The Green, Green Grass of Home

After one year and one day of Foreign Service, (and a much deserved 30 day furlough), Mike writes Mary and Mickey on July 19, 1945, in a letter with the following Letterhead:  S.F.A.A.F  Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  [War with Japan would not be over until August 14, 1945.]  "Here I am back in the army once again,"  Mike laments.  "Oh unhappy day.  That thirty day leave went by so quickly that it seems like a dream.  I'm sorry that I didn't visit you more while I was home, but there were so many things that I wanted to do and didn't do.  The time went so fast.

So far, we haven't done anything yet.  All we have been doing is having our records checked.  We will all be moved out of here soon.  As yet, I don't know where.  I have enough points to get out, but I am considered essential, so I will be in for awhile.

That send-off at the station was nice. [In a phone conversation with Jerome Rohaley on 6/11/14, Jerome reminisced about this send off of his Uncle Mike's from Union Station in Akron, Ohio.] I want to thank you for the things you gave.  Tell Jerome thanks for me too.

Hope you are all well and happy.  I'll let you know when I get a permanent address.   In the meantime, use the one on this letter head.

Love, Mike"

Mike's final letter home came to Mary and Mickey dated August 17, 1945 from Victorville Air Force Base, Victorville, California.  "How do you like the news of the ending of the war?"  Mike asks.  "Isn't it hard to believe?  I hope that it doesn't take too long now to get out.  

I'm in California now, and it sure is hot out here.  Of course, we are way out on the desert, but it is still hot.

Since I have been here, I have been to Los Angeles twice, and was in Hollywood last Saturday.  What a place Hollywood is.  It is really enchanting.  And more beautiful girls than you can ever see anywhere.

How's everything with you?  Haven't heard from you in a long time, but then you never did know where I was.

You can write to the following address:

813th B.S.

482nd. B.G.  VAAF

Victorville, California

Hope Jerome is feeling fine.  He should be going back to school soon.

Write.

Love,

Mike"

[Mike's flight record indicates he was transferred from Victorville AFB to Atterbury, Indiana AFB on September 10, 1945.  Atterbury was his final point of demobilization after Four 1/2 long years of service to this country.  How long Mike had to stay at Atterbury is uncertain.  A letter addressed to Michael J. Halaiko, 1st Lt. AC at 1549 Worthington Street, Columbus, Ohio, and dated 24 October 1945, is some indication that he was back in Columbus by October, 1945.  Did he have time to enroll in fall quarter?  Mike may have.  If he could have gone directly from Indiana on September 10th to Kent/Akron for a few days to be with his family, and then down to Columbus for the start of classes in the fall of '45, the answer to that question would be "Yes".  His record shows that he certainly was motivated enough to do that.  Mike's official date of separation from the Army AirCorps was November 4, 1945. Was it possible that GIs could return to civilian life before an official separation date allowing Mike to get enrolled for Fall, Quarter?   

On the other hand, Mike may not have had time to enroll in classes at OSU in the Fall of '45, and due to the time restraint, had to wait for Winter, 1946 to re-enroll as a Mechanical Engineering Student.  The answer to just when Mike retuned to OSU is a little uncertain.  One thing for certain can be said, however, about this time in Mike's life:  something else happened to him in January of 1946.]