\By Way of Explanation
My Diary ,with photos , covering the first 6 months of WW 2 has now been posted in full to the Mt Pleasant Pioneer and Relic home Blog and my Blog (leechristensen.blogspot.com). It was serialized so the last section starting with May ’42 comes up first but you can scroll to the first section starting Dec ’41 and then read it thru the four sections.
Some months down the line I’ll post my week long pass in Paris after stopping the Germans during the Bulge but I’ve posted this first so you won’t think my military service was all “wine, women and song”. lee
I started my diary 8th December 1941. Not because that is the day after Pearl Harbor, but because that was the day the 2nd Battalion 222 Field Artillery Regiment was scheduled to leave for the Oakland (California) Port of Embarkation and the Philippines Islands, code name “Plum.”
The attack on Pearl Harbor 7th December drastically altered the schedule but it was 3 days before new orders were issued. In the meantime, we left Camp San Luis Obispo on schedule, motored to San Francisco, crossed the Bay Bridge and spent 4 days at the Oakland Army Base waiting for new orders, unloading our equipment and moving out to a new assignment.
When this diary starts, I’m a gun Sgt in Btry “D”, 2nd Bn 222 FA Reg. 40th Division. When the army modernized the Infantry Division in early 1942 Btry “D” became Btry “A” 204 FA Bn-a separate FA battalion.
Btry “D” (which became Btry “A”) was a Utah National Guard unit federalized 3rd March 1941 and from Mt. Pleasant, Utah. It was still 65% men from in and around Mt. Pleasant on 8th December.
I don’t know how good an Army unit had to be to be sent to the Philippines fall of 1941. But I’ve always thought being selected to go 6 months after going on active duty was commendable recognition. However, after passing the GHQ tests and being selected, all our over age-in-grade officers were reassigned, one of whom was my father, Major Lee R. Christensen. We lost the officers’ who made us good.
The officers we lost went on to lead service units overseas. The Battalion, at the 204th, regrouped, lost many men to other services, OCS, Air Force, and Cadres but earned 5 battle stars in the ETO. (European Theatre of Operation.) By then they had modern equipment; radios, jeeps, machine guns and a 155 howitzer that was not a rusting relic of WWl.
Monday, May 11, 1942
They’ve gone
and done it. The worse has come. We now inspect the trucks be the
numbers. They’re (Duffin) is working on
a method of removing dust from the howitzers by the numbers. God be good to those that cannot count.
The 2nd BN
204 F.A. found this dust haven in the hills today. After they reach a toughened state we’ll both
go to Tennessee.
Sunday,
May 17, 1942
Tuesday was
to be a “gold bricks” holiday. Yes, I
was going to relax and loaf cause it was moving day. I didn’t rush my bed to the new area and
then., sweet dreams. That’s what I
thought. It’s true I hurried my bed roll
to the new dust bowl and just as soon lost it till late at night. The second section was assigned to
constructing the fire pit and soakage sump. (where
the men threw wet garbage and then threw dirt on it) The day was back
breaking and hand callousing. Hell, the digging was tough.
Still in a
digging mood we dug fox holes many and deep Wednesday. Leo Truscott sunk one into the ground four
feet deep and five feet long. It would
have taken a direct hit to neutralize him.
Thursday the
week begins. I was called to appear
before another Officers Candidate board.
Waved my dusty hand at Camp Dust and was toward Naches pass by 10
am. Was calling Ft. Lewis home at 3
pm. “My Favorite Blonde” kept me
entertained during the evening.
Some chain
smoked. A few paced the floor. I chewed gum.
All wondered. A couple crammed. Most thought it too late. Everyone hoped. That was the lobby scene of the exam
room. It was our day. Opportunity was at our door.
“Sgt.
Christensen A Btry 204 F.A. sir.”
“Be seated
Sgt. and make yourself comfortable.”
