Next stop:
Normandy
On October 3, 1944, fully trained as a combat medic, equipped for battle and assigned to Patton's 3rd Army though not yet assigned to a line unit, Carl embarked from Southhampton, England on board the troopship SS Nieux Holland as a combat replacement. Fierce fighting resulted in heavy losses as the Allies pushed toward Berlin on multiple fronts. Carl arrived at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France the same day and spent the next 3 days waiting for his assignment orders. Along with several others who made the trip over to Omaha Beach, Carl was finally assigned to Bravo Company,10th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division. The regiment was deep into France and Carl and his fellow replacements made haste to catch up. The division had taken tremedous losses and the fresh infantrymen would be welcomed.
SS Nieuw Holland was built for KPM (Koninklijke Paketvaart Mij) by the Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Co (Netherlands Shipbuilding Co) in Amsterdam. She was launched on December 1, 1927. After her completion on April 20 1928, she headed for Asia and commenced regular services from Malaya, via Singapore, Dutch East Indies (today’s Indonesia), to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Nieuw Holland and her newer sister, SS Nieuw Zealand, maintained a regular service between Australia and Asia until the outbreak of the war. These two KPM sisters were regarded as two of the most graceful pre-war liners to operate between Australia and Asia, with their magnificently decorated lounges clad with fine timbers featuring elaborate carvings. Their external appearance gave them a casual tropical feel being pained all white and buff to yellow funnels.
In 1940, Nieuw Holland headed for Melbourne where she was modified to become a troop transport ship for up to 1,000 troops. Upon completion she joined the Royal Navy, but she continued to be operated by her Dutch crew. She and SS Nieuw Zeeland joined regular convoys between Europe and the Middle East, although
Nieuw Holland did operate in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean for a short time. Late in 1941, she received yet another modification but his time in the UK increasing her capacity up to 2,000 troops. Both SS Nieuw Holland and her sister SS Nieuw Zealand were part of the November 1942 invasion of North Africa.