Going Home
Before we head into WWII once again, I wanted to show some of the more recent readers one of the many reasons why I write this web site…
Gradually, the men of the 11th Airborne Division would earn their points to be shipped back home and they would allow the fresh, green G.I.’s to take their place in the occupation of Japan.
Click on any photo to enlarge.
Everett (Smitty) Smith would return to Broad Channel, New York to restart his civilian life in February 1946. He gradually got to know Lillian Barrow during his morning rides on the bus, going to his job and he would chuckle whenever he related that story. Despite my mother’s protests, he would relate that he knew why Lillian was always on the same bus with him, but she was being coy. “I was just going to work myself,” my mother argued. Smitty would reply, “Then how do you explain that your job was in the opposite direction than the bus was going? You didn’t know that I was aware of that…
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Posted on April 30, 2014, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. 11 Comments.
Pacific Paratrooper 
Always great work here. Thanks for providing such good material.
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Thanks I really enjoyed doing the Going Home post!
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Fantastic job you’ve been doing here. You’re giving the story from the perspective of people that had to fight the war, and carry out the orders. Looking forward to seeing what you’ll be writing next. 🙂
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Thank you, Kevin. That means quite a lot coming from you! And you’ve been very patient with me and the current state of worldwide affairs. I find your articles far more interesting and detailed than the newspaper items.
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You’re welcome and thank you, sir!
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Good for me, a regular reader, to refresh my memory too!
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Glad I didn’t bore you! You’re a good friend, Gallivanta.
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I love those stories–how normal life returns following war. But inside, you just know these men will never be the same. That’s not good or bad. Just the way it is.
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Very true, Jacqui. And to think they did it for us.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_Municipal_Airport#History
The Glider Troops patch on the right is familiar to me through my volunteer activities at the Sallows Military Museum in Alliance, NE. Some are on display.
Many of these troops trained here during WWII. I myself live in an apartment (now part of a senior living complex) that originally was built during the war to house the huge influx of workers and troops during the building and active days of the USAAF base here.
I am happy that the original coal heating was replaced with electric heating during an update to make the apartments suitable for their current use!
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Fantastic reading, I had no idea. (Probably because so many of them went to the ETO) A great link to add, you must be very proud of your time at the museum! (Give Andy and Dougie a head-scratch for me).
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