We boarded the New Amsterdam on the 4th of October 1944 with many other Army Air Corp and Infantry troops. The next day we left the 53rd street pier in New York City. The ocean was calm, and we noticed that we were unescorted. The conditions below deck were miserable, and many of the troops became seasick. The quarters were cramped and blackout was in effect. The men were concerned since our vessel did not have an escort. I received a commendation from the Infantry Troop Commander to be placed in my 201 file. The commendation was for caring for the needs and solving problems for the enlisted men who were below deck. We sighted a porpoise on the 10th day at sea which was considered good luck.

The daytime watch began looking for land and were rewarded when they sighted Cork, Ireland, on the 11th day. The next day we sailed up the Firth of Clyde, and we were welcomed by the voice of Winston Churchill giving his "V " for victory speech over the British Broadcasting Radio Station.

The next day the New Amsterdam moored off Greenock, Scotland. In a very heavy rain the troops boarded tenders to take them to shore. We received shelter in a building staffed by the American Red Cross. We then boarded a troop train for England. We rode through intermittent rain for nine hours to a village called Stone. We changed our U.S. dollars for British currency at this location into pounds, shillings, florins, and half crowns. Many of the troops attended Catholic Mass at Howard Hall Theatre. I played softball that afternoon with Chuck Bednarick. I wrote my first V-mail to the United States in the evening. Our crew pictured above was assigned to the 96th Wing, 467th Bombardment Group at Rackheath Air Base which was located about six .miles from the city of Norwich.