At the age of 23, my Dad Larry Roeder was a research assistant in psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri.^{^[4]} His parents died early and the war was about to happen, so he tried to join the navy by attending Annapolis; but a deviated septum kept him out. With the urging of his mother’s family and help from the Deloge family, who were part of the AFS in World War One^{^[5]}, Dad joined as a volunteer Ambulance Driver in the American Field Service in World War Two. His military experience consisted of attending the Culver Military Academy and basic ROTC at the University of Missouri. Dad’s aunt Josephine P. Winter was also an ambulance driver, already in France. We don’t know which outfit she drove with though. Records are poor; we do know she managed to escape ahead of the Nazis, which at least paper proclaiming her to be an American spy.. These passages are a letter to my son on the value of doing humanitarian work, and a commemoration of the service of my relatives and their friends.

Like many veterans, Dad never spoke very much about his service. Though he did relate some things, what I know mostly comes from the memories of0 fellow drivers or, the archives of the American field Service in New York, newspaper clippings, old photos in Dad’s collection and a few books. Manning Field, the author and driver, did remember however that we pronounce our name Raider.[6]

Little doubt in my mind about the bravery of the drivers who were often strafed and bombed by the Germans. Here is one comment by the New Zealand Army.

“The ASC drivers attached to the field ambulances played a vital part in the evacuation of wounded in all battles, especially in the summer battles of 1942, as also did the American Field Service drivers with their ambulance cars. The latter distinguished themselves by their keenness to go forward of the RAPs, often dashing out into the desert to try to collect pilots who had baled out from our planes in the dogfights overhead.”^{^[7]}

Another similar comment “The American Field Service ambulance drivers continued to do excellent work for the New Zealand Division. All were keen to be where the fighting was thickest, and their invaluable help not only simplified the evacuation of casualties but enabled wounded to be operated on much earlier, and thus greatly enhanced their chances of recovery.”^{^[8]}

Of enormous help were photos by Dad and fellow drivers and especially A Line A Day: Five Year Diary, the daily dairy of Arthur Faulstich, a driver and pal of my father’s. This was given to me to review and reproduce in March, 2007 by his widow, along with pictures. This diary (which has never before seen the light of day) provided a daily context to life beyond the battles, and though Dad is only mentioned a few times, many of the experiences were shared. For purposes of history, I have also scanned and retyped the entire diary and then added notes from others and my own content. Think fo the diary as a skeleton. To be read along with this manuscript is a PowerPoint presentation of photographs from my father’s collection and those of Arthur Faulstich. Anything in quotes in the daily entries comes from the Faulstich Dairy called “A Line a Day,” unless otherwise noted. All photos belong to my father, unless otherwise noted.

Dad was born in 1918 and by the time the war broke out, his parents had passed away. He was protected by the Winter family of St. Louis, his mother’s kin, which are still in St. Louis and close to the Roeder family. Dad really wanted to be in the Navy, something he wanted for me as well, and studied sailing at Culver Military Academy; but a deviated septum kept him out of Annapolis. ^{^[9]} He had also studied medicine at Gradwohl Medical Laboratory School, Missouri University, St. Louis.^{^[10]} and considered a career in dentistry because one of his uncles was George Ben Wade Winter, a former President of the American Dental Association and an innovator in the use of x-rays and tooth extractions, the later then a leading cause of pain and infection.

Although Dad never spoke much about the war, one of his funniest stores involves the AFS. Once in the western desert around the battle of Tobruk, a British soldier complained that he was hearing voices. Dad asked him where the voices were coming from, and the soldier replied that they were coming from his teeth. After an examination, Dad and others told him that there was a short circuit in the teeth caused by a recent injury and then attached a wire from an ear lobe to the ground and said this would ground the circuit, thus ending the voices; which it did. Just goes to show what a medical background can do for you.^{^[11]}

Dad was recognized for his service by Culver Stockton in a service at Christian Church, Canton Missouri, October 11, 1946, a ceremony attended by both Arthur Faulstich and his wife, and then like most drivers, his service lay forgotten in the mists.^{^[12]} Neither the British nor the American governments recognized the drivers as veterans, according to my father; however, I learned in 2007 that “Your comment that "Neither the British nor the American governments recognized the drivers as veterans" isn't correct as 50% of AFS drivers have been recognized as veterans since 1990.[13]. Of course, the program was approved by the Department of State and the enlistment required Dad to follow the regulations of the British Armies, yet none of that mattered when applying for American veterans rights, given his location I guess. AFS did say that “The AFS drivers were volunteers attached to the British armies. so there's no formal discharge or recognition. However, you could purchase the British medals your father would have received for his service ( The Africa Star, 1939-45 Star and The War Medal) from Spink & Son in London. Here's Spink's website for your information. http://www.spink.com/home_page/index.asp.^{^[14]}

RoederNewsP002

The photograph above was in the archives of the Winter family and comes from St. Louis Post Dispatch. I don’t have a date on it yet. Must have been in October though of 1941, as Dad enlisted on October 13.

