In western Kansas we were sidetracked waiting for a passenger train to pass. We had been sidetracked so many times prior to arrival at that point that I had lost count. It seemed like the civilians who stayed home had more important things to do than a Troop Train loaded with returning Vet's from the Pacific. They had priority. A passenger train pulled up along side of us, also heading East, that had to stop for the West bound traffic, as did we. The Big 4 x 12 x 6, “Big Guy” engine stopped right by the landing where I was enjoying fresh Kansas air. I waved to the engineer and he waved back and we got to talking. He asked where we were headed for and I told him Ft. Levenworth. I asked him where he was going and he replied “Kansas City”. Jokingly, I asked him if I could come on board and ride with him to K.C. I told him I would help the fireman and he said, "sure hop on over". I cleared it with the train commander and tossed my bag out and put it on board and away we went. I shoveled coal like it was going out of style. I got to blow the horn at RR crossings and put my hand on the throttle. The engineer said if I could handle 4 throttles on a B-29 I could do this ONE. Of course it was on a straight-away. About 8.5 hours later I was getting off the freighter under the Independence Ave. Bridge in Kansas City, where I went up the stairs and caught a bus for Independence about 8 miles to the East. I had coal soot all over me and, being in uniform, I thought the bus driver might give me a hard time. He smiled and did not say anything.

I was too tired to walk home carrying my bag, so I called my Grandfather and he answered the phone. He said “stay where you are. I'll pick you up.” which he did in just a few minutes. Independence was only about 14,000 population then. Now it's 186,000.

When he saw me he started laughing his boots off and asked what kind of a troop train I had been on. I told him what I did and said, “It wasn't much cleaner than the troop train.” I spent my 30 days home leave in about what seemed like only three or four days.