Thumbing a ride home

[floydragsdale]

Thumbing a ride home.

Three day passes, most of the time, began on a Monday and ended at midnight on Wednesday. Usually, after basic training, a Soldier was off duty on Saturday and Sunday. Thus a three day pass, plus a two day weekend, gave a fellow five days to do something.

Home was only 180 miles away while I was stationed at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Bus and train scheduals were not always compatible with a Soldiers travel plans. So, in my case, thumbing a ride home was a good option.

Gasoline was rationed and getting a ride for any distance wasn’t easy. Many times, when a car stopped to offer a ride, the driver would say, “I’m only going to the next town.” (usually, less than ten or fifteen miles down the road) Nevertheless, I would gladly accept the offer. Something was better than nothing. There were times when I would wait fifteen or twenty minutes for a car or truck to go by; traffic was that thin.

Subuquently, twelve or fifteen hours after leaving Camp Atterbury I was home and would be welcomed by a surprised Mom & Dad. Then there would be three full days to enjoy the “old home town.”

Dad always bought a bus ticket to get me back to Camp Atterbury on time.

More than sixty-six years after the fact, I fondly remember those three day passes.

Floyd,
424th Regiment

[connie]

Floyd,

Thanks for sharing this memory. It fills in a lot of blanks for me. I knew there was a lot of hitch hiking going on with soldiers in those days.

I had no knowledge of the timing of the 3 day passes or that weekends were usually time off after basic.

This is interesting in itself and answers questions I hadn't gotten around to asking.

Thanks!
Connie

[floydragsdale]

There were instances when hitch hiking to your destination was more desireable than riding a train, or bus.

Because gasoline was rationed, the majority of people were very limited to how far they could drive their car. Most folks were allowed just a few galllons of gas per week. Consequently, they would use public transportation when going any distance.

One time, on a train, I was unable to get a seat so I stood in the isle for miles and miles. At last the conductor took me to the baggage car where he let me lay on a box (with a body inside) until it was time for me to get off the train.

Some people took their suit cases from the baggage racks so a Soldier could have a place to lay down.

At least when a Soldier was thumbing a ride, he didn't have to endure conditions such as I just described.

Floyd

[connie]

Floyd,

This is the kind of home front detail that history books don't have!

Interesting... to say the least!

Connie