Last Visit Before Embarkation (9)

 John, Mary X and Jack Barrett

Beth writes: 19 March 1943
Dear Mary X,
     Hold your breath.  I think we are coming.  Gene has applied for leave from April 9th to 19th and it has been OK'd.  I spent most of the day at the RR station and have seats 10 & 12, Car 220 on El Capitan leaving Needles Friday evening.  We should get in Kansas City at midnight Saturday night.  I've written the folks to reserve hotel rooms for us and we'll meet them at the hotel and we'll stay there all day Sunday and take the C.M. & P. out Sunday night.  We'll get in Freeport Monday morning and will leave Chicago to return via El Capitan on Saturday evening being in Freeport 5 nights.  Gene will work out a complete schedule of time but he asked me to tell you to include no one else in your plans.  We want to concentrate on family.  He has told his mother already that the only people he will go see are Great Uncle Herman, Gus, Aunt Lizzie and 85 year old Mrs. Brockhauser [Gene's grandmother].  ...  He just wants to relax with family. ...
     Of course we are pretty excited.  There is big talk again of the unit being moved on - so all have to be back in camp by May 1st.  I dread going thru Trinidad! ...
     Not that I exspect to appear often in public but what does the well-dressed woman in Freeport wear in April?!  Will my felt hat be OK?  Hadn't I better buy a heavy coat?  I'm sure I won't need the sun suit I'm now in - stretched out in the swing.  California has the most persistent flies.  They do their best to keep me in.
     Grapefruit are in bloom.  They smell just like oranges, I guess, and the whole valley smells like a dream!
     I meant to spend the day putting in hems, mending, etc. and here it is 3:20 pm and none done.  I'll tell you all the news in 3 weeks!!
     Love to all, Elisabeth

Gene was not looking ahead three weeks in his diary.  For him it was still the day-to-day grind with occasional bright spots.

March 23, 1943  Yesterday I went to town to see my Honey - first trip for 16 days.  The Col. keeps us closer than a jail, cuss his hide!
     No new rumors, except we are not moving as yet!  But "we" were asked if we could be ready to perform a mission by May 1st!  Of course the Col. tried to side step it but Ireland (now executive officer since Mason is gone) said surely we could.  So we had a meeting and tried to fill in our T.O. [technical orders] and requisition what we need.  I need at least one man for the laboratory.  So we also started putting on a training schedule.
     They are preparing to ship our overages [surplus material] - the laboratory gave up 2 chests and received another in their place.  Our 2 new, good microscopes were taken and our tables.  The Col. thought we were getting hot! [ready to leave?] Supposedly we have stuff being shipped to us too, so maybe we are.  But the 21st Evac. has been complete for months and are still just sitting!  So none of us can be too excited.  I do wish we'd leave this d___ desert!

March 30, 1943 (Tuesday)  ...
     This morning I go for a tank ride at the 7Δ.  Maybe even to drive the tank!
     [Later] Yep!  We had about a 45 min. ride in a tank and I drove it for a while.  Lots of fun, but dirty as all get out.  They were the new light tanks with hydro-matic drive.  They do about 3/4 of a mile to a gallon of gas, out here on the desert.  2 Chrysler 8 cylinder motors!

April 4, 1943 ...
     I had the day trip Friday and brought the car back.  It certainly is a temptation to drive to town this afternoon, for the old goat is gone on a week end.  But with a leave coming up, I won't take chances.

Beth writes: 4 April 1943
Dear Mary X,
     My last epistle - and then I'll see you.  Whoops!!
     We have $195.03 worth of RR tickets and seem to be all set. ...
     We are so excited we can hardly sleep.  Gene was in for a while Friday.  He telephoned me this pm and will call again Tuesday pm.  He has the car so I hope to stay on the spot and get some work done.
     Love to all, Beth

Some of the Trinidad delegation, including Dutchie,
Gene's and Beth's dachshund

April 8, 1943  I left about 10:30 P.M. instead of waiting until midnight, on my 10 day leave.  I arrived at Indio about 12 and surprised Beth.  We left Indio about 10 A.M. Friday April 9 and had an uneventful ride to Needles.  We couldn't find the lady whom Beth knew, so we just had to scout around and finally found a garage to leave it [the car] in, making arrangements for them to leave the key out.  $2.00 for 10 days - not bad.  The train arrived on time.  At about Winslow [AZ] the car (we were in the last coach of El Capitan) began to fill with sulfur and smoke.  They finally shifted us to the lounge car and took our car off.  At Gallup [NM] they put on an old Pullman [sleeper car].  Says one man, "I wish they'd show us the seat where Lincoln sat!"  So we had about 1 hour sleep that night.  We were 2 1/2 hours late.  At Trinidad [CO] we were 1 1/2 hours late, but a delegation of friends and patients met us when we hopped off - 30 or 35 or so!  It was very touching and thrilling. ...

The folks: Etta and Joseph Ferguson

     At Kansas City {MO] we were 1 hour late.  We were short a bag and couldn't find it anywhere.  The passenger agent sent a telegram to trace it.  Next day it was found in Chicago!   How it was left on the train, I can't say.

     We didn't get to the hotel (a female cab driver made money on us!) until about 1:30 A.M.  Lucky we had reservations (at the Muehlbach!)  We talked to Beth's folks a little while and then fell into bed.  Next day we just talked and ate.  It rained beautifully!  The town was full of WAAC's to salute!  It was so nice to see Beth's folks.  Her Dad looks quite pale.  Sunday evening we left for Freeport.  I'm so glad we took a Pullman for we were certainly tired out.

     Mother met us at the train, with her face tied up - abscessed tooth!  The last one she had was years before at my graduation.  Vernon [Gene's stepfather] came home at 10 to say hello before going out on his route [he was a postman].  In the afternoon we went to say hello to Mary X and Jack, and Grandmother that evening.

Vernon and Jessie Taylor, Gene's mother and stepfather

     Tuesday evening we spent with Grandmother.  Wednesday with the Barretts.  Thursday I went calling and Beth had her hair fixed.  Friday more running around and began saying adieus.  Saturday we took the early train to Chicago and saw some of the stores, and left in the evening.

Capt. Eugene Pfile in Freeport, IL

     Sunday morning some of the gang met us at the train in Trinidad and drove us to Raton.  Very nice.  We arrived at Needles 1:55 A.M. Monday.  We had difficulty in getting gas (Vidal Junction) to return to Indio.  We didn't know that civilian cars can't get gas after 8 P.M.  Reported back in at 2315 to find Evans and Pringly gone to a tank destroyer outfit at Yuma, Johnson to a med detachment there and Bourn and Beck gone across the road to the 55th Med. Bn.  They had asked for transfers and got them!  No other new rumors of any note except that we seem to be getting hotter!

22 April 1943

Dear Folks [Mary X and John],

     As Gene Autry sings (about the saddle) it is "Back in the Desert again"!  It hasn't changed while I was gone & is still warm! ...

     The ten days seems a long time past.  But very pleasant!  I enjoyed it all - seeing you, talking to you, seeing your home - everything!  Thanks so much!

     Sincerely, Eugene