Furstenfeldbrook Air Base - Korean War 1952

Story

The year was 1952, during the Korean War. At that time, I was in was the U.S. Air Force stationed at Furstenfeldbrook Air Base in Bavaria, South of Munich. In order to receive my pass, I had to tell the commanding officers where I was going and the reason why. The reason for my pass was to marry my beautiful fiancée Vera. The wedding was scheduled for September 9th. I was to return and sign in no later than September 24th. My leave started on September 1st. I went out to base operations and I was lucky enough to find room in an old AP 130 going to Tripoli, North Africa. The plane was taking airmen to Tripoli for gunman practice. That was all well and good, but I found out from base ops, that there would be no plane coming in on September 8th, it was coming in on September 9th, but there wasn't any room. With much worriment, I learned a plane would come in on September 3rd, and would leave on the 4th for the states. I knew I was very lucky. On the morning of the 4th, I was told that there was room for me. During the ride, the engine was sputtering and it needed a good fixing. We landed in Spain, and fixed all the repairs, and we were off again. We had our fingers crossed, because one of the engines blew out.

But while in Tripoli, I decided to go and see the sights. The shuttle bus took me to a market. All of the vendors were sitting cross-legged on the ground selling their good. There was also a museum in the market. I asked one vendor if I could look inside the museum, and he said yes so I did. It was dark in there and I was quickly surrounded by three locals. They started take jabs at me but I caught them off guard and fought back. After seconds back, I found an opening in the circle and I ran. I jumped over the vendors, since I ran track in high school, I easily escaped the triangle. I was taken back to the base when the officers heard of my story and others, they canceled African sightseeing.

On the morning of the 4th, I was told that there was room for me. During the ride, the engine was sputtering and it needed a good fixing. We landed in Spain, and fixed all the repairs, and we were off again. We had our fingers crossed, because one of the engines blew out. It was sputtering the whole time across the Atlantic. We landed at our air force base in Springfield, Massachusetts. I had to find a way down to Philadelphia where I was marrying my soon-to-be wife. I was told to get onto Route 20, and "thumb it". I made my way south to the New York Bus Station. I got a bus down to Philadelphia where my fiancé and her parents picked me up. Boy oh boy, was that reunion amazing. Seeing my lover for the first time in ages!

With days to come, meeting all of my old friends was fabulous. On the day of the wedding, Vera looked oh so beautiful. Our wedding was at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Doylestown, and the reception was at the Willow Grove Park Lakeside Ballroom. The