He Saw The Harbor Lights
Pacific Ocean February 1952
In late January, 1952, docked in Seattle WA, more than 3,000 troops boarded the M.S.T.S. Simon Buckner. The anchor was lifted, its horns tooted and we were off. Where was it going? We didn’t care. The fresh air whetted our appetites, the food was good, and the camaraderie was fun. The following day, most of the men had details, but by the time the officer reached the Ws, he ran out of assignments. So I wandered about socializing with the men on details.
Early in the trip, the Pacific was pacific. Bucky, whom I met in basic training was seasick from the time the Buckner pulled up its anchor in Seattle. He lay in his bunk like a corpse for twenty-one days, until we reached Yokohama. Halfway into our cruise we encountered some angry storms, but Bucky was still lifeless as the sheet that was draped over him.
The atmosphere aboard was like a social gathering. It was a high school reunion, where we met our classmates, reminisced about the good times, and wondered why more of them weren’t here to join the fun.
We recalled the physical at Whitehall St. where peculiar Fridiholz rocketed into the air when the doctor probed for hemorrhoids, and where Glenn brought a note from his uncle authorizing a deferment for Glenn because he was deaf. We made new friends, and were entertained by movies. Viva Zapata followed me from the ship, to reserve in Korea and then on to Japan. I saw Doris Day for the first time in Romance On The High Seas. She sparkled when she sung, It’s Magic.
The high point of the trip was performed by a black GI from an entertainment unit. He sung Harbor Lights. With tears in his eyes he cried,
I watched those harbor lights How could I help if tears were starting Goodbye to tender nights Beside the silvery sea.
I wondered why I didn’t have tender nights. I knew Shirley in my senior class at James Monroe H.S. was interested in me. While she waited for her mother to drive her home, she sat in the chilly stands watching me practice with the football team. But the fun in the candy store didn’t teach me how to approach her. High school football, baseball, ice skate racing and softball isolated my maturity.
Later, I had a girlfriend Elaine. She was pretty. I was no candidate for Mr. America. What did she see in me? The only thing we had in common were our vital organs. I assigned her to the last seat in the last row of the of my life, although in Korea, she was on mail call at least twice a week.
During basic training, I heard Harry Lapich crying himself to sleep while aching for his new bride. Would I ever have a bride? Did I need one?
Photos of girlfriends were passed around for appraisal. I had one of Elaine wearing a bathing suit while sitting on an overturned rowboat. She looked great, but what girl would pass on a photo of herself if she didn’t look great?
Onward to Yokohama. The tiny cliffs overlooking Tokyo Bay were clustered with bunkers in preparation for the U.S. invasion in 1945. Fortunately, the atomic bomb prevented an estimated 500,000 to 1,500,000 American casualties.
Waiting buses scooped us up. We were brought to Camp Drake where we were given an M1 rifle and new fatigues.
An M1 rifle? Hey, I might be in a war! Korea was waiting and I didn’t disappoint her.
For a complete story read: Cold Ground’s Been My Bed by Daniel Wolfe.
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