Ahoy!

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In the Spring following JFK's murder, Pop informed us that he was being transferred to Germany and that we were going with him.

I knew the routine.  I had moved many times before.  Usually it was every three years, but we often lived in several different places during each of his assignments. Seems it took a try or two before he found the perfect place for the family.

Saying goodbye to my friends was difficult to say the least.  And perhaps that was a reason that I really didn't allow myself to have close friends; a trait that I still have today.  But knowing that I'd probably never see Paula Brown again brought tears.  Not Paula, but for me.  You see Paula never knew that I was in love with her.  She was a dream girl to me.  Very light complected, a petite build, and beautiful hair cut short, just before the ears into a Dutch Girl style.  She was so different than any I had ever met.  Seems all of my family were dark complected, a bit thick, and a health stature. The typical military family in Those Days.

The Army was great about moving us.  A private contractor would come to the house, help Mom pack, and then take it all away in a big truck never to be seen again until they came again at our new place.  Pop took the '61 Chevy station wagon somewhere, and then it magically appeared at our destination.

When all the things were packed and all the goodbyes over, we left New York Harbor on a troop carrier, passing the Statue of Liberty before entering the Atlantic.  The ship was kind of like the cruise ships of today, but nowhere near as big or as nice.  Soldiers were housed depending on rank, from the lowest outside on the deck in tents, to the more privileged with families to inside cabins The most elite had access to  State Rooms, Dining halls, and some entertainment. Kids, such as me, were basically assigned to quarters, but we did manage to get on deck for brief periods.

I think it was about a ten day sail to the Port of Bremerhaven, Germany, about 80 miles from Frankfurt.  And Pop, having an assignment in Air Defense was stationed atop a mountain in a town called Mainbullau.  We lived in a rented farmhouse, on a working farm, right next door to the farmer.

While Pop worked and Mom cooked, I hung out with the farmer.  There were less than a dozen families in town, and I began learn German.

And then I met Inge.....
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