Anchors Aweigh Again

Let’s get back on the train and continue the journey westward in my Navy days. Or maybe we hadn’t actually got on the train, when I left off writing about it. We were leaving New York, headed for Chicago, en route to California, two Pullman train cars of Waves just out of Boot, in the charge of a few of us who had just graduated from Specialist (S) school supervising them, and with one Chief Petty Officer responsible for all. Everyone was so well behaved and excited about going to California that I don’t think that Petty Officer even had to get out of her seat to supervise anything.

In Chicago we left the train, spent some time at the YWCA, where we had showers. We ate a meal somewhere, but I don’t recall where. After eight hours in the Windy City▬and it lived up to its nickname▬we boarded the train again and went on our way. With one girl missing!

The train left without her. I thought it was perhaps a planned desertion, for it was so foolish not to stick with the group when “ashore.” However, she managed to catch up on another train and rejoined us at some scheduled stop. I don’t recall any more of that story, if I ever knew anything more, and never saw her again after reaching our destination. But what a risk to take.

We had an interesting stop at Albuquerque, where some American Indians met the train with their displays of turquoise and silver jewelry spread out on canvas or blankets. Some girls bought pieces of it, but we could not wear jewelry with our uniforms. Or perfume, for that matter. After about thirty minutes, we boarded the train once more.

Our next stop was at Barstow, California, where the two cars separated. One headed farther south to San Diego, and mine went north to Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco. To be continued.

♥