Dad’s Address in Saint Louis was 2815 Wheaton Avenue, St. Louis (address of a friend). Next of kin identified as Robert G. Winter (an uncle)-- address Louderman Bldg, St. Louis, Mo.). [15]

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Terminology (most of which were provided by AFS driver Evan Thomas)

Ø Dad:. This is of course my father, Dr Larry Winter Roeder, Phd

Ø RMO: British Regimental Medical Officer. Every infantry battalion or artillery regiment has one, as well as stretcher bearers.

Ø RAP The RMO a Regimental Aid Post – a truck or dugout near battalion HQ and is the first point center of treatment for a wounded man.

Ø Field Ambulance: This is a unit not a vehicle. When a casualty leaves a RAP he goes to a Field Ambulance. Might have 8-12 doctors for example, perhaps employs twenty ambulances. The job of ambulances is to transport patients from the RAP to the ADS and then the MDS, described below.

Ø ADS and MDS: A Field Ambulance is divided into three companies one which establishes an ADS (Advance Dressing Station), while the other two establish MDS, main Dressing Stations to the rear.

Ø CCS or Casualty Clearing Station: Patient are usually carried from the MDS to a Casualty Clearing Station (a very large mobile hospital) by ambulances belonging to a Motor Ambulance Convoy.

Ø Motor Ambulance Convoy: Group of vehicles commanded by a medical corps officer by operated by service corps personnel. Patients transport from the CCS go back to base and general hospitals belonging to a ACC

Ø ACC Ambulance Car Company. Part fo the service corps and commanded by a service corps officer. ACC’s and MAC’s get mixed up.

Ø NAAFI: Navy, Army, Air Force Institute. In other words, the official bar.

afsWWI

Events by the Day 1941-1943

1941

Readers need to be aware that many of the notations are by Arthur Faulstich, who served with my father in ME1 in the American field Service. In his diary called “A Line a Day ,” he makes references to Dad and because many of their experiences were shared, these quotes should present daily life for Dad as well. Also included in this section are photos from my Dad, some of his recollections and some research myself and some of the drivers.

Sunday, Nov 2, 1941 Roeder and others Leave Union Station

dadpassport003

“Left Union Station with Larry Roeder and Tom Depew at noon. Mr. Ganneau Weld was there to see us off. Berth at 12, Slightly tight with bourbon.” Note by Roeder: Ganneau was actually Garneau Weld, a World War One driver.[16]

Monday, Nov 3, 1941

“Arrived in New York 09:30 am. Met Mr. Richmond and others at Headquarters. Lunch at the Automat.^{^[17]} Saw $5 worth of some Dentist. Stopping at the Pennsylvania Hotel^{^[18]}. With Jim Foster from Minnesota. Dinner at Manning Field’s home. Slightly tight.”

Note: Carlos Manning Field was a Lt in ME1, Dad’s unit and came from Pace Institute, Brooklyn, New York.^{^[19]}

Tuesday, Nov 4, 1941 Drinks and Bull with Larry Roeder & Jim

“Up at the crack of noon. Climbed the Statue of Liberty. Bought camera. Leaving Thursday at 2pm. Dinner, taxi, dance, show and a few drinks with Jim and Larry, a bull session and to bed slightly tight.” Dad received his passport which was issued on this Date.^{^[20]}

Wednesday, Nov 5, 1941

“Met the unit from California at Grand Central Station at 8:15pm. Cocktail party at 666 Park Ave., Martinis galore. Burlesque show. Met Larry Conners, Carl Robinson, etc, To bed slightly tight.” Note: The reference to 666 is interesting. The building was constructed in the 1920’s and is considered one of the more interesting town houses in New York. For sale in 2007 for 9 million dollars.

Thursday Nov 6, 1941 Dad Gets Red Cross Geneva Card

Dad’s card is shown in attached powerpoint presentation. According to Faulstich, “Left NY at 3pm. Destination unknown. Received Red Cross arm band, Geneva Card. Stopped in Boston for a dinner given by drivers of last war. (unreadable) train will be fortified with scotch and bourbon.”

