Catching Up
Moffitt's working out well. His aim has gotten better and we're getting used to the way he thinks. His voice of calm and reason is a nice counterbalance to some of Sarge's bluster and what I can only call craziness. But it's craziness in a good way that works most of the time. I still think of Cotter and miss his presence. Got a heartbreaking letter from his fiancée, Janey, thanking me for writing and returning her picture.
Moffitt doesn't like being called "Sarge" and it does make it confusing with having two sergeants. We've dubbed him "Doc" since he has a doctorate. He's also better at taking care of wounds we sustain, especially when there is shrapnel or a bullet to be removed. He said he developed the skills on the archaeological digs he went on with his father.
I find myself being drawn into the stories he tells when we are trying to stay warm during cold desert nights. They're actually pretty interesting and I can understand why Tully likes them so much. I'm still thankful to be driving Sarge. He's usually quiet until he has to take charge during a raid. I've realized I tend to talk when we're traveling, and he listens the way Tully listens to Moffitt, so it's good to have a talker and a listener in each jeep.
With more G.I.'s arriving in Africa, we have established a permanent base which is more convenient to the area we usually patrol. Due to protocol, I can't mention the name or location of the base, even though it's not a secret, just in case this diary might fall into German hands.
It's an old city with stone walls with an Arab quarter, marketplace, and several local nightclubs where we can grab some drinks and sometimes see a bit of entertainment—usually belly dancers. If Zu-Zu was here, she'd probably ask them to teach her how.
Tully and I have become well known in the motor pool and the mechanics know there will be hell to pay if they don't keep the jeeps in perfect running condition. Tully and I do a lot of the work ourselves, just to be sure everything is okay. Tully has them scared to mess up. I don't know how he manages to convey his message with a single look, but they know they had better not make a mistake or say a jeep is ready to go when it's not. I don't think he's scary, but they sure do.
Forgot to mention that we have all been trained to do a blood transfusion and carry the necessary equipment, along with a few surgical probes and forceps. Cotter's death hit us all hard and next time, we'll be better prepared and equipped.
Had a letter from Zu-Zu. She now has a recording contract and has recorded a number of songs that will be released every few months. Her target audience is the Allied Forces. She said she sings in a slow, breathy, sexy voice and her first record "Why Don't You Do Right?" has become popular with soldiers.
She has joined the USO and is assigned to a Foxhole unit which means they entertain troops close to the fighting. She is dancing with seven other Rockettes and performs several dances and songs on her own. I'm so proud of her but I worry about her being so close to battlefields. It would be so cool if she would perform here in North Africa, but I guess there isn't much chance of that.
My mother wrote to say she has become involved in numerous fundraisers for the war effort. She's also formed several groups for mothers of servicemen to provide support and care for them as they pray for their sons' return from war. Violet's Girl Scout Troop is knitting socks and caps for soldiers, tending victory gardens and putting together Red Cross care packages.
No word from Father but Mother says he is quite busy with raising money for the war and helping supply items to the various armed forces. He's part of a special commission set up by President Roosevelt and I know he's working hard to help end the war. I wish he would write and tell me about it, but I haven't been able to bring myself to write him. I know I'll eventually get around to it, but I'm just not ready to forget all the things he said and did when I enlisted.
Tully and I paid several young Arab boys to collect a lot of African frogs for us. We released them into the women's dormitory which caused a bit of chaos. We were on hand to comfort the nurses and staff as they ran in a panic from the building and got to be "heroes" by rounding up the "little critters," as Tully calls them. It was a lot of fun, and my calendar is filled with a number of dates. Unfortunately, we are on patrol so much, it will take months for me to work through the list. Don't think Sarge or Doc know we were behind the prank but then again, it's hard to tell.
With the arrival of American troops and more British forces, the Germans are stepping up their numbers as well. We're on patrol most days, keeping track of new bases and supply columns. Taking out those supplies has become almost routine, but the Germans are sending heavier artillery to guard their trucks and we've faced off with Captain Dietrich on several occasions. He and Sarge have a growing vendetta against one another.
Need to check the jeeps and get some rest. We've got an early mission in the morning to attack a convoy carrying supplies and fuel. Hope there will be some fun fireworks.