Tag: 1945

A Mystery to Solve

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All of the photographs on this site are scans of originals that my father Bernard McKenzie took on his trek across western Europe at the end of World War 2. To this point the descriptions written on the back have been meticulous, detailed in the handwriting of my dad and the vernacular of the times. They’ve also been accurate, both chronological and locations. This blog post has helped me identify the first discrepancy, a photo and description dated far out of sequence. What’s going on? I hope to figure it out as I keep following the trail of photographs back into Germany.

The lazy Moselle River near Wasserbillig, Germany.

Bernard McKenzie, June 22, 1945

While this photo does appear to be of the Moselle River, Luxembourg is on one side while Germany is on the other. The photo is also obviously extremely mis-dated, as my dad was at Camp Home Run in Le Havre, France, on June 22.

Strategic Location of Le Havre

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Le Havre played an enormous role for both sides during World War 2. It was a highly strategic harbor for the Germans to protect during their occupation. And it was a critical re-entry point for the Allies, with the D-Day invasion on the beaches of Normandy approximately 50 miles to the southeast. Because of this its native French inhabitants took a horrendous beating at the start, middle, and end of the war.

Le Havre

The Slow Road Home

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I’ve seen this stack of photos stuffed inside a shoebox since I was a young boy. My dad would take the box out to show the photos to close friends in hushed tones. They’ve taken on a mythical quality to me, and I’m so thankful I’ve found this outlet to truly examine them closely for the first time myself, and to share them with anyone who’s interested.

Ruins of Le Havre. Enroute to our boat & then the U.S.A.

Bernard McKenzie, June 26, 1945

 

We had stayed at “Home Run” for 5 days. We were sweating out boarding our ship. Here we are leaving “Home Run”–boarding trucks & enroute to our boat.

Bernard McKenzie, June 26, 1945

 

Enroute to our ship. One small sector of Le Havre that had missed our bombs in the early days of the war.

Bernard McKenzie, June 26, 1945

 

Most of us are loaded on trucks. Approximately two hours later we got on the “Marine Dragon.”

Bernard McKenzie, June 26, 1945

Is it the beginning? Or is it the end?

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An African-American Navy Band sent the troops off in style.

Negro musicians play as we leave Le Havre.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

 

A group of negro musicians played as we left the European Theater.

Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 27, 1945

 

Some French civilians and U.S. soldiers watch on as we leave Le Havre.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

 

Our “Marine Dragon” that returned us safely to the U.S.A. The gang plank to the right. Boarded this the evening of the 26th–sailed June 27, 1945.

Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 27, 1945

The War Machine Bringing GI’s Home

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More than 2 million Americans fought in Europe in WW2. Bringing them home was just the next chapter. Learn more about the USS West Point, in the background of the first photo below, which was used to transport troops during World War 2.

Ships & tugs docked at Le Havre. The U.S. West Point in the background.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

 

A sister ship of our Marine Dragon.

Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 27, 1945

 

This tug is about to take us through the channel ahead. You can see the rope attached.

Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 27, 1945

 

The tug at front is slowly pulling our ship out.

Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 27, 1945

 

Harbor at Le Havre.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

Remnants of Le Havre

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In order to be repatriated, Le Havre was destroyed. See Before and After video of Le Havre.

In harbor at Le Havre, France.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

 

A dock at Le Havre, France. Our Air Forces had visited here frequently.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

 

The congested harbor at Le Havre.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

 

Harbor. Le Havre, France

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

 

In the harbor at Le Havre, France.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

Battlefront, Le Havre

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The Germans dug in at Le Havre, determined to defend one of France’s largest ports at all costs–the port was very important for them to secure, and very important for the Allies to seize! This is the aftermath of “defending at all costs”. Read more about Operation Estonia.

Harbor view, Le Havre, France.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

 

This ship, a victim of enemy shells, still lies submerged in the harbor at Le Havre, France.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

 

A submerged ship, a victim of enemy shells. Le Havre, France.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

Leaving War-Torn Le Havre

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His whole life my dad hated standing in lines. He wouldn’t do it at Disneyworld, not at a cafeteria, not at a movie theater. In looking at this index of his photos from the time he and his buddies were readying to leave the war continent, they didn’t accomplish much or move very far in this week-plus of time. They deserved a break, for sure, but knowing what awaited them on the other side of the ocean must have been an agonizing delay. The open ocean ahead and the destroyed city in the rearview mirror is a perfect memory of that time. (See Le Havre today here and here.)

Coastline at Le Havre.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

The coastline at Le Havre, France.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

A U.S. barge carrying army rations. Le Havre coastline in background.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

A harbor view of war torn Le Havre, France.

Bernard McKenzie, June 27, 1945

Heading Home, Finally

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I can’t even begin to imagine what must have been going through my dad’s mind at the end of June, 1945. While I’m still working to uncover details about when and from where my father, Bernard McKenzie, was finally released from the German POW camp, it’s safe to assume that he and thousands of other American heroes had been working their way toward the French coast for about two months. I’m sure there was a European continent-wide exhale on VE Day–May 8, 1945–but to the American troops it was just the beginning of a very long journey home. Compared to the days prior to Germany’s unconditional surrender, this march across the continent was met by cheering locals just returning home and children who wanted to catch a glimpse of their rescue heroes, who often also had fistfuls of candy for them. Today you could walk from Germany, through Luxembourg, into Belgium, and end in Le Havre without much difficulty–especially when compared to the Army issue boots and heavy gear the infantrymen carried–but the journey would cover over 400 miles and take more than 150 hours.

A view of the Star Board side of our ship, the Marine Dragon. Taken on the high seas. Enroute to U.S.A.

Bernard McKenzie, June 30, 1945

 

Nothing but water. The Atlantic Ocean. Taken on the high seas.

Bernard McKenzie, June 30, 1945

 

Beau Cou water. The Atlantic. Enroute to the U.S.A.

Bernard McKenzie, June 30, 1945

Heading Home, Finally

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After nearly 7 months in Europe representing America and the Free World (he went there to fight, really, or at least to help care for those who did and got injured; but he ended up getting shot himself, got disoriented behind enemy lines in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, and was a POW for the rest of the war), Bernard McKenzie was headed home.

A view of our Marine Dragon. Taken aboard ship. Notice the two 50 cal machine guns.

Bernard McKenzie, somewhere in the English Channel, July 1, 1945

 

From his stories and from these photos, my dad made dozens of lifetime friends and acquaintances. Even if they never saw each other again after Europe, their connections were remarkable, memorable, forever. For information on the SS Marine Dragon and other C-4 ships go to http://www.usmm.org/c4ships.html.

Merrill Baker. Taken aboard the Marine Dragon. Enroute to U.S.A.

Bernard McKenzie, July, 1945