XIX Corps Moved to Bad Nauheim after Germany fell 9 May - 2 August 1945

  XIX Corps moved to Bad Nauheim, down by Frankfurt, but the work for the Corps Staff wasn't over. The Surgeon's Section had to take over and administer 40 German military hospitals with 45,000 wounded Germans. The Artillery Headquarters had to take over the running of a big area. G-5 still had thousands of  DP's (Displaced Persons) on his hands, and the trains carrying the Russians left Wetzlar every day. G-2 had to run down war criminals and Nazis, and set up Document Centers to process the papers we found. G-3 started an Education Program, and everyone wondered about his points.  

All images in the Blog Post were captured by Wilbur C Garner while in Bad Nauheim

Wilbur (Bill) C Garner

 

There were no more letters from Bill after April 19, 1945, in the bundle of letters Mary saved from the war. While I am sure he continued to write Mary, and Gwen until he was sent home, the letter dated April 19, 1945 is the last surviving.
He sent photos on to Gwen who kept them in her "Garner-Wilkins" album where she labeled and kept all the photos Bill sent back to her from the war and from the time they met in the late winter of 1944.

Bill and C.Q.M.S Saunders, Germany

 

VE Day 8 May 1945 England

Gwendoline Rosa Wilkins Garner (right), Man (unknown), Joan Moore (left)

Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) was on May 8^th 1945. VE Day officially announced the end of World War Two in Europe. On Monday May 7^th at 02.41. German General Jodl signed the unconditional surrender document that formally ended war in Europe. Winston Churchill was informed of this event at 07.00. While no public announcements had been made, large crowds gathered outside of Buckingham Palace and shouted: “We want the King”. The Home Office issued a circular (before any official announcement) instructing the nation on how they could celebrate:

“Bonfires will be allowed, but the government trusts that only material with no salvage value will be used.”

The Board of Trade did the same:

“Until the end of May you may buy cotton bunting without coupons, as long as it is red, white or blue, and does not cost more than one shilling and three pence a square yard.”

However, even by the afternoon there was no official notification even though bell ringers had been put on standby for a nationwide victory peal. Ironically the Germans had been told by their government that the war was officially over. Joseph Stalin, who had differing views on how the surrender should be announced, caused the delay. By early evening, Churchill announced that he was not going to give Stalin the satisfaction of holding up what everybody knew. At 19.40 the Ministry of Information made a short announcement:

“In accordance with arrangements between the three great powers, tomorrow, Tuesday, will be treated as Victory in Europe Day and will be regarded as a holiday.”

Within minutes of this announcement, tens of thousands of people gathered on the streets of Central London to celebrate. People gathered in Parliament Square, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus and boats along the Thames sounded their horns in celebration.

The celebrations only ended when a thunderstorm and heavy rain drenched those still celebrating – just before midnight.

May 8^th, Victory in Europe Day, saw the celebrations continue. Street parties were organized across the land; neighbors pooled food, some of which was still rationed. 

 

At 13.00, Churchill went to Buckingham Palace to have a celebratory lunch with George VI.

At 15.00, Churchill spoke to the nation from the Cabinet Room in 10, Downing Street. He reminded the nation that Japan had still to be defeated but that the people of Great Britain:

“May allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing. Advance Britannia. Long live the cause of freedom! God save the King! ”

Three Lancaster bombers flew over London and dropped red and green flares. 50,000 people gathered between Trafalgar Square and Big Ben.

After addressing the nation, Churchill went to Parliament to address the Commons. After this he led some MP’s to a thanksgiving service.

In the late afternoon, the Royal Family came out onto a balcony at Buckingham Palace. In front of them were 20,000 people. George VI wore his Royal Navy uniform while Princess Elizabeth wore her ATS uniform. They were joined by Churchill. He later spoke to those gathered outside the Ministry of Health. At the end of the speech, the crowd sang ‘For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow’.

The last official event of VE Day was a broadcast to the nation by George VI at 21.00. Buckingham Palace was lit up by floodlights for the first time since 1939 and two searchlights made a giant ‘V’ above St. Paul’s Cathedral. 

It was a highly symbolic gesture for a city that had spent years in blackout. People built street fires out of whatever flammable materials they could find. Witnesses reported that London had the same red glow to it as during the Blitz – but this time it was in celebration. Some fires got out of hand and the London Fire Brigade had to be called to put out the blaze – something they were very experienced in doing. People got hold of fireworks – prohibited during the war – to give the celebrations more color.

