on account of war

From the journal of my father, Charles Richard O'Neil


May 10, 1943  Newport News--We left the dock this morning at 0904…I haven’t been able to determine the number of ships with us as yet.

May 12--There are 18 ships in the convoy including supply tankers and troop ships.  There are 12 destroyers and one cruiser, The Savannah.

May 22—We sighted land just before noon to-day and this afternoon we passed into the Mediterranean Sea, we also passed the noted Rock of Gibralter.

May 23—We arrived in Oran  Algeria to-day about 1000.  Liberty was granted at 1700 to-night until 2200—

May 24—The town was a disappointment.  And about 1 hour before we came back Tuininga, Shall, and myself especially, got all bent out of shape, plastered, so to speak.—Enough said!

May 28—I’ve been ashore here twice now but I’ve seemed to lost all interest in it.  Swimming is what is enjoyed around.  The water is perfect. –Troops are coming on to-day and to-morrow for maneuvers, we are told.  There is also every indication that we will be here for a couple of months. 

June 2—The troops left us yesterday after four days maneuvers….We have had no mail as yet and we’ve been here about ten days already. Among the last soldiers aboard, there was a Jack Hirschman from Race street in Homewood.

June 4—The British aircraft carrier Formidable, along with two battleships, the King George V, and the Howe, came in to-day.  The place we are tied up at is called Mers el Kebid.

June 15—King George VI, Vice Admiral Hall, General De Gaulle, General Eisenhower reviewed the men of the British and American ships, here at Algiers to-day.—Wrote to Norma and Mother.  We came here to Algiers on the 13^th and I had liberty on the 14^th.  Tuininga and myself never did so much walking in our life.  It’s a large city, more modern than I expected.

June 29—We are anchored here in the harbor.  Troops came aboard to-day with the aid of boats.  There was an explosion this afternoon when a hand grenade set off some TNT.  Two men were killed and several injured.  One of our boats that was along side the dock was damaged and the Coxswain injured, a few soldiers in the boat were also injured.

July 3—This morning while the soldiers were cleaning their guns on deck, one soldier’s .45 went off accidently and wounded two sailors who were working nearby.  I happened to be there when it occurred and saw that the bullet passed through the one boy’s chest and through the other fellow’s leg.  To-night the boy (Giles) was in serious condition.  Gillispie’s wound on the leg will be allright.

July 7—We pulled out about 1100 yesterday with 13 ships, several destroyers and two cruisers.  The soldiers were told to-day that they were going to invade Sicily, the beach they are to land at is in Gela.  We have not as yet found out where we will be there.  A large convoy passed us to-night going in the direction of Bizerte.—Chuck Conners is here with me writing a letter to his wife, which I will mail for him as soon as we reach the states again.

July 9—At 2300 to-night we approached Gela.  The first sign of action was of (lanes?) dropped from planes, There airplanes began to bomb the enemy positions.  We could see their anti-aircraft fire.  About midnight we lowered our boats and around 0100 July 10^th the first troops  were landed.  Our warship are shelling the beach.  Shelling and the anti-aircraft fire continued the rest of the morning. (July 10) German planes bombed and straffed the beach four times to-day hitting at least 2 L.S.T’s.  Casualties have been coming back aboard all day, the doctors have been operating in three different places aboard ship.  One man from our ship has been killed so far.  (July 11) Continued gun fire all night, at 0710 this morning German planes bombed us, there were about 5 near misses and one ship the Baunet was hit and damaged slightly.  Planes bombed and straffed our positions on the beach again to-day.  At 1550 this afternoon I was on deck in time to watch two German planes strafe the beach, as they did this 25 to 30 engine bombers let loose on the ships, I hit the deck as bombs hit, only to be lifted off the deck by the explosion of bombs.  The liberty ship Roland was hit in her No.2 hold.  We picked up survivors.  They told us their cargo is TNT and gasoline besides vehicles.  The Roland burned and then exploded.  It continued to burn the rest of the night and part of the next day---Shrapnel hit our ship along the port side.  Several holes were made and one fellow hit.—To-night at 2200 we were attacked again by dive bombers.  This continued for about an hour.  One plane flew so low between the ships, that the ship along side of us hit us with their anti-aircraft guns.

(July 12) Our warships are continuing to throw shells at enemy held positions on the beach.  Enemy planes strafed the beach again.  We had another attack to-night about 1800, this time the ship was strafed but there were no casualties.  We got underway about 1900.  (July 13)  The official report sent in by the Dickman said there were (34) thirty four near bomb misses and that we downed at least one plane.

