Operation Torch had been successfully launched.
Nine designated beachheads were secured in the initial assault.
A few days later the Vichy French surrendered and joined the Allies -- who were
now in control of transport and trade on the Mediterranean Sea.
To mark the day, John Edward and Friends gathered on the evening of
November 11. He took a dollar bill
out of his wallet, wrote the date on it, and passed it around.
One by one,
 |
| John Edward's "African Short Snorter," signed November 11, 1942, family photos |
eleven men signed John Edward's dollar bill, passed it on, signed the
next friend's bill, and passed that on, until each had their
list of signatures.
 |
| Close-up of first signatures on John Edward's dollar bill, November 11 1942, family photos. |
any might challenge another to produce his signed bill.
Failure to do so resulted in a short -- smaller than average -- shot.
This Short Snorter American tradition soon spread amongst
the Allied troops with signed currency from around the world.
The next morning, John Edward and his troops were back at work unloading supplies.
From "combat loaded" vessels, the Quartermaster Corps and Transport Troops unloaded
vehicles, artillery, and munitions to be used in the initial assault.
Next there were tons of troop personal gear to offload, as well as
support vehicles, equipment, and provisions for field kitchens, laundry services,
and other daily necessities.
 |
| Field mess served during training at Camp Cooke, CA, 1942, Army photo |
Meanwhile, top Commanders addressed logistical challenges for the
next phase of Operation Torch:
they would face the German Army -- not in Europe, but in Tunisia,
on the eastern end of North Africa.
The Allies would travel east on the two roads from Morocco and Algeria into Tunisia.
 |
| North African topographical map with one of the East - West roads, 1942, Army sketch |
A rapid advance would be required for success, and so hazards
along the North African roads were studied.
Troop convoys along coastal areas and desert plains would face visual distortion
from intense heat haze, recurring abrasion from sand storming around
the vehicles, and bombardments from Axis air patrols.
%202%201:2%20ton%20GMC%20cargo%20truck%20convoy%20in%20N%20Afr%20%20BLOG.png) |
| North African convoy of 2 1/2 ton GMC Cargo Trucks, 1942-43, Army photo |
Further east, on valley roads winding through mountainous areas,
heavy rains would create thick sticky mud that would bog down supply lines.
While still under enemy air attack at any moment.
With such challenges, it was clear that there would be a
constant need for repair of vehicles along the way.
These were all things John Edward would address
in his role as vehicle training commander
and then as truck and light tank convoy commander.
As planning proceeded, it became clear that the newly allied French Forces
could be an asset to American and British Forces, but their vehicles and
equipment were far outdated -- some still horse-drawn.
%20in%20North%20Africa,%201942,%20Library%20of%20Congress%20%20%20BLOG.png) |
This French Foreign Legioneer, with his distinctive white hat, quenches |
American and British Commanders therefore determined that the
French Forces would be supplied with and trained on the use, upkeep, and repair of
American vehicles (now far superior to those of the British).
2nd Lt. John Edward Binnion was one of the officers
assigned to oversee this training.
 |
| John Edward was responsible for vehicles such as the first three in this WW II Museum Diagram. We will soon hear stories about his work with the Amphibious DUKW after they went into production. |
"After the landings in North Africa I was assigned to the French Army in North Africa
where I was in charge of a Group of men whose job it was to teach men of
the French Army Group and a French Foreign Legion group how to use
our 2 1/2 ton trucks, 3/4 ton weapons carriers, 1/4 ton trucks (Jeeps),
and other general purpose vehicles.
 |
| Training was frequently held on American equipment, such as this 1941 Stuart Tank training in Egypt, Army photo |
Then, on the last day of the duty, members of the French Foreign Legion unit
held a little ceremony to bid our group "Goodbye" and at the "ceremony"
presented me with their French Foreign Legion Badge and made me
an "honorary member of that part of the French Foreign Legion."
 |
| Letter a few months later from French Foreign Legion friend Lt. Thebault, February 25, 1943, family scan |
Service was in the Atlas Mountains.
 |
| Tank convoy, North Africa, 1942-43, Army photo |
two Battalions of Light Tanks,
with the accompanying personnel,
 |
| M3 Medium Tank Crew, 1st Armored Division, 1942-43, Army photo |
where the American Army was fighting the Germans."
--John Edward Binnion, ca 1998
 |
| Army map, Allied Invasion of North Africa, November 8, 1942 |
Convoys used both of the available routes from Casablanca, Morocco on the
northwestern coast to Tunis, Tunisia on the northeastern tip of the continent.
(The main route on today's highways
is just over 1300 miles, a 28 hour drive.)
the flat terrain and desert areas in Allied territory,
and then through the winding hills of the Atlas Mountains
where both Axis and Allied planes patrolled.
to enter the European Campaign:
The Allies would be in position to invade Sicily, and then
the "the soft underbelly of Europe," Italy.
 |
| Armed with a 50 caliber machine gun, these trucks had an open passenger roof to mount the ring, National WWII Museum, Army Training photographs |
John Edward wrote:
"My dislike for riding in jeeps has always caused me to
ride in the lead 2 1/2 Ton Truck and I also saw to it that the lead truck
had a 50-caliber machine gun mounted on the cab.
 |
| Still from WWII film, US Military |
At some time
during that second convoy
I saw that
a flight of planes
was coming directly at us
so I knocked the cover
off the machine gun mount,
stood up and made the
machine gun ready to fire
if the approaching planes
were the enemy.
At this same time we were driving the winding roads
in the Atlas Mountains and
 |
| Truck Convoy in Atlas Mountains, North Africa, 1942-43, National WWII Museum |
somewhere up ahead I could see
(in between glances at the approaching aircraft -- I still did not know
if they were Allied or enemy planes) a command car sitting at the
side of the road and it had a red license plate.
(The red license plate indicated that the car
was assigned to a General, and in all probability a General was aboard.)
on the machine gun) saluted.
 |
| Gen. Patton often observed his men while standing roadside, 1942-43, North Africa, Army photo |
coming toward us were American. They veered off, I locked the
machine gun in place, and sat down in my place
in the cab of the truck.
Nothing important happened for the rest of the trip
to Tunis, or on the return to Casablanca.
Then, some days later a letter of commendation
came down from Headquarters saying how pleased General Patton was
with the troops involved in the convoying of the two tank battalions to Tunis.
|
| Replica of Gen. Patton's jeep, Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston, Texas |
(Our Captain took full credit for the convoys and as such
was presented with an Army Commendation Medal.)
However, not all was lost.
When General Patton was forming his staff for the Seventh Army and
the
invasion of Sicily, he specifically asked for 'That Young
Lieutenant'
who was in charge of the two convoys which took his two
Tank
Battalions to Tunisia and to their combat there.
No name--just that
'young Lieutenant who ...'
"So, by luck of seeing that flight of
planes and standing
at the machine gun mount, 'ready to fire' and
at the
same time saluting,
I became a member of the Seventh Army Staff,
G-4
Section, for the Sicilian Campaign."
Thanks for reading.
Look for the next post where John Edward serves
on General Patton's staff during Operation Husky,
the invasion of Sicily.
