Scrapbook 1

"The object of this scrap book our journal of my life in the service, as you can well guess, is to keep fresh in my memory the brighter moments of the time I spent away from home. Of course, it is quite impossible to write only of bright moments, and to try to remember only those. You are bound to remember the sad and bad moments and unhappy incidents as well. I do not intend to dwell too long on those!"

Nussenbaum included several pages of the headlines that drew in the United States into the war, and solidified his desire to serve his country in the Army.

"The Army was seeking artists trained in visual observation to serve in the camouflage unit, and Pratt Institute was training them. "At the time of the first indications of my imminent stay with the Army, I was a student at Pratt Institute. I knew very well that sooner or later I would be called up by Uncle Sam, so I prepared for my career in the Army by taking a course in Camouflage at school.”

"I tried my hardest for a short deferment so that I could finish my course in Camouflage. I appealed to the Draft Board for an extension. Due to a technicality, I got one month. Then, on February 11, 1943, I received my final order for induction and that was that. My Army career was just about to begin!"

"I reported to the Draft Board on March 2, 1943 at 12:00 noon as requested. After seeing the folks at Grand Central Station I left for Camp Upton and my Army career."

"For the next two days I was busy getting and dodging the various details which newcomers are plagued with ... my first detail was to shovel snow from in front of the Post Prison in zero weather ... on March 6, my name was called ... I left Upton (with no regrets) at 3:00 P.M. on the same day ... at 8:00 P.M. [the next day] we arrived at Camp Pendleton, Va. I was then a member of the 46th Regiment, Coast Artillery."

“By the time I reached Fort Meade, I was feeling pretty rotten. ... I had caught the grippe, and consequently found myself in the hospital ... on April 8 the doctor said I was well enough to leave ... I left the same afternoon and reported to the 603 Engineers, H & S Company for duty." Nussenbaum drew this diagram so that he could remember how to pack his foot locker and store his outfit correctly.”

The United States press was very interested in the camouflage unit, and Nussembaum's scrapbook contains several pages of press coverage of their activities.

"At this time the outfit was teaching groups of officers how to use camouflage. I was in a group one day that put on a demonstration on how to use camouflage suits."

A partial listing of the 603rd Engineer Camouflage Battalion, with Nussenbaum's name proudly highlighted with red pencil.