
NOEMFOOR QUARTERS - This
view of the "street" where Battery "B" of the 462d Parachute Field
Artillery Battalion resided during October 1942
Sgt Rice explained that Mac
walked into his tent and unfolded a rough sketch of a proposed underground
subway running the entire length of "B" Co's street. He then explained to
Sgt Rice that the troops could ride up to the orderly room during rainy
weather, plus they would not have to walk on the hard coral surface of which
Noemfoor was composed. Mac further suggested that Sgt. Rice bring this
matter to the CO's attention for his consideration and comments on the
proposed project.
Just what Sgt Rice did about the
situation at that particular time I do not remember. However, we both agreed
that Mac was either coming loose at the seams, or that he was just
having a bit of fun at the expense of Sgt. Rice.
Actually to the best of my memory nothing
much else was ever said about the matter while we were still on Noemfoor
awaiting our next assignment, which was to be a move to Leyte, P.I. in late
1944.
We arrived on Leyte where, I guess , we
could be considered at that point as being held in reserves just in case we
are needed.
Somewhere between the proposed subway on
Noemfoor and our arrival on Leyte I end up with Mac in my squad.
Somewhat later word comes down that we
are to prepare for the Mindoro operation and, of course, we get prepared.
Then comes the day we are to load on an APD (Assault Personnel
Destroyer) for the trip to Mindoro, or whereever we are supposed to
land.
I decided to check the squad one last
time, to see that each man has the necessary equip, ammo, rations, etc.
I assign this task to Charlie Boyes from Mobile, Alabama. He makes the
rounds checking the squad and then comes back to me, shaking his head and
grinning. I said "What's the matter, Charlie?"
He said "It's Mac - you know what that
crazy bastard said to me when I asked him where his entrenching tool was?
I said, "I have no idea."
Charlie tells me that when he checked Mac
that his entrenching tool is missing and when he asked Mac why he didn't
have an entrenching tool, that Mac looked at him and said, "Who the hell
needs an entrenching tool on the steel deck of a destroyer, you certainly
don't think I can dig in on that thing, do you?"  |