I was briefly in Morocco many yrs ago as part of a trip to Spain.It was AWFUL! I couldn't get out of ther fast enough and finally understood
Dad's low opinion of that country. You had an immediate sense that human lives were cheap,
especially women.
I took out my Dad's pocket diary for '43 where he'd write notations in his small
handwriting. Here's some of his info:
2/22 left Ft Devens 5am arrived FT Dix 5pm - worked till 5am
3/5 left US
3/19 North Africa
3/24 went to Oran
3/25 company split up 25th went to sidi bel abbes
4/4 church sidi bel abbes
4/14 our 1st PX opened
5/16 moved to ???can't make this out - looks like A or C nt Temouchut for night
5/18 rabat
5/27-6/8 he was in the hospital
7/4 Rabat 1st armored and 36ID have big parade
7/7 casablanca
8/2 getting ready to move
8/3 part of company went by train
8/4 left Rabat
8/5 bivouac at La Senica(?)
8/6 arrive Port Aux Poules
8/23 ready to move again
8/26 Oran
8/29-8/31 staging area ? "ASSI-Ben OKBA" (don't know what that is)
9/5 left port at 1600 hours
9/7-9/8 at sea
9/9 boarded LST arrived on beach (looks like 0830hours). air attacks
9/10 moved to bivouac area Paestum. air attacks.
9/11 air attacks night & day
9/12 bivouac area same place
9/22 moved to Battipaglia. able to write home again.
9/27 Rain! first rain we've seen since last April
9/30 moved to Montello. Sleeping in a bldg
10/6 moving again to Avellino
10/12 moving to Maddaloni
10/21 1300 hrs moving out to ? Carrizzia?
10/27 1st PX opened up in Italy
10/29 Recd letters from home, 1st since I've been in Italy
11/1 moving out to Dragoni(?)
11/13 one killed 8 wounded from enemy shells (I assume this is in his MP Co)
11/19 moved to Caprilia(?)
11/25 Thanksgiving Day. Donuts! 2 boxes! (love this notation!)
12/20 Took 1st shower since I've been in Africa & Italy
12/25 Christmas Day. Good day here in Capriati
Then of course, like you, it was on to Anzio,the Volturno, Rome, DDAy
Southern France, the Vosges, the Rhine and home alive (thank God!) in March '45.
So very sorry to hear about your wife, Rocky. My brother was killed in a car accident
when he was 17 and I was 18 (we were "irish twins" 13 months apart), and
my Dad died in '82 when he was just 70. I was blessed to have my mother until 2004,
but now I'm the only one left. It's not like I've lost them & don't know where they are.
I know EXACTLY where they are, but I keep telling them: "Ok you guys, if I have to get
left behind, the least you can do is send extra love". They do & I'm sure it's the same for you.
We must have some other "missions" to perform & like the Army, we gotta take it whether
we like it or not.
Hey Rocky! I feel like a dope, but I can't figure out how to get to your page.
I need instruction.
all the very best!
Mary Ann (Frank Howard's proud daughter)
206thmpco:: The notes your dad wrote above, brings back memories.
Battipagla, Avelino, We wuz there. Volturno ditto. Taking a shower, ditto,ditto.
My page,log on to,, 6thcorpscombatengineers.com,, clickon, memoirs, click "other WW11 vets", scroll down to my name, Roque Riojas. click. I hope that's right. Maid Marion, Help!!