I got a few seconds to type more entries today.
Wed, Feb 2, 1944 Continued
Really was glad to be off (Relieved by Black Devils). It was about 11 at night when we were relieved and then we had to walk 5 miles where the trucks were going to pick us up at. It was a really bad walk since we were all tired and sleepy. Even our eyes would close of sleep to where at times we didn’t know where we were going.
Thursday, Feb. 3, 1944
Got to place at daylight. Stayed there about 1 hour before trucks picked us up. Came in Co. Area at chow and went to sleep from about 12 till 4:30PM. Catching up on sleep from the front lines where we didn’t get much sleep. At night went to bed right after chow at 5PM.
Friday, Feb. 4. 1945
We were off because we were going to work at night. At noon we were told of being on alert again and Sgt. Girandar showed me how to load the Bazooka because since the time we were on the defensive line, they put me without the bazooka man loader. Had two or three men captured from F. Company and 3 or 4 from our company (D) got wounded. At night some of the boys went after some bob-wire because it was what we were going to do on front line along with mine laying. A little lecture in mines was given in the afternoon.
Saturday, Feb. 5, 1944
At noon we were supposed to have gone out to front before daylight, but didn’t. Don’t know why not. It was very cold outside. Had air raid around 10:30am and after that went on to work to put bob-wire entanglements along canal behind the infantry close to mines laid by 10th Engineers. Bridge was fixed to be blown by having sacks of TNT hung in it in case of counter attack. We were expecting the Germans might withdraw from Cassino and come on this front and make a counter attack. From here at Netuna it is said to be 28 miles to Rome.
Sun. Feb. 6, 1944
At about 3 am had an air raid, but it wasn’t bad. About an hour later another but this one was longer and lasted a long time. They were throwing flares and bombing heavily. Pieces of shrapnel were falling close to our tent from the aircraft. Went on guard again from 10am till 2pm. The rest of Co. went to canal to make a dam. Had a raid right at dinner chow.
Mon. Feb 6, 1944
Went out with Co. to make the dam to flow the canal if an attack was made and were pushed back. We had 8 logs across and they decided to move dam to another place close to first dam about 150 yards. So after chow had to move supplies to other place. Third Platoon was taking it next day. Night was taken out to lay a minefield but this was cancelled that night and we got back to Co. area early. It was a very cold tonight.
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1944
Went out to lay Consentrina wire along beach. Noon, ate K rations. Same thing done today as yesterday but 2 Jerry planes came very low and it was firing at our mustang plane patrolling. Finished laying wire at one place and went and started at another location. They had that place along bank holes with Booby traps of hand grenades.