On Leave in Waterloo, 1945

View from the top of the Lion’s Mound monument at Waterloo.

After Germany and Japan surrendered thousands of American GIs just waiting around to be sent back home. To keep them out of trouble the US Army sent the restless men on trips across Europe. My grandfather and some other guys from the 304th Port Company traveled from their base in Antwerp and visited Waterloo battlefield in Belgium.

A GI from my grandpa’s company sitting at the bottom of the Lion’s Mound monument
at Waterloo battlefield, Belgium.

Château d'Hougoumont where the British faced Napoleon's Army at the Battle of Waterloo.
Photo by my grandpa, 1945.

Waiting in line to enter the museum at Napoleon’s Last Headquarters or the Ferme du Caillou.

My grandpa Cortland Hopkins (lower left), his friend William Kelly (in glasses), and members of the 304th Port Company, 519th Port Battalion in Waterloo, Belgium, 1945.

304th Port Company men posing with WWI German helmets from the museum.

Looks like the GI in the middle is wearing a Napoleonic cavalry helmet.

La Haye Sainte farmhouse where the British allies’ the King's German Legion were stationed during the Battle of Waterloo. Photo by my grandpa, 1945.

304th Port Company GIs getting lunch at a café in Waterloo. Photo by my grandpa.

240th Port Company roster WWII

This partial list of men in the 240th Port Company, 494th Port Battalion comes from an October 1944 document awarding the Good Conduct Medal. To learn what these guys were up to during the war read my short history of the 494th Port Battalion.

Morcle M. Andry (it was hard to read the first name)
Wilmer L. Alston
Charlie T. Brown
Newton B. Burton
Clifton Cutliff
Ely Doucet
Tom L. Ingram
Alexander S. Jackson
Robert H. Jones

Willie J. Jones

Johnnie H. Kennedy

Clarence Kershaw

Ralph M. Lewis

Abraham J. Mann
Lenard Mitchell
Earaton B. Moseley
William J. Nelson
Sherman R. Phillips
Frank Porcher
Willie L. Porter
Lucious J. Porter
William S. Queen
Robert N. Robinson
Howard E. Rutledge
Walter Shannon
Isiah Shuler
Leonard Simkins
Philip H. Smith

Willis Sumpter

James L. Thomas

Harvey Tribble

Louis J. Slaughter
Jack R. Wade
James Walker
William H. Walker
George O. Wilson