As it is now Aug. 5th I shall very skimpily go over the preceding few days. I had no book in which to write. Hence, no write.

Aug 1: We were flown down here by Brock and we arrived in a complete crew about 11:00 a.m. Made it up here in an hour. This place is the 7th Replacement Depot located outside the city of Naples. Here we live 6 men in a tent and eat out of mess kits. First time I have eaten this way since I first entered the Army. Here we met Sudin, Coll and King - and Siegel who are also sweating a boat home.

Aug 2: Got plenty of sleep. In the evening we saw a USO show. 4 gals singing and dancing. The mike was out of order and no one enjoyed the show.

Aug 3: Spent the whole day at the Red Cross Club. It was formerly a college for underprivileged children, then taken over by Germans for barracks, now used for a club by the Yanks. Really a beautiful place. At nite saw "Holy Matrimony." At least we saw about 5 min. of it then left - stinkeroo!!

Aug 4: Laid around all day. Getting very lazy. Slept all afternoon. Played casino with Taylor at night. Beat him too.

Aug 5: I went to Naples with Boles. Galavanted around town all day. Had our caricatures drawn. Ate dinner at ATC snack bar at apt. Ate supper at 12th A.F. rest camp mess. Double helping of ice cream. Bought new hat, etc. Came back tired.

Went again to Naples with Ish. Ate dinner at Churchill Downs. Walked around the docks. Had our snapshot taken - lousy as usual. Went to the Orange Club at nite. Just like Butch Marten's Terrace Garden. Beautiful nurses, outside, soft lights, good dance music and juice to drink. Ran into Ruth Jane Lewis, a nurse with whom I went to Madison High.

Lounged around all morning. Censored a little mail for a change. Boy, I get sore when I see how easy some of these guys "overseas" really have it. Like the doctors and permanent personnel - with their own private jeeps, cars and drivers. What a life. And us poor guys who are really winning the war are considered just so much extra - "combat men" - scum. Oh well, such is life. Am lounging around all this afternoon.

Boles and I go to town again. We ate dinner at the 12th A.F. mess and went roaming around town. Got me a good haircut finally. Boy, those guys in France are really going. OK by me. Drank champagne in a beer joint - gabbed with a bunch of sailors. Across the street was a plugged up water main in the sidewalk. Kids were drinking out of it, washing dishes, kids washed their feet in it, horses drank out of it. What a sight. Champagne real cold is a darn good drink. Went up to the Orange Club and ate supper. Had real fresh beef, french fries and squash, soup, coffee, chocolate pastry and ice cream. Hung around drinking juice for a while. Came home about 9:00.

Fisher put in for an airplane to fly home. Washed and ate breakfast (first time in ?). Was the first guy in line when the PX opened. Bought a Ronson lighter for $2.00 for future use. Also rations. Slept all afternoon. Played casino with Taylor and won $2.75. Not bad. Had a big gab session about women and stuff and went to bed. Oh, yes, finally got two letters from Adele dated July 19 and 26. Showered and picked up QM  laundry. Lot of rumors floating around here.

Ate breakfast, laid around reading Radio Romances. What a crazy magazine. Went to the Red Cross Club in the afternoon but they had no ice cream. Boy, was I mad when I started dressing to go out. I looked through my laundry and found, first of all, that they lost the top of my blue striped pajamas and substituted a too small khaki shirt. Also, the khakis were just washed and not pressed and also they gave me back 2 pairs of pants which weren't even mince. One pair was too long and the other too short. I almost didn't go but Fish talked me into it. There I wrote to Adele, Mom and Eli Miller.

