[I had a dream last night. I Thought it was Very Real. A RAT was sniffing at My Face, and then Cuddled Up to me, as if Like a Pet. I Cuddled it and petted it. It's fur was Silky Smooth...then I woke Up!]
...But this dream reminded Me of the Night, back in Vietnam, as in the Picture, when I was writing the Letter. I happened to glance over to the other side of the barracks isle. In the Pitch Blackness, in the glint of my only light, I caught movement. It was a Very Large Rat, climbing into the slightly Open door of a comrades' wall locker. There must have been Food left in there, as many do. The barracks was unusually silent, No Radio Playing, Not even One of the 30 Plus soldiers, were Snoring. Curious, so Silent. I was Not going to Raise a ruckus over a hungry Rat! I went back to writing my letter. Have a Nice Snack, Rat! That's not the end of it. I had gone to bed all lights out, pitch darkness, I was asleep and then awakened...there was the heavy weight of a Creature, on top of the Blanket at My Feet! I did Not look, it was too dark, I know it was NOT our dog, 'Buckandhalf'. Not caring, I fell Back Asleep. I think it was that Large Rat, enjoying my Oscillating Fan. We'll Never Know, by the Morning, It was Gone!
Back to Chicago...
I Long hug, a gorgeous body, she held it against me! Her perfume was 'Windsong'. Our first kiss would come later. I Loved Her, so very much.
We both went to her fathers car, we sat inside, together, as her father, was at the sidewalk, seemed to be confronting, who I learned later was her, present boyfriend. Or, 'want to be', boyfriend. We couldn't hear the conversation, but her fathers' body language was such, that I caught the vibe, he didn't Like this boy very much. As In, Kathys' friend is home, You will give them the time to be together. Or 'words to that effect'. Kathy asked something as, you should go do something?? I said, your father seems to be handling things, just fine. I knew, I was going to be getting into other peoples' business.
That night Kathy and I went on our first 'Date', but only if Fred came along, in that 390 Mustang. Only proper, they didn't know me, that well, yet.
We parked along the water, near downtown Chicago. I asked Fred to stay in the car. In the darkness, lit by lights across the way, we sat on the grassy Slope and Made-Out. My first kiss. She was so Experienced! Our kisses turned each other inside-out. She jokingly, said, "You kiss with your teeth"...I said, "I need more Practice". I explored her body, she said No! We finished our last kiss, for that time, and returned to the car. She said..."Next Time Try Harder!".
Fred and I stayed that night in our hotel room. Next couple of nights we stayed with Kathys family. Fred and I left for Home and finished our 'Route 66' Journey. Had a Bad tire in Wendover Utah, got home with a Tire from a salvage yard. Then, Fred told me, he knew it had a Blister protruding from the sidewall! He didn't want me to have to worry about it. Right after that, we stopped to check the Air. The attendant observed, "there's a nail in that tire", I looked, it was more like a Spike, I said Don't pull it out. We were close to home, and I was Broke! I added more Air to the Tire...We Made it Home!
Driving back East to Fort Riley Kansas! After a detour up to Chicago for a Short visit with Kathy, I report for duty to finish the 13 Months of my 3 year enlistment. Must have been August-September 1971. It was rough, very rough. There were, a few Soldiers there, that had Fought in Vietnam. ALL OTHERS, were never sent over. They were a Class by themselves. A Disrespectful Class.
A Vietnam Crewchief/Doorgunner gets assigned to the 138th Eng. Grp. as a 'Personnel Records Clerk'!! But, there is twist to this story. The Soldier that runs to 'Mimeograph' Machine, is ending his Enlistment in a Week, earning his Honorable Discharge. I was chosen, and now in one weeks Training, on how to set-up and operate said Machine. I learned fast. And I learned how to print Perfect copies, both sides, and Inverted. I was the Only person in this fort who could run this Mimeograph!!
The Kicker is, Nobody signs in, nobody signs out, gets promoted, disciplined, discharged, transferred and all other...or even, 'FART', UNTIL Marlin prints off their Orders! That's Power, huh!? The Downside was, No Days Off, Many, countless 'All Knighters'
EVERY chance I could get, I was headed for Chicago. It cost Me 4 'Article 15s'. For Awol, Missing assigned duties on the roster, late for Monday morning formation, and so much more. Like the shrink, in later years, said..."Has a Problem with Athourity". 2 Times I hitch-hiked the 1200 miles, took all night, for a 4-5 hour visit. I was picked up by everything from the back of a Harley Davidson to a Semi Truck. The other 4 or 5 times I drove that Badass 67 Mustang up all the way to Chicago and back to Junction City. Before, all the time, I Blew-Up the C-4, fixed the Dropped Lifter, Broken radiator (From being hooked up and dragged out of ditch by a 'helper') and replacing the ripped-out Power Steering Hose...on My Back in the Ice and Snow! Bad Battery, Bad Starter Motor and frozen cylinders in the Dead of Winter!
