lieut. Norman Kirkham, is Muelder's roommate here. He is a Harvard Business School boy also. The other is a Lt. (jg) Joe Slatter. He went to Harvard and was a good friend of Seymour's in London. Joe had a date who met us there – in town. They had reserved seats prior to my arrival so I had a seat apart from the rest of the gang. While standing in line for a ticket an Army 1st Lt. came up and said he had an extra ticket which he would gladly make me a present of. This I accepted with pleasure for not only would I have a better seat but also the company of my benefactor. This Army chap was named Joseph Rosgin and is from Winsted, Conn. He was convalescing from his third wound received in Germany as a combat infantry officer. A very nice lad, much in love with his wife. They had lost an only child. In getting out a piece of paper to put his address down I ran across a quotation which has helped me and is along the lines which Howie has expressed to you at times. He thought it excellent also and took it down for like others there are times when he has needed help.

“He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our will. Our antagonist is our helper." – Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France.

The ballet was first class – and of course the Opera house is a spectacle in itself. The Army boy left a little early to catch a train. We should have but didn't and as a result went without supper. However, we stopped in the Red Cross club at the R.R. station and got doughnuts and coffee. After we got home I opened the only bottle of wine I had and we ate some fruit cake which I had from some of the goodies you all sent to Brussels. And so another day.

This morning Walter Moberg arrived to join our outfit as a result of some negotiations on my part to get him here. In a few days my old secretary of Le Havre days will join us too (Sam Brown).

VERSAILLES 5 MAY 45
It is trying very hard to rain this morning though until now it has done nothing but drizzle. The small office is crowded by seven officers writing letters or reading newspapers. A busy time, but not on Navy business.

Yesterday afternoon about five, Moberg and I took the train into Paris and had supper at the Navy mess. It is the only place we are permitted to eat in town and even that may be restricted now. After we got in, and both before and after we ate, we just walked around and visited some of his old haunts. Mainly, we were trying to find some people he had roomed with as a student here fifteen years ago. But deaths in the family and moves elsewhere made it impossible to see anyone he knew. In spite of the lack of change in the buildings and surroundings the people do change after all – here, the same as elsewhere. It was curious to hear one neighbor remark that she didn't know what happened to the family in question because after a dispute about shelters for air raids during the last war, they had not been on speaking terms. This meant that for the twenty years until this family moved, neighbors had not spoken to one another because of a silly quarrel! Little things such as this contribute to the difficulties we face in bringing about a better understanding between peoples and countries.

We tramped the streets until we were tired then went in a movie and saw an old American film, with Carole Lombard, for which French dialogue had been tailored and adapted. The lips move and stop with the sound track but the syllables are not the same except by accident. We had to leave before it was over to catch a train back. Then a half hour's walk from the station.

You remember I mentioned my new roommate Duffy? Well we had a "guest" last night. He and his buxom bedmate did their "carryings on" in a quiet enough manner for me to get a good night's sleep. Duff is quite a guy. He must be about fifty since he has a son twenty-four and a daughter of twenty-two. To him all this business is just like taking a warm bath. You do it regularly – with whom is not important; it feels good and, like a bath it is often indulged in whether you need it or not. Quite a philosophy, eh? I still like my scheme better although it is more difficult: to conduct myself as I would wish my wife to. That is a simple statement but I think it is sound.

VERSAILLES 7 MAY 45
Here it is a nice bright Monday morning. Yesterday, Sunday, I missed church because one of us (Walter or I) had to stay in the office. He has the watch next Sunday so I told him to go ahead. We both get much pleasure in listening to sermons in French. When the afternoon came around we didn't have to return to the office. Norman Kirkham and I went to Barbizon. This quaint little French town is the seat of the Barbizon painters' school. One of its most famous artists was Jean Francois Millet who died in 1871. He painted some of the world famous canvasses. I am enclosing some postal cards which I picked up in the little museum which used to be his home. In this house one room is devoted to the showing of pictures being painted by the present day painters in this locality. Across the street from Millet's home is the house which Robert Louis Stevenson occupied when he wrote his Tales of the Forest.

After a nice afternoon we came back for supper and ran into Milton Muelder who had just returned from London. He was tired so went home directly after supper. Norm and I couldn't make up our minds whether to go home or stay put so we flipped a coin. This led to our going to a musical put on by the French for the military personnel stationed here. Some of the numbers were quite good. The performance let out shortly after nine and we took our time getting to the RR station. Which resulted in our missing our train. So we walked around until the 10:20. I was all set to take a bath when I got home but no water came out of the hot water faucet so I've brought along the necessary to take a shower near the mess today.

Progress is being made in setting up the office here on a temporary basis so it may be that we will be a little more busy now.

VERSAILLES 8 MAY 45
Just wanted to write you a few lines because it is nice to say hello to you. Of course the big news today is the prospective announcement of VE day. This is a day we have all waited for and for a long time. It is wonderful news indeed. The military personnel are strangely calm about it all. The French seem much more in a mood to celebrate. The lack of enthusiasm is a little difficult to try to explain. I suppose that outside of the front line activities proper, the cessation of hostilities doesn't mean much in the way of a change in the daily routine of military personnel. Then too, there is still war in the Pacific.

But it is a day to be thankful – a special thanksgiving day. We have just been notified that we can take the afternoon off as soon as we can get away, so Walter and I are cleaning up what little we have "cooking" and will probably head for Paris after lunch.

VERSAILLES 18 MAY 45
My roommate (what-a-man Duffy) left for the States this afternoon. He had a bad throat and the doctor diagnosed it as cancer so he was shipped back pronto. I hope they can fix him up all right for he is a goodhearted rascal. He sure has been behaving since he got the word. I don't know who will be rooming with me now, but it will be some Lt. comdr. or major according to the caste system they follow around here.