The police reported that there was barely any criminal activity throughout the day despite the boisterous behavior of tens of thousands. In the early hours of May 9th, the celebratory illuminations in London were turned off. The war in Japan was still being fought and austerity became the norm for very many people. But for one short day people could afford to let their hair down.

Letter #83 from Henri C Romieux 25 April 1945

John Land loaded cargo and supplies in the anchorage at Ulithi until 5 March 1945, when she got underway with Task Unit 12.6.1. The ships sailed north and west to Iwo Jima, arriving off that island four days later. After waiting in the transport holding area for nine days she discharged cargo on 19-20 March, a task that took longer than expected owing to heavy seas. The ship then loaded elements of the 5th Marine Division, comprising 1,148 officers and men, between 21-26 March before sailing for Hawaii two days later. Arriving at Hilo, via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor, on 15 April, the ship disembarked her passengers before sailing east the next day, arriving in San Francisco on the 22d.

The transport shifted to Oakland two days later, where John Land received an overhaul at Moore Drydock & Shipbuilding Co., through 22 June 1945. Over the next week the ship took on 1,469 U.S. Army troops for transport to the war zone. The Navy crew quickly discovered the disorganized nature of their passengers when no cooks or bakers appeared to provide meals for the Army replacements. The ten Navy cooks were hard pressed to pick up the slack, a tense situation made worde by the rumor that the Army replacements were actually paroled prisoners, free only because they'd volunteered for war service. Despite the resulting friction, the transport carried the troops to the Philippines, via Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok and Ulithi, without incident, arriving in Manila on 26 July. With passengers and cargo unloaded by 3 August, the transport embarked 187 mostly Navy passengers and sailed for Hawaii, mooring in Pearl harbor on 17 August, two days after the Japanese armistice.

After provisioning, loading cargo and embarking 963 soldiers from the 98th Regiment, U.S. Army, from Hickam Field wharf, John Land sailed for Japan on 7 September 1945, arriving at Wakayama, via Saipan, on 27 September. With the troops disembarked two days later, John Land immediately began Operation "Magic Carpet" duties, loading some of the hundreds of thousands of Pacific veterans headed home to the United States. With some 1,733 passengers embarked at both Wakayama and Guam, the transport sailed for home with all possible speed, arriving at San Pedro on 21 October. She sailed again seven days later, this time loaded with 1,006 Construction Battalion (Seabees) troops, who were brought to Guam on 12 November. Taking on 1,828 passengers at Tinian on the 15th, she sailed home for the last time the following day, arriving in San Francisco on 29 November.

John Land made three more "Magic-Carpet" voyages to the western Pacific over the next six months. The first, begun 14 December 1945 when she sailed for Noumea took her to the South Pacific, where she found no passengers available, before moving on to Manila to pick up troops on 15 January 1946. She returned to San Francisco on 16 February. Her second voyage took place between 15 March, when she sailed for Manila, and 28 April upon her return to San Francisco. She repeated that round trip again between 8 May and 21 June.

John Land (AP-167) at San Francisco c. 1945-46, her decks full of returning servicemen.
Released from service by the Naval Transportation Service that same day, John Land sailed to Seattle, Washington, arriving there on 5 July. She was decommissioned at Seattle on 5 August and was returned to the Maritime Commission the next day. Eventually sold to Waterman Steamship Co., where she served in merchant service as Jeff Davis, the ship underwent various changes of name and ownership (sold and renamed Sea Comet II in 1953; sold to Grace Lines in 1957 and renamed Santa Regina; sold in 1961 and renamed African Gulf; sold to Liberty Navigation in 1963 and renamed Norberto Capay) before finally sold for scrap in 1968 as part of bankruptcy proceedings.

John Land received five battle stars for World War II service.

---

This is the last "Letter to Mary" from Henri C Romieux.
There will be a subsequent post to share what we have come to know of Henri's life after 25 April 1945. 

H. Romieux
2269 So. Rockford
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Mary Garner, SK1c USNR
U.S. Naval Air Station
Wold-Chamberlain Field
Minnesota, Minneapolis
c/o Supply Office 

25 April
San Francisco

Hello Mary,

Well I know you will be surprised to know I am back in Frisco. Yes the old ship finally had to come back for repairs and it really needed them. As a matter of fact we just made it - as our engines went completely dead at anchor in the Bay and we had to have a couple of tugs tow us in to dry dock in Oakland.

