At last, it is announced at Monday Morning Training formation that, starting this Saturday morning, there will be an Inspection every Saturday morning which will include; personal, weapon and barracks after which for those who pass, a weekend pass all the way to 0500 hours the next Monday morning.
OK, the Field First Sgt. tells us, this means every "Friday night G.I. party" everyone restricted on Friday night to preparing which includes scrubbing clean, the walls and floors and all personal belongings including ones self, to be ready for Saturday Morning.
I couldn't help but notice Leroy who always was ahead of everyone else in well organized foot and wall locker layouts, well starched uniforms, shined shoes, brass and clean rifle and too, was always helping
the others who lagged behind in their preparation, shining their brass and shoes all
with a smile on his face. That was Leroy was always helping someone or picking up
trash throughout our area of responsibility.
And on Saturday morning, of course, everyone passes, we'd kill anyone who didn't,
because if one failed, the whole squad would be restricted and "no pass" too.
Thanks Leroy, you are quite a guy. After every Friday night barracks clean-up,
Leroy would walk through out the whole place cleaning little spaces that was missed
or or overlooked, never complaining or critisizing any one, just picking up and
looking after the rest of us, always with a smile on his face, that was Leroy.
1949 Cadillac
Friday G.I. Party
We were again returned to reserve and again had a ball entertaining ourselves with each other's Mail and Packages from home, Leroy got the most with his mothers notes always mentioning to "be sure and share", as if he needed to be reminded, He got canned Poi, dried and salted fish and other Island goodies. Joe Played his Uke., and Leroy sang as always. This time we had a Tennessee native named, Roy join us, He heard our commotions and decided to introduce himself, He was a WW2 veteran who served in the Navy and visited Hawaii numerous times, later joining the Army and volunteering for Korea like we did, He was now a Commo Chief, Radio Operator for the old Man. We got to like this Country boy who tried to talk pigeon with us, that always gave us a kick. Our Reserve period like in the past only lasted a short period before we were again called to the front, this time we were told that we had to go to the East side of the front where a Regiment of the 2nd Div. got surrounded by Chinks when elements of a Rock (S. Korean Army Unit) retreated and left an opening for the enemy troops to infiltrate.
On the long truck ride we were issued a "5 in One" ration which was a case with 5 meals and in Large gallon sized cans of Vienna Sausages among other goodies, not available in the indivual sized "C" rations. We made pigs of ourselves and ate too much of the delicacies and all got the "runs". what a fiasco that was, hollering to the truck driver to stop from time to time as we would jump off and quickly, shamefully lower our pants to relieve ourselves in front of everyone, on the sides of the road. (I won't remind myself again).
As we approached the northerly drop-off point we all noticed the hundreds of both civilian and military koreans heading south like retreating from the battle zone and realized why we were called upon to assist the 2nd Div. unit.