Ate breakfast and lay on my bed all morning reading and trying to press a pair of pants under my blanket (mattress). Censored a few letters - just filled pen. For the past 3 days the PX has been out of cigarettes and the poor smokers are going wild trying to beg, borrow, or steal smokes - tsk tsk. Anyhow, today they finally got in some Pall Malls and declared an open sale so everyone took off for the PX - like a thundering herd in a cloud of dust. Slept this afternoon until the heat of the sun woke me. Got up and combed my now very short hair down and washed up a bit. In the evening about 6:30 Fish and I took a blanket and went to the movies which started about 9:00. We saw "Up In Mabel's Room," which was a hilarious comedy. It was the most entertaining funny picture I have seen in years. We all laughed until we cried. Dennis O'Keefe and Gail Patrick and Mischa Auer. At the nightly news report things sounded mighty encouraging with the Russians rolling and the Marines cleaning up in the Pacific and the Yanks only 40 miles out of Paris. Multo Bonno. Wrote a big long (?) letter to Adele - 5 pages - 2 lines.

Plenty of rumors floating around this place like mad. Lounging around this morning as per usual. Shaved myself. Gee, these new razor blades are sharp. Oh well, I've got a lot of blood. Went to the Red Cross in the afternoon but again no ice cream. Wrote to Adele and to Annette Brown. Came back and CE, Fish and I reminisced for hours about our previous combat and training experiences. Slept darn good all night.

Didn't even get up for breakfast. Got up later, washed, brushed my teeth, shaved and am now lounging and eating Pep-o-mint life savers. Ate dinner, feh, and went to Red Cross and this time I got ice cream - 4 dishes of it plus a sweet bun and punch. Wrote to Adele, Mom, and to A.P.O. 558 for my long-lost cleaning. Saw Jerome's name in the New York register. He was there July 8th, the same day I finished my missions. Came back around 5:00 p.m. and right away I put my good pants back under the bed. Tonite we had a hot casino game. Fish and I against Taylor and Sierbe, and we lost 3 out of 5 but it was a battle. Played way into the darkness by candlelight. Rumors are still being spread around here like mad.

Breakfast consisted of coffee, oatmeal, bacon, and two hard boiled (fresh) eggs. Laid around all morning, played casino with Taylor quite a while and read several stories in Redbook magazine. Sunbathed for about an hour, then took a shower. No ice cream at the Red Cross today so I didn't go there. But tomorrow!!!

Didn't go to Red Cross as everyone was alerted and restricted. So far everyone but Fisher and me are slated to go tomorrow. They better get in on it in a hurry or I'll be mad, but good!!! Boles and Taylor are leaving tomorrow but still Fisher and I are not on orders - doggone it! Played casino at night.

Finally got on orders to leave here at 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 17th. That's tomorrow on a boat called "Santa Paula." Spent all day packing and marking baggage. Taylor left already on another boat and Boles is also gone. Just Fish and I are left and he leaves at 3:30 in the morning. Today I got 5 letters - 3 from Adele, one from Jerome and one from Mom. This is to be my last night with Fisher. It will sure hurt to say so long to him. We played cards and then we went to the movies and saw "Guadalcanal Diary" (again). Came home and went to sleep around 12. At about one we had an air raid and everyone awoke and donned their steel helmets. Boy, did I look cute in my pajama bottoms, bare feet and clumsy helmet - half asleep. Anyhow, no one dropped bombs but we sure put up a heck of a lot of flak. It was one of the most impressive sights I have ever witnessed - the thousands of piercing red tracer shells streaking through the inky blackness of the sky. Beautiful indeed - as if war could ever be beautiful!! At 3:00 a.m. everyone was awakened for the shipment out at 3:30 a.m. Fisher was on this. There wasn't much fanfare to our adieu - we just shook hands, said "so long" and I said I would write to him and send some pictures. That was all. I shined my flashlight on him as he stumbled through the black night heavily laden with his bags. Presently he rounded a corner, went behind a tent and went out of my life. Just like that. A guy to whom I actually owe my life and freedom. A pal, buddy, father, teacher and inspiration if there ever was one. So ends the story of Ray Fisher and crew #3-0-58.

I went back to sleep - dead tired. Carried my bags to the Race Track at 11:30. We rode on trucks to the docks. Boarded the boat "Santa Paula," a former Grace luxury liner. And now at 8 PM here I am. We live 12 men in a room on improvised cots. Not much room to move around. But my bed is right next to the only two open port holes so it's not too bad. Tonite we had a grand "civilian" meal. Linen tablecloths, soup cups, soup spoons, grand hunks of beef, cabbage, fresh potatoes, coffee and rice and lemon dessert. Oh boy, oh boy, am I gonna love this trip if the chow keeps up. Slept good all night.

