IN THE BEGINNING
or so they say
IN THE STATES
From armor school at Fort Knox, Ky. to Fort George Meade, Md., men gathered to learn to live together; as soldiers, TANKERS. In March of 1942 at Ft. Meade, the core group of the 741st tank battalion was forming as a combat unit. Maintenance and service personnel, office, supply and of course; the Tanker. For the next 10 months training would have these men going from *east coast, to **west coast; training in the desert sands, and the swamps of the south. Invading, seemingly "ghost towns", to taking part in a Paramount films production of "Five Graves to Cairo". In "gator" country at Fort Polk, La. they rolled through mud, trees and swamps in what was dubbed "the Louisiana maneuvers", with the 77th and 90th infantry divisions.
At Camps Pickett and Bradford in Virginia; the unit trained for naval and amphibious life. Learning how to board, load and disembark the ships and craft that would eventually carry them into combat, and into history*** During this period rumors of going into battle floated around but never happened, brining about the slogan "We'll Never Go Overseas".
Nearing the end of stateside living, part of the unit was sent to Camp Wellfleet in the Cape Cod area. Here they trained on naval 30 and 50 cal. antiaircraft units. Rejoining the rest of the unit at Fort Dix, NJ., they prepared to ship out. Taking last minute and well deserved leave, to be with family and friends, before taking a train to Camp Shanks, NY. Camp Shanks was 7 days of being "military", moving about in formation, paperwork, shots and making final preparations to go overseas.
The morning of 19 October 1943, Camp Shanks was the beginning of the last day in the states for what was to be a very long and {for many the last} time. Taking a train back to New Jersey then a ferry across to New York, they awaited final passage to England aboard the MS Capetown Castle, a converted luxury liner. Due to German subs in th Atlantic attacking convoys, navy escorts were provided, including on this trip the USS Texas. The members of "B" [baker] company were chosen to man the ships guns and watch for enemy subs and aircraft. Daily the crew and passengers practiced lifeboat drills. Passage to England was uneventful and on 31 October 1943 they dropped anchor near England and prepared to go ashore the next day.
1 November 1943 the European "adventure" begins.........
back to text** Camp Young - 27 miles from Indio,Ca
*** the 741st landed on Omaha beach ahead of the infantry for the first time in history back to text