Friday, Nov 7^th, 1941

“Rode all day enroute to Halifax Canada. Bunked in a group of the Old Immigration Building. All letters are to be censored.” According to Belshaw, “We gathered in New York city at the beginning of November, entrained Nov 6 for Halifax, joined 20,000 British troops ferried over from the UK, boarded 6 US Navy troop ships and sailed with a US navy escort of one carrier, one cruiser, and half a dozen destroyers. Bear in mind the US was not yet in the war, but here was our navy hauling British troops.”^{^[21]}

Travel on the West Point

Saturday, Nov 8^th, 1941

“Up at 7am for breakfast. Took in the town and detached to watch baggage for 2 hours. Packed and went aboard the US Troop transport West Point about midnight. Twenty one to a room. No room for luggage (some stuff).”

Sunday Nov 9, 1941

“Up at 11am. The ships a crowed mess. Lines of British soldiers, 3 floors down for meal. 2/3 of the AFS complaining. Group leaders went ashore for food. All in all, the whole ships a blinken, bloody mess. No shore leave.”

Monday, Nov 10, 1941

“Still in Harbor at 8am. Sail out 8:30am. Convoyed by 9 destroyers, 2 cruisers, 1 aircraft carrier for our 6 armed troop transports carrying 30,000 troops. All American ships. Gun crews on constant duty ready for action. Food terrible – soup, sausage and bread for dinner on Sun. Hash like rubber with potatoes and bread for breakfast plus stinking tea, but as a whole I’m having a good time. Crashed the Officer’s movie last night. Have a drunken engagement with a member of the crew at 9 tonight. So far Jim Foster and I are getting the lion’s share of what there is to get. All flashlights have been taken for duration of the voyage. Water is very scarce, washing is almost impossible. All radios collected. Mooched some cake from the cook and to bed about 11.”

Tuesday, Nov 11, 1941

“ Looks like our first taste of war. Food rotten and many washing their mess kits in the crapper bowls. Probably one of the most crowded troop ships in the war. It’s a wonderful sight to see the destroyers cruisers and planes on duty protecting the convoy – as there are not enough life boats to hold all, we have no life boat drills. Last night we were supposed to be in the sub zone. No one sea sick yet.”

Wednesday, Nov 12, 1941 Roeder and Faulstich hit the Peanut Butter

“Up at 6:30. Entered the gulf stream and slept on the deck. Army band gave a concert on deck. This evening Larry Roeder and I hit his peanut butter, and I was warned about taking seconds at meals. Damn this ship. At 9pm the bourbon, scotch and rye began to flow freely. Larry Ball becoming blind drunk caused quite a row. Cussing the lily-faced moth eaten limey bastards, he was dropped off to the brig, after two hours of turmoil. Results, Room 58 confined to quarters – Entire room is searched.” ^{^[22]}

Thursday, Nov 13, 1941

“All cameras taken and our entire state-room confined. (unreadable) has it that we will forfeit shore leave in cape Town. All port holes closed at 4:30pm. Cabin sick as hell. Slept in corridor as it rained most of the night.”

Friday, Nov 14, 1941

“Hynes and I to clean cabin today for inspection. Morale among the British troops is surprisingly high although they claim if granted no shore leave at Cape Town they will mutiny. Sleeping conditions unbearable – against orders, Flash Bowen and I slept on deck – due to overcrowded conditions on board. There is rumor we will drop 2100 troops at Trinidad. For breakfast this morning beans, rice, tea.”

Note by Roeder on Crosswell Bowen

crosswell1095501

There were several Bowen as volunteers; but this was Crosswell Bowen who served in ME1. He was Yale student from New York. Later he became the biographer of Eugene O’Neil. ^{^[23]}

According to his daughter Betsy Bowen, “Was an official photographer for AFS and sent them his negatives. Was paralyzed partially from polio that he might have contracted on trip to India. Gave over negatives from hospital bed, which have been since lost. Involved in the end with finding commonality with the wounded. Did a set of memoirs linking German, Italian and allied wounded.[24]

Saturday, Nov 15, 1941 Enter Caribbean Sea

“Up at 5:30. Entered the Caribbean Sea and saw land the first time in six days. Slept on deck, with the stench of 6080 soldiers feet and unbathed bodies.”

