WW2 Marriages: A short “I do” and off to war WW 2 marriages did not have tuxedos and long gowns but did have ever lasting love. As a cadet we finished our tour at Gettysburg College and was given one week furlough Friday May 12,1944. From "Old Dorm" I called my fiancee and asked if she would marry me. She said yes, I jumped on a bus to Harrisburg, bought a new cadet hat, jumped on train for Detroit. On the train the porter looked at me, with wings on my shoulder, wings on my new cap, and humming our song "You'll never know how much I miss you". The porter said "Sir we have a better seat in the car ahead of us." I arrived home Saturday morning and found out we needed some papers filled out but offices were closed. Luck was with me, my future father-in-law had friends downtown, so everything was copasetic. We were married Monday May 15,1944 at 7 PM. We went downtown to the Hotel Fort Shelby. Shortly after arriving there my wife's sister and our best man came with White Castle Hamburgers. We spent the rest of the week on cloud nine floating around visiting friends. Sunday May 20, 1944 I left my love (boy, is this hard to write) and did not see her for two years while I went to Philippine Islands and Taegu, Korea. My wife is with our Lord now, looking down here and I can still hear her saying "Roy you are going to make yourself sick". Name Roy is another story, my middle name is LeRoy. May 20 I was back to Gettysburg College and we were shipped out to Maxwell Field, Alabama for Pre-flight. After pre-flight we went to Avon Park, Florida where we started flying the open cockpit Bi-wing PT-17 Stearman. Then to Lakeland Florida with same type of plane. Then to Cochran Field at Macon, Georgia flying the AT-6 Texan. January 1945 I was given check flight by a Captain and one by a Major. (I had my pilot’s license before joining the Air Corps.) The Major said I did OK but they had too many pilots and I was put in the Army Infantry. I went to Gainesville,Texas for infantry training. Finished training and went to New Jersey and then by train to Pittsburg, California and shipped out June 1, 1945 for the Philippine Islands.
Great story again, Art. Thanks for sharing. It is amazing to me how many marriages started out like that. I have read quite a few tales similar to yours; being away for quite a while, then get married in a week or so of furlough and then gone for two years!!! It speaks that these marriages were strong and took a lot of love and faith on both parts...I can't imagine having married just under two and a half years ago and then seeing my wife just now again!!! Glad that you got back. John L. Roth from Chicago married his girl just before he left for England in Nov. 1942 with the 447th BG. He died January 11, 1944 and is buried at Margraten... Well, maybe this will bring back memories, Art!!
Anouther great story Art. I bet going to Gainesville,Texas was a shock. I have been there. The state womens prison is there now. Steven don't tell me they have White Castles in the Netherlands. Some people love them and others hate them. Usually the onion haters.
