The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-02-08

SAN FRANCISCO - These first
half dozen columns or so are being
written in San Francisco before
taking off for the Pacific. They are
very sketchy report on my doings
on the home front.
If you can bear a little reminisc-
ing I'd like to go back over these
past four months of furlough, and
bring you up to date on the Prodi-
gal Sons recent activities.
Well, since leaving France and
returning to America, I have
Crossed the continent three
times. Had eight teeth filled.
Spent my first Christmas with
"that girl'' since the war started.
| Moved the lawn once.
I've been photographed 1000
times, and was made president Of
Rio Grande Steamship & Navi-
cation Co. (Blubber Division) I've
been kissed by Paulette Goddard,
Olivia DeHaviland and Jinx Fall
kenberk all in one astronomical
lelujah!
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 air
planes. I've said mo- to at least
500 requests to speak, and have
managed to keep well supplied
with cigarets.
Kind people have flooded me with
gifts. Mayor Clyde Tingley OF AL
buquerque 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 fr m
Washington State, pecans from
Mississippi, half a dozen home
made 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 canvas cot IN
the woodshed, and one night on
the living room floor in my new
sleeping bag q didn't sleep very
well either.)
Despite all the frenzy, I've felt
almost pathetic in my happiness
at being home. I've had wonder
full time. The older l get the better
| like being alive. I wish it could
go on forever.
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
Mace it's so wonderful to be home
that 1 find myself reluctant to criti-
cize or even admit any flaws in
the home front.
IT is true that a great many peo-
nile don't know there's a war on,
or don't seem to care. And yet
realize that I could very easily let
myself sit down and take IL easy
and never think of war again. eH-
cent in 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-sometlmess
inf,,riating in a helpless sort OF
wav-to talk to most civilians 1eel-
inely about the war.
On trains and in public places
T find myself drifting automatl-
cal1v to boys in uniform with over
seas ribbons or service stripes 1cr
,ue can talk the same language.
AS an example of What l mean,
one man said to me one oay III
Complete con good faith Tell me now,
inst exactly what is it you ooh
like about War?'
- think I must have turned
1;tt1e white, and all I could 40 was
look at him in shock and say ,Gooq
God if you don't know. then
oo,11d never tell you" It's nt1le
things like that which make return