On the way to San Francisco

​     So, coming back from Korea the Army gave me 30 days leave and and a plane ticket home. Leaving Korea we landed in Japan to change planes for the trip to Travis Air Force Base in California.  In those days we crossed the Pacific ocean in a two engine passenger plane with 30 men on board and 2 stewardess. I felt really bad for the 2 stewardess because some of the guys didn’t know how to act like gentlemen but the girls knew how to handle their remarks and put them in their place. We stoped in at the island of Guam and Hawaii for refueling.  We landed in Guam at night, looking down from the air all we could see was a single light and they didn’t light up the landing strip until we were lined up to land.  We were not allowed off the plane and as soon as it was refuled we were off again to Hawaii where we were allowed off the plane but locked behind a chain link fence and then back on the plane to Travis AFB where they gave us a plane ticket home, 33 hours in the air. I didn’t tell anybody I was coming home except my brother Frank, he picked me up from the airport and we surprised everybody. I didn’t tell anybody because I wasn’t sure when I was going to get out of Korea.  

      I helped dad on the farm for a three weeks and then was off to spend a week driving my car to San Francisco.  I got as far as Hannibal MO and at 9:00 in the morning my car engine threw a rod thru the side. As it turned out I was a block from the Chevy dealership.  They hauled my car into the shop to take a look at it.  They said my engine needed to be rebuilt and it would cost $275.00. WHAM. I called dad and let him know what happened and that I was all right.  He said I wish I could help but I can’t come up with that much. I told him that wasn’t why I called and I got it handled. I didn’t.  But I went back to the dealership and talked to the mechanic and asked if he knew anyone who would buy the car as is and he asked how much I wanted for it.  I said need enough for a plane ticket to San Francisco and $75.00 would do it. He said ok, I’ll buy it and he did.

     So, I was able to fly to San Francisco. I took the city bus to the Presidio and 8th Army Headquarters.  It was the 1st week in September and quite warm in San Francisco so I was wearing the summer uniform when I reported in, stood at attention and gave the Major a snappy salute and said Richard Lynn Balluff SP4 reporting for duty, feeling really good about being there and reporting right. What are you doing in your summer uniform, we changed to winter uniform the 1st of September? Go Change, !!!!  Nuts, I had to find a place to change and my winter uniform ( Dress Greens, wool pants and coat and tan dress shirt) which was in the bottom of my duffel bag. I got changed and reported again and was assigned to the headquarters company in a large house with company offices and chow hall on the 1st floor and 2 large rooms on the 2nd floor outfitted for 25 guys each. Th next day I was assigned to S3 (Headquarters Supply).  We had charge of all the furniture and typewriters on the whole base.  Nothing was delivered or picked up without a hand receipt, I was typing hand receipts to be signed for all items to be picked up and delivered.

     And there I met Mister Goodrich, Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints referred to in one of my earlier blogs and that opened the door for many wonderful things in my life.