The Ledo (STILLWELL) Road

F. A. BLEECKERS DIARY OF HIS WW II EXPERIENCES OVERSEAS

There are excerpts from Dr. Walter S. Jone, of Providence, R.I. Chinese Liaison Detail and from the 330th Engineer Regiment Unit History and other Information found by his son RONALD L. BLEECKER. Pictures came from many different sources and thanks are given to all who contributed to this endeavor. This writing of the Diary is dated July 24, 2003.

July 6, 1942 - FRANCIS ALBERT BLEECKER went into the Army Engineers as a Second Lieutenant and took Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

August 22, 1942 - FRANCIS ALBERT BLEECKER became the Supply Officer for the 437th Engineer Dump Truck Company, Camp Claiborne, Louisiana.

November 5, 1942 - FRANCIS ALBERT BLEECKER became a First Lieutenant.

December 27, 1942 – FRANCIS ALBERT BLEECKER’S BIRTHDAY 34 YEARS OLD.

Tuesday, December 29, 1942 - FRANCIS ALBERT BLEECKER became Executive Officer of Company “D” 2nd Battalion, 330 Engineer Regiment (General Service).

Friday, January 1, 1943 - Still at Clairborne. All preparations complete. In command of D Company until embarkation. Transferred to 330th Engineer’s December 29, 1943. TARFU

Saturday, January 2, 1943 - More last minute preparations to move. Practice loading trains. Inspection - Damn! SNAFU APO New York - Where we going?

Sunday, January 3, 1943 - Received moving orders. Everything all packed. More loading practice.

Monday, January 4, 1943 - What a night. Good old 437 helped with trucks. Camp all polished up by 4 A.M. Speech by General. Leave on time 10:00 A.M. Hoorah - turned toward Dallas. First Pullman I ever slept in. What a cold!

Tuesday, January 5, 1943 - Men making fun of Texas. All Badlands. That awful cold and only two quarts of Rum.

Wednesday, January 6, 1943 - More of Texas. Morale high. Where are we going?

Thursday, January 7, 1943 - Close to snow at daylight. Nice stop at Gallup. Crossed Colorado River at midnight. California here we come.

Friday, January 8, 1943 - Arrived Camp Anza by Arlington, California. Nice barracks. Still have California cold. How long will we stay?

Saturday, January 9, 1943 - Training program rough. Drill, drill and drill. All mail censored.

Sunday, January 10, 1943 - More training with a few going to church. Men bitching a little. I can’t hardly speak due to cold and throat.

Monday, January 11, 1943 - What training. No rest for weary.

Tuesday, January 12, 1943 - More training and hikes. I will have to be C.O. until I reach boat.

Wednesday, January 13, 1943 - Training and checking equipment.

Thursday, January 14, 1943 - More training and checking equipment. Getting everything we need.

Friday, January 15, 1943 - More of same.

Saturday, January 16, 1943 - More of same also practicing boat loading order.

Sunday, January 17, 1943 - Same old thing. Men would appreciate a rest. No soap. I still am sick but keep plugging. Practicing boat loading order.

Monday, January 18, 1943 - Left Camp Anza 8:00 A.M. Already to go by 6:00 A.M. We are advance detail for boat guard. Took company aboard on P.M. What a thrill at sight of the Monticello.

Tuesday, January 19, 1943 - received guard instruction, 98 posts. Getting acquainted with ship. Continuous stream of soldiers loading all day. Nurses on at night. What a time. Rough guard. Monticello used to be Conte Grande 27,000 tons taken from Italians at Rio. Met our C.O. (D Company)

Wednesday, January 20, 1943 - Pulled away from dock at 8:00 A.M. Some medic colonels going to get bopped before trip is over. Ship under strict guard. Colored troops below. Nurses on C Deck. Damn them. In stateroom 410, Smith, Stubenvoll, Kenefick, Warner, Curtis and myself.

Thursday, January 21, 1943 - What a guard! Good boys. What a job. What a load. 6500 troops and officers - 700 ships crew (including 221 nurses) engineers, 20th general hospital: 48th evacuation nurses, 73rd evacuation nurses; Red Cross, dietitians, physical therapists, veterinary ordinance, 30 men, Q.M. (3 units) Inf. and combat engineers, (Shipment 420l A).