Will no doubt be here for quite a spell but it does not look like we will have enough leave for me to get to Minneapolis, so will no doubt spend the five days around Southern California where I know a few people. Too bad it could not be a couple weeks at least.
But never the less it feels as good to be back in the good old USA again. Really- I hardly know how to act. Had myself a steak dinner tonite and it tasted good- also a nice head of lettuce salad. The first lettuce in 8 months. 

Frisco is cold as usual and really quite a change from the tropical heat. Stopped at Pearl for only ten hours then took a bunch of troops to their base on the Island of Hawaii.

Oh yes- I wear four ribbons with five stars as follows, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with 3-stars, Laipan-Tinian; Pulan and Phillipines. The American theatre ribbon and Special Liberation of the Phillipines with 2 stars and then the good conduct ribbon and a Hash Mark or as we call it a "stupidity mark". So really you should see little me so dressed up.

I think I told you - we took part in the Invasion at Leyete and the Lingayenn at Luzon- then Mindoro. Then we were suppose to leave for the U.S.A. the middle of February, but got as far as Ulithi and after staying there ten days- we took off empty of troops for Iwo Jima to pick up the 5th Marines and take them back to Pearl. Poor fellows there was not much of them left- almost all killed off so we had a small load of troops and had to wait there two weeks for them to finish taking the damn island. 

So now dear you know a little more of where I have been of course I am violating censorship regulations by writing and posting this ashore. Therefore I am putting my brothers address for return.
Will write more later dear and please take good care of yourself and write soon- same address as before.

Love—Henri

Please excuse the horrible scribble but am writing this at the USO and it is so noisy I can't even think and besides this pen is awful-worse than my own.
H

Letter #82 from Wilbur C Garner 19 April 1945

April 21, 1945 Soviets reach Berlin.

"Franklin D. Roosevelt Bridge The treadway bridge over the Elbe River.
Built for 83rd Div. by 234th Engr. Bn. 1115 Engr. group-XIX Corps..." 
Bridge crosses Elbe River, Barby, Germany
by H.J. MacMillan;

Finally on the 30th of April, the 125th Calvary Squadron of the 113th Calvary Group moved out from the bridgehead at Zerbst, and made contact with the 1st Battalion of the 340th Regiment of the 121st Infantry Division of the RED ARMY at Apollensdorf.
The task of the XIX Corps was over then.......

Hitler committed suicide on 30 April 1945. 

XIX Corps was the first into Belgium, the first into Holland, the first to reach the Wurm River, the first to breach the Siegfried Line against serious opposition, first to reach the Roer River, and the first American troops to reach the lower Rhine. After a delayed crossing of the Rhine, troops of the corps were the first to reach the Weser, first to reach and cross the Elbe, and would have been first in Berlin, had it fallen to American troops in the Grand Strategy of the war to take Berlin. From the beaches of Normandy to in early June to east of the Elbe - over 800 miles - the Corps has been out of line only two days. XIX Corps had demonstrated itself, from Normandy to the Elbe, to be one of the outstanding fighting teams of this war.

 

S/Sgt. Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578
G-1 Section, Hq XIX Corps,
APO 270, c/o Postmaster, N.Y.

Mary W. Garner, Sk1c
Supply Department
U.S. Naval Air Station
Minneapolis, 6 Minnesota

"Somewhere in Germany"
19 April 1945

Dear Sis, 

Well I received your letter of the 8th of April last night about 9:30pm and surely was glad to hear from you once more. In fact I had a letter from everyone in the family including two from Gwen. Yours was the latest in date by 5 days.

You mentioned Joe being at Camp Edwards, Mass, yes, Mother wrote and told me about him. She didn't mention a courts martial though. What type is it? General, Special, or Summary? I hope he does get a discharge. That boy is just not all there at times. The Army can't do him any good. I know. I've told Gwen to steer clear of him unless Mother & Dad are around if he does come around. I'd feel much more satisfied at her safety. I feel very peculiar towards him. I can't exactly express myself.

Well, how are you making out with that job that was dumped into your lap? I guess by this time you have either dug yourself out of it or you are buried 5 ft under it. Don't let it get you down, Sis.
Incidentally, thanks for getting those slips for Mother for Gwen and me. Mother wrote me saying that they were very nice. I'm glad she liked them.

So you are still in practice taking care of peoples children, well wait until you get back home as a civilian, Bernard and I will make sure you never spend a lonely evening. Ha! ha!
Say, have you heard any more form Henri? I hope he gets home as you stated he had hopes of. Boy I've got almost 1 1/2 years over here now! 2nd July. I never thought I'd make it and now I feel I'll be lucky to be home for Christmas of `46. It will seem like a nightmare to get back to the States once more. Well give Henri my regards when you write next.

