Since 1917

I had difficulty sleeping that night.  My thoughts were tumbling around in my head, while my body was tumbling around in my army cot.  And as to remembering how I managed to leave from Camp Shanks, I have no image.  I’m assuming that I spoke with my officer in charge , that I could get home on my own.  “Could I be released now?. I can get home via train and subway to my home in Brooklyn”  He okayed it.

I’m trying to recall my day when I left the camp.  I remember going to the PX, to look for a gift for Shirley and that I purchased a bracelet that was designed in Greenwich Village. My next vision is waiting for her to appear in Penn Station and seeing her walk off the escalator to meet me.

I was asked by a family member.”How can you remember all those details of your 3 yrs in the army?”. Well,I must confess.  It was not memory but it was all of the saved letters to Shirley, Blanche, Reggie, et al, and the photos I took from Spokane and thru the war.  I’m glad that I have all of these records.  Because, now I see that it’s easy to forget complete details and personal feelings  of important moments in one’s life.

My next vision is seeing Shirley walking towards me.  My heart thumped double time and we hurried towards each other and embraced.  After a long kiss and a pause for breath, we decided to go to the Hotel McAlpin for supper and dance.  In those days all hotels had swing bands and this one may have been Guy Lombardo.  We practically had the floor to ourselves and we were in heaven gliding along to the music and holding each other tightly.

If I were writing a movie script of this scene, I would have Irv go up to the band leader and ask him to play a particular song for us.  To honor my return after three Years in the army and this is our first meeting. He agrees.” What’s the song?”  I then explain to him that ” While she was writing a letter to me, she was listening to the Andrew Sisters singing ” I’ll never smile again, until I smile at you”.  I was reading this letter while sailing to No. Africa, 3 years ago”.  You can announce this and I want to see her smile.  I wish I had thought of this.  It would have been appropriate.

I asked Shirley if she remembers how we left and when to go home and she has no vision of it. I’m assuming that I rode home with her on the subway line and then I left to go home to see my family.  But I really have no vision of it.

We were on our way after our farewell procedure and moved out via truck.  We crossed over into Germany over re-constructed bridges and as we moved northward saw the damaged terrain, buildings and tanks.  Our relentless Air Force bombings of German factories and cities destroyed the Nazis.  WWII really destroyed all of Europe.  I can understand now, why the U.S. had to initiate the Marshall Plan, lending money to our Allies and to liberated German countries.

We camped out on the mountain top that overlooked the University of Heidelberg.  After we unloaded and set up for a night in the campsite.  It was about noon, so I and two GI friends headed for the PX, which was on top of the mountain overlooking the ravine where the University was situated.  We were  amazed when we looked down the valley below to see the University of Heidelberg.  The buildings were untouched by any war action.  At that time, I knew nothing about these stately architectural  buildings of advanced studies. This complex was founded in 1386 and modeled after the French and British style.  I was in awe, seeing this complex of buildings spread out on the mountainsides, surrounding a flat terrain where I saw a stage and chairs being set up to accommodate an audience.  I remarked to my friends, “Looks like a ceremony, grad. day maybe”. I then moved away and headed for the PX, for a look-see, ready to spend part of my bonus.

The PX was uphill to our left, in a building that overlooked the university.  I walked towards the entrance, when I saw Jack Benny emerging.  I stopped in my tracks, amazed and excited. He continued walking towards me and I extended my hand with a greeting.  “Hi, Mr. Benny”.  We shook hands and he was very genial, asked me where I was from, etc.  I was nervous and jittery.  He mentioned that he will be performing a USO show in the evening and to come with friends to see it.  Also, he asked me to wait with him for a few minutes.  “A screen star is coming out of the PX soon.I’ll introduce her to you”.

And within seconds, she emerged from the PX escorted by two Lt. Officers, one on each side.  Jack Benny turned to her and introduced her to me.” “Ingrid,    This is Irv Roth from Brooklyn.  He has been overseas for 3 yrs”. And this memory of meeting her has been my pride and joy.  I was overwhelmed.  And to this day, I can kick myself for not using my camera, which I had on my shoulders.

