Invasion was in the air.
It was in the tenseness of the atmosphere, the hustle and incessant activity. When? Where? How? No
one knew’. But it was there – the knowledge of it stirring you every minute of the day – the thought of it keeping
you awake far into the night. And the company worked for it, prepared for it.
The supply platoon was in constant contact with the depot, picking up supplies, breaking them down,
issuing them to the units. A tremendous amount of automotive transport equipment was broken down and
issued,
The maintenance section, though hastily set up, was on the job night and day. Over 210 jobs of
automotive equipment were handled. More than 100 various gun mounts for vehicles were installed.
It was – Preparation for Invasion.
The automotive section built 48 litter racks for the medical battalion. The sight of this newly constructed
framework installed on the jeeps had a sobering effect.
Modification work went on rapidly. Vehicles and artillery were waterproofed for the short but
dangerous water hop across the Channel. There was practice in loading and landing trucks, drill and more drill
until every man knew his precise place and his specific job.
Then – a word – a whisper, This was it. The trucks came. Equipment was loaded on in record time.
Men piled in, silent, anxious, expectant. At Cardiff, Wales, a quick transfer of personnel and equipment to the
Liberty ship was effected.
The date was 4 June 1944. Ships or every size and shape and description filled the waters. As far as the
eye could see, lost on the distant horizon were ships. They were close and crowded together stretching on and
on – an awesome, inspiring spectacle of immense power. And this was only a small part, only a fraction, of what
was the greatest Armada ever assembled in the history of the world.
The Invasion was just two days off …
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