Continuing with Grandaddy's diary entry from March 16, 1944:
Late that nite we finally broke away and stayed at the Reick Hotel. Monday morning we drove out to Camp in Dad's car and I signed out and we bid farewell to our many friends. Tuesday morning amid goodbyes and tears we left for the great city of New York on Sept. 6th. We didn't have a Pulman but I went back and talked to the conductor and finally got an upper berth. We arrived in New York about noon on Sept. 7 and had lunch in a little restaurant a few blocks from the station. A short time later, news came out that Italy had surrendered and it was quite a sight.
We had a wonderful time in New York. We stayed at the Martinique Hotel for several days until found out that I would be working around New York. We got an apartment, kitchen, bedroom, and living room, at 17 West 65th Street, about half a block from Central Park and four blocks from Columbus Circle. We had quite a time setting up housekeeping. We couldn't find any silver war. But we had a wonderful time there. We went down to York, Pennsylvania for a week. We went back to New York and lived so terribly happy for many weeks. Never a quarrel and many priceless moments.
We had a good time in shopping for Christmas gifts for our families. Just a few days before Christmas Juanita bought a little Christmas tree for our table in the living room. She is such a dear, sweet girl. Then two days before Christmas I received orders to report to Camp Gordon Johnstone near Tallahassee, Florida. Our days of happiness together was over for awhile. But someday we will be together always. I got three days leave and we left New York on Dec. 26. Our two whole days at Gadsden were like an agony of time flying by.
Well, Diary from the time I arrived down here up until several weeks ago you are up on. When I quit writing in you nothing so terribly important has happened. We went up to Port St. Joseph for a week the first part of February. Then a couple weeks of POM and a trip to Mobile on the Aristides the first part of March. My darling came down there to try and see me but we left a day before she got there. After we got back from Mobile we were on shore at Camp for one nite and came back on board on Tuesday. We have been here in the bay all this week and doing nothing. Here it is Friday the 17th of March and I hope we will go ashore tomorrow. I got an answer to my letter from the Pastor in Tallahassee and he told me write the secy of hte Chamber of Commerce for a room. If Welroma and I go into town tomorrow nite I'm going to try and find a room for my darling. I sure hope it will turn out O.K. I want to see her so much. Well, diary, goodnite for tonite and I hope to do better by you in the future.
When Grandaddy wrote, "But someday we will be together always," he probably had no idea that he would be happily married to his "dear, sweet girl" for over 62 years. After my grandmother retired (at age 78), they had several years of being together all day, every day, and I am so glad that they are together now in heaven. Theirs is a sweet story that proves true love exists and I am grateful to Gran and Grandaddy for leaving a legacy of love for us! ~Kristi
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