How much leave would the G.I. in europe and/or Marine or Soldier in the Pacific,expect to get?,and how much home leave could he expect ?. Itried to Google it,but i may be typing it wrong,cheers.
US soldiers were offered 30 days of leave of year. Getting it during combat operations was problematic at best. There were some soldiers who allowed leave all the way back to the States, but this was extremely rare. I had an uncle who served in the SW Pacific. He was gone for four years, not getting back to the US during that time. I don't know who much in-theater leave he was able to make use of, however.
I am no authortiy on the subject of "all" servicemen, but my own Dad who was in Transport Command flying C-47s had completed his required flights in "contested airspace" for cargo aircraft and been rotated back to the states as a instructor on the "Dakota". He had been stationed in either Colorado or Texas (forget which) as an instructor from late '44, and when his birthday came around in '45, he had just gotten home to Montana for a full month of leave when the atomics were dropped. His birthday is on the 9th of August. He had returned to base when the surrender was signed in September, but for ever after he always said that was the best birthday of his life. He didn't have to worry about going back to war, and he didn't have to teach other young men how to do so. He was mustered out by Dec., I think since he was already stateside and had enough points or something. Since he had been a licensed pilot before war was declared he became a "blue pickle", or enlisted pilot. Since he was a bit on the tall side (6'5") the fighters of the moment were out of the question, and he was put into the more "roomy" cockpit of the C-47. By the time the larger cockpits in the P-47 showed up, he was already well established in the Douglas. He loved that plane, when we went to an airshow in Lewistown MT. one time they had one there in it's D-Day striping. Dad took me on a tour of it along with its show-pilot, and both men were extolling its virtues and hardiness. One thing he said stuck with me; "these things will probably be still flying when I'm pushing up daisies!" He is going on 87, but the "Dakotas" are still flying cargo as well.
Slipdigit we have a lot in common on the surface! The same initials, I believe the same 1st name, and an uncle who served in the SP theatre (Mine was technically a great-uncle but he raised me and was always Uncle Gene to me). As I noted in my intro post he was in Hawaii for the entire war and never saw action (he arrived just a few weeks after Dec 7). He was not allowed to come home even as his mother was dying, nor was he allowed to come home for her funeral. As far as leave while staying on the island(s) I also do not know. Jeff Walker
From what I am reading in "The Black Sheep" by Bruce Gamble. It tells that for example Marine pilots in VMF 214 would do a six week tour on what ever island they were stationed on. (And that could change mid tour) before they would get one week off in Sidney. Factors obviously come in to play here. The main factor being planned offensives that required units to be combat ready. Just one perspective to help answer your question.
my great grandmother died in 1944.now,she had several sons,most of them were in camps awaiting overlord,and were not given leave to see her,even though they lived only a few countys away.she did have 1 son in burma,and he was given compassionate leave,and flew home to be with her when she died.is that not crazy?,i reckon it is.but secretcy is given priority i suppose,cheers.