Sunday, Nov 16, 1941

“No Mass on board, but I attended the British services, which were very impressive, the prayers and singing of hymns while the cruisers, destroyers and airplanes constantly on guard and gun crews stood ready for action. At about 2 pm the field service went into its first bit of action, about 500 of the soldiers got ptomaine poisoning, while some heroic SB volunteered to give my 3 blankets for their comfort. After 2 hours hunt I finally forced secured them among the sick, which stunk from the vomit and looseness of bowels.”

Monday Nov 17, 1941 Reach Port of Spain Trinidad

No shore leave was allowed The passengers must have been stir crazy,” sixteen to fetid stateroom, portholes tight shut in the blackout.”^{^[25]} “Haircut, shave, shampoo, tonic is an air cooled barber shop on board ship. Dropped anchor at Port of Spain Trinidad. 10:30am Met Joe Reaves, a sailor from St. Louis. Finished the day by frying bacon and eggs with canned heat hidden in the bath room. All in all it was a stinking but rotten, disappointing day.”

Tuesday Nov 18, 1941

A Line a Day “Everyone crying. 30 cases of dysentery in the AFS. Food rotten. Ship stinks. The body odors and crowded quarters stink to high heaven. Joe Reaves brought me a large box of crackers to go with the peanut butter. Bob Sullivan landed in the brig.^{^[26]} The peanut butter turned out to be a life saver about 11pm.

Wednesday, Nov 19. 1941

A Line a Day “Got under way about 3pm. Strong rumors there are submarines about. Everyone putting passports and Geneva cards in waterproof wrappings in money belts. Betting of one to twenty that will be hit by torpedo before sunrise (I think it’s bull ok) I’m more worried about better food than submarines. Stew about 5 meals in succession in a dining room of about 99 degrees.”

Thursday, Nov 20, 1941

“Thanksgiving Day on the USS Stew Point. Very boring day. Movies but too crowded. Rumor has it we dropped several depth charges last night.”

Friday, Nov 21,1941

“Swimming in the indoor pool. The pollywogs raised their flag and turned the ship into turmoil. The shell backs (men who have been over the equator) were drenched, their hair cut in various designs and in general hell was raised over the ship. Ship officers, troop officers, Majors, no was exempt from the razing. Sunday King Neptune will reign and the shell backs will initiate all those who not been across. I shudder to think of my turn.”

Saturday Nov 22, 1941

“Larry Ball broke his ankle trying to escape from the pollywogs last night. At 4pm we had a bit of excitement. A destroyer and airplane sighted a submarine. The alarm sounded and all put on life jackets, filled mussette bags and waited in their state-rooms. In case of trouble, there should be some excitement, as experts claim there would be 90 per cent lost if the ship would sink, due to overcrowded conditions. There are only lifeboats for the crew. None for the troops or the field Service – just found out that several depth bombs had been released, results unknown. God, the peanut butter is a God send.”

Note by Roeder: a musette bag mussette_bag was probably the M-1936, a general purpose carry devise with a long strap used by all services and theaters throughout the war.

Sunday November 23, 1941 On the West Point. Larry Roeder is Observer

westpoint01

Larry Roeder (above) on the sports desk of the West Point as an Observer, I imagine to look for submarine traffic.

westpoint02

Larry above undated photo on West Point

“Swimming in the morning. 3pm. The preliminaries of the initiation began. Meefier and Crosswell Bowen (of unclear text) were tied to the rail and the fire hose turned on them.. The men were called before Davey Jones and his court. Their crimes were read in public and were given some punishment to endure till the following day, when the real initiation of the pollywogs takes place.”

Monday Nov 24, 1941 Dad Crossed Lat zero, Long 40, 28W

Dad Crossed Lat zero, Long 40, 28W on USS West Point bound south for Capetown in Union of South Africa^{^[27]}.

dadpassport007

According to Faulstich “Kept hidden all morning as the initiation of the pollywogs took place. It was very interesting, impressive and colorful performance. In the midst of the celebration a general alarm sounded. A submarine was sighted a few thousand yards from the ship. Depth bombs were dropped but the results were unknown. The celebrating went on as though nothing bad happened. Tar and oil were rubbed over ones head and barbers were in demand and a 100 other means of torture. The day ended successfully as we fried bacon, hidden in the locked bathroom, also peanut butter and oranges.”