VERSAILLES 24 MAY 45
Our move to Germany has been put off again. You see our job doesn't really start until the US-British teamwork splits and each operates on his own. . . .The Russian attitude has something to do with it too since part of our job is to negotiate with the other occupation forces.

A few little things have happened since I last wrote you. None in itself very exciting to be sure but nonetheless pleasant. Sunday afternoon sweated out four hours of rather heavy opera: Boris Godounov. Monday I went to bed early. Tuesday Walter Moberg and I took in an amusing movie: Together Again with Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne. (I particularly like the title as applying to us.) Last night Norman Kirkham and I attended a get-together of Harvard College and Harvard Business School boys with some of the French students from the Paris correspondent school of HBS. Ran into only one old friend who had been in my class: Webster Morgan – a buck private doing MP work. . . . After the affair we went to the Royal Monceau (the Navy mess and billet for Naval officers in Paris) for dinner. On the way I ran into another HBS classmate: Al Oram. Then visited Hugh Autrey who was celebrating his 42nd birthday and feeling no pain. With him was Robbie Robbins who had just gotten off the plane on returning from his leave in the States. So all in all we had quite a visit. Got a ride home with the secretary (male) to Ambassador Murphy (who is with our group as political advisor to Eisenhower).

We are still in the midst of planning [for the disposition of the German merchant fleet]. Planning is about all I've done since I can remember, even when I was with Phillips Petroleum busy writing reports. I am laying the groundwork for a favorable response to my request for leave, but much will depend upon the situation at the time of my eligibility.

VERSAILLES 29 MAY 45
At the Navy mess the day before yesterday I noticed a familiar figure. At first I thought him to be an acquaintance, but then recognized the individual as Charles Lindbergh. It would have been nice to meet him – and could easily have arranged it – but it is just the type of thing he has been pestered with a great deal so I avoided it.

HOECHST, GERMANY 30 MAY 45
My first letter from Germany. Yes, I'm finally here. We left Versailles by plane this morning. Got up at 0530 and got picked up at 0630. We talked the gang at breakfast into serving us early – at 0700. The mess usually doesn't open until 0730. The naval advance group included two Lt. Comdrs., a J.G. and myself. Of course there were many Army officers. After breakfast we went to the airport. Finally at 1100 our two planes were loaded and we took off. It was interesting to see Versailles [where I had my office], St. Cloud [where I had my room], then Paris by air. The river Seine wove through the city like a great snake. The buildings, like warts, stuck out on the face of the city. Easily noticeable were the needle tower of Eiffel, the cathedrals of Sacre Coeur and Notre Dame; the gold dome of Les Invalides; the Tuileries, and on further the expanses of Vincennes woods. Yes it was nice – and a more lovely day could not have been picked for the occasion.

Some time later, we flew over Luxembourg, and some of the patterns of World War I trenches were quite plain. These have been filled of course, but the earth used was of different composition so that the result was two-toned. In succession we crossed the Meuse river, the Moselle, and the Rhine. The crazy-quilt that is the earth's surface was often spotted by the scars of war. Finally we landed. Contrary to what I thought of at first, I can not tell you the name of town. We were immediately taken from the airport to the officers' club for lunch. Except we must pack a gun at all times – and there is less talking between the military and civilian it is not any different here than in France. German women waited on us at the table, and in general, efforts are made to get civilian activities going as soon as possible. It is difficult to know just how far to take this non-fraternization policy. It certainly will not work as it is. One general has told his men it was O.K. to sleep with a woman so long as you didn't talk with her. But the main difficulty is in daily contacts: how polite to be when asked a question, or in what manner to return a greeting. Then the kids of course wave at everybody and instinctively you feel like shouting hello and waving back.

After lunch we went to get a room. Our personal belongings we had brought right along with us on the plane so we were ready to move right in.

HOECHST 2 JUNE 45
Let's see dear, I was going to tell you about the place where I live. To begin with it is about 20 minutes walk from the office. It is a house owned by a German doctor who evidently was quite successful. It is located on the edge of town and the view from my window is lovely. The local inevitable vegetable garden starts just across the road, then more farm fields and in the distance, the hills. These are almost small mountains and in early morning or late evening they are purple. Occasionally the smooth line of hills is broken by a castle or large building which seems to grow out of the soil like a huge strange plant.

How do we get a house? Well, usually they are obtained in groups, for it is not the intention to allow troops and civilians to live in the same neighborhood. To begin with, when houses were requisitioned, advance notice was given to the occupants. This proved unsatisfactory because the houses were stripped before we moved in. Now the system is as follows: The billeting officer drives around in a neighborhood where houses appear to be what is wanted. He then marks off on a map what blocks he wishes to evacuate. Then patrol and scout cars throw a cordon around the district; a notice is nailed on each door; someone knocks on the door and calls the attention of the occupant to the notice and leaves. People are given 5 hours to get out and stay out. They are permitted to take bedding, food, clothes but not furniture. People usually double up with friends. Some scenes are sad of course. Some say they will commit suicide. Others weep. Some try bribery to gain permission to remove forbidden items. The other day we had to get an ambulance to move a basket case: a veteran without arms and legs. But all in all everything goes off smoothly and the MP's usually extend the time a little to give people a chance. Then special permission can be obtained to go back for things they have forgotten: like medicine.

In most cases the lady of the house chooses to accept the job of keeping the house clean. That way she can look after their things. They come in at 0900 after we are gone, and leave at 1700 before we return, so we see little of them.

