I wrote a letter home today. This is probably the last time that Mom and Dad will see “Northern Ireland” in the upper right corner. Yes, I’m leaving my “happy home”—my “home”, my girl, my job, my friends—everything, it seems like. The Army has put the skids under me again! I can’t express to you how badly I feel about what is happening and how much I dislike leaving this place at this time. Still, it is exactly what I should have expected.
We three boys (Bob, Herb, and I) are being transferred to the 31st SCU in England, as we requested, and we are scheduled to leave tomorrow. Transportation difficulties may hold us up until Wednesday, however. The 31st SCU is stationed at an air depot called “Burtonwood”, just as this base has the unofficial name of “Langford Lodge”. Burtonwood has been our next higher headquarters ever since I’ve been doing statistical work; it is located in western England, somewhere in he vicinity of Manchester, Blackpool, Liverpool, Southport, etc. For once, I can tell you where I’m going before I get there! That’s because the war over here is all washed up and this is an “inactive” theater.
My imminent departure from N.I. has recently hung over Jayne and me like a dark cloud. We went to the show early Saturday evening and afterwards had the best dinner I could get at the Carlton. Then we took a long walk around the Cavehill Road district and finally returned to the house and had tea and sandwiches.
Last night I made a special trip to town to say so long to Jayne and the family. I don’t feel like going into details right now.
You’ll excuse me if I make this one short? I’m in a poor frame of mind to write a decent post. You will hear from me as soon as possible after I reach my destination.
[letterstohome copyright 2008]