Had the most wonderful breakfast today. 2 fresh fried eggs, big thick slice of ham, fried potatoes, ice water, fruit juice, coffee, marmalade, plum jam, 4 slices of bread. Oh, this food is going to ruin me. We are still sitting in Naples harbor at 12 o'clock noon. It's plenty cool in our room now with both of our port holes wide open. I wish we'd gget started. About 3:00 PM we finally took off. A nice calm ride, i hope. Another boy in my room is from home - Drake from Lyell Ave. Found out that my pal Siegal is from Rochester. In all the time we knew him I never knew where he came from. Queer. Met a guy named "Lou" West who just came from Decimo in Sardina. He knows Jerome and says he is doing O.K. Tonite for supper we had another super meal. We were picked for guards today. 4 men to each hold, to work on 8-hour shifts. I go to work at 7:00 AM. I was surprised today to find out that Joe B. Stuart, our engineer, is on this boat. He's going to Louisiana. Flash - for the first time in my young sweet life I shaved myself without the loss of any blood whatsoever!! Took a picture of the harbor and the Isle of Capri.

These meals are ruining me. Already my stomach is on the bum from eating so much and so good. Today I go on guard duty from 3 PM to 11 PM. Very lovely. Smooth trip so far. Swell escort of six destroyers. I sat out on deck for 8 hours. Watched crap games, etc. Met a guy named Joe Tripoli from Yussel Ave. and we gabbed about all the people we know in common - Molly Miller, Ossie Sussman, etc. Came in and slept like a rock until about 7:30 AM. We have to conserve our water supply as fresh water is limited. Water in the tap is salt water, and I can say it's no fun showering in it.

Still wearing the same dirty old set of khakis but why change for this dirty trip. It's "good enough," to quote my Poppa! Learning how to play cribbage, another card game. Had another grand breakfast today but didn't eat any noon meal because I ate too much to start off with, besides my stomach is still kind of on the bum -and besides, all they have for the noon meal is sandwiches and coffee. Only two big meals a day. So far this trip has been wonderfully smooth. Can't even hear or feel the engines - as we near the Rock of Gibraltar.

Went on guard last nite at 11 PM and slept out on deck until 2:00 AM when it became so windy that I went inside and slept until 6:15. Then outside again, and I was relieved at 7:00. Didn't feel like eating breakfast so didn't eat. Slept all morning. We are now flanked by Africa on our left and Spain on our starboard. We have plenty of good recorded music all day long. Bing Crosby is the popular favorite. Have heard several "Hit Parades" with the Voice and all the songs from "Oklahoma." Also we have our daily newspaper called the "Galley Gazette" giving us all the latest news and ball scores. Am now reading "Dangling Man," a story of a young man trying to make a hermit out of his inferior complex life, by Saul Bellow. Slept peacefully last night. Passed Rock of Gibraltar at midnight. I opened the port hole and looked out. It was quite dark and all I saw was lights from the Rock but could not distinguish the fortress's stony features. We are now in the Atlantic Ocean heading west.

The ocean is more rough than the sea and today I am standing guard from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Many of my men are bedridden because of seasickness but I, of course, must set an example for my men and carry on. Oh yeh, oh my poor stomach. Am now reading "Slim," a story of the guys who lay telephone wires and erect poles. Henry Fonda played in the movie version.

Today we picked up in our convoy a large aircraft carrier loaded with planes and also several other destroyers. Bing Crosby is singing, "It's Always You." Remember? Kate Smith's program is now on "Stardust." It seems mighty funny not to be writing to Adele every day. But soon she'll be getting a big present - that's me. Joke!!! Song: "Who Hit Annie in the Fanny with a Flounder?" Had mince pie for dessert tonite. I didn't care for the inside but the crust was light, flaky and delicious. I ate it all up en masse. Was supposed to be on guard from 3 to 11 p.m. but spent most of it in bed. Got my 5 candy bar rations today and I already ate 4 of them. Took another lovely salt water bath tonite. Shouldn't be over 7 or 8 days from now on home, I hope.