In our house – the Navy got on the good side of the Army billeting officer – the plan is to have 3 Lt. Comdrs. I am the only one in it except for a couple soldiers who are there temporarily as guards. Naturally I've picked the best room (there is nothing like liking your own folks).

Downstairs is a lovely library, a dining room, sun porch (closed in), half bath, kitchen. Upstairs are some secondary bedrooms which we will not use at present. The other two bed rooms and bath are on the first floor (one flight up) with my room. For eating we have taken over a club near the office and have fairly good meals – simple Army food well cooked. So far we have no gas so yet no hot water. However we have also taken over a tennis club and we can go there for showers. That is only 2 or 3 blocks from my house.

So you see we are getting nicely taken care of. The house we have would normally be used for 3 colonels or It. cols, but as I said we in the Navy usually do a little better rank for rank. Apartments have been taken over for junior officers.

Excuse this pencil honey. I ran out of ink and we aren't set up here in the office yet. In fact I am just waiting here for the architect to bring me some plans. My job for the moment is to get the office laid out and organized for the time the admiral comes.

HOECHST, GERMANY 8 JUNE 45
After dinner each night, while we have a Jeep at our disposal, Charlie Ludwig, Doug Cook and I have been driving around to nearby towns. Monday we went to Frankfurt am Main, Offenbach and Darmstadt. Tuesday I got the enlisted men together to play ball, since there is little for them to do in their spare time. Wednesday we visited Wiesbaden. Koenigstein is hardly damaged and high in the hills. The hill is topped by an old 12th Century castle, and I climbed to the top of the tower. Last night we went to Mainz and saw the bridges which our Army had built across the Rhine. Today it is raining. The folks working in the fields have patches of burlap across their shoulders for protection.

U.S. GROUP C.C.
NAVAL DIVISION
16 June 1945
S-E-C-R-E-T
MEMORANDUM FOR: Mrs. Skipper Borel.
Subject: Love in Bloom.
References: (a) Matrimonial contract entered into on 28 October 1939.
(b) All the times we have had fun together before or since.
Enclosures: (A) None except that I would like to enclose you in my arms.
(B) Ditto 'A' above.

1. You will be well advised to consider the fact that it is officially still spring. This in itself would constitute an adequate basis for bringing up subject matter. However, even were it not spring, being married to you makes spring of all the seasons of the year.

2. The man is mad you say. Yes, you are right indeed for I am mad about you. But I'll also be mad at some one if this leave business does not work out. When I think about seeing you I just about pop. If I don't get to see you I'll just fall apart and all the King's (Admiral King's) horses and all the King's men won't be able to do a damn thing about it. So there!

3. But in the interest of the national good, will just have to sweat this out and see what gives when the time comes. Until then I do send you all my love and warmest feelings. Believe that I love you!

P.A. Borel.
Lt. Comdr., USNR
Deputy Chief
Ocean Shipping Branch.

HOECHST, GERMANY 21 JUNE 45
Our Branch has four sections, Organization; Shipping; Personnel; and Aurvey & Disposal. Out job is to plan for the control of German ocean shipping and related matters. Right now, for instance, we are getting stuff ready for the negotiations of the Reparations Commissions in Moscow. A typical problem: What shall we do with the big German liner Europa?

Our offices are all set up now. The partitions all built and nice signs all over. We took over the I.G. Farben Industrie plant here at Hoechst. It is one of the big chemical companies of the world. Apparently it was deliberately not bombed.

However, now that we are all settled here – as we knew it would – the word is passed that we will move on soon. This time to Berlin or a suburb.

HOECHST 9 JULY 45
It is Monday morning. If original plans had not been changed I should have gone to Berlin yesterday. Now I'm supposed to leave tomorrow, but that may be changed again. At first I wasn't to go until the US Control Council Group moves up. Commodore Ray (our boss was promoted) and two other officers [one representing Disarmament and the other Demobilization] were going up. Then the Commodore was held here by General Clay, so he decided to send me to represent Ocean Shipping at the "Big Three" [Truman, Churchill, Stalin] conference.

Last Monday some of us visited the Reichsbank in Frankfurt. Here was gathered all the loot – or much of it – found by our Annies in the field. We probably saw something over $400-$500 millions worth of gold and silver. Church ornaments from Poland. Monies from Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Russia and all the occupied countries. The gruesome part of this sight was the group of trays full of inlays which had been knocked out of the mouths of concentration camp victims.

The next day Walter Moberg and I went to Frankfurt again and had supper with Seymour St. John, who has now moved there from London. . . . While in the mess hall I ran into Dr. David Bruce Dill (now an Army Lt. Col.) who headed the Harvard Fatigue Laboratory for Industrial Research where I worked while at HBS.

On July 4, Milton Muelder and I had planned a bicycle trip. However, I had to work all morning and it was 3 PM before we shoved off. We had a nice time though. Went to Koenigstein again and had supper in the kitchen of the local Signal Corps company since they had already eaten.

BERLIN 11 JULY 45
Yes, I finally got to Berlin. Arrived yesterday.

Last Friday, 6 July, Seymour invited me over for an evening in Frankfurt. . . . At 6:45 we went to Admiral Ghormley's quarters for cocktails, where we were joined by Commodore Robertson and the admiral's aide Lt. Vandermade. The five of us went from there to dinner and after that to a USO performance by the Don Cossock chorus. After the show the others went home in the admiral's car and Seymour and I took the commodore's car and went to a dance at the officers' club. It wasn't much of a dance. Women are scarce [no fraternization with Germans]. Good looking girls are very scarce. But we enjoyed it, spending most of our time in a snack bar munching cookies. We also ran into a London acquaintance. An American girl with Field Intelligence Agency Technical. She had married a British flyer and they didn't hit it off. Her difficulties were solved when her husband got killed in a crash. Now she plans to go back home, just one of many cases where war has brought turmoil into the lives of people much like ourselves.

