On or about January of 1952 about ten of us from the original thirty or so Volunteers that had arrived at the 3rd Infantry Replacement Company as the first replacements an year earlier are now returning as a group among the first Rotatees to be transferred back to the United States and in our case, Hawaii for service there as. 

At a formation called by the Headquarters, during a farewell speech by the Commanding General at the end said, "and to a small group of Hawaiians out there, I want to personally commend you for the fearless and efficient contributions you provided, after you learned to walk on snow," the whole group burst out in laughter than applause and then the General continued, "Thank you and Aloha". 

Our trip home was delayed in Japan where we were greeted and treated with a gracious hospitality, we didn't realize the Japanese people had. We enjoyed some of the spirit of leaving the war-torn disasters and heading home only in short after realizing an important void, the missing Leroy, the life of the party who won't be going home with us, how will we ever explain to His Mom, My Dad and My Sister that He is no longer with us, we left him behind and he won't be coming Home.

Finally after more than 30 days in Japan we are loaded on a Ship and on our way Home. After settling in at our below deck quarters, there was a sweet smell of Bread baking in the air and I followed the smell to a door that I opened and behold, the ship's bakery with trays of loaves of freshly baked bread on racks of twenty trays each. I stood at the doorway motionless and just stared, the Sailor in T-shirt who I found out later was a Chief in charge of the Bakery, looked at me and asked, "You the guys from Korea? I answered yes and he said, Here pass this around", handing me a whole Tray and, "the butter is in that frige, help your self", pointing to a Reach-in Refrigerator right next to where I was standing.

I took the tray of warm, freshly baked bread along with blocks of real Butter and the guys went completely crazy chomping away at the priceless food we all had never seen for more than a year. The Chief became our friend and spent most of his time on the vessel rolloing in the waves heading back to Paradise with us.

At Home we made it a priority after being processed and released at Schofield Barracks for Leave to jointly visit Mrs. Kauhini and were graciouslly received, "Thank you my boys for visiting, I know, they told me Leroy was not coming home, he was lost, but I'm sure, He will find his way and come home soon too, and when he does, I want you boys to come back so we celebrate his birthday on February 16, all together". With a soft, "Good bye Mrs. Kauhini, We all turned and left, in silence among each other for a long while before we spoke to each other again.
What can I say?