Near sunset, we were on the outskirts of Amarillo, Texas. The train would stop for 30 to 45 minutes to be serviced. I got off the train and called a friend down in Canyon. He was surprised to hear from me. We resumed our trek, slowly put putting along. As an example as to our snails pace to win the war, the next morning we had not even reached Clovis, New Mexico. I went to the rear of the train and looked eastward seeing what I had seen all my life the flat landscape of west Texas and eastern New Mexico. By late afternoon, we were near the outskirts of Gallup. I was truly in the "land of Enchantment" the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the land. The red sandstone out croppings were fire red. There were Indians on horseback who waved to us. It looked like a page out of the Santa Fe calendar. The next day we were in Utah, then Nevada and into the southern part of California via Barstow. It was almost like the popular song of the day---the route 66 to California. We pulled into Los Angeles about sunset. I had expected Los Angeles to be palms and citrus trees. I saw the palms but not a single orange or lemon tree. The next morning the train stopped. We were at our destination. It was a sleepy little town about sunrise. We were at Paso Robles, the only distinguishing feature of the place was a cocktail lounge across from the siding that had some gaudy neon signs that flashed off and

on. We were told to load in the back of a lot of G.l. trucks and we rumbled off to the camp. I still had no idea which camp or what branch of the service. We unloaded and were taken into a barracks. Someone asked ~Where are we, and what are we in?" He responded you are at Car- ? Roberts, and you are in the infantry !" That was a disappointment. I was certain that someone had made a great big mistake !!

W2-6-8 P.6