Tag: SS Marine Dragon

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

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