Well, how has the weather been lately? We've been having really swell weather. The sun has shone every day for almost 3 weeks now and it has been quite warm. All the fruit trees are in bloom. Over here in Germany they plant their cherry and apple trees all alongside the roads. They are very pretty. This is really beautiful country. Those Harz Mountains we came through were beautiful. The hills are heavily wooded; most of them with pine trees. They remind me of Louisiana but the country is not like people say the Germans are the cleanest people on earth. 
These towns are positively filthy. When we were in Blomberg I got bit up by a bunch of fleas. All the buildings are lousy. I don't know how these people stand the smell of them. The Dutch are by far the cleanest and neatest people. 

Well, Sis, there is not much more news here right now so I guess I'll close for now. That little daughter of ours is fine. I'll tell you more later. So long for now and don't work to hard.

Lots of Love from Gwen
Carol and myself'
Bill 

This is the last "Letter to Mary" from Bill that was saved by Mary from World War II. There will be subsequent posts of interest that will share Bill and Gwen and Carol's  journey to the USA.

Letter #81 from Wilbur C Garner 17 April 1945

"The bombing of Magdeburg--/April, 1945
2nd armored waits for jump off." Armored vehicles on road outside Magdeburg, Germany.
Ink sketch of jeep at lower left corner. by H.J. MacMillan;

The 2nd Armored Division moved on in its speed to take the great Hermann Goering Steel Works just south of Immendorf after a sharp fight, and on the 11th of April went its phenomenal course 57 miles in a single day, to reach the Elbe River, last natural barrier before Berlin, just south of Magdeburg. The 83rd was not to be outdone. They reached the Elbe River on the 12th of April at the town of Barby. Magdeburg showed signs of offering strong resistance, so the 2nd Armored immediately crossed the Elbe south of the city, and moved out with two battalions to form a bridgehead. The bridge that was begun here received such heavy artillery fire that it was abandoned to put all available bridging into the crossing that had begun opposite the foothold that the 83rd had by this time, also gained on the east bank of the Elbe.  
By the 13th of April the 83rd's bridgehead, reinforced by CC R of the 2nd Armored Division was seven miles deep and firmly held. The 2nd Armored's bridgehead was successfully withdrawn to concentrate all our forces in the southern bridgehead. There the XIX Corps held, on orders, waiting for the junction with the Soviets who were by this time not far away. An attack was launched meanwhile on Madgeburg, on the 17th of April, the 30th Division attacking from the north and the 2nd Armored from the south. By noon, the last resistance west of the Elbe in XIX Corps zone had been wiped out. While we waited for the Russians to appear, XIX Corps held the banks of the Elbe, and got down to the business of instituting military government over an enormous area, evacuating thousands of liberated prisoners of war, feeding and evacuating hundreds of thousands of displaced persons.

Wanzleben Germany 13 April - 8th May 1945

S/Sgt. Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578
G-1 Section, Hq XIX Corps,
APO 270, c/o Postmaster, N.Y.

Mary W. Garner, Sk1c
Supply Department
U.S. Naval Air Station
Minneapolis, 6 Minnesota

"Somewhere in Germany"
17 April 1945

Dear Sis,

Well, Howdy, How are you these days? I haven't heard from you for sometime. I feel certain the mail is tied up someplace because I haven't even been hearing from Mother or Gwen. I did finally get a letter from Gwen today dated the 29th of March. You see how far behind Gwen's mail is. I guess it will catch up with us soon. I hope so anyhow. She had sent Mother a copy of the pictures I took of Carol while in Cardiff. I guess you have seen them by this time. What do you think of her? Isn't she the prettiest little thing you ever saw? Well I think so anyhow. 
She's the apple of her daddy's eye, and I'm not kidding, either. I know her Auntie Mary will be very proud of her also and will most probably spoil her to death. Well, I guess I've got to stop here. 

Some of these damn officers should be reclassified. I've typed seven letters for him right away and now he wants them typed all over again and right away. Well that old son-of - ——-can wait awhile. They must think we've got nothing to do.

It has been a beautiful day today and rather warm. A lovely day for the Air Corps and they've really done a good job today. I think summer is just about here, to stay, I hope. The Germans have cherry and apple trees planted all along the roadsides and they are really beautiful blooming along the roads. This part of Germany is very fortunate in the fact that we past through in such a hurry. Most of the towns right now though are being leveled once more, thank goodness.

