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Training in the USA

September 23, 1942 - May 1, 1944

Letters from Harold J. Dahl

soldier packs and rifles in rows on the ground

Dahl's basic training took place in Fort Meade, MD in September and October of 1942. During Army basic training, Dahl was trained with rifles and other weapons. On July 19, 1943, Dahl was sent to Camp Forrest, TN on maneuvers. He returned to Fort Meade in September, and then on to signal communications training in Fort Dupont, DE on October 26, 1943. He went back to Fort Meade on November 25, 1943, and then back to Camp Forrest for January-March, 1944. His training included existing camouflage techniques, and the men developed additional techniques themselves. Harold was an expert marksman with a rifle (second highest score in the battalion), a sharpshooter with the carbine, and a qualified Morse code operator.

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