Biography of Neal, Hamilton M, Jr., St. Helena and Orleans Parish, Louisiana submitted by Inez Bridges Tate November 1998 Prepared by D.N. Pardue ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From "St. Helena Vets Remember World War II: Personal Interviews With World War II Vets", published by St. Helena Historical Association, 1995. Compiled and edited by Inez Bridges Tate and reprinted with permission. Hamilton M. Neal, Jr. (Mike), was born August 5, 1924 and was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He and his wife Alma Hoffstadt Neal currently reside in the New Zion Community of St. Helena Parish. The following synopsis was written by Mike exactly one year to the day, since the Germans surrendered, May 8, 1945. His des- cription includes names of cities and towns during his tour of two years, five months in the service of the United States Army. "May 17, 1943 is a day that I will always remember, as on that date I was inducted into the Army with approximately 75 other boys at the Dryades Market, Dryades and Melpomene Streets, New Orleans, Louisiana. We were given 7 days furloush, and ordered to report to the L & A Train Station on Rampart Street on May 25, 1943. On this day, we boarded a train which took us to the Reception Center, at Camp Beauregard, located a few miles out of Alexandria, Louisiana. I spent three days at Beauregard before I received notice for shipment to Camp Kohler, Sacramento, California. I then spent five long days on a train, traveling with another boy from Shreveport, Louisiana, before we reached Camp Kohler. Though it was a long and tiresome trip, we enjoyed the scenery, and the thrill of seeing mountains, deserts, plains, and the large west- ern cities. At first Camp Kohler didn't look too pleasant a place to live, but as time went on, and after finding myself overseas for two years, I realized then that Camp Kohler was the place for me. Not to jump ahead of myself, I will come to my overseas duty later. Now back to Camp Kohler - We were told upon our arrival, that up until February of that year, Japanese were held prisoners there. We could easily see that as the grounds were dirty, bar- racks nothing to brag about, and the smell was at the time, terrible. After my four weeks Basic Training, the place was starting to shape up a bit. It was much cleaner, new barracks built, new Post Exchanges, Recreation Halls, buses to Sacramento, and some- thing we all enjoyed seeing and watching grow even though we were soldiers, flowers. Yes, the camp was changed considerably, since the four weeks previous, when I walked into the place. Following my four weeks Basic Training, I was assigned to school for nine weeks. The subject was Lineman and Field Switch- board Work. Those nine weeks passed fast. I met up with a bunch of swell fellows. After the nine weeks of schooling most of the fellows split up and went different directions. Fortun- ately, a few of us stayed together, and joined the same outfit in England. Before shipping out from Camp Kohler, we were each given a seven day furlough. Seven days wasn't enough for me to reach home and back in time, so I traveled up and down the California coast, visiting Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and numer- ous small towns. Had a nice trip, but was very disappointed since I couldn't get home. The latter part of August of 1943, we shipped out from Camp Kohler, for Camp Reynolds, located in Greenville, Pennsylvania. Again I had a long train trip, even longer than the last. It was seven days on a troop train, long and tiresome but we enjoy- ed the beautiful scenery of the north-western states and the many towns and cities we passed through. We had one lay-over during the seven days, and that was at Chicago, which we spent seven hours. Upon arriving at Camp Reynolds we were told that the place was merely a stepping stone for the POE and overseas. That stop- ped us cold, as we certainly didn't expect it so soon. But I later found out, in the Army you must do what you are told, no questions asked. At Camp Reynolds we were given physical exam- inations, new clothes, a little training for overseas, and bam, in about six weeks we were at Camp Shanks, New York, a POE. Camp Shanks was certainly a beautiful camp, and the set-up for hand- ling troops was excellent. We spent approximately one week there before boarding an English ship, the H.M.S. Cynthia in early October, 1943. We went aboard ship during the early morning, but the ship didn't pull anchor until that afternoon. As we started moving out New York harbor, I tried to see as much as possible, and then too, thinking it may be a long time before I would see it again. Miss Liberty was the last thing we could see in the distance, and believe me, you get funny feelings down deep as you get further away. Just like a boy, giving up his favorite baseball bat. At this stage of the war, as we were crossing the Atlantic, the Submarine menace was at its peak. We had many scares and close calls, but fortunately, no trouble. Our convoy, it was said, was the largest that crossed the Atlantic in this war. Had many Battleships, Aircraft Carriers, Destroyers, and many, many other types of crafts. Looking at that many ships at one time, made a person get a safe feeling for a few moments. Living conditions weren't so bad on this English ship, but the food was terrible. Most of it consisted on English type foods. This is undoubtedly the craziest mix-up of food I've ever eaten -- for instance: fish for breakfast, jame and mashed pota- toes for dinner, and to top it off, fish and brussel sprouts for supper. No tea. It took the H.M.S. Cynthia 12 days to cross the Atlantic, before reaching Liverpool, England. Reason for taking so long, we took a zig-zag course, because as I said above, the submarine menace was at its peak. We came close to the coast of Ireland before reaching England and reached the docks of Liverpool about 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon. Things didn't look too promising, looking down at the warehouse along the wharves, through a regu- lar English drizzle of rain. A few Englishmen were riding bi- cycles below, and to me at that time, they looked like sad-sacks, as we did say in the Army. That night we were taken off ship and headed into a small dinky English train. As we were moving along and nearing London, we heard for the first time the shrill of an Air Raid siren. Without holding back anything, I'll tell you we all were frightened for a few minutes. Hearing those sirens blasting away, and the hum of German bombers