I was surprised to see so many suffering sea sickness. I had flown in rougher situations. I suppose that our inner ears had conditioned our stomachs to behave in a proper manner. I had not considered the roll and yaw to be anything but a minor annoyance. I do not recall what we were served that first morning for breakfast. We were told that the ship P.X. would be open at a certain time and we could purchase goodies. We made it a point to be there when it opened to lay up a good supply. The P.X. sold candies, cookies, gum,cigarettes, and shaving materials.

How many were on the Troop Ship, the H.M.S. Queen Mary, I have no number, but when we were topside for boat dnil, we were packed so close there was hardly room to breath. In fact one wit observed on one such drill, H I sure do hope that there is not a flight of a thousand sea gulls flying over in close formation suffering an accuse case of dysentery.. While our suite was crowded, we were living in luxury when compared to the ground force personnel. They were forced to sleep on deck, and each morning roll up their blankets and gear and stow it away.

Our ship continued to zig and zag, leaning first one way and then the other. Troops were still getting seasick. After boarding, we had not seen the officers of our crew. We wondered where they might be quartered and how was their food. We found Gil and Chuck in the Officers mess. They had small tables with cloth covers. By the second or third day at sea, it was getting very warm. The wool clothing that had been so comfortable when we left New York was now unbearably hot. Our route had taken us south. About the 5th day at sea we underwent one of those regular medical exams to determine if any exotic diseases had developed. By the 6th or 7th day the P.X. was completely Sold our of everything except for some "Lorna Doon English Tea Biscuits.. They were about as tasty as a chunk of cardboard.

We were again in more northern climes and we could feel the chill. That last morning a British plane flew over, submarine patrol we were told. Not long afterwards, depth charges were launched from the right side of the ship. Shortly thereafter they exploded, sending a plume of water up 75 or 100 feet. We were never told whether there

WW-27-29 P.28