Washington D.C. & Arlington Farms

I took one liberty to Norfork, Virgina. One liberty was all I needed. I hated Norfork. I stayed on the base for the rest of my LSM training. We finished our LSM training in early February, 1945. I went on a three day pass to Washington D.C. I bought a round trip bus ticket. I thought, that this would assure me a bus trip back to the base. I was to learn later, that I had wasted my money on the round trip ticket. My crew was shipping out to Houston, Texas, after my leave and I did not want to be AWOL (absent with out leave).

The day I was to return to Norfork, the bus station was overflowing with passengers. My Navy buddies and I found, that we would not be able to get a bus that day. We finally found a man with a station wagon, that would take us to Little Creek, Virgina. My part of the trip cost twenty dollars. There were five of us. The station wagon owner and driver grossed one hundred dollars on that trip. He was just one of many, making a profit off the war.

Youthful Lust

I visited the Smithsonian Institute and Lincoln's Memorial. One night I found myself at an Arlington Farms' dance. Arlington Farms was the place, where all the single girls working in Washington D.C. lived during the war. There were only three service men at the dance. There were girls every place. They were lined up just to dance with me.

The thought ran through my mind, "I have died and gone to heaven." I danced and drank until I passed out. Some of the girls took me to my hotel. I can still remember the girls, laughing and giggling, helping me up the stairs to my room.