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.