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
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.
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