Sunday, July 29, 1945
Arrive in St. Paul at 8 a.m., go by bus to Fort Snelling. Right back where I started 42 months ago. Start going through red tape for discharge.
Monday, July 30, 1945
Get physical and go through other processing.
True Story: When I was in Fort Snelling getting processed for discharge, an old man was giving us a lecture on how to adjust to civilian life. He told us about a soldier who was stationed in England. He got acquainted with some Air Force babies who were making regular flights between England and New York. He begged the fly boys for a ride back to New York so he could spend the weekend with his wife. They told him no. They wouldn't dare do that as it was against the rules. He kept begging them until they gave in. They said, 'Don't tell anybody that you got a ride back. Don't say a word.' They also said, 'Tell your wife not to say anything, just keep quiet about it.' So he spent a weekend back in New York with his wife. A month later he got a letter from his wife that said, 'I'm pregnant. You explain that to the neighbors.'
Tuesday, July 31, 1945
Meet up with Alfred Oldenburg, have short visit. Get my discharge papers at 11:30 a.m. Get paid off. Go by army bus to Greyhound station.
Leave Minneapolis at 12:00 noon. Get off bus in Hewitt around 5:30 p.m. Jap Carter is in town. He gives me ride home from Hewitt. I am home at 6:30 p.m.
My army career is over.
Howard adjusted to civilian life by returning to farming in Oak Valley, Minnesota. He married Phyllis Walker on November 14, 1946. Together they raised three sons.
Howard eventually retired from farming and went on to work for Mid-America Dairymen.
He was a life long active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Howard died peacefully with his family by his side on February 28, 1997.
Thank you for following Howard's journey. I hope you enjoyed this blog -- and perhaps you've learned a little something along the way...
3 comments:
Thanks Sam this was great.
Bro. Bob
This was an awsome story. Thanks for taking the time to share this with us. Your folks were the best, miss them much.
I found your blog while searching for a picture of Camp Edwards, Mass. where my father was trained as a member of the 531st Shore Regiment, a companion unit to the 533 Engineer Boat Regiment I believe. This account filled in many gaps in my father's story, especially the initial preparation time in Ireland/Scotland and the North African campaign. My father's unit participated in the invasion of Sicily, then Salerno, Naples and Normandy. Several weeks after D-Day at Normandy my father stepped on a landmine while rescuing another soldier who was wounded in a minefield. These amphibious engineers were some of the most resourceful and essential units in the war I am convinced. They also suffered terrible losses in several of the campaigns. Thanks again for your work in documenting this gentleman's experience. It is priceless.
Harry H. Mitchell, Jr.
chipm@nettally.com
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