A Most Unusual Day In Late December 1951
Posted: Tuesday, January 10, 2012
by Joel Hendon
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At 12:01 A.M. on this particular day, which I believe to have been December 27, 1951, I was sitting on a luxurious Greyhound bus rolling eastward at probably near 80 miles per hour. I had ridden in buses before but this thing was like something from the future…big, powerful, smooth riding and even quiet. At this particular moment we were approximately 150 miles east of El Paso, Texas, where I had boarded this huge animal at 10:00 P.M., late evening the day before.
But never the less, I worried about them constantly while I was away. I had also been distressingly homesick from day one. The draft in those days was for a tour limited to 2 years and, especially in the beginning, 2 years seemed an eternity away. But here I was with well over 8 months completed before I was able to get home, it still seemed like an eternity to go.
As we sped through the night, I was extremely appreciative of having been able to secure passage on such a great express bus which even had 2 drivers, who alternated in driving. But taking into consideration that there was no such thing as a network of freeways as we have now and where as a drive from El Paso to Dallas today is only considered a bout 10 hours, it was well over 12 back then. I cannot recall the time of day we pulled into Dallas, but it was some time after noon. After a couple hours layover, it was necessary to change busses there and the next bus was non-comparable to the first one. It was over crowded and I gallantly relinquished my seat to a pretty lady.
After standing and swaying while grasping the back of a seat, for a couple of hours, enough passengers dismounted that I could sit down. But the pretty girl was gone. Seats were smaller and less comfortable, and not an express, we made a number of stops before crossing the Arkansas border at near mid-night. The rest of the trip to Gadsden, Alabama was slow and stopping frequently so we arrived there at approximately sundown. There were no busses scheduled from there to my home town until the next day.
I had already shot two of my 10 days. It was only 25 miles, so I determined to get there if I had to walk. I hired cab to take me to the city limits and then stood with my thumb out while holding my bag in the other hand. I had worn my uniform, which then was mandatory and not only that, it was wonderful for getting rides. No more than three cars had passed when one stopped and offered to take me to his destination about 8 miles towards Piedmont. I took the offer and when he let me out it was a fairly isolated spot and was growing dark. I wasn’t sure how many would want to pick up a G.I. After dark in an isolated area. But the first auto to approach picked me up and we went all the way to Piedmont.
The stores were not closed and my old employer was there and drove me the 8 miles to home where an excited mother and sister were waiting. What a wonderful feeling to be back in Gnatville! I felt an urge to get outside and yell, “I’m Home!” but I was able to control the urge. All would be alright now, except, five days later, I would have to load up and return to my outfit. I didn’t allow that to hamper my euphoria at the time though. Not for the next five days.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Thank you for sharing Joel. I was brought up around soldiers, my father did 34 years in the Royal Artillery, and many other family members followed suit. You said in them days it was mandatory to wear the uniform, nowadays here in the UK they are warned against it.
Keep well
KacyThank you Kacy for the comment. You almost never see a military man off post here in uniform now either. I don't know if they are advised not to. But we were warned not to get caught out of uniform off post in the 50's. They made us send our civillian clothes home as soon as we received our clothing. So I had nothing else to wear. Things sure change.
By the way I was in the Anti-Aircraft Artillery, my self.
Very good story Joel, thanks for sharing some of your memories with us.Thank you David for reading and the nice comment.
Joel, I always love to read your stories. I agree with David. We like having you share your memories with us. Especially when they've got the 'southern' twist.Thank you Nancy, I sincerely appreciate your comments. In following my career, my family and I have lived in Tennessee, Indiana, North and South Carolinas and Georgia. But I still cherish my memories here in Alabama most of all. We've met wonderful people everywhere we went, but the old fashioned "home folks" the beauty of the hills and mountains have always over ridden our attachments elsewhere. I guess the old saying, "you can take the boy out of the south, but you cn't take the south out of the boy", applies to me.
You hvave many fans and I am one of them. Great article, and the "southern" twist is true.Thank you Christofer, I sincerely apreciate your kind comments. I always feel better after I receive one.
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