July 15—The author is 23 yrs of age to-day and he is lucky to be alive on his birthday.  We pulled into Algiers early this morning.  Liberty.

July 16—A supply ship (British) loaded with ammunition blew up setting afire one other ship. This evening the supply ship was towed away from the dock.  It is still burning furiously and ammunition is still exploding on it.

July 22—A smoker was held on the dock this evening.  There was entertainment of music and boxing and refreshments.  There were about 10 bouts between fighters from all the ships.  The main event was between Lou Jenkins, former middleweight champion and a Dickman mess attendant in a 3 rounder.  The colored boy beat Jenkins easily. 

July 23  We left Algiers to-day about 1600 for Oran.

July 26—To-day we received our first mail from home since May. –In all my letters I had good news. 

July 27—More mail to-day, never felt better.  This morning Dr. Palmer removed my ingrown nail so now I hope that is the end of it!

(no entries until Aug 22)

Sunday Aug 22—We are now docked in Oran and have been loading supplies and ammunition.  There has been lots of scuttlebutt, especially since Sicily has fallen, but the only thing to say is let’s wait and see!

Sunday Aug 29-0330  We have just returned from another maneuver and are anchored at Mers El Kebir.  Received a couple of letters to-day.

Sept 5—We are loaded with troops and equipment and are getting underway to-day.  It is also Mother’s birthday and Mother and Dad’s anniversary.  We are all convinced that this is to be another invasion probably somewheres in Italy.

Sept 7—We are to hit the beach somewheres south of Salerno in the Salerno Bay.

Sept 8—We got the news over the radio to-night that Italy has surrendered, but our own operations will go on as usual.  It is fairly bright to-night.

Sept 9—Operations went off as usual last night.  Much more resistance was met than some of the fellows expected.  German planes are giving the boys on the beach some trouble, although mines and 88’s are the most trouble so far.

Sept 10—Several casualties have come back so far.  Not much news from the beach.  One of our tank lighters was hit by an 88 on the beach, two of our crew were injured.

Sept 11—Finished unloading last night, standing by to get underway this evening about dusk, we had a bombing attack, it was repeated over again almost at once.  It all lasted about 20 minutes.  No ships have been reported  hit as yet.  It was really hot stuff for a while there.—Later on in the night German M.T. boats hit a destroyer of our port bow the M.T was also sunk.  No report from the can as yet. 

Sept 15  Arrived back in Oran.  unloaded casualties—

Sept 22—Received our first Sept mail—Mother tells me Bernard McNight was killed in Europe—Received a lovely picture of Norma the other day.  boy.

Sept 23—Moving into the dock to-day after being anchored our since we came back from Italy.

Oct 4—Anchored in the harbor at Bizerte—I’ve been in sick bay here since last Monday (smoke screen layed down come in engine room and started up my asthma) with Bronchial Asthma.  It isn’t very bad now, its just that the doctors don’t know what is causing it.  Father Murphy of the 36^th inf. is with the troops that are on board and he has given me Holy Communion the last couple of mornings.  Salerno fell two days ago. 

Oct 5—I was allowed to get up and around to-day. Feeling much better.—We left Bizerte this morning, and we will be at our destination sometime to-morrow. 

Oct 6—We have been coming up the coast of Italy since early this morning.  About 0900, the isle of Capri was sighted and Naples soon after.  We anchored in the harbor at Naples just before noon to-day.  Unloading began at noon and were unloaded at 1930 this evening.  Mt. Vesuvius can be seen to the right of the city, smoke and flames can be seen spouting from it. 

Oct 7—With the aid of spy glasses I have seen quite a bit of damage that was done around the docks and town.  The rest of the ships finished unloading this morning.  We were underway , leaving Naples to-day at 1345.—I am still on the binnacle list but expect to be off to-morrow.  I met Paul Mazzie, who is from E.E. Pgh.  He has been in sick bay with me for the last five days. 

Oct 16—Doctor Edwards gave me amenopolin (?) bad allergic reaction—had to give me shot in heart.  Doctor Edwards informed me to-day that I would be sent back to the hospital for further treatment.  Oct 18—Was rated MM2/c to-day and left the ship for transportation to U.S.

About Nov 5.43.Orders to move aboard the USS Stanton-proceeded to Casablanca-met Jim Robinson whose ship the USS Albermantle (?) was already in.  Left Casablanca Nov 8 arrived N.Y. Nov 21^st reported to Hosp on 22^nd and was discharged, reported to headquarters, was given 20 day leave.  Reported for duty at Pier 9, East River Dec 13, 1943.