Thus far, leading up to a Le Havre departure, my father has moved from Schleiz, Germany, to Luxembourg City, to camp Oklahoma City outside Reims, France, to Camp Home Run outside Le Havre, from the end of May through the end of June, 1945. After being malnourished during his six month POW stint, the journey must have been mentally and physically exhausting. I’m so glad he recorded the journey with these photographs, and especially with his writings on the back.
Our convoy rolling along a French highway toward Le Havre, France.
Bernard McKenzie, June 1945
French flags such as shown flying here were hoisted in France as the Jerry’s were pushed out.
Bernard McKenzie, June 1945
Jerry’s is a term used by British and American soldiers to refer to Germans during WW1 and WW2, from Urban Dictionary.
The routine physical inspection. This particular physical took place at Camp Oklahoma City, France. (near Reims)
Bernard McKenzie, June 1945
War is hell! Ask the residents of Le Havre–if you can find any.
Bernard McKenzie, June 1945
A typical German pill box. This particular one was located near the harbor at Le Havre, France.
Bernard McKenzie, June 1945
The truck just ahead of the vehicle I was riding in enroute to Le Havre from Germany. Chuck Miller seated and facing my camera.
Bernard McKenzie, June 1945
Enroute to Camp Oklahoma City, France (assembly area near Reims) our convoy stopped frequently for breaks. We amateur photographers had a lot of material here.
Bernard McKenzie, June 1945, near French Border in Germany
Vineyards by the acres were a common sight. This flat section of vineyards was nothing like the mountainous ones in the Moselle River area.
Bernard McKenzie, June 1945, near Bonn, Germany
Willie, Herman Rhinehart, & Peck. Bivouac area near Schleiz, Germany.
Bernard McKenzie, June 1945
Theodore Roosevelt Boginski (Bo) and “Doc” Snipes consented to pose briefly in front of the mess hall at Camp Oklahoma City, France. “Bo” is Mess Sgt & Snipes is Company Aid Man.
Complete & successful destruction of a Nazi Party headquarters building near Cologne, Germany.
Bernard McKenzie, June 19, 1945
A view of the picturesque Moselle River near Wasserbillig, Germany. Our regiment had taken Wasserbillig only after a terrific price in human lives last winter.
Bernard McKenzie, June 19, 1945
The cathedral was to have been the chief subject near Bonn, Germany, and while hurriedly passing through, the picture was snapped.
Bernard McKenzie, June 19, 1945
This photo, which I’d always assumed was of a sign constructed by a home-sick G.I., pointed the directions of American redeployment camps, or repo-depos. The camps were named after U.S. cities. My dad was at Oklahoma City.
Redeployment centers near Reims, France, were organized & functioning in these U.S. city named camps . Our Division was redeployed at Oklahoma City.
Bernard McKenzie, June 19, 1945
These redeployment camps near Reims served as a funnel to prepare millions of American G.I.’s for military operations elsewhere in the world and to send the luckier ones home. The map below shows the location of the various camps around Reims. The first photo shows the long lines for the “Gourmet Restaurant” at Camp Boston. The second photo is of my dad’s camp, Oklahoma City.
American soldiers & not French are boarding this GI vehicle with some of the ruins.
Bernard McKenzie, June 26, 1945
Camp Home Run, once a German held fort, was our waiting place for the boat.
Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 20-26, 1945
This picture was taken as our advance party convoy entered the city of Aachen, Germany.
Bernard McKenzie, June 20, 1945
American Cemetery of World War II soldiers. Located in Belgium, just across the German border.
Bernard McKenzie, June 20, 1945
“In Flanders Fields the Poppies Grow…” This snap is but a tiny sector of Flanders in Belgium. Nothing but poppies were visible in the field. A very beautiful sight.
Bernard McKenzie, Flanders, Belgium, June 20, 1945, quoting a 1918 poem by John McCrae
The very busy business cross intersection in the heart of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.
Bernard McKenzie, June 20, 1945
Three or four roofs remained intact at Le Havre.
Bernard McKenzie, June 22, 1945
Can Le Havre ever be a great city (again)? The used stone should be a prosperous business.
Bernard McKenzie, June 22, 1945
Veteran’s Day need not be a politicized holiday. Looking back at these amazing photos that are the greatest gift my father left us, I see Americans fighting oppression and tyranny. I see the great nation and people of France so devastated yet only weeks after the end of the war the smiles have returned to many of their faces. Veteran’s Day is a day to remember what binds us all together, the valor of generations of young people to protect fellow humans. I am proud to say that my dad was a veteran of World War 2 along with his brother, who landed in Normandy 24 hours after D-Day, and their dad before them was a veteran of World War 1.
Le Havre & her harbor from the distant hill at Camp Home Run.Bernard McKenzie,
June 24, 1945
German PW’s are completing work on a volley ball court. Soon after they finished we played a game.
Bernard McKenzie, June 24, 1945, Camp Home Run
A flag raising ceremony at Camp Home Run.
Bernard McKenzie, June 24, 1945
Here we could write letters, play cards, checkers, ping pong, read, etc. (Camp Home Run Day Room)
Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 24, 1945
At Camp Home Run–near Le Havre, France–we had all the service one would want. French girls served us in a cafeteria manner.
Bernard McKenzie, June 24, 1945
Le Havre was just coming back to life after being destroyed for its location as a gateway to the European theater in World War 2. Le Havre took a major hit when the Germans seized control, then suffered utter devastation when the Allies regained the stronghold.
Business “not as usual” in the heart of Le Havre proper.
Bernard McKenzie, June 26, 1945
German forts (pill boxes) at the harbor front. The Jerries at one time were very entrenched here.
Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 26, 1945
Our bombers scored here.
Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 26, 1945
Home was never like this. Thank God.
Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 26, 1945
The “Ghost City” of Le Havre, France.
Bernard McKenzie, June 26, 1945
Le Havre offered a setting for the large-scale U.S. exodus from the War. Tens of thousands of GI’s gathered in the Cigarette Camps, including Camp Home Run where my dad Bernard McKenzie spent his final days in-continent.
A view of Camp Home Run. Notice the German fort surrounding the camp.
Bernard McKenzie, Camp Home Run, Sanvic, France, June 26, 1945
M. P.’s out on a little stroll in Le Havre, France. Many white and negro troops were stationed in Le Havre.
Bernard McKenzie, June 26, 1945
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.
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