OUR CONVOY TO TLEMCEN CONSISTED OF TWO TWO AND A HALF TON TRUCKS, ONE JEEP, A STAFF CAR WHICH WERE ASSIGNED TO OUR UNIT.  WE WERE ALSO SUPPLIED WITH BORROWED VEHICLES IN ORDER TO TRANSPORT THREE HUNDRED ENLISTED MEN, FIFTY-FIVE NURSES, FORTY-NINE OFFICERS AND OUR CHIEF, COLONEL BERNSTEIN.

AS WE TRAVELED OVER THE RUTTED, DUSTY ROAD WE ENCOUNTERED OX CARTS, AND ARABS RIDING DONKEYS. OLD CHARCOAL-FIRED BUSSES CARRIED PEOPLE GOING TO AND FROM ORAN.  MILITARY TRAFFIC WAS EVERYWHERE.  AMERICAN, BRITISH AND FRENCH COMBAT VEHICLES WERE HEADED TO THE FRONT IN TUNISIA. SMALL HOUSES OF STONE AND MORTAR DOTTED THE LANDSCAPE TOGETHER WITH TINY GARDENS AND PICTURESQUE VINEYARDS.  BEGGARS, INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WALKED ALONG THE SIDES OF THE ROAD. THE TRIP TOOK THREE HOURS.  WE MADE ONE REST STOP IN A DESERTED FIELD AT THE FOOT OF A SMALL HILL. THE NURSES WENT OVER THE HILL TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES, WHILE WE MADE DO WITH THE AREA NEAR THE ROAD.

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