I had turned 18 in May and graduated from high school in June. I debated about enlisting in the army right out of high school so my enlistment would end three years later at the beginning of that summer. I had two other options. I could spend this summer having fun and then join the army in the fall. But that would mean that it would be fall when I got out. Or, I could wait for the army to draft me. That would be for only two years but the army would most likely make me an infantryman and send me to Vietnam. To encourage me to enlist for three years the army was willing to guarantee I would receive truck driver training and guarantee I would be sent to Germany as a driver. I would most likely be assigned to a transportation company. I chose to enlist right out of high school. There was no way I could go to college and get a student deferment. I went to the recruiting office in town and signed up. I had just four days to sell my car, tell my family and friends goodbye and use the bus ticket I had been given by the recruiter.
The greyhound bus ticket was to Los Angeles where I would be met by someone from the induction center for swearing in and processing. That included a physical, some forms asking a lot of questions and be issued all my personal army gear. That was all my clothing, 2 pairs of boots, some hygiene items. All stuffed in a duffle bag except the fatigues I would be wearing when a large group of us would leave there for an escorted train ride to Salinas. Then a bus ride to Fort Ord where we would all go thru more processing and then 8 weeks of army basic training. Then we would each go to whichever advanced 8 weeks we had chosen or the army had chosen for us. After our training was complete we would be sent to whatever duty station the army chose. I knew mine would be somewhere in Germany. I won't bore you with a description of what 16 weeks of army training is like. Not much free time for fun but this true story is about a three day weekend over Labor Day in 1959 between my basic training and driver's school.
I was going to hitch-hike the 300 miles home to surprise my family. Back then if you were hitch-hiking in uniform you never stood anywhere for very long before someone stopped to pick you up. It was faster than the Greyhound bus and free.
My first ride picked me up in less than 5 minutes after I walked out the main gate.
It was a lady that I guessed to be about 25. She was only going to Salinas, about 20 miles, but that would get me to Highway 101 where I hoped to catch a long ride south. She was an army wife so I wasn't surprised that she had stopped.
We were visiting as she drove. "Where are you going?"
I told her, "Home for the weekend to see my family."
She went on, "I wish I had family that was close enough to visit. My husband and I are from Kansas. We married right after high school. We've been in the army for about three and a half years. He's always had stateside duty, the last year here at Fort Ord. About six months ago he re-uped for three more years. Less than a month after he re-enlisted he was shipped to Germany. He's been gone for five months. I really miss my soldier!
I asked, "When are you going to go over there so you can be together and live off base?"
She sighed, "I don't know. The army won't move me until he makes E-5. He's E-4 now, but it's hard to make rank in transportation. It's pretty easy if you are infantry or armor."
I was feeling sorry for her. I was also disappointed to hear that it was hard to move up in rank as a driver. Next Tuesday I start truck driver school. I didn't mention that to her.
I asked, "Don't you have other army wives to talk to?"
She replied, "We couldn't find an apartment where most of the other military couples live. The only place we could find is a small house a ways out of town near some farm fields. I don't have any close neighbors. That's why I took a job in Monterey, to have some social contact and keep me from going crazy."
To show my sympathy I said, "That's one of the rough things about being married and in the army before your husband makes NCO."
She took a deep breath and paused. "Let me finish. There are some young military couples who haven't had kids yet realize that there may be times of separation that are just too much. My husband and I agree that sometimes there is an itch that has to be scratched. If either one of us is feeling that, we are OK with that as long it is just getting the itch scratched. If we are very careful and make sure it doesn't turn into an affair we can deal with it. Call me crazy if you want to... Will you be my substitute soldier for the weekend?"
I was dumbstruck! Was she really saying what I thought I heard? She was a nice, young lady and not that much older than me.
It was my turn to take that deep breath before I answered. "My family is not expecting me. I was going to surprise them. What you have just asked is a more important surprise. I think we can be 'family' to each other for one weekend. I'm so glad that you stopped to give me a ride. I'm Bob."
She had a look on her face I couldn't read. Surprised... scared... unsure of herself?