Two days or so before 6 July – when my 18 months were up – I put in a request for leave. . . . The Commodore said "NO!" No leaves are to be granted until we are settled in Berlin. . . . Although disappointed, I cannot blame him. Were I in his place, and under the same circumstances, I would do likewise.

We wanted to reach agreement on four major issues: first, the machinery and the procedures for the earliest possible drafting and completion of peace treaties; second, the political and economic principles which would govern the occupation of Germany; third, plans for carrying out the Yalta Declaration on Liberated Europe, with the hope of ending the constant friction which had prevailed over Russian policy in eastern Europe since the Crimea Conference; and, fourth, a new approach to the reparations issue in view of the inability of the Reparations Commission to reach agreement.

There were other goals, also. Among them was our desire to speed Italy's entry into the United Nations in recognition of the part her people played in the last year of the war in Europe and her declaration of war against Japan. Then, we had a plan for insuring free navigation of all of Europe's inland waterways.

* * * * * *
Shortly after lunch, we left for the first of our many three-mile drives to Potsdam and to Cecilienhof Palace where the meetings were held. As always, when they are hosts, the Russians had made painstaking preparations. Cecilienhof Palace had been the country estate of the former Crown Prince Wilhelm, and provided ample accommodations for the conference. It is a two-story brown-stone mansion beautifully situated on Gribnitz Lake. Its four wings form a square with a courtyard in the center, which the Red Army had brilliantly carpeted with a twenty-four-foot wide Red star of geraniums. Each head of government was provided with a suite of rooms for his personal use and each delegation had a conference room and offices for its staff.

The conference room itself was impressively large and pleasantly bright. At one end a huge window reached up the full two-story height of the room, letting in light and giving the conferees a sweeping view of beautifully landscaped gardens.

The group that sat down at the large oaken table at 5:10 p.m. on July 17 included, besides the President and me, former ambassador Joseph E. Davies, Admiral Leahy and Chip Bohlenfrom the United States delegation; Prime Minister Churchill, Foreign Minister Anthony Eden, Mr. Attlee, Sir Alexander Cadogan, and an interpreter from the United Kingdom delegation; and from the Soviet Union, Generalissimo Stalin, Foreign Minister Molotov, Mr. Vyshinski, Mr. Andrei A. Gromyko, who was then the Soviet Ambassador in the United States, the Soviet Ambassador to Great Britain, F. T. Gousev, and Mr. Pavlov.

James F. Byrnes, Speaking Frankly, (pp. 67-69 passim).

BERLIN 12 JULY 45
When I left you yesterday I hadn't told you much about the Berlin trip. Actually there is not much to tell yet and I don't know whether there will be at all but you'll be interested in the unimportant things as well. We left the airport at Hoechst at about 2 o'clock, Tuesday, July 10. Three Naval officers and two enlisted men were involved in the move although naturally there were quite a number of Army officers too. In all we loaded eight planes. The other two officers, a captain and a commander with driver, drove up by car. My Yeoman Brown and I went by plane. We couldn't take much stuff with us so much of my luggage was left behind (always a dangerous thing to do). It was a very hot day and it wasn't until we were underway with a few ports open that we got cooled off at all.

There wasn't much to see on the way. Most of the time it was the usual crazy-quilt produced by intensive cultivation on comparatively small estates. We flew over a considerable portion of the city before reaching the airport and it was increasingly evident that newspaper accounts of the extensive damage done to the city were no exaggerations. It was as if one were looking at the barren shell of a walnut whose meat had been removed. We arrived at Templehof Airport in the U.S. Zone at 4:30 p.m. There we were met by truck and taken to register for billets.

There was no indication that the town was deserted. People bustled in the streets and formed long queues at the occasional store which had things to sell.

Our first billet was in a schoolhouse. The Gertraudenschule it was called. We had the second deck (floor to you). The auditorium was set aside for office space and desks were lined up in masterful formation. The former offices and lecture rooms were converted to bedrooms. Each man had a canvas cot and was to have brought his own bedding. Below us and above us children were still going to classes and we could hear shouts and peals of laughter as they were let out for recesses. Meals were served in an apartment some twenty minutes away by foot.

It became evident that the arrangements left something to be desired. Hence on the second day, with the billeting plans moving a little faster than had at first been thought possible, most of the field grade officers and up (major up) had been assigned quarters (still temporary) in various houses near the mess. Further, our offices were moved to the same locality also. It was every man for himself getting together office furnishings and we were busy carrying desks and chairs around.

At present I have a very nice little room which is much overcrowded with furniture as all German rooms are. The bed is barely six feet long so that usually my feet hang out or my head bumps the top of the bed. And the mosquitoes are quite a nuisance too. There are two other fellows in the house, both majors. Each house in Germany probably has an interesting, and often horrible, story to tell if it could but speak. In the case of our house, it has the pall of death over it. A few weeks ago when the Russians were ransacking this neighborhood the owner of the house, his wife and two children, went down to their basement and all hung themselves. They are now buried in the garden in our back yard. This house is no longer the house they once loved.

