Saturday, August 22, 2009

I left my heart in Pueblo, Colorado

Butler Family
Tom - Leona - Lou, Jr. - Jim - Lou, Sr. - Don
August 18, 1950

We took the trailer and returned to 1808 E. 5th Street. It was very sad to leave my wife and small children and go back into the service. Leona really wasn’t up to taking care of those four little boys (Lou, 3 ½, Jim, 2 ½, and Tom and Don, 1) by herself. We fixed a few things on the house and got Leona and the boys set up to live there while I was gone. She could be on her own, but close to my folks and with her folks not too far away.

Leona, 24 years - Lou, 27 years
Lou, Jr., 3 1/2 - Jim, 2 1/2 - Twins, Don and Tom, 1 year

Neither one of them looks very happy about the impending separation.

The night before he was to report to the Induction Center, Leona traveled to Denver with Lou. These pictures were taken outside the motel where they stayed.

She may have been sad, but still stylish. Check out her classy dress and shoes!

At the end of February, 1951 I was discharged and sent home. I received an honorable "hardship" discharge, thanks to Leona's efforts!

[Empty] envelope from Official Discharge Records
2-26-51



1 comment:

Emily said...

Grandma- this is so sad, I can't imagine how it felt to be alone with all those little boys! If it's any consolation, you look darling in all those pictures!