World War II, Chapter 45, Knee Deep

World War II

Knee Deep

Chapter 45

Marvin Cain (Thanks to the Cain Family for Sharing their Father’s Memories)

According to the Various Stations and Areas Occupied by the 35^th Quartermaster document Marvin Cain’s family provided me, Dad’s Division arrived in Cornwall, England on 26 May 1944 and remained there 42 days until July 9^th. They received further training while there.  According to the Combat Chronicle for the 35^th Infantry on Wikipedia;

The 35^th Infantry entered combat 11 July, fighting in the Normandy hedgerows, north of Saint-Lô. The Division beat off 12 German counterattacks at Emelie before entering Saint-Lô, 18 July. After mopping up in the Saint-Lô area, it took part in the offensive action southwest of Saint-Lô, pushing the Germans across the Vire River,

Once again Dad’s division was not the Infantry but his division was attached to the 35^th Infantry overseas driving soldiers, supplies and ammunition for the Infantry.

19 June 1944, Cornwall, England

I’m hoping by now you have heard from me. Someone has said the mail has gone out some time ago and by now you should have more letters than Carter has liver pills and he has been in the business quite a while. Bob is on one side of this table and Judson on another a bag of candy in the center and I can’t think of a damn thing to write. Is that unusual. I think no. We worked rather late tonight. Had nothing else to do so really didn’t mind until chow. Well anyway we had French fries and only got about three little pieces. It made me so damn mad to think we had to work and then get a deal like that. I believe I could have committed man slaughter [sic]and wouldn’t have been a bit of (unreadable) of who it was. Just anyone who would have opened his mouth. There will come a time. Remember Ray Linden. He just said his wife had heard from him. So I guess you will soon. (hear from me I mean.) Red Skelton is on the radio. Sure sounds good.

According to the V-Day Roster I have Raymond Linden was from Los Angeles, California. He passed away in 2006 and was interred at Altaville Protestant Cemetery in Calaveras County.

(Visit Mr. Linden’s Find a Grave memorial page by clicking here)

Raymond Linden and Judson Haviland

21 June, Cornwall, England

Hello, hows[sic]  everything. Me I’m tired. We worked late again. It’s almost eleven and we have been going since six. So far I haven’t minded. Have been kinda low mood and it keeps the mind occupied. We had a floor show last night. A bunch of GI’S were on the loose. It was good though. I about laughed myself sick. It didn’t last long enough though so I came home. The company had a big party though. Guess they had fun. I was in an awful bad mood then I changed my clothes to go to chow and was in a hurry and left my bill fold laying on my bunk and somebody swiped a pound ($4.00) out of it. I was lucky they left 15 cents. I’m not broke.

23 June, Cornwall, England

Hows [sic] the swellest [sic] person in the world tonight. Me I’m a kinda low. Sun burned my back a little today. Of course not blistered or anything like that, but its [sic] sore. Oh yes I banged my sore finger a couple times and today its [sic] giving me trouble. It’s a little swollen and awful tender but even that will be ok. Sounds like we are going to have a lot of nice things to start with. I was telling Bob what you wrote and he asked if you had reviewed the thing he and Madeline were to give us. Sounds like you and me both could go for a little sleep have been missing some myself lately. Been working. You can come over and do my laundry. I never seem to have time to wash anything more than fatigues and they are really a dirty mess. So you don’t think they pictures were good. Don’t tell anyone and they’ll never know the difference. Hows [sic] that. I thought the proofs were good. I’m glad you sent Dad one. He will really be proud of you. Mom said you also got a card to send. Gee you’re a better Daughter-in-law than I am a son. I wrote him a V-Mail. He probably won’t get it until late. I certainly get your letters at the right time. I get one then live in it a couple days then get in the rough and a couple days after I’ve about given up and here comes another. Then start the whole thing over gain.

26 June, Cornwall, England

Well Mommie how are the ones I love tonight. Good I hope, I am. Gosh I was in hopes I would hear from you today so I knew you have heard from me. I have been busy so haven’t had time to miss your letters. But sure do miss you about every day I get to thinking about you and guess I get damn homesick. Because you can’t get a feeling like that from pancakes. I guess I should tell you my jaw is ok again except when I open my mouth too wide. Then it doesn’t feel so well. Made a band for my watch today. Didn’t have anything to do for twenty minutes. Its [sic] kinda nice. Of course the one I had was good but you know me. New ideas. So now I have a new one. I’ll tell you about it next time.

27 June, Cornwall, England

No letter today. Gosh I sure was looking for one. But I guess I’ll have to waite [sic] Anyway I must write tonight and get things off my chest. Oh yes honey General Eisenhower and Patton were visitors here. Man did things fly around here for awhile. We had been working extra hard anyway but didn’t waste any time then. Guess they were pleased though. Of course we didn’t get anything but a kick in the face for our efforts. But somebody was made happy. I just reread one of your letters and all the things you say we got for presents. Gosh you’ll about have to rent another room to put them in. Bet they are darn nice though.

(Dad Wrote) Haviland, One way to shave notice the wash pan

3 July, Cornwall, England

Gosh yesterday when the mail got here I was so discouraged because there was none from you. I could have done (unreadable) to about anyone. But there was one from Mom and that helped. Well one kid came back during the night and had some more and to my good luck one was from you. God it seemed like 10 years since I had heard from you. But it was only 10 days. The folks heard from me so by now you certainly have. When you don’t hear from me and I don’t from you it makes it bad two ways here. Don’t know what to do. I wanted you to know as soon as possible that I was ok and then the mail doesn’t come through. Well Bob and my luck hasn’t held out so well. We got split up and haven’t seen each other for awhile. With no mail and that is makes one kinda lonesome. We’ll be back together again though.

6 July, QM arrived at Weymouth, England

7 July, QM departed from Weymouth, England for France

35^th Quartermaster arrived at Omaha Beach on 7 July 1944. Upon arrival QM departed for de-water proofing area which was near Coleville, France remaining there approximately two (2) hours. Moved to bivouac area near Colombieres, France

9 July, QM moved to bivouac area near Les Landes, France  

According to Dictonary.com  a Bivouac is “a military encampment made with tents or improvised shelters, usually without shelter or protection from enemy fire.” It sounds kind of scary to me.

Wikipedia has a great overview of the 35^th Infantry which is the unit the 35^th Quartermaster was assigned to. Here is what Wikipedia has to say:

The 35th Infantry Division arrived in England, 25 May 1944, and received further training. It landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, 5–7 July 1944, and entered combat 11 July, fighting in the Normandy hedgerows, north of Saint-Lô. The Division beat off 12 German counterattacks at Emelie before entering Saint-Lô, 18 July.

I know my father’s battalion was not the Infantry but they were the ones who drove the 35^th Infantry around, got food and supplies to them. It seems as though my father is now knee deep in the war.

 

© 2012 notsofancynancy

Robert “Bob” Winter, Judson Haviland, Raymond E. Linden, Marvin Cain