The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-02-22

US OdIAlIAco kOou duu ClQklu QOt.
Oh boyl
ON CALIFORNIA; FRONT
These first half dozen columns
or so are being written in San Fran
cisco before taking off for the
Pacific. They are a very sketchy
report on the home front.
II you can bear a little reminis-
cling I'd like to 60 back over these
last four months Of furlough, and
bring you up to date on the Prodi-
gal Sons recent activities.
Well. since leaving France and re-
turning to America, I have
Crossed the continent three times.
Had eight teeth filed. Spent my first
Christmas with THAT Girl" since
the war started. Moved the lawn
nee.
I've been photographed 1000
times, and was made president of
the Rio Grande Steamship and
Navigation company. (Blubber divi-
sion.) I've been kissed by Paulette
Goddard, Olivia DeHaviland and
Jinx Falkenberg all in one after
noon-Hallelujah!
Six people sent me oil paintings
they'd done from photographs. I've
sat up all night three nights on
trains, and three nights on airplanes.
I've said mo- to at least 500 re-
quests to speak, and have managed
to keep well supplied with cigarets.
Kind people have flooded me with
gifts. Mayor Clyde Tingley Of Al
b%uquerque opened it with a $500
wrist watch, which so overwhelms
me that I left it in a safety deposit
box back home. Who would dare
wear a $500 wrist watch?
I've had luscious apples from
Washington state, pecans from Mis-
sissippi, half a dozen homemade
hunting knives, two college degrees,
a Texas cowboy belt, two foxhole
shovels, one baby jeep. sun glasses
for the Pacific, and one noble
friend came through with 10 pounds
of bacon.
We've had SO much company at
our house in Albuquerque that one
night l slept on a anvas cot in the
woodshed, and one night on the lv-
ing room floor in my new sleeping
bag. Il didn't sleep very well
either.)
i Despite all the frenzy, I've felt al
most pathetic in my happiness at
being home. I've had a wonderful
time.
People are always asking what I
think of the home 'front.'" expect
ing me of course to raise hell about
it.
Well, l don't know. In the first
place it's SO wonderful to be home
that l find myself reluctant to criti-
CHE or even admit any flaws in the
home front.
1t is true that a great many people
don't know there's a war on, OF
don't seem to care. And yet I real
ize that l could very easily let my.
self sit down and take it easy anc
never think of wal again, except il
an academic way.
I've had no bad incidents during
these few months at home. But
have learned from experience that
it's almost impossible some.
times i%nfuriating in a helpless sort
of way-to talk to most civilians
feelingly about the a
On trains and in public places ]
find myself drifting automatically tc
boys in uniform with overseas rib.
bons or service stripes. for we car
talk the same language.
AS all example of what | mean,
one man said to me one day in com,
plete good faith. Tell me now
just exactly what is it you dom
like about WARP"
think l must have turned a little
white. and all l could do was look
at him in shock. and say. Coco
God, if you don't know, then | coulc
never tell you" It's little things like
that which make returning soldiers
feel their misery has all been ir
vain.
l don't think America at home is
either unwilling or incapable of get
ting fully into the war.
We need only to be told more what
to do, and to have scarcities anc
grimness applied clear across the
board.