OSS CBI Photobook 8 - Travel Orders, 9 December 1944

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Gene was in Washington, D.C. for November and the first part of December, 1944.  See here, here, here, and here, and oh yes, here. On page 8 of the photobook we see the transition set into motion by the related documents.

They are four mimeographed copies
of the same document, in fact.

"HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT"
"OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES"
"ROOM 23, 2324 F ST.,  N.W."
"WASHINGTON, D.C."

"220.453 (30 Nov 44)"

"9 December 1944"

 1.  The following named enlisted men, this organization, will proceed by rail on or about 11 December 1944, from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, California, reporting upon arrival to Mr. Martin Easton, Room 1130, Rowan Building, 458 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, California, for Government transportation to Headquarters West Coast Training Center, Newport Beach, California.

Tec 5 Jack N. Hammond 20 527 564

Pfc Peter R. Beckett  36 645 366

Pfc Marcello G. Rotundo  12 138 361

Pfc Eugene J. Zdrojewski  42 021 053

Pvt Howard C. Lyon  37 896 (or maybe 096 - JZ) 032

Corporal Hammond would have worn insignia like this:

Hammond's monthly base pay was $66.  His rank was Technician Fifth Grade.  You can see insignia for all the Technical Sargeants 1942-1948 here.  Apparently, in some instances a Sargeant was addressed as "Corporal."  Why?  Beats me.  Still, we can look in these photos for his insignia.

I wish I could tell you, Dad, how artistic
and intriguing your arrangement is here.
And with you and your buddy at the top corners,
cameras in hand on the Mall,
we can know how important he was.
Which one of the four was he?
What was his name?

You let the ground tilt
so he would look right.

Hey!
I don't appreciate you letting
the Washington Monument tilt!
I'm going to override you here, Dad.

More from the Travel Orders:

2.  Upon arrival at Newport Beach, California, enlisted men will report to the Commanding Officer, Headquarters West Coast Training Center, for temporary duty of  approximately thirty (30) days in connection with the OSS activities and upon completion of this temporary duty enlisted men will return to their proper station, Washington, D.C.

3.  . . . It being impracticable for the Government to furnish rations in kind, the Finance Officer will pay enlisted men monetary allowantces in lieu of rations and quarters at the rate prescribed . . . $3.00 a day for  five (5) days . . . 

So, did they make it to LA?  To Newport Beach? And then what did they do for "approximately 30 days?"  And by golly did they get their lunch money?

They got on the train all right.
Here they are at a stop at Lynndyl, Utah.
Founded in 1907, named after Lynn, Massachusetts,
Lynndyl's population had grown to 366 by 1940.

Is this Los Angeles?
Is that Eugene's personal camera?

Gene and his buddy.
I don't know his buddy's home town,
but I can tell you that Gene did not see palm trees
in his own hometown in December
or in any other month.

They got the same amount for lunch money in L.A. for the return trip.
But that was later.

Next up:  Santa Catalina Island, or at least the patrol boat there and back, along with a surprise.

Julie