One of those unforgettable little incidents of human interest. Was at breakfast at the P.X. when a cute little girl came in and sat at the booth next to ours. Naturally I was the wolf and made eyes at her but could only catch hers by accident. As we arose to go I again looked her way and she looked right back and with a damn nice smile she said almost under her breath "Good luck - soldier." The only person who even took the trouble to think of us as we left for the war.
Came down over Nassau again and then over 4 hours of overcast to Dominican Republic and finally Puerto Rico with their high jungle covered mountains and small patches of sugar cane. I have never seen a more beautiful ocean with brilliant blue water, white sand bottom, and beautiful palm trees and green grass.
Air Base is really beautiful. Oh yes - got our secret orders today - will enter destination later. Early to bed & up at 3:30 tomorrow. Staying at Hotel Stevens - one of army barracks so marked each with a name instead of a number.
1.06.2008
1.05.2008
Wednesday, January 5
Busy as heck with last minute details-briefings, buying clothing and film etc, drawing equipment, a final medical exam and so on. Reloaded my plane for my convenience and got it all repaired - had so many things wrong which I discovered yesterday. Last day in good old U.S.A. but no celebration, feasting, wining, or even reminiscing - too busy. To bed at 9:00 PM - to arise at 4:30.
1.04.2008
Tuesday, January 4
Worked like a fool getting ship weighed and loaded. Was issued ammunition, field glasses, etc. and took possession of my plane. Left Savannah at 2:00 PM on a 4 hour fuel consumption flight. Went to Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Ft. Meyers, and across the gulf to Key West, up the keys to Miami and landed at Morrison Field at West Palm Beach which is P.O.E. They mean business here-took our A.G.O. passes and made crew post its own guard. Beautiful set up though. Won $35.
1.03.2008
Monday, January 3
Loafed most of day but had the usual paper work to go thru. Saw a good picture "Destination Tokyo." Full of propaganda but was really a true story of many very unrelated true events of the war all knit together in one plot. Won $20.
1.02.2008
Sunday, January 2
Started processing today. Spent the usual 8 hours in lines but finally got thru. It was just like Christmas Day - receiving so much equipment. Got a new pistol, knife, parachute, new clothes, including, boots, 2 jackets, flying suit, sun glasses - everything one could possibly need. More fun. Lost $20.
1.01.2008
Saturday, January 1
The moving finger writes, and having writ, Moves on:
Nor all your Piety nor Wit, Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.
A new day on a new year and a new day on a new post. Slept 12 hours on New Year's Eve while the rest of the boys were celebrating at the Officer's club indulging in tie cutting and beer throwing.
Spent the day writing letters and heard U.S.C. beat U. of Wash. 20-0 in Rose Bowl. Processing starts tomorrow - turned over my new plane to base for modification. Won $30 tonite playing poker.
Nor all your Piety nor Wit, Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.
A new day on a new year and a new day on a new post. Slept 12 hours on New Year's Eve while the rest of the boys were celebrating at the Officer's club indulging in tie cutting and beer throwing.
Spent the day writing letters and heard U.S.C. beat U. of Wash. 20-0 in Rose Bowl. Processing starts tomorrow - turned over my new plane to base for modification. Won $30 tonite playing poker.
12.28.2007
FOREWORD
Bill - he was born in Palco, Kansas, August 5, 1921, the fourth child born to Gracia Ann (Scott) & James Henry Callison. His siblings were Bob, Helen, & Jim. Nan & Betty were born later. He attended one year of school in Palco, & the family _ by this time with 6 children - moved to Eastern Washington in 1927. He completed elementary school & Palouse High, before enrolling at WSC for 2 years (1939-1941), majoring in Physics.
In the Fall of 1941, with some friends, he drove to California - to San Francisco - at that time. He & his friends wanted to get good jobs, save their money, & attend California schools. He did find a job, and was working. Then circumstances changed their plans.
After Pearl Harbor was attacked & the U.S. entered the war, Bill and friends had decisions to make. The rule became: Go to school full time, or be drafted. Whether pragmatic over his choices or not (which branch of the service to enter), he obviously preferred life in the Air Corps as a pilot. That he loved adventure, always, & chose "life in the fast lane" is a good bet.
Eventually finding his birth certificate (after much searching), he took his physical & enlisted in the Air Corps. He trained at several locations in California as well as in Arizona, Kentucky, Florida, & South Carolina. His training continued wherever he was sent.
Bill visited home on leave once or twice before his flight abroad. One of his last Christmas gifts, 1943, was a diary, in which Mother Callison had marked family occasions with her favorite poetry. Thus the diary came about - January to August, 1944.
Whatever else he did or failed to do, Bill had always somewhere to go, people to see, & a restless craving for activity. He disliked wasting time, & acing "out of character." But his spirit - what kept him going - was stubborn determination. He would, as the British say, "carry on."
In the Fall of 1941, with some friends, he drove to California - to San Francisco - at that time. He & his friends wanted to get good jobs, save their money, & attend California schools. He did find a job, and was working. Then circumstances changed their plans.
After Pearl Harbor was attacked & the U.S. entered the war, Bill and friends had decisions to make. The rule became: Go to school full time, or be drafted. Whether pragmatic over his choices or not (which branch of the service to enter), he obviously preferred life in the Air Corps as a pilot. That he loved adventure, always, & chose "life in the fast lane" is a good bet.
Eventually finding his birth certificate (after much searching), he took his physical & enlisted in the Air Corps. He trained at several locations in California as well as in Arizona, Kentucky, Florida, & South Carolina. His training continued wherever he was sent.
Bill visited home on leave once or twice before his flight abroad. One of his last Christmas gifts, 1943, was a diary, in which Mother Callison had marked family occasions with her favorite poetry. Thus the diary came about - January to August, 1944.
Whatever else he did or failed to do, Bill had always somewhere to go, people to see, & a restless craving for activity. He disliked wasting time, & acing "out of character." But his spirit - what kept him going - was stubborn determination. He would, as the British say, "carry on."
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