3 August 1952, Sunday
Much of the week has been spent on one of the two beaches, to and from which cargo is being transferred. The old beach at the construction camp is sandy and beautiful – at the end of the fiord surrounded by rocky mountains. We followed the road back towards the site for some seven miles to the 500 foot. jumping off place. It is incredible that someone did not investigate the possibilities of building a road to the site before the camp and storage areas were selected. As a result, we had to spend the week blasting our way through rock to get into the beach near the site, and to get a good start in transferring the cargo some seven miles by Mike boats.
On the new beach a beautiful view of the outer harbor is available with snow covered mountains rising up from the sea some 15 miles away to the north – with the dull red glow of the winter sun gleaming over them at midnight.
Some time was spent with the usual monthly reports. Spirits were rather low and rumors rife as to future plans. Apparently we shall be relieved in a day or so by a new group, and shall proceed to Frobisher Bay as planned.
Some mail was flown in and dropped by the Air Force. Welcome payday came on Wednesday – $197.00 now after withholding tax and savings bond allotment were removed. Plan to send $100.00 home for the savings account.
The usual headache over supply, etc. is resuming and confusing as ever. No one seems to know just what to do, and the regulations are extremely copious, tedious, and misleading.
10 August 1952, Sunday
On last Monday we left N-29 and sailed north into Frobisher Bay on the southern part of Baffin Island – to N-31, where we arrived on Wednesday. Heavy swells made the voyage rather rough part of the way, with 25º rolls to either side. Things really slid around. The journey up the bay was beautiful. The mountains arise from the water on either side, and their snow covered tops poked above clouds which covered their bases, right on the water.
At Frobisher Bay we found a deserted (relatively speaking) air base, now being rebuilt. The tides were stupendous, rising as high as 35 feet, and receding 2,500 yards! The water could be seen to move at the rate of ten feet per minute!
The terrain right here is less rocky and flatter than in Labrador. We got the aid station set up in comfortable quarters on the beach.
The Eskimos are more primitive than those seen before. They live in hide and cotton tents in the summer and igloos in the winter. They look almost Mongolian, and wear sealskin boots with whitish parkas, with peaked hoods.
Orders came from General Whitcomb’s headquarters ordering me to remain here with one corpsmen after the task force leaves to provide medical support for the 973rd Eng. Constr. Bn, Co. A. We still hope to be out by 15 September.
The weather was clear initially, but cold in the morning and evening. A blizzard and fog have given much trouble for two days.
17 August 1952, Sunday
The week was fairly routine with operations going full blast ashore. The weather was bad, with much rain and fog. It takes almost one hour to get to the shore from the ship. We go by Mike boat from ship to a point several hundred yards off shore, where we have to transfer to DUKWs for the remainder of the trip.
More men have been getting injured. One was seriously injured two nights ago when caught in a winch. The same night I was rushed ashore at 1:00 a.m. to see a man complaining of chest pain, the cause of which could not be determined. I cannot help but suspect that many of these men are feigning illness in order to avoid work, or in hopes of being returned to the ZI. The morale is quite low, and there is now talk of the Task Team’s returning to Cape Chidley as well as N-29 before returning to the US.
We have wined for more medical supplies for use after the Task Team withdraws. Our own supply situation is somewhat more clarified, but is still a headache. Sgt. George Rudd will stay with me, while Sgt. Frank Noll will return with the supplies and the other member of the Detachment. The men are functioning better, but have had to reprimand Cpl. Jones for filthiness. The RA enlisted men lack initiative and are certainly a lazy lot. Army red tape fosters this.
Sunday, 24 August 1952
This was a week of considerable activity. Early in the week there was much night work because of injuries, in addition to daily shifts on the beach.
It snowed a bit on Friday night. Saturday was a rainy, wet day. We were finally moved ashore after a week of uncertainty. We went through some intense activity backloading our vehicles, and non-medical supplies by DUKW. Then we had to move our medical supplies to the site for our new aid station in the 973rd Eng. Constr. Bn. Co. A, headquarters. Today we unpacked things, got out our surgical instruments and set things up fairly nicely.
Staff Sergeant George Rudd is remaining with me – a rather quiet, immature man – somewhat introverted, but nevertheless dependable. This afternoon the Canadian medic took me on a tour of N-31. The day was beautiful. He said that several thousand caribou may be passing through here within a few months. Polar bears have been reported to the south of us. It may be possible to get some fox furs from the nearby Hudson Bay Co. trading post.
I found a rib, the atlas, and several long bones from a whale among the Quonset huts. The atlas was about three feet in diameter. The Eskimos have caught two whales in the past week.
We have treated an Eskimo boy with a tremendous cellulites of the face and a large abscess above the right eye. Few of these people speak English. Colonel Kantor (his usual pleasant self) was up during the past week.
Sunday, 31 August 1952
The week was a fairly leisurely one. The bi-daily sick calls were light, and there was not too much to do otherwise except work on the final reports for the task team, and the initial monthly report for the 973rd Engineers, who are from Camp Carson, Colorado. Colonel Carlson visited during the latter part of the week. It is interesting that these officers come up here for a little fishing and a vacation on government time and money, but of course do a little work and reconnaissance too.
There has been a cold wind blowing from the northwest most of the week. It snowed briefly on Friday. The cloud formations have been very unusual. Last night darks clouds were present over the whole bay area, with a layer of higher clouds visible around the periphery. For a while in the evening the setting sun shone under the low, heavy cloud layer. Everything appeared to be bathed in purple light.
We have seen some good night movies in the mess hall. One with Virginia May nearly brought down the house. The men’s libido seems to be brimming over, and their interest in the Eskimo women is increasing, causing the company commander some worry.
Today I walked the three miles to and from the Hudson Bay Co. trading post, purchasing a statuette of a male Eskimo, with spear in hand, made from a walrus tusk. It cost $10.00, but will probably be the only thing I’ll get, and thus seems worth it. The Eskimos have a cemetery near the village with wooden crosses marking the graves, and hieroglyphic writing thereon.
Updated: July 29, 2002