BERLIN 20 JULY 45
We are still waiting around and not doing much. Apparently the President has been able to get along without my advice so far. (Must be a good man to be able to do that.) Comdr. George Raser and I have moved into what we think will be our permanent quarters. The house has a little damage but is nice – and one of our own choosing. There will be three of us, or perhaps four, eventually. We have two big baths and a nice big piano that Geo can play. It's about 20 minutes walk from the mess and our temporary office. Last night we had lights for the first time. We have cold water – not drinkable because of the many bodies not yet excavated. One of these days we may get some hot water. I haven't had a place with hot water since I left London. Everything will be much better than we anticipated though. At one time we talked of living in tents or huts here.

Before I forget: You should get an extra $100-Bond which I bought for cash to celebrate the Fourth of July.

The other day we visited the Chancellery where Hitler had his office and in which he is supposed to have met his death.

These Russian soldiers are amazing. Most appear to have the same uniform on that they were first issued. We've figured out that they've reached the stage where about as much dirt falls off each day as new dirt comes on. They are crazy about watches. If you can get a black faced wrist watch of any kind – especially Mickey Mouse – be sure and send it to me. I know watches are hard to get so I'll drop Poppie a note about it.

It appears it may be possible to go to Switzerland soon. If so, I may spend a couple days there on my way home so as to have news about our people there.

BERLIN 21 JULY 45
Yesterday afternoon we had a nice ceremony raising the flag on our USGCC (United States Group, Control Council) flagstaff. They had only put the flag pole up the day before and had to work most of the night to do it. Officers stood under an arcade on one side and enlisted men under one on the other side. A company from the Second Armored Division stood guard. They had a good band on hand also. At 2:00 p.m. we all came to attention at the sound of the bugle. Down the long approach the guards came to a salute one by one as the presidential party approached on foot. With the President were Secy of War Stimson and Generals Eisenhower, Bradley, and Patton among the other dignitaries. The band struck up "Hail the Chief." Then Truman made a short address – extemporaneously – and the flag was raised over German soil to the strains of "The Star Spangled Banner." Then it was over. The party retired the way it had come while the band played "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Once more the President would return to Babelsberg (in the Potsdam area of Berlin) to counsel with others trying to achieve better understanding among nations.

The presence of President Truman at Potsdam made possible another event which became a lasting inspiration to all of us who were there. He agreed to attend the official raising of our national colors on the staff in front of our Berlin headquarters. The flag which we used that day had flown over the Capitol on December 7, 1941, had been raised over Rome, and now on July 20, 1945, was raised over Berlin before being sent to General MacArthur to be raised over Tokyo and returned home. We had arranged a simple ceremony for this occasion with troops lined up on both sides of the short entrance drive which led from the street to the small courtyard in front of the headquarters. President Truman, accompanied by Secretary Byrnes and Secretary of War Stimson, Generals Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton, and me, walked down the entrance drive between the aligned ranks to stand in front of the flagstaff. A special honor guard of troops was on one side of the court and the band on the other. Slowly, with the soldiers at Present Arms and with the band playing "The Star-Spangled Banner," the flag was raised to full mast. President Truman spoke briefly but impressively to say that the United States wanted neither material gain nor territorial expansion from victory, that it wanted and would work only to secure a world of peace and of mutual understanding.

While the soldier is schooled against emotion, I have never forgotten that short ceremony as our flag rose to the staff. When in later days anyone suggested the possibility of our departure from Berlin before, of our own choice, we left a free Berlin, I could not help thinking that no one who had seen our flag raised by right of victory but dedicated to the preservation of freedom and peace could possibly see it withdrawn until peace and freedom had been established.

General Lucius Clay, Decision in Germany (p. 44).

29 July 1945 European Trip
. . . Lunched at general Clay's visitors' house [Lucius D. Clay, at the beginning of his long service as American military governor in Germany}, our temporary headquarters, and brought Averell Harriman back with us. Averell was very gloomy about the influx of Russia into Europe. He said Russia was a vacuum into which all movable goods would be sucked. He said the greatest crime of Hitler was that his actions had resulted in opening the gates of Eastern Europe to Asia. . . . [After finding the scheduled Big Three meeting cancelled because of Stalin's illness we] went back to Averell's house where I met Ed Pauley, American Ambassador for Reparations, and Chip Bohlen. All hands disturbed by Russian negotiations on reparations. They are stripping every area they are in of all movable goods, and at the same time asking reparations and designating the goods they take as war booty. They are shooting and impressing Germans out of the American district.

Walter Millis, Editor, The Forrestal Diaries (p. 79).

BERLIN 30 JULY 45
This has been a tough letter to write. I've carried the envelope and paper around in my pocket for a day and a half hoping to get it off. I'm sorry you haven't heard from me regularly. I've tried to average a letter every 5 days but deliveries aren't always uniform.

This last week has been one of my busiest. My activities were broken down to the four following:
(1) Participation in meetings at Big Three conference;
(2) Entertaining Naval officers from Admiral King's Staff;
(3) Supervising getting a mess started, transportation facilities organized, officers and enlisted men's quarters; and
(4) Acting as liaison officer attached to the Secretary of Navy during his visit to Berlin (3 days).

My participation in the conferences did not, of course, involve attending any meetings where Truman and Co. were present. But our work was at the next level where we discussed the plan we have been working on with Vice Admiral Land who is head of our War Shipping Administration and Maritime Commission. It was gratifying to have him think well of our past efforts. I have a nice little pass which will be a good souvenir of the conference.

