,,?9 ,,WOOD ,,WALLS

           ,,DAVID ,,PATN1UDE

     ,PUBLI%$ 0,H\<TON ,MI6L9 ,-PANY
            ,NEW ,YORK1 ,,NY
     ,COPY"R #BJJD 0,DAVID ,PATN1UDE
   ,FUR!R REPRODUC;N OR 4TRIBU;N 9 O!R
   ?AN A SPECIALIZ$ =MAT IS PROHIBIT$4

      ,TRANSCRIB$ 9 ,5GLI% ,BRL BY
           ,NANCY ,BAIRD ,BR[N
          ,"EGRE5 ,BRL ,S]VICE
            ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON


             ,9 #C ,VOLUMES
               ,VOLUME #C
        ,PAGES ;I-;IV & #BBA-CBF


          ,"U ! ,SPONSOR%IP (
  ,WA%+TON ,TALK+ ,BOOK & ,BRL ,LIBR>Y
            ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON
                  #BJJG
                                     ;II
























        ,,SPECIAL ,,SYMBOLS ,,US$   ;III
            ,,9 ,,? ,,VOLUME

@ 7#D7 A35T M>K





















                                     ;IV
























                ,,?IRTE5            #BBA

  ,W9T] FAD$4 ,M5 TRANS=M$ B>E /RET*ES (
DIRT 96BASEBALL FIELDS4 ,GAMES 2GAN--
BASEBALL1 S(TBALL--PLAY$ 0BOYS1 GIRLS1
M54 ,CR[DS ( P CAME J 6WAT*4 ,I PLAY$ (-
T51 ,MIKE SELDOM4 ,"S"TS ! GAMES 7 OR-
GANIZ$1 "S"TS WE J %[$ UP & *OSE T1MS4
,:ILE WE PLAY$ X 0 EASI] 6IMAG9E WE 7
\TSIDE ! F;ES1 AWAY F ! EMPTI;S ( ,TULE4
  ,:5 ,I WASN'T PLAY+ BALL1 ,I PASS$ MY
"T ) ,MIKE OR ,MAE OR ,PHILLIP OR "S (!
O!R KIDS F S*OOL4 ,OR 0MYF4 ,"S"TS ,I WD
TAKE MY J\RNAL & WALK1 OBS]V+1 ?9K+ AB
:AT ,I SAW1 ?9K+ AB ^WS4

  ,SPR+ TURN$ 96SUMM]4 ,! W1!R 2CAME
CL\D.S & HOT4 ,MIKE GRADUAT$4 ,6:AT8 ,I
TRI$ N 6?9K AB X4 ,! S*OOL YE> 5D$ = ME1
TOO4 ,I DIDN'T MISS ,MR4 ,M(FITT1 & ,I
DIDN'T RE,Y MISS S*OOL4 ,X _H GOTT5 H>D
= ME 6?9K ( "O )\T ! O!R4
  ,B N[ "! 7 M H\RS 6FILL4 ,KIDS 9 \R
BLOCK SP5T _! "DS AT ! BASEBALL FIELDS1
WALK+ 6! CANTE51 LOOK+ = %ADE1 SITT+1
R1D+ -IC BOOKS1 TALK+1 WA/+ "T4     #BBB
,MAE & ,I / DUG = %ELLS4 ,WE / PLAY$ M>-
#S4
  ,"S O!R GUYS & ,I =M$ A BASEBALL T1M4
,WE CALL$ X A T1M1 ANYWAY4 ,:5 \R BALL
FELL A"P1 ,I F9,Y BR"\ \ ! "O ,I'D GOTT5
F ,RAY4 ,SOON X 0 SCU6$ & DIRTY4 ,I
DIDN'T C>E1 ,I TOLD MYF4 ,"! 7 O!R BASE-
BALLS \ "!4 ,& "S"D ,I'D 2 A# 6WALK 96A
/ORE & BUY "O4
  ,AF SUND[N ! AIR COOL$ & WE PLAY$
HIDE-&-SEEK OR TAG4 ,OR W>4 ,ALW GD GUYS
& ,NAZIS4
  ,"S"TS "! WD 2 5T]TA9;T--A TAL5T %[1 A
D.E1 A SCRAT*Y-LOOK+ MOVIE AT ! MESS
HALL OR \TSIDE4 ,B MO/ (! "T ,I WDN'T G4
,MO/ (! "T1 ONCE ,MIKE GOT HOME F ! F>M1
,I WANT$ 6BE ) HM4
  ,WE'D SE5 LESS & LESS ( ,PHILLIP4
,HE'D TOLD U 8 P>5TS _H ANSW]$ NO 6! TWO
BIG "QS ON ! =M4 ,N[ !Y KEPT HM AWAY F
MO/ (! O!R KIDS4 ,!Y MADE HM GET NEW
FRS4 ,!Y KEPT HM BUSY ) ,JAPANESE-
LANGUAGE CLASSES4
  ,MAE & ,I 7 WALK+ 6! CANTE5 "O "D :5
HE CAME \ (A B>RACKS1 WALK+ T[>D    #BBC
U4 8,H[ >E Y DO+1 ,PHILLIP80 ,I SD :5 WE
GOT CLOSE4
  ,NO?+4 ,HE DIDN'T EV5 LOOK4 ,WE /OPP$4
,HE KEPT GO+1 EYES /RAI<T AH1D4 ,I WAT*$
HM WALK PA/ L A MUMMY4 8,PHILLIP80 ,I SD
6HIS BACK4 ,NO?+4
  8,DON'T BO!R1 ,JOE10 ,MAE SD4
  8,:AT'S ! MATT] ) HM80
  8,I TALK$ 6HM ONCE AF S*OOL GOT \10 %E
SD4 8,:5 NO "O 0 >.D4 ,HE'S N GO+ BACK
6REGUL> S*OOL 9 ! FALL4 ,8 P>5TS H =BI45
HM 6SP1K ,5GLI%40
  8,Y'RE KI4+40
  8,NO4 ,"! >E _M O!RS TOO40
  ,WE 3T9U$ ON T[>D ! CANTE5 :ILE ,I
TRI$ 6GET US$ 6! IDEA ( N"E TALK+ TO
,PHILLIP AG4 ,I CDN'T4