I think she was as surprised as I was that she had actually asked her question and at my response.
Her expression turned into a smile. "Call me Annie."
And so began our weekend. When we arrived at her small farm house I realized that she was being truthful. I grabbed my travel bag and we got out of her car. She led me into her home.
It was a small one bedroom house that used to be occupied by a hired hand for the farm. It was simple but clean. The front room had a couch, a big chair, a cabinet in one corner, and a bookcase. There was a floor lamp in the corner between the couch and chair. The table and chair set was in the kitchen. The bathroom was small. I didn't know what the bedroom looked like.
She sat down on the chair in the front room. I sat down on the couch.
She started, "The only time we have been apart for any length of time before now was when my husband was taking basic and second eight. I stayed in Kansas with my family while he was gone for about three months. His first duty station was Fort Hood in Texas. I moved there as soon as he found an apartment for us.
We moved here to Salinas about a year ago. We detoured thru Kansas while traveling from Texas to here. I haven't seen my family in Kansas for a year. Now I'm here alone with him thousands of miles away. I really miss my soldier!
I'm not sure why I did it... But I stood up, held my hand out to her, and she stood up. I put my arms around her, holding her tight for at least a minute. As I held her I could feel her let out a big sigh. She was about five foot seven, a little shorter than me. The hug felt good. She needed it. I enjoyed it.
Finally I removed my arms from around her and stepped back.
She whispered, "Thank you. Let's go to the kitchen where we can talk while I fix us some supper." She was from Kansas. If she was from some big city back East she would have called it dinner.
We talked while she was preparing dinner. I was sitting at the dinette. When supper was ready she dished up two plates and poured some iced tea. She sat down across the small table from me. It was simple meal but quite tasty.
I said, "Let me rinse these dishes while you put stuff away." She seemed surprised. When the kitchen was cleaned up she took my hand and led me to the front room.
She offered, "Have a seat on the couch. I'll be right back," as she headed for the bathroom. She was back in a couple of minutes. I was surprised when she sat down on the couch. She was a little ways from me. She turned to face me as she pulled her feet up under her as girls do. I turned a little to face her. I could tell she was trying to figure something out in her mind before she spoke.
"I've never done anything like this before. But he's been gone so long and I'm so lonely. You seemed like a nice guy and I just asked you in the car. I didn't have any idea what your reaction would be. Thank you for accepting... and thank you for helping in the kitchen."
I replied, "Doing things together makes everything easier."
She shyly went on. "I don't want to rush. We have all weekend. I'm afraid for us to even go out to eat because there are other military couples here in Salinas that I sometimes see at the market or maybe on base at the commissary. It would be an uncomfortable situation to try to explain who you are."
I assured her, "Don't worry. I understand your position. Let's just spend the evening getting acquainted. We'll figure the rest out later. How about you stretch out on the couch with your head in my lap. We'll be able to talk and watch each other's expressions. Sometimes body language says more than words."
She hesitated. I wondered if I would regret my suggestion. She smiled, turned around and laid her head in my lap. I had worried for nothing. We both seemed comfortable with it. I was holding her right hand in my right just resting on her stomach. My left hand was gently teasing her hair. Her left hand was just resting by her side. We stayed this way, just getting acquainted, for a couple of hours. I had to excuse myself to go to the bathroom. When I came back she had scooted over to my end of the couch and was sitting up. She said nothing, just patted her lap.
I took my shoes and socks off. I lay down on the couch with my head in her lap. Now she was looking down at me. My view up at her showed that her breasts were probably a full B cup or maybe a C. Her face was looking relaxed. We talked for another hour.
She finally said, "I haven't been sleeping well with my husband gone. I'm going to stop by the bathroom and then get in bed. I'll leave a small light on so you can come join me."
I was happy that she had said join her, but wondered if she would be in a nightgown, pajamas, or possibly nothing. I said OK. I'll give you a few minutes."
I picked my head up out of her lap and sat up. She got up and headed for the bathroom. I sat there wondering what was next.
After I figured she was in bed I went to the bathroom, then into the bedroom.