To entertain the Chief of Staff to Admiral King and his staff: we had 4 Adm. & 4 Generals plus an Air Commodore – a mutual friend of the Navy and Military Gov't. lined up a private room in a local night club and we had dinner, a floor show, and a little dancing. The dinner almost didn't come off because we couldn't get army rations until we went through a lot of red tape. We didn't want to eat black market food although the manager was quite prepared to serve it. The whole deal was more or less blackmail since the manager knew MG could close him up anytime for his black market activity. We got six gals together for the brass to dance with. These women were recruited from the ranks of MG civil employees. They all seem to have a good time. I didn't do much but try to see that our guests enjoyed themselves. The club proprietor was interesting to talk to. He was a Bulgarian who spoke to me in French but his sentence structure was German.

Our gang is pouring in here now and those that were here early are stuck with various administrative jobs such as billeting and messing. They all came up because the Navy wants to have its own show here.

BERLIN 3 AUGUST 45
Just got your letter written from Camp Lake so I thought I could do no less than reply on a piece of stationery from Hitler's office. I had the watch last night and now it is 6:30 a.m. and I am waiting for the cleaning women to come in and for the Yeoman to come back from his ablutions so he can go to chow, so that in turn I will end up getting something to eat also. Last night it looked as though a nice leisurely evening were ahead. I thought I would write a letter or two then hit the sack early. But about 7:30 p.m. things started to pop. No, it must have been after eight because all the chow halls were already closed. Two of our officers and eight men rolled in from Hoechst with a jeep and three trucks. I had to get them fed, go out to the area and get a work party to help them unload (which I did by waiting outside the movie and nabbing them as they came out. . . .a dirty trick if there ever was one), get billets for them, then proceed with the unloading of the gear. They brought mail up so that we got it sorted out too. That is how I happened to get your letter sweetie.

By the way, I made arrangements for an extra bond to be sent you directly. It is a 1,000 dollar bond. For our little nest egg you know. It will be mailed to Kansas City. I like those little bonds. . . especially the thousand dollar ones!

I was going to tell you a bit about last weekend. Saturday morning the Commodore called me in his office and said: "The Secretary of the Navy is coming in today. I want you to come with me to meet him at the airport. You will be the Control Council Liaison Officer attached to the party while they stay in Berlin. Get your bag packed and move out to the Guest House." Well, he didn't exactly have to twist my arm off for me to get on the move. That afternoon we met the plane and it had quite a load of brass on it: Secretary Forrestal, Vice Admiral Cook who is Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet, Vice Admiral Cochran who is Chief of the Bureau of Ships, Vice Admiral Ghormley who is Commander U.S. Naval Forces on the Continent. Plus aides and a reporter who turned out to be John Kennedy, former Ambassador Kennedy's son. We went from the airport to the conference area where the Secretary had a meeting with Secretary of State Byrnes. Then to the guest house for cleaning up and a bite to eat. The house is on a lake and one of those mansions out of the book. Rolling lawns, trees, motor boats. . . you know the type.

Z Z Z (Denotes elapsed time of three hours and a change of typewriters to boot).

The next couple days were one round of tours, dinners, conferences, and not without some anxious moments. For, as liaison officer I was responsible to see that everything went off smoothly. We drew our transportation from a motor pool set up for the conference. Many times I would order up the vehicles for a certain time and when the time came they wouldn't be there. I finally learned to raise hell, order up twice the cars I thought we would need, and to tell them to be at a certain place an hour before they were needed. Then my only trouble was getting the men fed. All in all it was an interesting experience and it gave me a chance to see an aspect of the Navy which was somewhat different than my former experiences.

Unfortunately I didn't get to accompany the party to see them off but had to be satisfied to make the arrangements because I was called to an Ocean Shipping conference. Nothing much came of it because of the absence of certain British personnel. By the way, also saw Britain's new Prime Minister ATLEE and Foreign Secretary BEVIN when they came in at the airport subsequent to the tabulation of the British votes.

Stalin had properly trapped Churchill and Truman: they could not wriggle out from under the principle that Russia was entitled to one-third of the German fleet. Whereas Molotov could not even get Eden to discuss the subject, Stalin had moved quickly from a share in the Japanese war to a share of the German fleet. The ships were his; the bargaining was ended; Eden was again annoyed that Churchill had handled the question so badly and given away the fleet yet again – and this time definitively. Whether intentionally or not, however, Churchill had managed to drag Truman into the debate. Truman had lost, too; the first blood had been drawn.

Charles L. Mee, Jr., Meeting at Potsdam, (p. 114).

BERLIN 11 AUGUST 45
I moved into a house closer to the office. It isn't quite as nice as the other but more handy. Now I live with my old friend and colleague Walter Moberg. He is a good man to live with, although not as socially inclined as Seymour used to be. On Thursday night we had a good USO show: Jack Benny, Ingrid Bergman, Larry Adler, Martha Tilton and Lee Winter. They put on a very good program. A few nights earlier Bob Hope was here but I didn't get to attend his show. Last night we saw an All German Variety show which ended up singing a new song "Berlin Will Rise Again." Let's hope it is a different Berlin this time. As you may well conclude, they are stepping up the amount of entertainment available to the occupation troops to try to keep the morale up. Almost everyone wants to go home or get out of the service or both. Unless things change, I don't see much prospect of getting home this month or next yet.

In the work I'm doing (and I'm not in the garage or billeting business anymore now that everyone is here) we are just now getting some definite decisions at the government level. The end of the war with Japan would advance the date when certain allocations of ocean ships would have to be made and our little Branch seems to be the best informed and most qualified to deal with various aspects of this problem.

BERLIN 15 AUGUST 45
The war is over and I know we both rejoice together that with the cessation of hostilities fewer people will suffer. We have much for which to thank God. For many civilians, however, there is no peace. Hardships suffered by many are not lessened by peace and winter in Berlin will be a terrible ordeal for thousands. And this is not the only place! If one is to keep his sanity it is necessary to view many things in an impersonal sense. Not allow oneself to become an organic part of the situation but be an observer. This may appear to be the coward's way out. But it is more. For there are rules to obey and then – where can you get food for all who are hungry?

