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Memories of Tom McDonnell U.S. 7th Naval Beach Battalion I enlisted in Boston when I was 18 years old. I was working in the Bethlehem Steel Mill and they said I couldn’t leave because I was needed there. As soon as they said I couldn’t go, I went. I felt it was the right thing to do. Basic Training was in Newport, RI where I was for about one month. Then to Jacksonville, Florida to Radio School for about eight months. That is where I met up with George Matta. After Jacksonville, it was on to the Receiving Station in Charleston, SC for one week and then transferred to the Beach Battalion which was my assignment. It was then 1943 on to Norfolk, VA at Camp Bradford for amphibious training and then to Ft. Pierce, Florida for more practice landings for about 9 weeks. Then to Ledo Beach, Long Island, NY. We went
aboard the HMS Aquitania to Gourock, Scotland. And by train down to Salcombe, England and on to France. I was in the hydrographic section. I came home on the Coast Guard ship, the Wakefield which was previously a passenger ship. We had a load of German prisoners of war aboard. They were used as workers on board, chipping paint and serving food. They were hard workers. It seems like it took 3 Americans to do what one of them were doing and they kept the mess hall spotless. Many of the German prisoners were so happy to be here in America instead of what they would have faced. There were also many Italian prisoners in Boston also. We came in at night and the lights were supposed to be out but an amusement park was all lit up when we came in to Boston. I stayed in Faigo Barracks in Boston for 1 night. My family was able to meet me in Boston. I lived just 15 miles from the barracks and I just picked up the phone and called my family and they came. Even though I lived so close, they still sent me to Ledo Beach to pick up my sea bag. Tom McDonnell
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