Note by Roeder: Judging by many accounts, including that of Faulstich, this must have been quite the voyage, as it was the second operational mission for the West Point, formerly the SS America, America's largest passenger liner. It was also the first time it carried troops. After five days working-up exercises off the Virginia Capes, West Point returned to Norfolk on June 20th 1941, for additional refitting. Appropriately, her first assignment proved to be the ship's first Atlantic crossing. She embarked 137 Italian and 327 German consular officials off Staten Island on 16th July and landed them at Lisbon on the 23rd. With 321 American and 67 Chinese consular staff and their families, West Point sailed three days later for New York and arrived on August 1st. To join the unprecedented American convoy WS-12 carrying British troops a month before Pearl Harbor, West Point sailed from Portsmouth, Virginia, on November 3rd. 1941, to Halifax to embark 5,443 personnel of the British 55th. Brigade, 18th. Division and 100 U.S. Army personnel for Basra. Escorted by the Aircraft Carrier Ranger, cruisers Quincy and Vincennes, and eight destroyers. America was at war by the time Cape Town was reached on December 9th. Thence, West Point and Wakefield proceeded directly to Bombay escorted by H.M.S. Dorsetshire and arrived on the 27th. Dad loved South Africa and Bombay, the first for its beauty. In Bombay, he received training, while it was decided where ME1 would go.

The USS West Point (AP-23),was the converted ocean liner SS America, and the Navy's largest troop transport ship. The troop passengers ate twice daily, out of their mess kits, standing up in their mess hall, perhaps because so many traveled on the ship. On May 27, 1941 President Roosevelt issued a proclamation of Unlimited National Emergency. The AMERICA was drafted into the US Navy and renamed U.S.S WEST POINT. The Ship accomplished 145 missions in the Pacific and Atlantic. Traveled 436,144 nautical miles and carried 505,020 passengers. Reportedly sunk seven times by Axis Sally, she never suffered a mechanical breakdown and never failed to carry out a mission.^{^[28]}

"The Queen of the luxury liners"-in just 11 days she was stripped of her finery and converted into the U.S. Navy's largest troop carrier.; Decommissioned and Transferred the Maritime Commission, 28 February 1946 at Norfolk VA; Struck from the Naval Register, 12 March 1946; Reconverted for mercantile service at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry-dock Co., Newport News, VA; Required by United States Line, renamed SS America; Sold to Chandris Shipping Line, October 1964, renamed SS Australis; Laid up at Timaru, New Zealand, 1977; Sold to Venture Cruise Lines, 1978, renamed SS America; Resold to Chandris Shipping Line, 1978; renamed SS Italia; Sold to Silver Moon Ferries Ltd., renamed SS Alfredoss; Sold 1992 to Chaophraya Transport Co., renamed SS American Star, Final disposition, while under tow grounded and destroyed, January 1994 at Fuertventura Canary Islands. Specifications: Displacement 26,455 t.(lt) 35,400 t.(fl).; Length 723'; Beam 93' 3"; Draft 32' 9" ; Speed 24kts; Complement 512;Troop Capacity 8,175; Armament four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount, four 3"/50 guns, eight .50 cal machine guns; Propulsion, Steam turbine,^{^[29]}

	Just prior to her renaming and dry-docking as the AMERICAN STAR, the former pride of the US merchant marine sat in the waters of Eleusis, unused for thirteen years. She is shown as the ALFERDOSS in October of 1992 in this image. Photo by and copyright Peter Knego^{^[30]}
	SS West Point 1941-1946
SS West Point Engine Room. I visited this room on a cruise after the ship reentered civilian service.

Tuesday November 25, 1941 Boxing Match

“Boxing tourney aboard. Bob Sullivan was in K.O. Nickels lost a close decision. We were told today that our job did not consist of saving lives, but of getting as many men as possible back to the front. Quite a blow to many of the (uncertain text) in the crowd. The latest rumor is the French Fleet is shelling Cape Town and coming to intercept our convoy.”

Note: There was a Nichols in ME1, one Wendell Lloyd Nichols from Brookline, Mass.^{^[31]} Bob Sullivan, of Irish and Boston heritage was in the heavyweight finals against Command Sergeant Major Southgate of the “King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry…. Bill Nichols and Andy Geer were seconds..” Sadly, Sully later died a US marine at the landing of Saipan.^{^[32]}

It looks like a number of AFS volunteers used their experience as a basis for combat duty in one or another armed forces. Scott Gilmore joined the British Gurkas. After the war, my father used his experience to help him join the American Foreign Service in order to start his career in diplomacy.

Wednesday November 26, 1941

“Several boats are said to have been sighted about dusk recently. As they not answer our signaling, evidently they must have been enemy raiders. Raided the kitchen this evening of a good supply of cake.”