I think much of you these days. In a way I've never felt more lonely and old. It is partly because of the inactivity of the last few days. We are waiting for a paper from Washington and cannot do much but sit and wait. I must stay in the office because the Admiral is in town again. Each day I hope to be able to see light about when we will be together again. Always something comes up to delay matters. On August 27-29 I go to Frankfurt to attend a conference of military government officers from the U.S. Zone at which I am to make a talk. I should start working on that but there is still plenty of time yet.

Of one thing I am sure: as soon as I see you all will be well. I love you very much and all else seems unimportant. With the war over, it may mean that any preceptible delay in leave would result in my coming home for good. How does that sound? But it is all guesswork. By training and experience I am committed to some type of post-war work.

BERLIN 8 SEPTEMBER 45
It has been almost two weeks since I last wrote you and I feel badly at having been so long. Each day I would say that I would set aside some time to write you, then something would happen during the day that I couldn't and by night I would go to bed almost as soon as I got home. For the last eight days we have been working constantly with the Russians and the British in the disposal of the German Merchant Marine. With Walter and Mac we have gotten on in good shape.

When we go to the big meetings, each country has an Admiral to represent it and each Admiral in turn has a few assistants with him. In our case Admiral Ghormley takes a Mr. Dunn of the War Shipping Administration, Commodore Ray and me with him. The detailed work is carried on by two sub-committees. I am on one of these and we rotate the chairmanship. This committee has been meeting at our Headquarters. This means that I have to act as host and we usually work all day and eat at our mess, then I take the Russians home which means an auto ride of about an hour and fifteen minutes.

The whole thing is very interesting but a bit tiring. Fortunately the Russians know some English and the Colonel (who is my opposite number with the Russians) speaks good French so that we can carry on much more informally than it would be possible if we only could deal through the interpreters assigned to us. The British representatives present no new problems since I have worked considerable time with British people during my stay in the ETO. Not having worked with Russians before, it is an opportunity to satisfy the normal curiosity which every American has about a country and its people whose potentials outstrip those of our own.

Enough for that phase of what goes on here. Last Sunday morning I went to a concert put on by the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra. Their regular conductor had recently been killed in an unfortunate incident. He was a passenger in a jeep being driven by an English officer. When they came to the American Zone, our sentry signalled them to stop. This signal was not understood and when they failed to stop the sentry opened fire and killed the conductor. With this as a background, I was hardly prepared to see what I saw at this concert. The guest conductor was an American GI and a colored one at that. This was a bitter pill for the German audience to swallow and I don't know that they got it all the way down. It all went off in pretty good style. . . mainly because the conductor obviously knew his business. Being a student of the arts, you have probably heard of him (I never had). His name is Rudolph Dunbar.

BERLIN 5 OCTOBER 45
Now to tell you a little about my trip to Switzerland. I won't say much because I would rather tell you about it in person. To begin with it wasn't much in the way of a vacation and I was very rushed to see the people I wanted most to see. But it was definitely worthwhile and I accomplished my mission; namely to ascertain the welfare of my relatives and those friends who had been so good to me 16 years ago. Since I had relatives it was not necessary for me to stay with one of the organized tours which are designed primarily to see the sights and not for permitting visits with people.

I left Berlin by plane at 2:00 PM on a Saturday afternoon. This plane took us to Paris directly. We made the trip in good time – just a little over 3 hours. As usual we spent an hour and a half getting into town and I went to the Navy hotel for the night not desiring to undertake an overnight train ride in a coach filled with soldiers. About the only two friends I have stationed in Paris at this time are Autrey and Norman Kirkham. I saw Hugh that night for a while but turned in early since I had to get up early the next morning. Before turning in I went to the station and made arrangements to be accommodated on an early morning train to Mulhouse. The regular leave train goes to Mulhouse via Strasbourg. This adds 4 hours or more to the journey so I was glad to take another train.

The next morning, Sunday, I got up at 0530 to assure myself of a seat. The train pulled out at 0730. I need not have worried in spite of the station master's caution for I found that few people, especially military personnel on leave, like to get up early on a Sunday morning in Paris. Since it was too early for the mess to be opened I was quite prepared to go without breakfast. But to my surprise, they had a diner on the train, and shortly after leaving Paris, "le petit déjeuner" was announced. Outside of satisfying minor pangs of hunger I was curious to see just what menu would be available aboard a post-war French train. My table companions were two GIs also bound for Switzerland and a Frenchman in his middle thirties. The GIs couldn't talk French and the Frenchman couldn't talk English so I impartially tried to talk to each first in one language then another making for a queer mosaic of patter during the course of our meal. The breakfast was meager to be sure: two small pieces of Zweibach, a thimble full of jam and a cup of black, unsweetened coffee made from barley. The price: one dollar.

The train itself was made up of old German passenger cars which had seen their best days. The wheels, once a smooth round, gave the impression that they were fast approaching a many sided geometric figure. After breakfast, one GI, a sergeant, came in and chatted a while at my invitation. Later in the day a young French postal clerk made himself at home in my compartment. He had not seen the sign "Reserved for the Military" and longing for a break in the long journey I was not prone to point it out to him. Like many Frenchmen I had talked to, he was distrustful of the Russians.

