Grandfather's Diary CBI

Ok, just joined the other day and posted in New Member's Forum. I was directed here for the information I wish to share. I have my grandfather's diary and thought the information would be of use here. He received the diary on June 7, 1945. It is a 5 year diary so he went back on the days he remembered in 1944 as well as wrote daily on the events of the day. I am pressed for time so I will try to get a few day's worth every so often. The inside of the book says "Near Burma in Northeast India" g/sgt (not sure that is right) Harvey J. Reed US Army Air Forces Received by mail at Chabua , Assam, India on June 7, 1945 from Helen (his sister) Victor George Field Fear Easy 1333 AAF B.U.

 

Sat May 20 1944 Left home today at 1pm for Greensboro, NC Mabel (his wife) went with me as far as St. Louis (from Leadwood, Mo). Left St. Louis at 10pm on Dixie
Sun May 21 1944 Arrived Nashville, Tenn. at 9am. Left at 11am. Arrived at Knoxville at 3pm. Arrived at Atlanta Ga at 7pm. Left at 10pm
Mon May 22, 1944 Slept all night on train. Arrived at Greensboro, NC at 12 noon. Went to camp at 2pm in truck. Sorry sight.

 

Sun June 4, 1944 KP all day. Received wire that Mabel would be down Wednesday
Mon June 5 1944 Drilled all day. Very tired.
Wed June 7 1944 Transferred to sec. V. Got pass at 1200. Stayed until 2200 and she didn't come. She got in at 2230.
Thurs June 8 1944 Pass held up because of shipping orders. Finally got pass at 9pm. Sure glad to see Mabel. Live at 510 W. Wash.

 

more later....

 

June 12 1944 Hiked 10 miles to Rifle Range near Camp Herman. We will stay there awhile. Long way to go to town.
June 13 1944 Put up tent. I got one to myself. My tent mate was on furlough
June 14 1944 Got pass as usual for town. I hope I get to stay for awhile. Cost alot to live.
June 15 1944 Bad storm this afternoon. Lightening struck Mess Hall. Rifle Range near Greensboro NC
June 19 1944 Heavy storm this afternoon. Fired M-3 this afternoon. Went to town to see Mabel.
June 20 1944 Marched back to Greensboro. Got in about 12. Got pass for town.
June 21 1944 Got orders to ship today. I guess this is my last night with Mabel.

 

June 22 1944 Hated to leave Mabel this morning. Shipped out but don't know where. We left at 9pm.
June 23 1944 Arrived at Camp Patrick Henry, VA about 9am. Things sure look dismal.
June 24 1944 Stayed in barracks all day. No mail from home.
June 26 1944 We packed our duffel bags. It looks like this is it.

 

June 27 1944 Nothing much happened. Took physical exam. It was a laugh.
June 28 1944 Made out extra allotment and bond. I won't need much money overseas.
June 29 1944 Left Camp Patrick Henry by train for Hampton Roads, POE. Left port at 2pm on General A.E. Anderson Sailed without escort, bearing S & SE.
June 30 1944 Sailed south. Two meals a day on board. Sea smooth.
July 1 1944 Sailed south all day, passed San Salvador Island in afternoon. Feeling pretty good so far.
July 2 1944 Sea got a little rough. Set watch back one hour at 7pm Must be in Carribean Sea.

 

July 3 1944 Sailed south all day. Arrived at Panama City in pm about 7:30. Sea was rough and choppy all day.
July 4 1944 Started going through canal at 10am. Went through Gatum (?) locks. Went through Muaflorea lake and locks in pm.
July 5 1944 Sailed south on Pacific all day. Sea calm. Felt a little sick.
July 6 1944 Crossed equator at 7am. Turned watch back 1hr. Sailed southwest
July 7 1944 Sailed south by west. Sea calmer. Clear weather.
July 8 1944 Had ceremony for initiating pollywogs to shellbacks most of the day. Turned back watch 1hr. 10th day on ship.
July 9 1944 Attended church on boat.

 

More to come. Is anybody interested in this or is it a waste of time?

