Letters from Thomas McFarland to Family, July-October, 1945

Containers:

Box 02.0160-Box 1, Folder 002

Scope and content:

McFarland discusses about the night of 5-15-43 when he witnessed an air raid on a fighter field near Bastin. The next morning, Germans opened fire on the field. The aftermath dealt with necessary aid from all doctors and nurses. Although this letter was written a few months after the 7-10 letter, it describes the aftermath of the first air raid. It also describes watching planes overhead on the Second D-Day of 8-15-1944. McFarland did not see any fighting, just heard aircraft. After this, on 9-9-1944, he left his post and travelled to Saint-Raphaël, arriving on the morning of 9-19. McFarland also writes from Okinawa, but is recounting his past travels. He is located at an the outpost known as Goat Hill, and boarded U.S.S. Florence Nightingale for the Oran Harbor on 2-2-1943. He writes from Okinawa and recounts his traveling to St. Arnaud. In Okinawa indications are over and 80 men will be left there. He goes back to discussing the past, specifically traveling from St. Arnaud hospital to Tunisia. He left on 8-11-43. He described the trip from St. Arnaud to Tunisia. He arrived in Constantin on 8-12-43. McFarland describes Tunisia. German prisoners are working in the warehouses, which are destroyed. McFarland and his crew are setting up camp in Zaghouan, Tunisia. He describes setting up the hospital here. Thomas has gone from supply duty to ward duty to lab work in Tunisia. He describes the people he is working with in the lab. He describes the condition and appearance of Tunisia. Around 12-1-1943, he moves to Mateur to set up a hospital. After spending some time in that area, he leaves on about shortly after New Years for Algiers.

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