Lunch we had in the diner again. About 8:30 PM we arrived at Mulhouse. Already it was dark, and the rainy weather gave the drab Alsatian town a more dreary appearance than it deserved. An RTO (Rail Transportation Officer) was at the station to meet us and the ride to the Leave Center in a 6x6 truck was a short one. Immediately assigned a bed in a room with 11 other officers, we went to eat our supper. Our "processing" did not begin until 1:00 PM the next day which meant our entry into Switzerland would take place on Tuesday morning. In the meantime, I was to sleep, eat, chat, have my clothes pressed, hair cut, shoes shined, draw PX rations and tend to a multitude of sundry chores which can prepare one for a good holiday in a country where we seek to make a good impression.

BERLIN 6 OCTOBER 45
When I left you in my previous letter I was about to enter Switzerland. We left Mulhouse at 0730 on Tuesday morning and took the French train to the border Swiss town of Basle (Bâle in French). Here we went through customs inspection and soon I broke away from the thousand going in that day and was on my own.

I bought a return ticket to Zurich and arrived there about 1100 AM. I got my godfather Robert Huelin on the phone at the office and not long after we were seated in the Station Restaurant over a "café au lait." It appeared he was the only one at home: his wife was on vacation, one daughter in school in Neuchâtel, another a nurse in Schaffhausen and the boy working for a Swiss firm in Africa. We spent the afternoon and evening together.

Next day I went to Geneva and visited my cousins. The next day to Neuchatel to visit two friends and that same night on to La Chaux-de-Fonds. The following day, back to Zürich where by this time it was known among some of the people I knew that I was due back so that it was possible to see several families. By then about five out of my seven days were gone. The Sunday in Zürich, I got up early and walked to the French church where I had been baptized. It was a nice walk of an hour and a quarter along the shore of the lake. I ate breakfast in a swell little place near the church: the café complait, consisting of coffee and milk, rolls, butter and jam. The service started at 9:30 AM – and of all things, a baby was baptized also. I didn't see anyone I knew off hand so I left immediately after the service. Rita, the nurse, had come in for the day especially and she was there on my return. She has become a deaconess and wears a costume not dissimilar from that of a modified nun's robes.

I left the following morning for Basle and rejoined our group. By 2 o'clock that afternoon I was on the train to Strasbourg. At 5 we left Strasbourg for Paris. Then the long overnight trip to Paris where we arrived at 7:30 the next morning. Back to the Navy Hotel, a hot bath, and bed. That afternoon I got a reservation on the plane to leave the next day. My friend Norman Kirkham and I promenaded the Paris boulevards and I even bought an oil painting which I am sure you will like. That night, my last in Paris for some time I am sure, we went to a night spot – the two of us. It was interesting if a bit dull.

The next morning I visited a bit with Hugh Autrey and had the good fortune to run into Lt. Comdr. Bill Reitzel who is Admiral Glassford's Flag Secy, in the Mediterranean Theater. Called a few friends and expressed regrets at not being able to come to see them. Then to the airport and home (?) to Berlin.

Now I am chafing at the bit to go home to you. I have no interest, at least not much, in what remains to be done. My frame of mind is: I've got the points – I want to go home – let another who hasn't got the points take over. Is that unreasonable?

Seymour is at present on leave in the States. He hasn't quite enough points so I don't know what will happen to him. Walter will have the necessary points at the end of this month and doesn't want to stay any longer than necessary. This going home business is catching. Mother writes John and Mark are on the way home and that John will get married soon. Wish I could be there but know he will not want to wait any longer than is necessary. Hope Mother is over being ill by now. Are your folks well? Have been awful about writing but keep thinking I'll see you all soon.

BERLIN 28 OCTOBER 45
Today is our anniversary and I have been glad it was Sunday so I could spend most of the day thinking about you and wishing you well with all my heart. What an appropriate gift to have: knowledge that in a few days time I shall be leaving so we can be together again. There couldn't be anything nicer, could there?

I wanted to go to the concert this morning, but reconsidered and went to church instead. I was glad I did for the Chaplain talked about joy in the present world. It did me good. During the past few weeks I have felt singularly depressed about the state of world affairs and the plight of unfortunate peoples the world over. It seems to me that America has so much to offer and that others have looked to us for leadership. However, I do not feel we have given that leadership and feel that more and more we are proving a disappointment to those that need us as well as those people in the States who concern themselves with our foreign relations. Walter and I discuss these things, as does Al Oram, and we are unable to feel optimistic about anything that has happened so far. The principles of the Atlantic Charter are not getting much more of a break than did the treaties signed by Hitler.

I suppose it seems strange that world events should become the subject of "conversation" in a letter written on our anniversary. But we are part of this world and are bringing up children in it. The state of the nation is but a multiplication of the state of its families. And many families in our land have not had the good fortune to have our luck. How warm my heart feels when I think of you! We shall have some important decisions to make together, and I shall count on you, as I have in the past, to help me decide what will be the best course of action for our little family.

LE HAVRE 9 NOVEMBER 45
Already we have been here for a few days waiting for our ship to come into port so we can go aboard and start on our way home. For the most part we have been satisfied to loaf: to rest up by just eating and sleeping after some rather hectic days just before leaving Berlin. It is still difficult to believe that I am, at last, on the way. Before, when travelling has been part of the routine, it has been caused by a change in assignment. Now it is something much more important – for my goal is you.

The ship is due in today. If it arrives, we will in all probability board her tomorrow and be at sea not later than Sunday. With a week or eight days at sea we should be in Boston about Nov. 18. I will have no wait there and should be on my way to either Chicago or Great Lakes Nov. 19. I will keep you informed by wire so as to give you the maximum amount of notice. Sure hope you can get a hotel room. I can hardly believe it. Here is a big hug and a million kisses. Hello to all, especially to Nancy and to Elaine.

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