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| Sgt. L. G. Haywood c 1920 |
In his old trunk where he kept souvenirs from his time in the army, Daddy had a picture of his “French girlfriend.” (This was long before Mama came along.) She had on a big black overcoat, and a big black hat with a large brim like they wore back then, which was crammed directly center top of her head. But she was standing in a field, and the photo was taken from so far away you couldn’t really see her face, see what she looked like. Maybe it was planned that way! We, Mama and my sister and I, would drag that picture out every now and then when the trunk was opened for some reason, and kid him about “his beautiful French girlfriend!
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| Google Image |
His
unit was situated in northern France, near Montbizot and Le Mans. And sometimes the boys were granted weekend
leaves to go away from the front lines for a little respite from the terrible
fighting. Bill and some of his buddies were granted a
leave to go to Paris.
Can’t
you just imagine these young unsophisticated farm boys who have never been anywhere,
or seen any large city, on the streets of Paris,
gawking at everything, their heads thrown back staring up at the tall beautiful
buildings, completely awestruck and oblivious to all around them.
Along comes this “newly minted” 2nd Lieutenant. So proud of his rank! So wanting to be acknowledged! And they never even saw him! Horrors! They didn't salute him!
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Antoine Blanchard theatre_du_gymnase_boulevard_bonne_nouve lle
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So he had them
arrested and they were thrown in jail for the afternoon - until finally some more
level headed officer came along and, understanding the situation, let them
go.
But we always accepted it as a badge of honor. Not
But we always accepted it as a badge of honor. Not
everyone can say that their revered father was thrown in jail in Paris!
I
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