Friday, January 22, 1943 - Smooth Sea. Feeling bad. Heading south maybe we will cross equator then I can get rid of cold. Guard officers have a rough day. Long way from bottom to top of ship.

Saturday, January 23, 1943 - Sea Smooth. Getting warmer. Alarm and our first target practice.

Sunday, January 24, 1943 - Reported with U.S. Battleship. What a scare. Ship taking no chances. Everything blacked out at night and running from everything. Real war times now. Playing for keeps.

Monday, January 25, 1943 - More alarms and drills. The guard has a job on their hands. Things getting under control. Medics still worse trouble with nurses next. They all need field training on how to take officers. Getting hot on - jigs in hold of ship.

Tuesday, January 26, 1943 - Cross equator 4:28 P.M. Shell Buck celebration. Had to slack up on enforcing orders but afterwards everything under control again. Why can’t I get rid of cold and sore throat. I also need more clothes.

Wednesday, January 27, 1943 - Same old routine. What a responsibility in case of torpedo.

Thursday, January 28, 1943 - Lots of water. Zig zagging on and on. Rumors and rumors. Drills and alarms.

Friday, January 29, 1943 - More water.

Saturday, January 30, 1943 - Everyone getting tired already.

Sunday, January 31, 1943 - Need more clothes. To church and I enjoyed it. Just another month gone.

Monday, February 1, 1943 - Same old thing. I am still weak and sick. I hope I can keep going. Can’t sleep between guard reliefs.

Tuesday, February 2, 1943 - Same.

Wednesday, February 3, 1943 - Cross International Date Line at 3:26 P.M. After midnight it is Friday.

Thursday, February 4, 1943 - Only nine hours long. Doing same as Wednesday.

Friday, February 5, 1943 - Here it is Friday and yesterday was Wednesday. Rumored that we are due into Wellington tonight or tomorrow.

Saturday, February 6, 1943 - On guard at 8:00 A.M. and we are in bay. Good old land. Thought I would have to slug Colonel_ (medic) to make him stay off deck. Docked and I took “D” Company for hike. Beautiful country. Just like movies. Men giving away money and cigarettes.

Sunday, February 7, 1943 - Another hike in New Zealand. Men broke rank to get ice cream. (Took guard to town in A.M.) Wonderful country, I wish my family could see it. Talked to many Marines from action in Solomons. They are unloading, no clothing. They have surely seen living hell. Also talked to British officers while on guard duty on docks. Two men AWOL.

Monday, February 8, 1943 - Cast off at 11:00 A.M. with plane escort. Very comforting. Hope to bring family to Wellington, New Zealand some time. I wonder how long they will hold our mail? Troops all settled again and a rough trip ahead. Rumors are we head toward north.

Tuesday, February 9, 1943 - Follow down south island. Still have plane patrol.

Wednesday, February 10, 1943 - Plane patrol gone. Headed south toward Anarctica. Can’t get used to using Southern Cross for direction. We follow close to the ice flow and it really gets cold. Hot in hold of ship on tour of duty, and cool off on decks. Can’t shake my cold.

Thursday, February 11, 1943 - Rougher and rougher. Everything is lashed down. Hard to walk posts. Many sea sick.

Friday, February 12, 1943 - Reach farthest point south (48) and then turn west. Most of guard relieved because of sea sickness on my relief. A disaster would be terrible this day.

Saturday, February 13, 1943 - Going west - cold and rough. I still feel rotten. I never have been in bad health in all my life. My woolens are so dirty that I am ashamed. Water rationed.

Sunday, February 14, 1943 - Course W.N.W. Headed back toward warmer climate. Guard duty very tiresome. Barely can make relief. Why can’t I feel better? Even Bromo quinines won’t help me. I have felt bad since I left Claiborne.

Monday, February 15, 1943 - Changing course slightly to N.W. ground swells on after port quarter. The ship really rolls. Sounds weird at night with everyone asleep at 4:00 A.M. and all the squeaks and groans of ship. What a strain for such a mammoth piece of construction.

Tuesday, February, 16, 1943 - Really rough. Roll of ship almost threw me in room 324 nurses quarters. Wouldn’t that been hell. Dark decks, dark ship with salt spray blowing. Such a life for guard officer.