I was awake early on Sat. 5 Feb 1944, exactly 66 years ago today! It doesn't seem possible in some respects. This year the fifth falls on a Friday. I rechecked everything I was taking and wearing, which wasn't much; brushed my teeth, showered, shaved and dressed in my dress blues; then went down early for muster to get our instructions and be told we were given passes for our assigned liberty weekend--only, guess what?--it didn't happen! How could this be? It was snowing lightly and there was snow on the ground. The Chief turned his back to us briefly and in that instant everything changed! Someone from the back row threw a snowball and hit the Chief on the back of his head. From the back came laughter, but as the Chief slowly turned most of us cringed, because he did not look amused at all! He said only a few words, "Liberty is cancelled! You are all restricted to your barracks!" Then he started walking away. I was stunned briefly but quickly went after him to tell him that my wife-to-be was right at that moment at the Greyhound Bus Depot in Couer d' Alene, awaiting my arrival; she had no one else to meet her; didn't know another soul, and I said we were getting married this day, the fifth. He took one look at me and said, "You WERE getting married!" When I protested, he said, "This is final!" I walked away, furious at whoever threw the snowball, but I had a bigger concern - Marianne!
(Continued)
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