Well, Sis, there is no more news now so I guess I'll close. So long and take it easy. I changed my mind. Take it easy and I hope to hear from you soon.

Loads of Love from Gwen, Carol and myself,
Bill

Letter #80 from Joseph Randolph Garner 9 April 1945

This letter from Joseph R Garner, while not addressed to Mary, instead Mary and Joe's mother, was saved by Mary and found among the other "Letters To Mary."

J.R. Garner
6500 29th St. South
St. Petersburg. Fla.

Mrs. S. Wade Garner
2425 Calverton Heights Ave.
Baltimore 16 Maryland 

April 9, 1945 10:45P.M.

Dear Mumzo,

Neither of my two recent letters have been intended to hurt you or Dad in any way. As you well know, I've always been a very poor hand to express myself on paper. Many things have an entirely different sound when spoken. I do want you & Dad both to know & believe me when I say that I deeply appreciate any & all efforts that you have made to aid & assist me in the many jams I've gotten myself into.
 
As I've said however, there is nothing that you could do in this case. I am sure and you would only cause more embarrassment for yourselves, there's been too much of that over me in the past. I have no information as yet as to what action is to be taken but will keep in touch with you.

If it is not too much trouble you might when you have time, put any of my clothes that are there into a box & express them to Souil at home, so all of my things will be together once more. 

Send them C.O.D. There's no rush about that. 
I'll say good night & thanks for everything.
Love, Joe

Letter #79 from Wilbur C Garner 9 April 1945

The Weser was a formidable military obstacle in itself, but on the 5th of April a crossing was forced and a bridge was built. By the next day there were three bridges, and the 2nd Armored had advanced almost to Hildesheim, the 30th on the left flank had taken Hameln, and the 83rd had swarmed across on the right of the 2nd Armored and advanced 17 miles beyond the river.
On orders from Ninth Army, these spearhead divisions halted and took the opportunity to reorganize while the attack continued behind them against the north and east of the Ruhr pocket. On the 9th of April, XVI Corps took over this western front and XIX Corps turned its whole attention east again.  
Now began a drive unparalleled in this war for speed and effectiveness. The 2nd Armored was to make 57 miles in one day, and the 30th and 83rd, by drive and and organization nothing short of miraculous, kept up with the armor on each flank. Screening the Corps flanks was the 113th Calvary Group that has been a versatile and hard fighting member of XIX Corps since the early days in Normandy. On the north the 30th Division advanced to Braunschweig where stiff resistance developed. In one day the city was enveloped and cleared, and the 30th had pushed on another 30 miles. The 83rd meanwhile had driven 30 miles to take Halberstadt, and seal off the east and north of another pocket in the Harz Mountains, center of much tradition of the ancient German gods. 

S/Sgt. Wilbur C. Garner, 33377578
G-1 Section, Hq XIX Corps,
APO 270, c/o Postmaster, N.Y.

Mary W. Garner, Sk1c
Supply Department
U.S. Naval Air Station
Minneapolis, 6 Minnesota 

"Somewhere in Germany"
9 April 1945

Dear Mary,

Howdy, I received your letters of the 6th & 26th of March yesterday. Yes, Mary, I was glad it was a girl, also.
I've got her picture sitting right in front of me, too. Carol is the prettiest baby I've seen in a long time and I know her Aunt Mary will be proud of her as Gwen and I. I even think she is cuter than Bernard, Jr. Of course, I guess little girls are cuter than boys. I just got my set of pictures today. Gwen is sending Mother a set and getting more for you. So ask Mother to send you her set for a peek at Carol.
Say don't let these so called military authorities stuff your heads with the idea that the war is over. There is still plenty of fight in the Germans. I'll tell you the truth. I don't think there is anyone left to make peace with.

I'm glad you got your Easter gift OK. I guess Mother thought you could use the money better than anything else since you are in the Service.
You asked me how long before Carol would be able to stand the trip over. I've told Gwen to go as soon as she feels that Carol is OK and she can get passage through the Embassy. I understand they are paying passage right to their destination. That's just hearsay of course. I imagine Gwen will try about July or August.

Did I tell you I had 2 days in Paris on the way back from England? We were tied up waiting for a train. That town is lousy, capital LOUSY. Especially for a respectably married man. The actions of those Parisians are thoroughly disgusting. Of course, I guess it's a lot different in peacetime.

Well, Sis, I guess I'll close for now and hope to hear from you again real soon. So long for now. Take it easy and don't work too hard.

Lots of Love from Gwen, Carol and myself
Bill