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
The next day, Sunday, we all met again at Leroy's, and decided to go where every soldier and sailor winds up during those 1950s years, WAIKIKI but before there we went to Hotel Street, famous for it's Arcades and girls and we played the slot machines and took pictures. The photo of Leroy on the previous page was the example, we all took one exactly like it but I lost all the rest so couldn't publish it on this website page.
We walked to King street and to a Downstairs Bar named, Ratskeller's and drank to the music of a piano player who noticed our uniform and said, pointing to us, "you guys going to Korea aren't you?"
and we proudly answered, "yeah", He than asked, anything you'd like to hear me play?"
Leroy took the que and jumped up, " yeah can you play Tennessee Waltz," I looked at Abel in shock, Leroy only sang popular and never "country". Leroy goes and gets the mike from the piano player and as he musician played, Leroy said, "Hello every body, I'm Leroy and I want to dedicate this song to my buddy over there named Bill" as he started with the most mello voice I've ever heard.
Abel had to go back and return the automobile to his mother who had called but before that he dropped Joe off at a girl friends place and Me and Leroy at Kaukau corner, a famous Waikiki restaurant and we ate and drank before we realized that we had to go back uptown to get a bus to Schofield Barracks. To our dismay and realization, we forgot that the last bus left at 10pm so guess what, we had no choice but to pick a bench, lay down and fall asleep on the beach at waikiki. If it sounds adventures forget it, we were in trouble so, I had no choice but to call my Dad who was already asleep at around 11:30pm.
I hated it but when Dad answered and I explained the situation He said simply, "I'll be right there." I sure loved that guy and I guess he loved me too and now, it seemed like he even loved my best friend too. Thanks Dad, for being the father you were to us.
We, my Dad and myself were originally from the Big Island of Hawaii where my Dad had a 200 acre Hapu (Tree Fern) farm.
We harvested and sold the Hapu Plants which were used for Orchid growing bases as well as decorative yard plants. (a very popular
tree plant abundant in the Hawaiian forests). When my Dad heard that I had joined the Army in Honolulu, (another Island) He sold out, gave up farming and moved to Honolulu to be close to me "in case, you need me, my Son", (His words).
