POST WAR MOMENT
During the days of WWII , transitions were taking place faster than a person could keep up with them. Those of us coming out of military service found it to be a changed world in so may ways.
I came home for one month of leave before, it appeared, our outfit was to reform and head for Japan to help finish up that part of the War. The Bomb changed all that, of course, and we went on a round-robin of Air Bases, our squadron fragmented, bits and pieces of it floating around with no re-assignment. The idea became simply "“to get out " and I spent my time at Sioux Falls, S. D. and then at Deming, New Mexico until in November they found my discharge papers at Edwards Field, Md.
I bring that up now, because we have G.I.s in that same process of "coming home" from what has proved to be a shorter war but a very real one just the same for those who were in it. I was in it for better than four years, half of that overseas. Changes took place while I was away,such as the coming of TV.
To me, television, even in those early days, seemed to be the symbol of a bright future for many of us. I don't remember seeing at TV at Sioux Falls, at Edwards Air Base, or at Deming New Mexico, but one of my several brothers-in-law had TV set in his farm-house living room at Friendly, Maryland. Oddly enough, I remember seeing only two shows – Paul Whiteman and Milton Bearle. Both did radio shows with pictures. It was a DuMont network station, and it was either the only on the air in the D.C. Area, or more than likely, the only one we could “get”.
The armed forces people now returning from Iraq and other areas will not meet with the large changes we did, of course, but it is still important that the civilian population - which is us – “meet them and greet them''. I am not talking about any grand public receptions or fancy “Welcome Home” festivities, at all, of course, but about small insignificant everyday things so commonplace we tend to forget them. Worst of all, we don't what to give the idea were never away.
That which strikes you as being "norma", may or may not, seem so to him or her.
In theory, they will be coming back to their former place of place of employment, if it's still there. In theory, they will pick up on family relationship where they left off, yet unaware, perhaps, of subtle changes. Some may go 'back to school” without realizing that they are not in the mood to go “back” to anything. The true promise is in their future - not years ago, that that is where we play an important role. Without being emotional or dramatic about what they have done for the nation and for each of us.
Just say "Thank you" the best, most natural way you know how. Say it sincerely and from the heart and they will understand and feel at home once more. Remember, as you do so, that very few of us at home, if any, really know all the individual person felt when he or she was away. You can never really know.
A.L.M. April 26, 2003 [c836wds]
