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route set up all sorts of accommodations for us transient "Dixie" soldiers. Entertainments were planned for us and every courtesy was extended by civilians all along the route.
We began operations near the area of Winfield, Louisiana. Combat teams were deployed along a defense line with orders to stop two complete infantry divisions and a cavalry regiment. Extensive field maneuvers continued for several weeks. With the Louisiana war games concluded, we headed back toward Camp Blanding, Florida.
During our leisure time at Camp Blanding, we were sometimes trucked to St. Augustine, Florida where the people welcomed us with open arms. We also enjoyed swimming in Lake Kingsley, located on Camp Blanding. Our pay was $21.00 per month so our off-base activities were very limited. We were then given furloughs to visit our loved ones.
After returning from furloughs, we were issued winter clothing and equipment. On 24 October 1941, we headed for the Carolinas to participate in a "new" war and conditions we had never trained under "freezing weather." By 1 November 1941, our "Dixie" Division was in the vicinity of Great Falls, South Carolina.
Back in Camp Blanding, Florida after the Carolina war games, we again focused attention on furloughs and spending Christmas of 1941 with our families. However, on 7 December 1941, war came to our nation with the shock of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
We were immediately placed on alert, loaded our belongings and equipment onto trucks, and headed for Key West, Florida, nonstop. My unit was assigned to protect the immediate area of the "Presidential Summer White House." We had to break through thick concrete to adequately place our 30 caliber machine guns.
After we settled down to a routine schedule, we were permitted to visit the main town of Key West, Florida. Also, I spent some of my off-duty time spearing lobsters.
Early in 1942, our 31st "Dixie" Division was reassembled at Camp Blanding, Florida and then ordered to Camp Bowie, Texas to exchange places with the 36th Division then stationed there. Camp Bowie was located approximately midway between San Antonio and Fort Worth, Texas.
We made the long move to Camp Bowie, Texas by motor vehicle, in bitter cold. Our Division found comfortable quarters ready, however, on arriving at our new station. This was just the opposite of living conditions we experienced back in
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