Starting in November we were destined to experience a period of constant movement Leaving Camp HAAN we first hit Camp YOUNG then on to FREDA and finally to NEEDLES. While at Freda we were with the 4th Armored Division and proved that a good AA outfit could keep up with armor. While with the tankers we ate more dirt and dust than one could possibly imagine. More than once we could not see more than two feet in front of us for the flying dust.
Even through we spent a long time on the desert we always were in good health. And that burning sun browned many a body in the 440th. Perhaps our inherent ruggedness can be traced back to the rough and tumble life we lead while on California's Sands of Hell.
After bouncing around the Desert with innumerable units, to name a few--4th Armored Div., 7th Armored Div., 8th Infantry Div., 77th Infantry Div., 9th Armored Div., 6th Motorized Div., and the 6th Armored Div., somebody up the line decided that we had had enough training for a while and alerted us for overseas movement. But for some reason or other it fell through and we stayed for a while longer. About that time some of us began to think that we would never get overseas at all. Then when we packed up all our belongings and moved lock stock, and barrel to the east we were sure we would not get overseas, we thought!
The place was Goffs and the time was 30th August 1943 the reason--a change of station. It was also a change of climate too from the blazing sun of the desert to the green hills of' Virginia.
Remember how we had to wait hour after hour for the train to leave, more or less sweating it out. The train ride itself was none too pleasant although we did have a place of sorts to sleep. About half of the time was spent in poker and the like. A lot of money changed hands during the trip. But when we finally got to our new station we were not too displeased for we really lead the "Life of Reilly" at Camp PICKETT. That train ride will probably be remembered by more than just the members of the 440th. Every time we stopped there was a mob of civilians at the station to welcome us. Some of the boys made dates that were impossible to keep, that is impossible for some of them. Those that were made near the end of the journey dill go balk a couple of times to those station
acquaintances.
Camp PICKETT the place of eggs for breakfast, steak for dinner, and chicken on Sundays. We really ate well while at PICKETT if we didn't do anything else. All the Batteries were set up in the woods with tents and winding walks through the trees. It was really a pretty layout all-told.
Yes we led a soft life at PICKETT but we sure made up for it when we moved to Camp Stewart in Georgia. It was training from dawn to dusk and half the time after dusk. At STEWART we went through twenty-two weeks of training in a mere five weeks. Those rookie outfits really marveled
at the way we seemingly could do anything and do it well.
There at STEWART the gunners had another chance to exercise their firing pedals. We had all kinds of firing at various ranges there, even shot at radio controlled planes. Incidentally making the controlling radio man do a little sweating. That plane was practically standing on its tail. Then too we cracked the standing record on the anti-tank range, which was no mean feat in itself. We can afford to give ourselves a pat on the back for the work we did at STEWART as well as having the admiration and respect of the post commander. Many a battalion there envied the 440th!
Remember too the physical aspects of the place. We were really a healthy lot. Hikes night and day, climbing up and down the side of a simulated ship, infiltration courses and plenty more. The physical fitness test they put us through was a snap after that. Which incidentally the Battalion came through with flying colors.
Then came furloughs for everyone, some went clear across the "States" and others were more lucky with just a short distance to their homes. At any rate there was a certain tension in the air, a feeling that it was just barely possible that we might go overseas after all. Then sure enough we received movement orders, at long last were slated for combat!
Once again we packed up our equipment only this time leaving our trucks and guns behind. Leaving Camp STEWART for good we wondered what might be in store for us. Our P. O. E. turned out to be Camp SHANKS in New York. We had physical examinations and crated more of our equipment and learned about censorship, tested our gas masks, went to movies, and in general got
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