My Last Furlough

Jun 6, 2018, 7:40 PM

While looking through my files today, I found this short story. This was soon after D-Day.

We had just completed out final field training at Camp Crowder, MO, and were awaiting orders to head for a Port of Debarkation. We had no idea whether we would be heading to the European Theater or to the South Pacific. Apparently, there was no indication our departure was within one month because some of us were granted furloughs.

I boarded the train at Neosho, MO, and headed south to Tyler, TX where one of my sisters was located. Her husband was stationed at a POW Camp for Germans as an Interpreter. This was a very special stop as I met my newly arrived niece, just a few days old.

My next stop was Greenwood, MS, where one of my brothers was stationed. One of our close friends from our home town was also stationed there so we had a mini, mini reunion and I was able to catch up on "back home" news.

The reminder of my furlough was spent in Florida visiting my other two sisters and my teen-age brother. My parents were both deceased. This was a somewhat more somber visit than earlier visits because I knew my departure for foreign service required me to make some important decisions that most of us find difficult to face. The "what ifs" could no longer be avoided. I realized then that the pain I witnessed on the faces of my sisters was greated than my pain. I could imagine a similar situation in every household in America. The pains of war are not limited to those who serve, those pains are suffered by everyone.

And in an all together short time, it was time to pack my bag and return to Camp Crowder wondering if this would be the last time I would see my sisters and brothers. It was truly a sad day as I hugged each one and said, "take care", our normal parting words we had used so often.