I went to the show and enjoyed it.  But really what I remember mostly about the show is the performance by Larry Adler playing a Rachmaninoff concerto piece that sounded like a complete orchestra.  I was amazed by his rendition.

We packed early the next morning and went on to  Frankfurt.

     I was able to teach the local help and I was enjoying my time off.  One day, while we were preparinng to set up the meal for lunch, I noticed that we had opened a large can of potatoes, mashed and ready for warming up.  This was a constant staple for army chow.  It was filling and easily prepared, but really boring.  

     I was suddenly inspired to ask the local kitchen staff  ” Kenst du machen Cartuffle latkes? ( Can you make potato latkes?)  Their excited reply was “ Yah, Yah Latkes. .Zer Gut”.  We set up the ovens and metal griddle and began frying the potato pancakes,  Chanuka Style. 

     Our GI buddies were totally surprised when we called them up to get their lunch meal.  Most of the unit never saw or heard of Latkes.  But I convinced them to try it and to put some apple sauce on it, which was also a staple canned food supplied by the army.  The cuisine change was a big success and we, the kitchen staff beamed at the excitement this caused.  We had to prepare and serve seconds and thirds to the guys.

      This is my Latke story and whenever I think of it I beam and smile.  I introduced a new item in the Army menu and taught the GIs a Yiddish word  “ Latkes”.

This period can be considered a period of unemployment for our unit.  Our officers set up minor projects in and around our area, such as debris cleanup and also a social hall in one of the empty buildings in the army compound. Because of my ability to converse with the local people,  I was instrumental in acquiring a piano and also a phonograph player.  We acquired dance music on 75 MPs,  (Big Band and Jazz).  Saturday evenings we sent a truck into Strasbourg and transported interested young ladies  for dance and entertainment.

Another area where my Yiddish was helpful was in the kitchen.  Our head chef had hired two local men to help but he had difficulty c0mmunicating.  he asked for my help and worked out a deal for me.  “Get up early in the morning and teach the locals how to prepare the ovens and set up the kitchen.  After the first week, you work one day and have two days off to be out of the camp, in Strasbourg, if you wish”.

My time during this period was interesting but I was concerned about the family and Shirley.  Our mail was erratic and the regular procedures were disrupted by the shutting down process of warfare. It’s like a car going at full speed that suddenly shuts down and you are now waiting for AAA to come and boot you up again.

From the moment we landed, we were advised to keep a low profile and set up our lab quickly.  We were situated in a farm area, in an  Army compound formerly used by the French and the Germans.  Our vehicles were parked a distance away after we unloaded.  We blacked out all the windows.  Our labs were set up in the basement and completely invisible from the outside. 

After a long and tedious journey, to get into spacious accommodations and into the final thrust into Germany, we were exhilarated.  The lab setup was done quickly and the reconnaissance work was waiting for us.  We worked double shifts and mostly at night.  Film was brought to us via courier, shot by planes flown by the Fighter Wing outfit of the 7th Army.  We would be working on them at night and deliver finished prints in the early morning to the Generals.  While we were working through the night, we would hear the engine noise of airplanes circling overhead.  “Midnight Charlie, overhead”, our catch phrase to the describe German aircraft. 

 Our 7th Army was joined with the French in the drive through Southern France and into Germany from the South.  It was named “Operation Anvil”.  The troops coming from the West and the Russians from the East surrounded The Nazis and crushed them.  Germany surrendered totally on May 7th, 1945.      

Our unit was overjoyed by being a part of this achievement and also very proud when we received the commendations from Le General d’Armee de Latrede Tassigny sent to our Capitaine A. Wayshak.  We also received commemdations from Wade H. Haislip, Lt. General, 7th Army H’qtrs. and from Glenn O. Barcus, Brigagier General, USA, Tactical Air Command.