The day our Marines departed Union Station for combat in Korea was a truly memorable and sad day.  I was at the station when they boarded the train and waved "Goodbye". They were soon to encounter  some of the most bitter, tragic and gut wrenching warfare that US troops have ever experienced.  They were to fight to survive and escape being surrounded by the hoards of Chinese who poured across the border, fight there way out of the "Frozen Chosin" with frost bitten extremities becoming dead forever and some giving their lives for their fellow Marines, their country and for us.  As they departed the station, they probably couldn't comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy that they were about to be dealt  - but then, they were Marines;  their job was to "kill people and break things" for the duration until attaining victory, no matter the hardship.  They did it.

   Back home, the reality of the severity of it all quickly began to sink in and we were devestated by news of the deadly battles that our loved ones were fighting.  We hurt for then for the duration.
 
   Then, finally, another truly memorable, but happy and yes, sad day;  at the Trailways Bus Station, meeting the buses for weeks after the war ended,  when word was announced that one of our returning Marines was to be aboard.  There's no more an edelible image in my mind than that of one of  "ours" stepping off of that bus onto home turf.

   Semper Fi to our US Marines!

Armond "Si" Simmons
104 Wadsworth Lane
Pell City, AL 35128
205 338 7378
205 812 9085
fax 603 737 0833
psysim@voy.net
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