September 15th Journal Entry- Entertainment

Sept-15- G.I. show at Landerneau-

Barron Elliot & Band
Dave Shriner
Camel Caravan
Mouth Organ

Baron Elliot

Uncle Sam Drafts the Baron

Charles Craft, aka the Baron, continued to be a band leader in the U.S. Army. He was assigned to the the 35th Special Services Company in Europe and became a staff Sargent. He organized an orchestra and produced camp show titled "Broadway in Khaki" that was performed throughout the European theater. Before the Normandy invasion his show was staged for troops in England, Wales, and Scotland. Four weeks after the Normandy landing his musical troop was sent to France to entertain GIs at hospitals and in the R&R areas near the front lines. They followed fighting forced into Belgium, Luxemburg, and Germany.

Elliot's army troop was performing in the Belguin town of Malmedy in December 1944 when the Germans launched the Battle of the Bulge. Elliott and his band were were given weapons and fought to defend the town. Elliott's daughter said in an interview "During the Battle of the Bulge he slept with his saxophone on one side and his gun on the other side," Elliott was awarded a Bronze star for his combat action.

Battalion History: 15 September Offensive open all along Crozon Peninsula. German attacks and counterattacks on Brest front repulsed. (And Again from the record: "Friendly sappers, on a mission of demolishing mines and booby traps, encountered one of the microphones of the sound base. Believing it to be a mine, they decided to dynamite the microphone. Fortunately, they were intercepted by members of this battalion before any damage was done.")

Comments

Journal Entry March 27, 28th And Battalion history

March 27 Crashed B-24 March 28 Put in mike base-taped-Jeep broke tape at road intersection. Put in flash OPs. Picked up Helmet, leather. Battalion History: On 28 March, headquarters of the Barnstorming 16th crossed the Rhine, followed the next day by the Letter Batteries. With advancing armor taking the fight out of the Germans, the 16th found itself scouring the woods around Henmethal --- for prisoners, souvenirs and eggs. Souvenirs and eggs were more plentiful than prisoners. From Ray Hight's book: By the time the 285th crossed the Rhine toward the end of March, much of the area was in American hands and things were moving so quickly we hardly had time to set up. The German forces were pulling back, and there was very little opposition as we crossed the southern part of Germany almost up to the boundary of Czechoslovakia.

Welcome to Camp Kilmer New York-Newsletter

Nov 26th 1945 To Leona from Wes Hill

Nov 26, 1945 Luzon Dear Leona: Well here I am still but not for long. No kidding a dream. A long worn out Dream is coming nearer to reality. I will be home some time in January. Unless orders change. But up to now we sail or get on a boat on the 10th of December. I'm about going Nuts for that is only 15 Days away. All the 70 bomber have gone to Manila last week & we are the first to go as a Unit. with 60 to 69 pointers exclusive. So you know what that means from now on there is no use in writing for the Post Office readdresses to my home address. so here I am. and not a darn thing to write about. Our old Outfit Broke up and so I'm in the 736th AAA Gun Bn. which is second on the list. for shipment. 43,000 men are going to shipped from the AAA this December on 147 Troop Transports. So I'll see you after I walk out of the Gates of Fort Douglas or should I call you up for Instruction on how to get around Salt Lake. Well that's too far ahead to think clear...

Winsor War Notes-Luther Snow Winsor's WW II experiences

Search This Blog