  ,SUMM] WORE ON4 ,ON ,JULY #D? "! 0 A
C>NIVAL ) FOOD & GAMES4 ,X 0 FUN1 A
*ANGE F ! "D-TO-"D1 A *.E 6HONOR \R C\N-
TRY'S BIR?"D4 ,B _M P /AY$ AWAY4
  ,A FEW WEEKS LAT] ,I WOKE 6HAMM]+1 !
S.DS ( MA*9]Y4 ,MOM & ,I W5T \TSIDE &
FOLL[$ ! NOISES4 ,!Y L$ U T[>D !    #BBD
F;ES4
  ,! SC5]Y 0 *ANG+4 ,CREWS ( M5 7 BUSY1
BUILD+ NEW F;ES4 ,"O 0 TALL1 ,CYCL"O &
B>B$ WIRE4 ,FAMILI>4 ,B ?IRTY OR =TY
FEET 2Y X A %ORT] WOOD-&-B>B$-WIRE B>RI]
0 GO+ UP4 ,O!R CREWS 7 HAMM]+ & SAW+1
PUTT+ TGR "S K9D ( WOOD FRAME"W NEXT 6!
,CYCL"O F;E4
  8,I H HE>D TALK ( ?10 ,MOM SD4
  8,:AT'S HAPP5+80 ,I ASK$ H]4
  8,TWO F;ES N[10 ,MOM SD4 8,NO-MAN'S-L&
9 2T4 ,M GU>D T[]S40
  8,:Y80 ,I SD4 8,NO "O'S GOTT5 \4 ,HAS
ANY"O "E TRI$80
  8,!Y >E AFRAID "S"O W40
  8,:O80
  8,NO-,NOS4 ,ALL ! P :O ANSW]$ NO & NO
F ! N9E O!R CAMPS >E 2+ S5T "H4 ,"S P "H
W 2 S5T 6^? CAMPS40
  8,NO-,NOS10 ,I SD4 ,:O _H GIV5 !M T
"N8
  ,! F;ES 3T9U$ 6G UP Z SUMM] WORE ON4
,GU>D T[]S TOOK %APE4 ,M SOLDI]S CAME 9
6MAN !M OR WALK ! P]IMET] ) _! GUNS4
,TANKS ROLL$ 9 & SET UP 9 ! >MY     #BBE
>EA ) _! CANNONS FAC+ U4
  8,DON'T WORRY AB X10 ,S&Y TOLD ME "O
"D4 8,? IS :AT ! >MY CALLS A %[ ( =CE40
  8,!Y'RE N GO+ 6%OOT U80
  8,"! >E "S UNHAPPY P -+ "H10 HE SD4
8,"S TR\#MAK]S1 PROBABLY4 ,B NOBODY'S
GO+ 6%OOT ANYBODY40
  ,I FELT BETT]4 ,B X 0 H>D 6IGNORE !
EXTRA SOLDI]S1 ! TANKS1 ! R1SON = _! -+4
,I WASN'T LOOK+ =W>D 6! >RIVAL (! ,NO-
,NOS4
  ,! H>VE/ 2GAN1 & ,MIKE CAME BACK F !
FIELDS TIR$ & DIRTY B ) LIFE 9 8 EYES4
,HE SAW BETT] ?+S 6-E1 ,I KNEW3 FREEDOM
& ADV5TURE1 A *.E 6PROVE HMF4 ,L ,TOM
,SAWY] MAK+ PLANS =A TRIP D[NRIV]1 PIC-
TUR+ HMF ON 8 RAFT1 FULL ( WOND] AT :AT
MI<T LIE >.D ! B5D4
  ,AUGU/ BLURR$ BY4 ,MOLLY1 ! GR&DAU<T]
( ,GR&"M'S FR ,MRS4 ,NOMURA1 LEFT CAMP
6G (F 6COLLEGE 9 ,ILL9OIS4 ,O!RWISE1 !