For the next
15 minutes’ questions on gunnery, ballistics, history and current events were
shot my way. Some I answered, some I
didn’t. I think I got an average
score. Average isn’t good enough.
Chris Madsen
and I did the thumbing, Loyd Adams the talking. Result-- Seattle and the Ice
Follies. The Follies are skaters ahead
of anything I’ve seen in the entertainment field. Handball court No 2 Y.M.C.A. listened to my
snores. *(we slept at the Y.M.C.A.)
McCord Field
was visited by the three A Btry thumbers Saturday. Purpose was to investigate why Chris hadn’t
been called to the air corps. Found nothing.
It was
“thumb up” again to Yakima via Seattle, Washington Lake Bridge and Ellensburg.
Lloyd and I
accepted Vernal Christensen’s hospitality and bedded down in Rex Hafen’s hotel
room in Yakima. Early Sunday morning we
were rolled out and made to sleep on the floor.
Now its home
again. Home again for a long stay.
Monday,
May 18, 1942
The first BN.
204th F.A. got extra duty tonight.
Each and every one of us was marched over to our old camp site and made
to police it up. The band played jolly airs
while we crawled along looking for trash.
Kennedy did a hot jitterbug number that kept us from breaking into
tears. Duffin is sort of tough on us.
Wednesday,
May 27, 1942
Sunlight
minutes crawled hurriedly into Past canyon.
The black hours follow closely.
Time fly’s to my liking.
Rattlesnakes
have supplanted apple blossoms in Yakima valley. It’s a disappointing day if we don’t get five
of the buzzing terrifiers. Nearly
everyone can tell if a close strike, fortunately none have yet been
better. The rattlers are not very large
here and don’t give much warning. The
rattles are retained and worn on the hat of the exterminator.
The second
section was slightly reorganized Monday.
Cpt. John Seely was shifted to the Signal detail while Cpl. Willis Madsen
was assigned to the second gun crew.
Del Ray
Sorensen has gone home on emergency furlough.
Ralph Hill is pushing Prime Mover over hill and dale.
I seem to
have Roy Smitier fixed. We bet on the
Nova-Savold fight with my choice winning.
This makes about the fourth time I’ve collected money from him on bets.
The rains
have been present lately. They keep the
dust settled adding a smile to the day.
I’m lonesome
tonight—couldn’t get a newspaper.
Sunday,
May 31, 1942
I was
painting the worn places on Helens dress when the hint was first dropped. Captain Hatch strolled by and said, “Do a
good job your going to be here only twenty more days.” I didn’t know what he meant tell later Friday
evening.
The order
read “Sgt. Lee R. Christensen Jr. has been accepted as a candidate for Officers
School and he will report to Fort Sill, Oklahoma on or before June 23, 1942.” I had made one bar now to earn the other one. Work, fight, work, you will not fail.
The Japs
continue to scare someone. Yesterday
being a holiday no passes were issued.
It seems that the Japs are going to attack only on holidays.
Tuesday,
June 2, 1942
“Payday!
Payday! What ya gona do with a drunken
soldier “payday! Payday!” That was
yesterday.
“What ya gonna
to do with a killing headache day after!
Day after!” That’s today.
Went into
town last tonight to get John’s quart.
Saw a show and helped Tiger back to camp.
Went into
town today “goldbricking.” (goofing off) Bought me some dark glasses.
Sunset time
found me on hands and knees talking to the “bones.” I must have been convincing as I won fifteen
dollars.
Friday,
June 5, 1942
Just
finished a tour of guard duty. Nothing
got out of the rut. Mother’s package
reached me in non-com meeting. Nothing
to do but open it and pass it around.
The men surely liked the cookies.
Second section has eaten all the rice balls.
(soldier ready for guard duty)
Spirits get
lower and lower as the days hotter and hotter.
No one gives a good hoot in hell for anything. Everyone is trying to get transferred. Duffin the man breaker. To hell with Duffin.
