August 19th 1944-First full day in France, Holding area B

"8/19/1944
Camouflaging vehicles with nets as hedgerows
G.M.C. to showers through rain-No shower
4 man tent with Hope, Mac and Kindel. Sponge bath and shave"

Lu's Memoirs: As we began our first day in 'combat' I'm not sure how many of us knew whwere we were going or what our objective was. We were not exactly in close contact with the enemy while in 'Holding Area B', but our first orders were to drape our newly woven camouflage nets over the vehicles and to pitch our 'pup tent' in places that were as inconspicuous as possible.
Just before leaving England I began writing and abbreviated journal in a small 3" x5" loose leaf note book. On Aug. 19 I noted that besides camouflaging the vehicles near the hedgerows, I pitched a four man pup tent with Hope, Mac and Kindel, also that we took off in a G. M. C. to where some showers were supposed to be. The only showers we found were the rain drops that fell on the truck, and there were plenty of those.
Then I noted that I began a very close relationship with my helmet. If you can't shower, you need a wash basin, and the helmet of WWII made a first class bucket for carrying water, and tub for washing clothes, for shaving and for sponge baths. With a limited supply of water, and an even more limited source of hot water, there was always a film of soap clinging to the inside of the helmet, along with the associated odors.
By the end of the day all elements of the 16th F. A. O. B. were together and ready for our first assignment.

From Cliff Hope's book: The next day we camouflaged our vehicles with those nets we had complained about so fiercely. Attempts to find a field shower were unsuccessful. In the afternoon a heavy rain was followed by a rainbow and a beautiful sunset, brilliant yellows and pinks in large clouds. I read a condensation of A Bell for Adano and answered letters I had received before we left England