581st Radio Relay Company in Japan (1950)

5. 581st Leaves at Fort Mason, San Francisco, California

The ferry from Camp Stoneman unloaded us here at Fort Mason. Each of us carried our duffle bags, carbine and gear off the boat. They then marched us in ranks for a distance to the pier where our troopship the USS Randall waited for us. Fort Mason was the jumping off point for troops going overseas in World War II and then later in the Korean conflict. It would be many months later when I could again see Fort Mason on my return to the USA. I arrived back here on the 23rd of December 1952. With an Army band playing stirring music and a quick welcome speech, they marched us to a dining hall and fed us a most marvelous dinner of your choice, steak, crab, or fish. I felt proud of what we had done and that I had gotten home safely and had done my job in Korea well.

They next day they gave us 30 day passes to go home. I arrived home on the evening of the 24th of December.