Monday,
June 8, 1942
“Order
Arms.” Shovels and picks were dropped to
order arms in a very military manner. At
that moment Co. Ward ordered Newel Nelson back to the Bty straight for his
shovel. For once a noncom had soldiered
too well with his men. Newel spent
Sunday digging ditches.
Our fat
covered muscles are being pounded into shape by the obstacle course. We run around it at a good lope four times a
day. Look out 4 minute mile.
The O.C.S. men
are starting to brush up on our work. A
good thing. Just as well know all we
can.
The sweet
refrain of cowboy ballads is filling my wigwam. Tonight the mandolin and guitar players of
the BTRY. are here playing. I prefer
this music to any symphony outfit.
Saturday,
June 13, 1942
I’m
off. It’s been a man eating week but I
made it. The airplane motors are
humming, each turn of the prop taking me farther south. The pines, swamps and lakes of Washington are
stretched and hollow. Rivers wind and
twist still smiling in the otherwise black world.
I thumbed
from Yakima Thursday a day ahead of the outlet.
Spent Friday meandering at the Fort trying to get things in order so as
to leave. Saturday, today. I made it.
Leaves BN 204th
(great outfit) for OCS—class 30.
END
BATTERY
OF JUNE 1942
Richard
Atkenson ILL.
George Feck ILL.
Leonard
Flavin ILL.
Joseph Deak
ILL.
Creed
McCormick
Tenn.
Charles Dunn
Calf.
Ralph Hill
Idaho
Arkly Bilby
ILL.
Walter
Goodwin
Utah
Carlton
Iverson Minn.
Samuel Jones Mo.
Walfred
Juntunen Mich.
Donald
Kragskow Neb.
Tomas Kent
Ohio
Estil
Kittinger
Mo.
Robert N.
Kilgour Calf.
Lawrence
Kime Calf.
Oliver
Laubacher Ohio
Russ E.
Lloyd Calf.
Melvin E.
Link Missouri
Louis Seal Calf.
Marrion
Modzeldwski Mich.
John
Morrison Calf.
John L.
Milner Ga.
Wesley Mc
Shan Texas
Roy B.
Nieker Calif.
Ernest Noble Calif.
Thomas
Schwenke Mont.
Clyde Tucker Tenn.
Johnnie
Thomas Tenn.
Vernon True
Calf.
Mike J.
Viola
Calf.
Hugh Wiseman Tenn.
Garvice
Williams Texas
Earl
Williams Texas
William
Vesselius Wash.
Sam H.
Whitman N.C.
Bascum
Westmoreland Texas
Armond W.
Cowles Ill.
Charles D.
Cahill Mont.
George E.
Coles Or.
Lawrence A.
Cooney Calf.
Garner
Jensen Utah
Heber Bagley Utah
Del Ray
Sorenson Utah
Jim Cloward Utah
Hayes Draper Utah
Wilber Baxter Utah
Spencer
Thompson Utah
Vernan
Christensen Utah
Larmar
Barney Utah
MT. PLEASANT MEN
William Beck
Oscar
Frandsen
D.H.
Christensen
Carole
Staker
 |
Gordon Staker |
 |
Dean Staker |
Floyd
Syndergard
La Mar
Syndergard
Willbur
Rasmussen
Paul B.
Seely
Boyd Seely
John R.
Seely
Rex Hafen
Newel Nelson
Ned
Stansfield
Boyd
Stansfield
Ben
Rasmussen
Mont
Rasmussen
Perry Peel
 |
Lynn Poulsen |
 |
Micky Nelson
Leslie
Nelson
Tom Pace
Eugene
Rosenlof
Willis
Rosenlof
Lauren Coats
Melvin
Davidson
Delmar Beck
Shirley
Madsen
Boyd Hansen
Veron Draper
Quantin
Hansen
Mont
Christensen
Frank Reusch
Willis
Madsen
Earl
Christensen
Vel Trascott
|
Parnell Wilcox
Dick Erickson
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