MON? SEEM$ M* L ,JULY4 ,B ,MOLLY'S L1V+
M1NT ,SEPTEMB] 0 NEXT4 ,& MY BIR?"D4 ,&
,MIKE'S4
  ,SEPTEMB] >RIV$1 UNWELCOME4       #BBF
,S*OOL />T$4 ,EI<? GRADE4 ,MRS4 ,B]G] 0
MY T1*]4 ,A NICE LADY :O LE>N$ MY "N !
F/ "D1 :O SEEM$ GLAD 6BE T1*+ U4 ,B H[
_M YE>S WD X 2 2F ,I SAW A R1L S*OOL8 ,!
"DS TURN$ D>K]1 BO? \TSIDE & 9SIDE \R
A"P;T1 ": ,MOM & ,GR&"M GREW M & M QUI-
ET4 ,I WD LOOK UP F "S?+ & SEE !M />+ AT
,MIKE Z IF !Y 7 DR9K+ HM IN4
  ,"O W>M AFN ,MAE 0 AT H] EMBROID]Y
CLASS1 ,MIKE 0 "W+4 ,I DECID$ 6TAKE A
WALK ) MY J\RNAL4 ,Z ,I H1D$ T[>D !
GATE1 ,I NOTIC$ O!R P GO+ 9 ! SAME DI-
REC;N4 ,F\R FAMILIES C>RY+ BAGS & BOXES
& LU7AGE4 ,?REE "Y M51 SMALL DU6ELS 9 _!
H&S1 WALK+ TALL4 ,TWO TE5AGE GIRLS C>RY+
SUITCASES1 SMIL+4
  ,I FELL 9 CLOSE 2H ! "Y M51 TRY+ 6MAT*
_! L;G /RIDES4 ,WE NE>$ ! GATE4 ,M P 7
ALR "!1 =M+ GR\PS4 ,AN >MY S]G1NT1 TALL
& WIRY1 %OOK H&S )! M5 ,I _H FOLL[$ &
O!RS /&+ NE> U4 ,>MY RECRUITS4 ,I ?"\ (
,MIKE4 ,I MOV$ UP CLOSE 6! S]G1NT )A
SU45 WI% 9 ! FRONT ( MY M9D3 ,HE WD TAKE
ME2 ,MIKE WDN'T H 6G4
  ,! S]G1NT NOTIC$ ME /&+ "!4       #BBG
8,YR LL BRO!R -E AL;G 6SAY GD-BYE80 HE
ASK$ ! "Y GUY CLOSE/ 6ME4 ,LL BRO!R8 ,WE
LOOK$ NO?+ ALIKE4
  8,NEW RECRUIT1 ,I ?9K1 ,S]G1NT10 ! GUY
SD1 SMIL+4
  ,I NO4$4 8,I'M ?9K+ AB X10 ,I SD1 L[]+
MY VOICE4
  ,! S]G1NT GR9N$ D[N AT ME4 ,I WAIT$ =
HM 6TELL ME 6-E BACK 9 SIX YE>S & TWELVE
9*ES4 8,YR MOMMA WDN'T L T1 LL SON10 !
S]G1NT SD4 8,B Y'LL GET YR *.E4 ,Y'RE !
K9D ( SOLDI] ! >MY'S LOOK+ =40
  ,:AT K9D 0 T8 ,I WOND]$4 8,I'M GD )
,MORSE CODE10 ,I SD4 8,QK & A3URATE40
  8,Y KEEP "W9' ON X1 LAD4 ,! ,SIGNAL
,CORPS W 2 AF Y L A TROPHY CATFI%40
  8,:580 ,I SD4 ,I _H BE5 =C$ 62COME A
PATI5T P]SON1 B MY NEWF.D PATI;E _H XS
LIMITS4
  8,:5 Y'RE R1DY10 ! S]G1NT SD4 8,:5 YR
