Before our Brother Paul served with the “Screaming Eagles” of the 101st Airborne Division in South Korea, he underwent basic training at Camp Breckinridge, located in western Kentucky.
Upon receiving an invitation to join the recruits for Christmas festivities at the Base, our Mother began the strategic packing of all necessities that would be needed for herself and the three daughters who would accompany her for the occasion. The wardrobe list included pajamas for each of us girls that were newly purchased for the holiday.
After an exciting train ride we arrived late at night to discover that unlike in our hometown of Louisville, where transportation to and from a location was secured by a phone call to the Yellow Cab Services, here in Morganfield and on the Base, one hailed down a regular vehicle with any local driver.
Due to the late hour, lights were out at our prearranged Barracks accommodation and Mother whispered to us, “Just sleep in your undershirts and panties tonight.”
Both Jean and I complied and quickly slid under the covers of our waiting cots, but our younger, Sister, Connie began making a noisy disturbance because she fully intended to wear her new pajamas. The outburst was silenced after Mother rummaged around through those two suitcases and handed the Christmas pajamas to her grumbling daughter.
The next morning, all of us tried to avoid the disgruntled stares of the occupants who had their slumber interrupted by the Pajama Trade.
Along with other families, we shuttled back and forth to music fests in Dance Halls and sumptuous meals in Mess Halls. We were delighted to spend these Holiday hours with our Brother and form endearing bonds with other military families. The highlight of the visit was a special Parade with an Army Band playing patriotic songs while troops performed precision drills in front of cheering grandstand visitors.
At the end of our visit, Brother Paul began carrying the suitcases as we walked through the Barracks sayin goodbye to friends we had made. Mother went ahead of us to the street to hail down our ride to the train station. Mother was ordering the driver to open the trunk for the suitcases as Brother Paul stepped around the corner of the car. I saw a shocked look on Brother Paul’s face as he dropped the suitcases and stood tall giving the courteous driver a practiced military salute. Mother had hailed down a Colonel whose courtesy in a chauffeuring morning would become a family legend.
I had always known Brother Paul to be a laughing, jovial person and seeing him sitting ramrod straight in the front seat replying to the Colonel, “Yes, Sir!” and “No, Sir” in a total serious manner was a scene very hard to believe and therefore forever placed in my mind book of unforgettable memories.