I'm surprised there isn't more info about HOW we went to war,
what was goin' on in bases around the country, how did the
Army respond to the attack on Pearl? How was it determined
where individual Divisions were sent etc?
It finally dawned on me why my father's military police unit were the
only ones from the original 26ID left in Camp Edwards after the
attack on Pearl. Everyone was now afraid of sabatoge, espionage
etc. The newly organized MP Companys & brigades were now
needed to patrol & secure the army bases & also surrounding towns.
My father was often assigned "town patrol" in Falmouth Ma.
It may see silly to us now, but at that time, enemy attack of
our bases & equipment was considered a possible threat.
More excerpts from his 1942 diary:
March 4th Guard. Regiment went on long hike.
10th Long Hike - about 20 miles
12th Range
13th Range
18th C-area
24th injections, regular detail
25th guard
28th full inspection in Logan Field
30th injections for typhoid. Reveille now at 6am
April 1st Hike
6th Army Day demonstration in Boston with Canadian Group
7th went to Sagamore had a black out
8th new army helmets
9th new men from the 104th arrived this morning, 3rd injection
10th interview with 39TH MP
13th overnight bivouac in Sandwich
15th Guard at 182nd. Report of transfer to 39th
16th Packed & transferred to 39th
17th Went to Middleboro for an Overnight Problem
18th Went on guard at 5. McDonald left for the Air Corps
28th check Property
May 2nd Town Patrol
4th watched 181st night problems
6th new field jacket
8th change of quarters
11th 181ST MOVES OUT ON COASTAL PATROL
12th on the range
13th ORDERS TO MOVE TO NIANTIC CT
14th Guard. Gas rationing card signed
15th LT left afternoon off to clean equipment
16th Town Patrol
21th cleaning & greasing trucks
23rd Left the Cape for Niantic CT
30th 6 CORPS Colonel inspects us.
I'm waiting for this book to be published next month
"The 26th Yankee Division On Coastal Patrol Duty 1942-1943"
http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-3142-7
so interesting M1!