overhead, ack-ack guns all around us, was our first experience in feeling the effects of war-fare. We finally reached our destination, a small town about 20 miles out of London, called Maidenhead. Immediately upon arrival we were assigned to the 35th Signal Constructino Battalion. Dur- ing our eight months stay in Maidenhead, I traveled quite a bit throughout England. Visiting cities like Birmingham, London, Liverpool, Southhampton and other cities. I also saw Oxford University, (a beautiful place), Lady Astor's home, Buckingham Palace and other places of interest. The English I can say, treated us very nice, always with a warm welcome. Although their ways, customs, etc., are different from ours, the boys always got along. We left England June 4, 1944 for the coast of France. It was the morning of June 7, 1944 before we actually landed, as there were many infantry, combat engineers and others that were scheduled to hit it first. The English Channel was nothing less than a mass of ships, all types. It was said, there were better than 4,000 of them. After landing, we stayed inland about three miles for a week or so, before pushing on. After three weeks of stubborn resistance, our infantry boys finally took the town of Saint Lo, located about 10 miles from the coast. Though, before they took it, the Air Force sent over 4,000 bombers and let loose on the town. This engagement was costly, though it proved to be the gate to Paris, as after that we shoved along for a couple of months and finally Paris. Of course there was a big welcome for us in Parish -- flowers, champagne, smiles from the mademoiselles, and constantly drinking toasts of wine. We went through in a few hours, and during that time, one of the boys in our outfit, 35th Signal Construction Battalion, had the honor of hoisting the first American and French flags over the city with the French General De Gaulle. We went to a point about 20 miles onto the other side of Paris before stopping. We stayed at this place about two days. During that time we were allowed to go back and see Paris. We did --- After that, we shoved on up to Belgium. As we crossed the French-Belgium border, it was amazing to see the difference be- tween the French and Belgium people. As a rule, majority of the French were dirty, filthy people. But the Belgiums were clean, neat in appearance. The Belgium people never had any more soap or water, or cloth for clothes than the French had, during the occupation. As days went by, we went through Brussels, Verviers and finally settled down in the little resort town of Spa. This was a breather stop for the American First Army (we were with the First Army since landing in France). As supplies moved up, and our Army regrouped a little, we took it easy in Spa -- lived in a Mansion. It was a beautiful place, with all the modern con- veniences - slept in beds for a change, took hot showers, ate hot food, and went to the movies. Even had a few dances here, with the Belgium girls. We stayed in Spa for about three months, then came the Ger- man counter-attack, around December 17th, 1944, and we, with the rest of the Army pulled back to a point, about 20 miles north of Liege, Belgium. Spent my second Christmas overseas at Heeren Eldereh, Holland. The early part of January 1945, we shoved off once more for the German border, Rhine River and finally reached Weimar, Ger- many south of Berlin. While at this place, the war ended. Yes, peace was signed. For two days, May 8 and 9, 1945, was more or less a nightmare for us. Celebrations was top priority, from Generals down to Privates, drinking German whiskey and more German whiskey, and a little Russian Vodka, too. Stayed around Weimar, Germany until the latter part of June. At this time I was transferred to the 90th Signal Operation Com- pany, which was located a few miles out of Weimar. After being in the 90th Signal Operation Company for a few weeks, rumors started circulating that we were Pacific bound. As at that time the Japs were still fighting, and peace over there looked not too close. We left Weimar, in convoy bound to southern France, a town called Marseilles. Took us about five days on the road before reaching this town, a POE for the Pacific Campaign. We stayed in Marseilles about three weeks before boarding ship, and knowing we were Manila bound. After three days at sea, reports started coming over the radio about the Japanese surrend- ering. Didn't believe it at first, but just as we were about to go through the Panama canal, official word came over the radio that the Pacific War was over, and we were rerouting our course to New York City. That did it -- everyone went into crazy fits, from the joy of going home to our families and seeing the good old U.S.A. once again. My act, consisted of throwing my duffel bag, filled with clothes about $125.00 worth, and personal belongings overboard. The night of August 18, 1945, we landed in New York City. Yes, that was another great day for us. After leaving the ship, Marine Panther, we immediately were sent by train to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. Our stay at Camp Kilmer, we were sent to our sepa- rations centers, so we could be given leave there. The Separation Center for Louisiana was Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Our stay at Camp Shelby was another short one also; one day. On the night of August 26, 1945, I arrived at the train station to be greeted by my family; after being away since May 25, 1943. Yes, it was a happy reunion. New Orleans looked like a million dollars that night. I had a 30 day leave, but after being home for about 20 days, I received notice for a 15 day extension. That was swell, because I sure hated to leave again. After those wonderful 45 days at home I shoved off for Camp Crowder, Missouri, for my dis- charge. After being processed, and taught how, to be a civilian again, I received that wonderful piece of paper, my discharge, October 19, 1945. The following morning, October 20, 1945, I arrived home over again, but this time for good." In January 1947, Mike and Alma Hoffstadt were married in New Orleans and resided there. In 1985 they began building their home in the New Zion Community and continued to be weekenders until Alma retired in 1993. At this time they moved to St. Helena Parish, New Zion Community full time. Mike was employed with the Bell System, South Central Bell, for 41 years and 9 months. He started September 1942 and retired May 1984. He started as a lineman with the company and at the time of retirement his title was Engineering Manager, outside plant.