Thursday November 27, 1941

“One man overboard. The boat did not stop to pick him up. Aircraft Carrier left us. Raided the troop’s kitchen.”

Friday November 28, 1941

“Dull, dreary, cloudy day. Swimming in the morning. Another general alarm, no subs sighted. Raided the kitchen after blackout, pumpkin pie and cake for Davey Jones, Roeder and myself.”

Saturday, November 29, 1941

“The officers would give us no information as to what happened during yesterday’s alarm. Evidently something did occur, as the officers promised to let us know in a few days. But Sullivan won the heavyweight championship of the USS West Point. Raided the kitchen. Chicken and kid beans.”

Sunday, November 30, 1941

“After three weeks of sailing we finally have an abandon boat drill. It takes us 2 ½ hours to reach a lower open deck, where we are to jump overboard (fine stuff). We are to stand idly by while we watch 6018 Tommies march to salty. (a perfect death trap) The officers claim it’s the best they can so will cross our fingers. Davey Jones, Jim foster and myself seem to be the only ones not starving at night. Awakened at midnight by Jones, who stole a whole roast chicken, hot rolls, tea.”

^{^[33]}

Monday, December 1, 1941

“Just learned that we traveled 100 miles out of our way last Friday to dodge four submarines. A few destroyers left the convoy, if they were successful, no one knows. Had our first 1^st Aid lesson. Again were successful in mooching a midnight snack.”

Tuesday, December 2, 1941

“Traveled about 200 miles in last 24 hours (not so good). Everyone anxiously awaiting shore leave in Cape Town or Durbin. Am officer claimed we have picked up the sound of 4 groups of subs in last few days by sound detectors. As nine bells rings in the USS WP and all lights are out, half of the Field Service begin their nightly prowl for food. Most of the boys are very unsuccessful, but up to now Davey Jones and I have never failed. With our connections we usually are able to dodge all MP’s and have enough, and some to share with others.”

Wednesday, December 3, 1941

Worked with the crew from 9:30 to 11:30am. Ship traveled in three complete circles t avoid something (I wish to hell they would tell us). Davey Jones got a job in the Bakery that means Dear Diary think I’ll eat pleasantly. Spent the evening in the forbidden kitchen with Jim Foster.”

Note by Roeder: : James McDougal Foster was with ME1, a native of Detroit Lakes, Michigan and the University of Michigan, In addition, he was the son of an AFS volunteer from World War One..^{^[34]}

Thursday, December 4, 1941

“Hideous Hynes the Housekeeper, today ended his 7 days fatigue (housekeeping) for dressing like a crew member and eating in their mess hall. Saw “King of Alcatraz.” News Flash. Orders came that everyone caught in the kitchen will forfeit their leave in Cape Town. (I’ll have to be careful tonight.).”

Friday December 5, 1941

“Bad breakfast. Bad dinner, bad supper. A slight argument with the kitchen over a piece of jelly bread ended in my favor. Left the kitchen about 9pm, three steps ahead of an MP with 2 hot loafs of bread and 1 pound of jam.”

Saturday, December 6, 1941

“Another lecture on first aid. Sea heavy and strong winds. Everyone getting ready for a wild time in Cape Town, warned against entering section 6 and drinking “Skorkion.” Again successful at kitchen.”

Sunday, December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor Day

Very cool. At 9pm last night it was light enough to read a newspaper. Another warning. No American money to be used in Cape Town. Our money to be changes to South African pounds on board before leaving. Also do not associate with black women. (I’m afraid the boys won’t draw the color line). Lecture on venereal disease in Officer’s mess. Everyone in good spirits and ready for shore leave. About 11pm while reading in the fire escape I received my fist word of WAR between Japan and USA. Word spread like wildfire and discussions were held in the night.”^{^[35]} My Dad mentioned that some wanted to go into the regular forces but were prevented by their contract, Belshaw made a similar point in a letter to me in which he said “…and about 25 days out and 5 days before we reached Capetown, Pearl Harbor was hit. Some wanted to leave AFS to join regular forces, but the US Stated Department (to whom we answered) said we should stay with AFS because we were already close to helping the war effort.”^{^[36]}

Monday, December 8, 1941

“it is rather hard to realize that we are at war, but everything goes on as usual except a few more rumors. We are traveling due north now and probably have traveled about 10 or 11 thousand miles since leaving Halifax, due to the zig zag course.”^{^[37]}