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It takes much effort and research to write these memoirs without colorfully stretchingthings. I never kept a diary during the war years. I did have a few pictures (with no writing explaining what they were), some maps, souvenirs and printed information. Unfortunately, when I left the service, I was not given a roster listing the men in 789 E.P.D., and their addresses. For 39 years I had no contact with anyone. In 1967 I wrote from memory the lion's share of this material and revised it again in 1983. When I did make contact with a man from my old outfit in 1985, this led me to hunt down others including the old company commander. I was successfulin getting 13 service people and their spouses including Capt. Peterson to our first reunion which I held here in Fort Wayne in September 1989. This reunion came about through the ex-CBI Roundup magazine and my having joined the CBl Veterans Association in 1981. My outfit's reunion provided me with a wealth of information and a fantastic number of pictures, maps and printed material. A big payoff for me was meeting two of the guys who were stationed with me at Pump Station 8A. In conclusion, I owe my sister. Juanita Harsch, ever so much. She wrote most of the letters from home and had larger pictures made from the negatives I sent home. My camera snapped pictures that were two inches square, very small indeed. I'm thankful that I came through the war with no wounds and without having to kill anyone. Best of all was coming home to my family! |