Several years later we found the reason as to why the Russians held us over ten days. We were pawns in a settlement of what we now know as The Berlin Wall. It involved the exchange of Russian prisoners held by the Germans and the American and British held by the Germans. Also, all directions of what and how things were to be acted upon came from Moscow.

We landed at a small airfield, somewhere in France, an American base. The personnel there took good care of us. We were de-loused and had a good shower with soap. I believe Joe and I were almost waterlogged by the time we got out of the shower, and for the first time in seven months we all had clean cloths plus a few extras for changes. Then off to the mess hall and food. The first night of freedom we must have been very tired as I cannot remember what we ate, but I do remember being very tired and going to bed early. The next day, the 14th of May, we flew by C-47 to camp Lucky Strike near Leharve, France for processing and return to the USA. We signed in and completed two 5" x 8" cards, one of which was turned in and the other was our pass to wherever we would go.

Joe and I had been traveling with two fellows who had flown out of England and so the talk was to go to England and home from there. We knew it would be a long wait if we stayed at Lucky Strike, so we signed up accordingly. I was with Dave Castles and we were flown directly to the base he had flown from into combat. Joe and I had arranged when and where we would meet in London. We stayed at a Red Cross operated hotel and proceeded to tour London and the area around.

After about two weeks, about the first of June, we decided to check in for transportation home. We were sent to Southhampton to be assigned a ship for our trip home. Joe and the other two boarded ships and were on their way. The ship I was assigned to board was found in dry-dock for repair. I, and the others assigned for the trip, checked with the assignment section and found nothing available, so I took the next train back to London. After another week or two I checked in and made sure the next ship assigned would sail and this time I was sent to Liverpool with a group of about thirty and did board this ship and left on high tide.

The ship was of Canadian registry, the Empire McDermott, also known as a pirate ship. It had been only a cargo ship and was modified for air support to convoy ships across the Atlantic Ocean to spot submarines. A landing deck had been added with an elevator to raise and lower aircraft to and from the deck. All of us who were headed for Fort Snelling occupied the flight crew quarters. On deck, cabled down, were P-47 fighters. Our job was to retape if needed, as the planes were packed new and some tape would always come off. They gave us a supply but the tape only lasted a few days so we could do nothing more. The reason it was known as a pirate ship is that it was used to carry cargo plus the dispatch of cover aircraft. With this small group we had the run of the ship. The first night out the blackout was lifted on Britain and the reflection of the lights could be seen very well from the ship we were on. We arrived in New York on about July 23, 1945. A very quiet and somber group watched as the great lady (Statue of Liberty) came into sight. This was a sight that we had often wondered if we would see it again or not.

We were taken to a receiving center and the next day we were on a train to our point of induction which, in our case, was Fort Snelling, MN. On arrival at Fort Snelling we were given a ninety day leave and checked for immediate problems, like the tooth broken off by the buckle of my parachute harness. Arrangements were made to return in a few days and the dentist pulled the balance of my tooth out. After having been released over three months, I still only weighed about eighty pounds. It was very difficult for me to eat most of the time as I had so many problems. It was easier not to eat than feel so miserable. I asked for and received two fifteen day extensions but was denied the third and had to report to Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas. On arrival I was placed in the hospital for evaluation and to try and help my problems, but to no avail. I was discharged 9 February 1946.