Dear Sergeant Honey

June 4, 1943-Left Ft. Devens to go to Camp Shanks, New York

Hildie's Diary Entry

B bags turned in this morning. Had some drill morning and afternoon, also songfest. Turned in  bedding. Company meeting in evening. Bed check at 9:30. Helped burn rubbish until Lt. Berry stopped it. We had hot water so tore a bag apart and took a shower. Slept on mattress with coat. Up at 1:30 a.m., breakfast at 2:00 a.m. Marched to railroad. Boarded train. Rode with Wilkins and Paskoff.

In June, 1943, withholding tax was authorized (pay-as-you-go) by President Roosevelt. Income tax had been passed in 1913 in the 16th Amendment to the Constitution.

Diary Monday, June 7, 1943. Camp Shanks

Layout inspection. Got a shot just before mess. Finished typing rosters in orderly room. Stacked clothes away. Tried to write home but couldn't get in a good fabricating mood.

Diary Tuesday, June 8, 1943. Camp Shanks

KP in the morning so up at 5:00. Not bad. Helped serve, mopped, and cleaned beans. Afternoon free so washed. Streibich, Dotty, and I to day room for a Coke and talked awhile. Came back and started to iron. To orderly room for letters, will, and power of attorney. When I came back found iron had burned hole in floor. To PX with Margaret. Home just before blackout. All clear after 11:00. Couldn't sleep.

Dairy Thursday, June 10, 1943. Camp Shanks.

Road march with full pack. Company meeting about messy barracks and poor marching. Class on interior guard, then unarmed defense. After lunch to obstacle course. High wall and pack frame most trouble. Fellows watching. French class with records.  Then talent hunt and song fest. Gas mask drill and PT.

Diary Friday, June 11, 1943. Camp Shanks

Road march with full pack. Gas drill. Shorthand, judo. After lunch to obstacle course again, through everything. Hot day, practically no breaks. Wrote letter home and one to Ted. Girls getting answers to APO cards.

Diary Saturday, June 12, 1943. Camp Shanks.

All packed, ready for road march and it was called off. Washed work suits. Had mail call. First forwarded letters. Two from home, one from Ted, postcard from Chris. Ted's birthday card mailed Feb. 26th returned undelivered. To confession in evening in group formation. Then lured to show. Saw Priorities on Parade. Musical. Good film on Air Corps.

Diary Monday, June 14, 1943. Camp Shanks

Latrine duty. Neglected my own room. Got gigged for messy bed, bed out of line, dirty galoshes. Got second shot this morning.Very dopey. Gas mask drill. PT. Had retreat, just our company before mess. Washed clothes. After dinner scrubbed floor. Had ice cream. Dotty and I and Streibich talking about old days. Wrote in day room after lights out. In bed just at bed check.

Diary Thursday, June 17, 1943. Camp Shanks

Swimming again. Kept hair in pins and used chamois strip and stayed pretty dry. Nothing after 3:00. Early mess. Then got dressed. Cloudy so carried U-coats, off to New York City at 6:00, six of us. Did a little shopping. Had 2 martinis in quiet bar with 2 CPOs. Dinner at 10:00. Had a good steak at the Lobster. Home on 1:05 a.m. train. Raining. To bed at 3:00 a.m. (EDITOR'S NOTE: They marched to the swimming pool in full pack for swimming lessons. She was already an excellent swimmer but for some of the girls the lessons were necessary).

Diary Friday, June 18, 1943. Camp Shanks

In sorry state. We were last for mess so had to wait an hour. Marched to lake. Went for a short swim and a bit of volleyball. In afternoon slept. Nothing until French at 3:00. Then PT. Wrote letter to folks and one to Annie, she in St. Luke's with rheumatic fever. (EDITOR'S NOTE: While at Camp Shanks there were lectures on security of military information, training films, gas mask drills, physical training and other classes depending on their overseas assignments. At this time their families did not know they were going overseas and would not know until the WAACs arrived in England. The girls were not able to go home before being shipped overseas. Hildie wouldn't see her family for 2 1/2 years). 

Diary Saturday June 19, 1943. Camp Shanks

Swimming again. Rough stuff, throwing people in. In evening to show. Steaming hot. Saw Dark Command. Fair. Found out later there was a dance but the WAACs didn't know about it. Feeling kinda blue. Beautiful moonlight in window.

Diary Sunday, June 20, 1943. Camp Shanks

Up at 7:00 a.m. and to breakfast. Dotty and I in to NYC. Took bus this time. Beautiful ride on 5th  Avenue. To St. Patrick's Cathedral. Late for 10:00 so had coffee and back for 11:00 high Mass. Evans and Glass there. Had a couple drinks and up to top of Empire State Building. Took bus to Central Park. Then had dinner at Hotel Victoria. Very good, herring with sour cream, and steak. Almost late getting home. Just made it for 9:00. (EDITOR'S NOTE:The history book for Hildie's WAC detachment says that the WAACs were confined to a prescribed site with helmeted and armed MP's and later WAAC MPs on guard).

Diary Monday, June  21, 1943. Camp Shanks

Letter from Mother to APO, she said "astounding address." Took a bath, got clean mattess covers!

AFC H. Molnar

169th Post HQ Co.

1st WAAC Sep. Bn

APO 4557

c/o Postmaster

New York City

Diary Tuesday, June 22, 1943. Camp Shanks

KP in the morning. Got letter from Ted to APO. Wants to know what it means. Third shot in afternoon. Went to show with Dotty. Saw Five Graves to Cairo. Franchot Tone and Ann Baxter. Excellent.

Diary Friday, June 23, 1943. Camp Shanks

Swimming. Tired so didn't stay in long. Gas mask drill.  Ball game. After mess to church. Played little organ at church a bit. On way back two fellows stopped us to talk. Lt. Vizman told us we were out of bounds. Then to PX for a couple beers and got very silly. Kidding around till after bed check.

Diary Thursday,June 24, 1943. Camp Shanks.

No swim today. Took a sunbath in bathing suit. Letter from Ted asking if he could see me in Boston After graduation. Wrote him Oinest is unpredictable and thinking of going to see Kitty's mother.

(EDITOR'S NOTE:  Kitty is Johnnie Gerber's wife, brother of Shortie, Hildie's mother. Kitty was born in England. This is how people let each other know where they were going).

Diary Monday, June 28, 1943. Camp Shanks.

Got letters from Mother and Annie. Hot day. Classes in afternoon. Then formal retreat with blouses! They were taking pictures of us. Impressive with gun salute and band. Did some washing and ironed two shirts. To bed but almost got hysterical trying to sleep. Very hot, Mosquitoes helping situation.

Diary Tuesday, June 29, 1943. Camp Shanks

Went swimming and really enjoyed it. Began raining. Changed to A uniforms and put on U-coats and to ball game. Cardinals vs. Camp Shanks but Cardinals never got there. Good long march anyway. Wire from Ted as to whether he could see me. Lots of letters. To show in evening. Saw Mr. Big. Cute picture, all young kids.

Diary Wednesday, June 30, 1943. Camp Shanks.

Good rain last night. Weather much cooler. Didn't go on march or swimming. Pay day, got $15.25 and owed $10 of it. Class B and C allotments taken out. Streibich and I into New York. Bus station mobbed so took train. Had drink, then steak. Then to bar. Drinking with Navy CPOs. Finally left them. Walking around station. Home by bus in at 4:45.