“This Diary has for obvious reasons neglected to record many of the more gruesome experiences which go hand in hand with war and as a result must be supplemented by the memories of a none too retentive mind.” Vernon C. Goetz 1The signature may have been added later as it is written in a different…

Thursday, 28 September 1944 Camp Kilmer, New JerseyI awakened about 0630. It was just an ordinary morning, a bit on the unpleasant side, but it was also the day for which we had waited so long. After giving the men a cheery good morning I packed my personal equipment & clothing and spent the rest of…

Friday, 29 September HMT, Highland Monarch [continued from previous page] …alongside. Spent most of the morning forming the convoy. Estimate about 40 vessels including escort. Hard to describe either the view or my feelings. Breakfast at 0830. Service (self) Food (terrible). Difficult to understand the English Crew. By noon, we were out of sight of land, sailing…

Sunday, 1 October [1944]. HMT Highland MonarchDays run 318 miles (total 697). Naturally we are all guessing as to our destination. Most of us think that it is England (I hope so). We haven’t sighted land since leaving New York. We picked up more vessels today, probably about 60 ships in our convoy by now.…

Tuesday, 3 October [1944] HMT, Highland Monarch Days run 320 miles (total 1339). We moved our watches up another hour today making a total of two. Had our usual boat drill, inspection of quarters and game of poker. The ocean is really giving out today, the roughest I have seen it. The men (most of…

Thursday, 5 October [1944] HMT, Highland Monarch[Continued from previous page] I am sure that most of the men enjoyed them. The ship is fitted with a loud speaking, system that is very good. We have music all day long and receive an occasional news broadcast from the B.B.C. They show movies in the enlisted mens…

Saturday, October 7, 1944 HMT, Highland Monarch[Continued from previous page] several of the Sub Chasers began dashing around tossing ash cans all over the place. The water would shoot a hundred feet into the air. I don’t know whether they got the subs or not – at least they chased them away. I wonder if…

Monday, 9 October [1944] HMT, Highland MonarchDay’s run 321 miles (total 3211.) Bob and I awakened this morning rather early and believe it or not land Ho. Any land would have looked good, but because we now knew that it was England, we were very cheerful. The entire army personnel is in good spirits today.…

Wednesday, 11 October [1944] Camp “G” Newbury, EnglandMiserable weather all day. We are living in tents, all of our men except 25 were sent to other camps for details, to last from 3 days to 3 weeks. We converted our American money into English currency. The first mail came in today, 3 letters. I got…