General Mann (TAP 112) - Naval Cruise Book

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iPart-two ■

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Canal Street, New Orleans

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PART 11 NEW ORLEANS TO BREMERHAVEN There was a startling change in our passenger hst at New Orleans. The pretty girls, children and diaper set debarked, and in their place came the tough, smart and rigidly trained troops of the 2nd Armored Divi- sion. Selected to become a part of General Eisenhower ' s Atlantic Pact Army, the men of the 2nd Armored were infused with the gravity of their mission and the division ' s tradition as one of the great combat units of the Army. They filed aboard heavily laden with equipment and weapons, military from the tops of their close- cropped heads to the toes of their heavy boots. Quickly their working and guard details uere established, and the muddy waters of the Mississippi were barely out of sight when they began a shipboard training program which was to take up most of their waking hours. Classes in German, map reading, communications and weapons were constantly in session. A vigorous physical training program was ordered, and throughout the day large groups of soldiers could be seen going through arduous calisthenics. The splendid physical condition of the men was evident in the course of the boxing matches that were part of the 4th of July observances. The Army made a clean sweep of the inter- service bouts in spite of the game efforts of Navy participants. Condition alone was not the reason for their showing, however. The Army entries were regular members of the 2nd Armored ' s boxing team. Several were professional fighters. On July I2th we sighted the Scilly Isles off the southwest coast of Hngland. During the remainder of ilie day, and until after we left Dover on the following morning, our crew and troops saw much of the green, undulating English countryside. Massive castle-like forts were clearly visible at every seacoast town. Thick hedges surrounded old stone mansions that stood on verdant hills, and small villages clustered the floors of little shoroside canyons.