 

Ok here is some more
July 10 1944 Fair and cool. Sea calm. Turned watch back 1 hr.
July 11 1944 Fair and cool, nothing of importance happened. Sea calm.
July 12 1944 Turned watch back 1 hour. Attended church service. Fair and cool stayed on deck almost all day
July 13 1944 Cloudy and cool. Turned watch back 1hr. 6th time
July 14 1944 Cloudy and cold. Sea rough.
July 15 1944 One man died on ship and was buried at sea. cloudy and cold light rain. Turned watch back 1hr 7th time.
July 16 1944 Cloudy and cold. Can't get on deck. Turned watch back 1hr. 8th time
July 17 1944 Cloudy and cold. Sea rough.
July 18 1944 This day lost in crossing the international date line.
July 19 1944 Passed New Zealand. Saw mts. In Cooke's Strait. Large birds about ship. Cold out on deck. Watch back 1hr. 9th time.
July 20 1944 Cloudy and cold. rain. Received new meal ticket. 21st day on ship.
July 21 1944 Turned watch back 1hr. 22nd day on ship. Fair part of day, little rain.
July 22 1944 Arrived off coast of Australia. Docked at Melbourne at 6pm.
July 23 1944 Worked on docks all day. It was very cold. Attended church in evening.

 

July 24 1944 Left Melbourne at 11am. Stood on promenade deck and watched ship being turned around. Set watch back 1hr. 11th time
July 25 1944 I know I'm headed to India. Received book on India. Pulled KP to have work to do.
July 26 1944 Sea very rough. Got on deck one time. Waves washed over deck. Wind blowing hard and very cold
July 27 1944 Another stormy day. Ship tosses like a paper box despite it's 29,000 tons and 6000 people on board.
July 28 1944 Cloudy and cold. Sea rough. Turned watch back 1hr. 13th time. didn't get on deck much. Pulled KP
July 29 1944 Sea calm. Not so cold. In Indian Ocean course NW.
July 30 1944 Fair and warm. Near equator. Stayed on deck when not working. Homesick.
July 31 1944 Fair and warm. Didn't work. Getting tired of the sea. No soft(?) water showers. Turned watch back 1hr.
Aug. 1 1944 Fair and warm. Attended church. Heard Martha Johnson sing. Nice day.
Aug 2 1944 Fair and hot. Turned watch back 1/2 hour. Slept on deck. Beautiful starry night.
Aug 3 1944 Nice and warm, too warm. Stayed on deck all day and night.
Aug 4 1944 Cloudy and hot. Two British destroyers as escort for rest of voyage. Crossed equator 2215 turned watch ahead 1hr.
Aug 5 1944 Fair and hot. Slept on deck as usual. Heat broke out on me from working in mess hall. In Arabian sea.

 

Aug 6 1944 Hot and fair. Stayed on deck most of day and night. No land in sight since left Melbourne
Aug 7 1944 Arrived at Ballard Pier Bombay. Very homesick. Nothing seems real. Had to stay on ship that night. Little sleep.
Aug 8 1944 Left ship at 8am. Went to RAF camp Camp Worbeli (?), in trucks. First view of India. Put in large barracks.
Aug 9 1944 Received my first mail in India. Attended orientation and classification. Rained all day.
Aug 10 1944 Hot and rainy. Didnt do much but read and write letters. Walked along coast and bargained with natives.

 

That is all for now. Hope you all are enjoying. Please do not use any of this without my permission. Thanks

 

Thanks for what you are doing!

 

This i great! Please share more.

 

I'm reading too - keep it going (sorry we should have said something earlier)

 

MORE.......MORE.......MORE

Eager to read about his voyage back to the USA after V-J Day

 

Thanks everybody, had some issues today, our daughter was in a rollover accident (she is fine). I'll post more real soon. Glad everybody is enjoying!!!

 

Aug 11 1944 Rec'd shots.
Aug 12 1944 Went to Bombay. Ice Cream at Red Cross. Saw Gate Way India Hanging Gardens. Big fire destroyed most of city zoo.
Aug 13 1944 About hot. Women trying to sell babies for 2 annas (4cents) Men and women building barracks.
Aug 14 1944 Did nothing but lay around the camp. Played checkers with Charles Krantz.
Aug 15 1944 Received pay for June and July in am. Wrote home. Ate at Cafe Victory. Talked with RAF soldiers.
Aug 16 1944 Rain. Around camp all day. Saw movie in camp Allied theatre
Aug 17 1944 Rain again. Watched women building barracks. Bought Mabel a pillow top.
Aug 18 1944 Nothing new. Went to show in evening. English USO show. Still raining but cool.
Aug 19 1944 Walked along Arabian sea coast. Talked to Indians. Rode around on bicycle.
Aug 20 1944 Received mail again. On guard duty most of the night. Rained.