| The 1950s To 1960s |
The 'one year' in Germany stretched to almost two years. Shortly after I arrived at Hannover Germany, I had take a bus to downtown to find the only English movie house in the city. I got completely lost, so got off the bus because I had seen a bar where some British sailers had entered so I thought they could 'set me straight' as it were. I soon found out it was a very active gay German bar. Since I had never been in one before, I became fascinated, specially when all these free drinks began to appear in front of me. The bartender suggested that I should go to a room at the back of the bar as I was in uniform and the MPs often came in to catch army personnel. I gladly accepted his advise. There I found a crowded dance floor with all gorgeous men dancing -with each other!. Within 3 minutes of entering, this blonde, blue eyed hunk asked me to dance. This was 18 year old Gunther, who I maintained a relationship with the rest of my tour of duty in Germany. When I left. he wanted to go to Canada with me. In fact his parents had offered to pay his way as they thought very highly of me. However, I had not even told him I was married so I had to make up a story of how I would send for him. Of course I never did! I still carry a lot of guilt for being so dishonest with Gunther. I still often fantasize about my gorgeous 18 year old blonde Adonis. Somehow, I just can't picture him as a 70 year old senior. |
| New Years Eve Dec. 1952 Hannover, Germany |
The time in Germany was not all spent with Gunther. I had developed a sense of pride in my work in the Army and in myself. I felt that whatever happens, I was determined to make a success of both my Army Career and of my Marriage. I genuinely missed Linda and, regardless of what was going on between Gunther and I, I believed it was only because I was away and lonely. I guess you can justify almost anything if you really want to. I had even convinced myself, that because it wasn't another woman, I was not being unfaithful. I took time while I was in Europe to travel as much as I could. I had a very close friend, Pat, who I always thought might be gay. But even though we travelled all over Europe together, we certainly did nothing to verify my suspicion, nor did we ever discuss it. However, I figured he must have known what was going on between myself and some of the men we met on our travels. We toured Germany, Holland, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland, as well as Milano, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Sorrento and The Isle of Capris in our train tour of Italy. We also went to London and stayed at the Britsh Naffie where many of the British armed forces stayed while on furlough. Believe me, it was like a male brothel. When I finally returned home to Linda, I had to put that all out of my mind and settle down to married life. |
| Myself and Pat on the steps of the wonderful Cathedral in Milano Italy |
| 1952 in Our Hotel in Venice Italy |
| In a Beer Pub in Austria |
On returning to Canada in '54, I was posted to Army HQ in Toronto and soon was promoted to Sergeant. We learned that Linda was expecting in 1955 and we viewed it with both happiness and concern, The doctors only gave her a one in a million chance to carry the baby to term. However she defied the odds because the baby's head was caught on Linda's spine and was actually born 4 weeks overdue. I was on an Officers Candidate program when I got the news that I was a proud Father of my daughter Laury. Because of the damage done to Lindas insides she was never able to have a baby survive again so we adopted Tommy in '56 when he was 4 years old, then Paul in 59 when he was 11 months old and later in 1960, while we were stationed in Whitehorse Yukon, we adopted Penny when she was only 10 days old. |
| Daddy and Laury 1955 |
| Tommy at age 4 1/2 yrs |
 |
| Paul at 2 years old |
| Penny at her Christening |
 |
| MARRIED WITH KIDS |
| HOME |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|