"When we got to shore we marched uptown where there were a group of college buildings on a hill. The natives had stolen all wooden items for firewood to keep warm, for this was in the middle of winter. We ended up sleeping on the concrete floor with 2 blankets each.
We were next put on a train at Naples, to ride to Bari, Italy. It was just a box and we huddled in it. The box cars were left over from WWI. They were called "a capacity of 40 men or 8 horses", during WWI. Even though the rail cars were only about 12 feet long and eight feet wide, they tried to get 40 men inside. We were laying on each other with no air for ventilation. The cars were coupled together with a 3/4 inch rod (threaded with a course thread) and a turnbuckle. I don't know how many cars were pulled this way, but none broke loose on this trip.
The rail cars had air brakes but they worked in reverse to the American railroads. In the U.S., if the coupling brakes' air pressure is lost the whole train will lock up and stop. In Italy, at that time, if the air pressure is lost all brakes are lost and the train is free to go.
There were tunnels between Naples and Bari, and the engine would have to stop and build up a head of steam before entering a tunnel. There were no lights in the train, and when we went into a tunnel it was completely dark. Everyone was crowded in there, and it was hard to figure out where everyone was and what was going on. The guy next to me said his stomach was about to burst with gas. Mine was too, so I suggested we "go" together and both of us deny it. This we did. A sergeant said whoever did that must admit it, or he would sign us up on sick call and haul us to a hospital. It smelled like we were ready! I never saw my partner again. We got separated and that was good."
To be continued...
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