Am now reading "Equinox" by Allan Seager. Swell. My bed just broke down and I fixed it. Had our daily boat and fire drill. Event of the day: Finkelman changes undershirt and Paris falls!!! Just lounging around all day. Played 500 rummy and finally won a game of cribbage.

Rough life - no fooling. Am I kidding? The laundry problem here is a grave one. So I just now washed me out a shirt - some job - salt water and Lux soap. More fun. Played rummy all day. It seems liek we are always in the same place. Poor Jerome. 28 days. Just got my rations - 6 candy bars. He gypped himself and gave me one extra. My shirt is now dry. I folded it up neatly and placed it caefully under my blanket. I am now sitting on it, but heavily - the human pressing machine.

I felt like a civilian working man today. I went to work at 7:00 a.m. and worked until 3:00 p.m. What I did - I got signatures of all the EM  in shipment number N-247-2. They had to sign a "Customs Declaration" to the effect that they were not taking more than $100.00 worth of souvenirs and merchandise into the States. I chased all over the doggone boat looking for the guys - in the hospital, on the brig, on KP, all over, and located all but 9 out of 165. I came back to the stateroom all tired out, just like from Kodak. Then took a salt shower - the 9th wonder of the world - a salt shower. Played 500 rummy. This good chow is killing me.

Day of rest - and how we rested. Every day is Sunday around this place. Did a little washing today - 2 undershorts and one shirt. Read "Candide" by Voltaire - story of young man's travels and trials. The boat is now assuming a slow easy roll from side to side - which throws the shadows back and forth across the ceiling in a crazy pace. Rained slightly in the early morning, everything was grey and vicious looking, but now the water is teal and ideal. Had a peanut butter sandwich and coffee for lunch. Enroute 9 days.

En route 10 days. Right after breakfast we started a big 4-handed rummy game and except for noon chow (coffee and cookies) and our daily boat and fire drill, we played just about all day. Ran into the tail end of a storm all afternoon. Rain, high swells, fog and very dark sky. Storm passed but right now the boat is being subjected to high, powerful waves, rolling it mercilessly from side to side in a continuous roll. Got a haircut tonite. I am now reading a murder mystery, "And Then There Were None," by Agatha Christie. 10 people get killed, one by one. Got my daily 5 hershey bars (with almonds). Won't be long now. Rumor says it will be Thursday (???).

Last nite we had the port holes open as usual and the OG (Officer of the Guard) spotted it and closed them. Today we got called up before the Colonel and he bawled us out. Tsk tsk! Official rumor - we arrive in New York at 6:00 p.m. Thursday and get off Friday morning. Ok by me. I am now pressing out a shirt which I washed last nite. Played rummy. Now reading "The Ordeal of Sgt. Smoot," by Louis Paul. Another Private Hargrove with a promotion. Do I look like an owl???

Put in another good day's work as I was elected to help the doctor round up and check off about 200 men as he gave them a physical inspection (Peter Parade). Paid $3.00 for our Chinese waiters - plenty worth it. Getting to be a real rummy - played again today.

Today is the big day. We are supposed to dock at New York Harbor tonite at about 7:30. All afternoon we were out on deck straining our eyes looking for land, of any sort, but so far no go. Did a little packing. I think I will wear my dirty khakis until we leave Camp Upton. OK? OK! Swiss steak for chow tonight! It is now 7:30 p.m. We are sitting in New York Harbor - the end of a long voyage. And, boy, does it look good. Yeh, man. Plenty of lights and millions of cars all over the place. What a great place to come home to and stay in. Came up Hudson River passing Staten Island, Battery Park, Aquarium, 42nd Street, and docked at 50th Street, site of the former Normandie. Time 10:00 p.m. Civilization! Yippee!