Chapter 21 - The Good Old U.S.A.

The next morning we fell out and stood in formation while Capt. Brundage read out a list of commendations including some Silver and Bronze stars and a few Purple Hearts. I remember very well that I was among the people that he said he had recommended for a Bronze Star, but was turned down somewhere higher up.

The Captain made a very nice speech thanking everyone for the job they had accomplished in Europe. Then he informed us that we could now go home for a thirty day well deserved furlough. He told us to have a good time because he certainly intended to do just that, but try to get our act together and report back ready to go at the end of thirty days. Most of us south bound boys caught a train out of Miles Standish that afternoon and headed south to Atlanta and Fort Mc Pherson one more time. (The saying in the airline industry is if you are going to hell you must go by way of Atlanta) was very true if you were in the army and lived in the south. From Fort Mc Pherson we had to arrange our own transportation home and again good old Greyhound took over.

It was very good to get home to the welcome of my entire family, I remember that I stopped in Tuscaloosa long enough to call my sister and she came down to the bus station, and went home with me. It was the first time I had seen my brother Robert in over three years, and we had never been apart a day in our lives until he went into the service. His service in the air force was about over and he was stationed at an air base down at Selma, Ala. and stayed home on leave most of the time, just waiting to be discharged. He had lost so much weight that he was just skin and bones, and looked very run-down and unhealthy, but he informed me that he had gained quite a bit of weight since his return from the missing.

My parents looked well but I could see the effect that all their problems had had on them. It was a great thirty days but was over much too soon. The war in the pacific was still going on and we felt sure that would be our next destination.