Biography of Joe Rein
Major, 97th Signal, Boeblingen, Germany, US Army
My father was part of the invasion of Normandy and went across Europe till the war's end. His name is the same as mine, Joe Rein. My mother was a Navy Ensign nurse in WW2 as well. In 1953, my father was in the 97th Signal in Boeblingen, Germany
I was eight years old in 1953 when my mother, two sisters, and I went transatlantic on the Rose to Bremenhaven. My father was stationed in Germany and we were joining him for a two year stay. My mother was afraid of flying in an airplane so we went by ship We were processed through Ft. Hamilton, NY where received our battery of shots. I can still remember my sister putting up a fuss and two orderlies had to come into the room and help the nurse. It certainly was an exciting adventure for an 8 yr. old boy. As we pulled out of NY harbor and passed the Statue of Liberty I felt a real sense of patriotism. When we got out of sight of land I was a little apprehensive. Our room on the ship was really nice and we loved looking through the porthole. Since I was the boy I got the top bunk and that was fine with me.
That evening it got very rough and the ship was rolling and rocking. Each morning a man would come through the halls with a xylophone and while playing it would shout out "Rise and Shine 7 o'clock!" That was our call for breakfast. Well we got dressed as the boat was rocking and by the time we were sitting at the breakfast table I was green around the gills and didn't want anything to eat. Yes, this was my first of many bouts with sea sickness. I'd had gotten sick in the car but this was even worse. I went to the dispensary with my mother and there were quite a few of us lined up in the same condition. I was given some pills and a supply of paper bags to take with me as I traveled the ship. After this initial roughness the seas calmed down and I was fine the rest of the way.
It was a fun voyage with afternoon movies, on deck shuffleboard, a great game room, and my favorite activity -- making paper airplanes and flying them over the water. When we finally saw land it was a joyous occasion. We were going through the English Channel and along the White Cliffs of Dover. The trip had taken 8 days and we were excited to see my father and get our feet on dry steady land. The soldiers onboard debarked first. We watched them go down the gangplank with their heavy dufflebags. An Army band was there to greet us and when the soldiers were disembarking they played the song "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now". It was a wonderful reunion with my father who we hadn't seen for 9 months. The two years we spent in Germany were very educational and alot of fun. We came back by a converted hospital ship and people said it road better in the water. I did not get sick on the return but it took 10 days. Good memories!!
Our trip over the ocean to be was to be with my father where he was stationed in Germany as a company commander (Captain). Later over there he made Major. We left Germany in 1955 for his next duty station in Illinois. He retired from there and began a second career as an electrical engineer for the Defense Dept. where he worked in quality control of nuclear missiles.
Dad spent 22 years in the service and another 30 with the Deptartment of Defense. Quite a man.
----- Joe Rein III, Vietnam War Vet
Email: jjrein AT comcast.net
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