MOMMA'S R1DY4 ,:5 WE'RE R1DY4 ,:5 ,"F
,"T'S R1DY40
  8,OH10 ,I SD4 ,T 0 TOO _M P 6GET R1DY4
,I WDN'T 2 TAK+ ,MIKE'S PLACE4 ,I W&]$
AWAY & SAT ON ! GR.D CLOSE 06WAT*   #BBH
! GO+S-ON4
  ,A C\PLE ( MON?S E>LI]1 TRA6IC 9 & \ (
! GATE _H BE5 L A SL[ DRIP F A FAUCET4
,F>M "W]S4 ,GU>DS4 ,GOV]N;T P4 ,DELIV]Y
P4 ,A FEW "Y M5 L1V+ =! >MY4 ,A FEW /U-
D5TS GO+ (F 6COLLEGE 9 ! ,EA/4
  ,N[ X 0 ALL ^? PLUS M4 ,?\S&S M1 ,I _H
HE>D4 ,"S ( ^! FAMILIES 7 L1V+ = HOMES
\TSIDE ! CAMP1 "S"TS F> AWAY4 ,I CD SEE
!M TRY+ N 6SMILE TOO WIDELY B N ALW SUC-
CE$+4 ,O!RS--^? :O DIDN'T H 6COV] UP
SMILES--W]E MOV+ 6O!R CAMPS 6MAKE WAY =!
NEW GR\P MOV+ IN4 ,NO-,NOS4 ,!Y 7 SUP-
POS$ 62G9 >RIV+ ANY "D4
  ,N[ M P CAME4 ,L9ES =M$4 ,C>S & BUSES
PULL$ UP 6WAIT4 ,SMIL+ FAMILIES GOT 9
C>S DRIV5 0:ITE M5 & WOM5 :O GREET$ !M )
M SMILES4 ,O!R FAMILIES WALK$ "? ! GATE
& UP ! ROAD T[>D ! HI<WAY & RAILROAD
TRACKS4 ,/UD5TS GOT ON "O BUS1 >MY RE-
CRUITS ON ANO!R4 ,C>S LEFT4 ,BUSES LEFT4
,=A :ILE ! 5TR.E 0 EMPTY1 ! S5TRIES _H
NO?+ 6D4
  ,9 ! 4T.E A TRA9 :I/LE S.D$4 ,! TRA9
APPROA*$1 *U6+1 SL[+1 BRAK+4 ,I     #BBI
WAIT$4 ,! >MY S5TRIES SU45LY W5T ON
AL]T4 ,"S W5T \TSIDE ! GATE & =M$ A L9E1
RIFLES ANGL$ ACR _! *E/S4 ,?REE JEEPS
FULL ( POLICE-CAPP$ W>D5S & TWO FULL (
IMMIGR,N GUYS ) _! FLAT-BRIMM$ HATS RAC$
PA/ ME & UP 6! GATE4 ,!Y PIL$ \1 ALL
BUSI;S1 GUNS & L1!R & S]I\S FACES4 ,I
FELT MY /OMA* RISE4 ,O!R P /OPP$ 6LOOK1
&! W>D5S TOLD !M 6CLE> A SPACE4
  ,"S"O 0 -+4 ,I ?"\ ,I KNEW :O4 ,BAD
GUYS4 ,NO-,NOS4
  ,! UNI=M$ M5 /OOD TALL4 ,"S PAC$ OR
%IFT$ _! WEI<T F FOOT 6FOOT4 ,"S F+]$ _!
GUNS4 ,!Y WAIT$4
  ,& !N ! F/ (! >RIVALS WALK$ 96VIEW4
,AN OLD MAN & WOMAN1 WEI<$ D[N ) BAGS4
,A FAMILY ) ?REE SMALL KIDS4 ,A C\PLE )
TWO TE5AGE BOYS4 ,N"O ( !M LOOK$ L BAD
GUYS4 ,M CAME4 ,LOTS ( OLD P WE>+ LO/
