gordon johnston . . .

The move from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Camp Gordon Johnston, Florida was made during the week of 7-11 September after we had spent only a week of elaborate crating and packing of our equipment for rail shipment. Our Regiment was commended by the Brigade Commander for the smooth manner in which the change of station was effected. We enjoyed all the comforts of Pullman accomodations for 3 days and 2 nights before we were greeted with the first sight of our new home.

The sudden transition from civilized Cape Cod to Carabelle "sticks" was quite a jolt, but in two weeks time we had our new area in a livable shape. Our newly assigned replacements were immediately put through their basic training while the Shore Battalion received three weeks general engineer training. Our Boat Battalion was busy putting into running shape the boats we had inherited from the 3rd Brigade, who had left them at Panama City. Additional heavy equipment was added to our pool and new operators were taught how to operate them.

Socially, some of us had already made inroads on the sanctity of the Tallahassee homes and the Women's College. Regularly scheduled truck convoys transported the " wolves " into town and five minutes after the tail gate was lowered there wasn't an Amphibian within sight or hearing.

Following a Regimental amphibious problem staged during the last week of September, we were assigned the job of training the 4th Infantry Division in the rudiments of amphibious landings. The poor condition of our second-hand craft and the unusually stormy waters of the Gulf of Mexico made our assignment doubly hard. Despite these hindrances, however, and with displays of heroism on the part of our boatmen, training with the Division continued through the months of October and November. The maneuvers culminated in a grand finale on Thanksgiving Day. There isn't any one of us who will forget that day. The outstanding Division of the later Normandy landing was given its first strong dose of rough weather beach assaults. At one time during the operation there were more than forty infantrymen and as many engineers dumped into the sea by the sinking, storm-tossed landing craft. Despite constant battering by a Falkner "three and one-half foot" wave, no lives were lost. Individual bits of heroic work was credited to Frye, Lund and Brown of Company A, Brawner of Company E, and Doherty and Nelson of Company C. High praise came from Maj. Gen. Barton, Commanding, 4th Infantry Division, and from Colonel Falkner who expressed himself with these words: "Men, you did a damn fine job!" But we had our Thanksgiving dinner a few days later - a dinner we all will remember even after we get back to civilian life again.

The Medics Get Some Practice

Camp Gordon Johnston was designated as an Army Service Forces Training Center with our Brigade Commander acting as it's Commanding General. This affected our Regiment inasmuch as we lost a lot of well trained men to the Training Center, particularly from both Battalions. In return, we received replacements, grass green from reception centers. We were fortunate in getting new men who quickly adapted themselves to our mode of living and also attacked their material assignments in basic training with a determination which stamped them as good Amphibian material.

It was during our early days at Gordon Johnston that Col. Carl Y Farrell, then major, and who later contributed much to our successful operations in the Pacific theater, joined us. Col. Farrell, fresh from three years with the construction branch, office of Chief of Engineers, proved much help in the training of. the Regiment for the large construction jobs that were to come.

As construction engineers we were called on to work on many projects all the while we were at Camp Gordon Johnston. A three-hundred foot pile bent bridge was built over Crooked River and a road was built through the marsh land leading to and away from this bridge. Because of the extremely low land, it was necessary either to corduroy or lay a brush mat as a road foundation. Units of the Shore Battalion, under the command of Captain Hope, bivouaced in the project area under tactical conditions. Harassing parties, composed of Regimental Scouts disguised as the enemy, attempted to infiltrate into the camp but were apprehended by the watchful guards who changed their recognition signs and countersigns so frequently that even their own officers were "locked up" for questioning.

Another project was the construction of two huge school buildings at the Main Post, principally by Company D. Company F was detailed to rebuild the ranges on the military reservation and then joined Company E in construction of sanitary facilities.

Furloughs and leaves were granted during the months of November and January to the regular members of the Regiment while the Basics got theirs en masse at the conclusion of their training in the early part of February. To most of the men this was the last visit home before shipment overseas; to some of us others it was a chance to blow off some steam in more civilized places than Carrabelle, Sopchoppy, Panacea, or Port St. Joe.

We knew we were slated for overseas shipment when we were subjected to inspection after inspection and we began completing POM requirements commencing 1 December. We fired qualification courses in every type weapon, except the water pistol, and were processed through the street fighting course, the transition course and the infiltration course. Added to that were the Brigade Training Tests conducted in the loose sand on our parade field. Later on, this field was stabilized by our Engineers in time for our First Anniversary Parade and Ceremonies.

In traditional Army style, we enjoyed the lavish Christmas and New Year's dinners which the separate mess hall chefs prepared for us. Most fortunate of all were the chaplains, who managed to attend them all.

Our Boat Battalion had been alerted shortly after the New Year began and there followed the "sweating out" period which had us all on edge. Finally, Company C was given the signal to go West and it was with a great deal of envy - and rumor - that we bade the Fordites goodbye after holding a last minute parade in their honor. They left Camp Gordon Johnston on 8 February and arrived at Camp Stoneman, California on 13 February to go through the processing there as the first unit of the 4th Brigade to leave the States.

Shortly afterwards, the rest of our Boat Battalion, divided into two sections, made the same trip, leaving Gordon Johnston on 2 March and arriving at Stoneman on 7 March.

The remainder of the Regiment had another month or more of training, reviews, and packing and crating before it boarded the train which was to carry them West. We were finally on our way to an overseas assignment.

The trip via rail will be remembered as one of the most enjoyable trips ever made by most of us; our Pullman accommodations and meals were excellent and the ever-changing landscape was an unending source of pleasure to all. As we passed through the various states enroute there was always some man claiming that we were I now going through God's Country - his state.

The last of the Regiment had reached the West Coast on 15 April, 1944. The following two weeks were to be spent in processing before our embarkation. We were at the Port of Embarkation and everyone was keyed up-or about to be.

Ready For Movement West

Stopvers Enroute to P.O.E.