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Home  Foreword Introduction The Road to Bataan The Bataan Death March The San Fernando Train Ride Camp O'Donnell Clark Field Concentration Camp Bilibid Prison The Hell Ships Japan The Nomachi Express Camp Nomachi Surrender, Liberation, and Repatriation The Homecoming Epilogue In Memoriam Extra: Bataan Death March Route Map Extra: Philippine Department of Tourism Extra: Star Tribune: March of Time ("Article of Interest" for 4-6 Grade Basic Skills Reading Test Prep) Extra: Footprints in Courage (A Book About Alf Larson and the Bataan Death March) Extra: Alf's Letter to God Post/View Comments |
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The Homecoming
How long did you stay in Duluth on the first visit? I stayed the weekend. The second and third time we went home the staff issued longer passes. Did you do much when you were home? When I was home on furlough, I just wanted to be with my family. I didn't want to have anything to do with anybody else. Why was that? I just didn't! I needed to get readjusted to life after captivity and wanted to be left alone. Jane, you didn't see Alf the first time he came home? I didn't even know he had been home the first time. (Jane) When did you get the second pass? I think I got the second one the first part of November 1945. Did you see Jane on your second furlough? No. What did you do? We lived adjacent to the woods in Duluth on the west end of Duluth in Norton Park. I spent lots of time in the woods before enlisting and during my first two furloughs home. At first, when I got home, I didn't want to have anything to do with anybody or date anyone! I just wanted to be left alone. I spent most of my time with the family or back in the woods wandering around my old haunts. I was home three times before I was discharged from the hospital in Iowa. I met Jane at her home in the middle of November 1945, during my third and final furlough from Shick General Hospital. Her parents had invited us over for supper. I tried every way in the world to get out of going. Jane's parents wanted me to come. Finally, my folks insisted I had to go. They said, "You gotta go!" I said, "Well, OK." When we got there, we walked in the door. The first thing I saw was Jane stirring gravy. (Laughter) Here I was starved to death and food was always on my mind. I thought "Boy, that's for me!" (Laughter) Come to find out, her mother had made the gravy and Jane was just stirring it! (Laughter) I couldn't cook! I was stirring gravy for the first time. (Jane) (Laughter) You went back to Shick General Hospital after the third furlough home? Yes. When I got back, I purchased a watch for Jane and sent it to her. I wanted to get discharged from the hospital because there was no reason for me to stay there any longer. I felt fine and wanted to go home! A young lady clerk was responsible for approving hospital discharges. I happened to hear her talking to another clerk about a certain type of perfume she really liked. It was for sale at the PX so I went and bought a bottle. Then, I attempted to bribe her so I could get on the discharge list. I went up to her and said I had something for her. If she would put me on the first shipping list out, she could have it. She asked "what" and I showed her the perfume. She said "okay." I was discharged shortly after that. I didn't know that (Jane).
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All materials copyright © 2001 Rick Peterson.
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