October 3-7--Drove all over to all of the surrounding towns and along the Swiss border, getting information. Drove to Vesoul and slept in an old area of town. Drove to Fontenay and slept in a stable and did some surveying. There was a lot of shooting and shelling going on.
October 9--My birthday. Drove back to the town of St. Hippilie.
October 12--Drove 105 miles back to Chaumont, going through Epinal, Eufchatea, Barleduc, and many other villages. Slept in Hotel de France in Chaumont.
October 13--Left the Hotel de France at 8 a.m. During the night, someone stole my spare tire and wheel.
October 14--Got up early and drove Captain Siedal to "B" Battery 15 miles away.
October 16--Drove to Besancon, and drove through the town of Versaul. Drove over 200 miles. The roads were very slippery, and it was a hard, tiring trip.
October 17--Drove back to 6th Corps. Went to church and worked on the Jeep. When we were in position in St. Hippilie, we fired our first shot in France and we were on the Marginal Line.
October 23--Drove up to Bruyeres, and moved into a beautiful house. Soft bed to sleep on. There were a lot of shells coming in.
October 24-30--The house we are in has been hit by 7 shells, leaving shrapnel holes all over our room. Lots of shells coming in this week--drove the Colonel through an area while it was being shelled--it was hell! Shelling continues day and night, and I am sleeping in a coal bin.
Letter Home From Robert to His Family: "Southern France, October 1, 1944--My Dearest Folks, I have been driving most of the day today, and at noon, I stopped in a town at a café and got myself a dinner. I had beef, gravy and potatoes, rye bread and liver sausage, and for dessert, Swiss cheese and coffee. It was a good meal and only cost me 40 francs. Last night, there was a beautiful moon out, but today it has been raining and blowing, and it is so cold. I think of all of you, Love and Kisses, Robert. "
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