Can't forget Countless times of running out fuel (running on empty-middle of nowhere!) and Trading a full case of Castro GTX for a Tank Load...or Hiding in the Parked Mustang as a Cop cruises past in the Darkened Alley while a partner lies Under a car 25 feet away, with a Gas Can, stealing Gasoline from the ripped off gas line. I whispered "Don't Move". I saw the cruiser turn into the alley, another Soldier and I, Hunkered Down Low in our seats as the Cop cruised Slowly By. Either, He didn't see us, didn't want a confutation in the Middle of the night, or it was just one of the Most lucky times in the life of Marlin Jack. He craws out from under the car with the gas can, and we are GONE!! Back on the Highway. After adding 2 Gallons of fuel, just enough to make Chi Town!
When I was in Chicago, Kathy and I were inseparable. That was after we first had separated a short while, so she could gather her thoughts and assess her situation. After all I was 19 and she was only 16...when she decided what she wanted. She contacted Me in Kansas. I had consoled myself to the fact, that she had made up her mind to change to directions that did Not include Me. After all she was a Brilliant Student and had already been Accepted to 3 different University's. So she Said. I Believed her.
She called Me over the Fort Telephone. I was summoned by a clerk with the Seargent in charge of the office in the night. When I get there, the young man had been shmoozing with her for some time. My Time! He hands me the phone, with a look of 'Oh, It's You!'...Hi Babi, how are you? "When are you coming up to see Me", I'm already on My way!
Kathy new her way all around Chicago. As I said, we were Inseparable!! She took me to many 'Famous' places, she knew lots of people from her working as a operator for an answering service. She was impressed with the GTA Fastback, she Loved it, the Power of Blowing Nearly everything on the Road, into the weeds! We drove it all over. We even went to the 'Under-Ground', under city 'Catacombs', I thought of it. Desolate, Dark, Dangerous, a Gang hangout, Spooky! In the winter we went to Lake Superior and watched the thick ice, blown by the Wind Crash up over the shore towards us. A very scary sound, the chunks of ice the size of houses, sounded like a freight train crashing.
One Night Kathy asked Me to be sure and wear My Uniform, she was taking Me to a Very High Class Restaurant owned by acquaintances of Hers. They wanted to Honour Me by providing a complimentary Dinner to a Vietnam Veteran. The Dinner was Very Nice! We were seated at a Table in the middle of the dining room. The Restaurant was full. We were surrounded by Dozens of Fine people, Enjoying Our Company. From slight Glances, I felt respected, admired, I was safe among Friends. I had represented our Nation!
Kathys Mother once said to me, with much approval...When ever You come and see Kathy, a 'Sparkle' returns to her Eyes, with a Smile.
Her Father, the WW II Vet, would give money to me, he called it 'Walking Around money'. In later months, I would use it to rent a Hotel room, when I would visit. On one special occasion Kathy Seduced Me! Finally we Made Love. She thought that was odd, 'Making Love' as My Father always described it. It was Glorious! So much Passion. She taught me how to Please a women. I had only 'read' what I could get my hands on, about it. She was experienced. I kind'a had the right Idea! I couldn't get enough of this Girl! This was just the Beginning!
That first night I arrived back to the barracks, after my Flight to Kansas city and taxi to ft riley. It was late into the night, soldiers were all asleep...I Thought. I'm at my locker, when a friend, in the far corner of the upstairs, asks the question I had heard many times..."Did You Get IT?" my only reply, "yes!".
Instantly, and surprising...the Entire Barracks Erupted into Cheers!! (Finally, Marlin got Some!)
There were a few more visits, the Love was sent from Heaven. A special occasion, I purchased a Ring from a Jewelry Store in Junction city. I had only $99.00 the Old Man sold me a Ring with 2 Pearls on top.
Kathy was 17 and I at 20, got down on My knees, on the front porch, and proposed to Her. I Love You, I want to spend the rest of My Life with You, will You Marry Me? Without hesitation, "Yes!"
After Kathy conversing with her parents, her Mother Marjory, tells Me, Marce wants to take a drive with you, and talk. I walk outside, he's in his car the engine is running, we're driving. Marce was Not Upset and was calm. The conversation went like this...
"You wish to Marry My Daughter, you didn't ask Me for 'Her Hand in Marriage!" I apologized for being disrespectful to Him and His wife. "I have No Doubts That You Love Kathy". "You and Kathy have been having Sex?" "Yes" "Are You using 'Birth Control" "No"..."Why Not??"
"Because I WANT Kathy to Have Our Baby!" He kind of had a look on his face, as 'an Opportunity for Kathy to have found a 'Decent' Husband, and I, a Grandchild'. I was Never going to Lie to this Man!
"How did You afford a Hotel Room?" "The 'Walking Around Money' You Gave Me!" did I see a Smile of pride on His Face?
Kathys Parents set an Appointment down at the Cook County Courthouse, for Kathy and I to file for a Marriage License. Since she was under age, they had to sign off on it. And since I was only 20...I needed to provide a Signed and Notarized Note from My Father, Granting His Permission for Me to Marry!
We were Married in Kathys, Favorite 'Cute Cottage' Church, on get this, September 11th, 1972.
I had nothing to wear. Kathy Insisted I wear My Green Uniform. As I first came into View, most of the attending audience Gasped. Must have been the RED ascot I was wearing In Church!? Representing the Engineer Grp.
At the Reception Dinner, a Smart-Alic girlfriend, asks Kathy, "When's the Baby Due??" "There's No Baby, Yet"
Fred flew out from Oakland, just to be My Best Man. He passed away in 2011. GOD Bless.