EXPRES.NS4 ,M FAMILIES4
  ,"Y M5 >RIV$1 WALK+ %\LD] 6%\LD]1
SWA7]+1 MEET+ ! UNI=MS' />ES4 ,SMIL+4
,FR[N+4 ,BLANK-FAC$4 ,B COCKY4 ,BAD
GUYS1 MAYBE4
  ,ALL ! ,NO-,NOS L9$ UP AT TA#S    #BCJ
6FILL \ PAP]S ONCE M4 ,A "Y MAN GL.ED AT
ME1 !N AWAY1 ! WAY ,MR4 ,M(FITT DID--,I
WASN'T GD 5\<1 ,I 0 "S K9D ( TRAITOR4 ,!
OLD P 7 DRESS$ 9 LAY]S ( W9T] CLO!S4 ,_!
FACES GLI/5$ 9 ! SUN4 ,WORN D[N1 !Y SAT
ON BOXES & SUITCASES :ILE !Y WAIT$4
  ,F9,Y X 0 "T = ALL ( !M 6G1 =! W>D5S
6H]D !M 6_! B>RACKS4 ,"O OLD WOMAN GOT
UP & GE/UR$ 6H] HUSB& B HE %OOK 8 H1D &
KEPT SITT+4 ,%E LOOK$ >.D ANXI\SLY4 ,%E
LOOK$ AT ME4
  ,I GOT UP4 ,I W5T 6!M4 8,WD Y L "S
HELP1 ,GR&"M80 ,I SD4 ,! OLD MAN PE]$ UP
AT ME4 ,8 FACE 0 C>V$ ) WR9KLES4
  8,Y D LESSONS80 ! OLD WOMAN SD1 GLANC+
AT MY J\RNAL4
  ,I SLIPP$ X 9SIDE MY %IRT4 8,I'M DO+
NO?+40
  8,PL1SE1 !N40 ,%E SD "S?+ 6! OLD MAN 9
,JAPANESE4 ,HE /RU7L$ 6HIS FEET4 ,I TI$
A BAG OV] MY %\LD] & PICK$ UP ! MAN'S
SUITCASE & "O (! WOMAN'S4 ,N[ %E _H ONLY
"O 6C>RY4 ,ALL HE _H 0 A SMALL DU6EL4
  ,WE WALK$1 TRY+ 6KEEP 9 SI<T (! MA9
GR\P4 ,B WE DIDN'T H 6WORRY4 ,A     #BCA
W>D5 0 LA7+ 2H1 KEEP+ AN EYE ON U4 ,MAY-
BE HE ?"\ ! OLD MAN & WOMAN 7 GO+ 6MAKE
A GETAWAY4
  ,MY BACK & >MS GREW WE>Y1 SW1T TRICKL$
D[N MY FACE4 ,_! B>RACKS 0 PA/ \RS1 A
L;G WALK1 &! OLD MAN 0 HAV+ A H>D "T
PUTT+ "O FOOT 9 FRONT (! O!R4 ,I /OPP$
6%IFT MY LOAD ONCE1 6GIVE !M A *.E 6RE/1
& !N WE 7 (F AG4
  ,F9,Y WE >RIV$4 ,A W>D5 DIRECT$ U 6AN
A"P;T4 ,A BLOCK MANAG] *ECK$ ! C\PLE'S
"NS--,MASAO & ,EIKO ,T]ADA--(F A LI/4 ,I
C>RI$ _! 2L;G+S 9SIDE4 ,MR4 ,T]ADA SAT
ON A B>E BUNK :ILE 8 WIFE LOOK$ >.D !
ROOM4 ,X LOOK$ J L \RS B EMPTI]4 ,%E
%RU7$ & SD "S?+ 6H] HUSB&4
  ,HE MANAG$ A SAD-EY$ SMILE4 8.,SHIKATA
.GA .NAI40
  ,I _H HE>D ! EXPRES.N 2F1 EV5 2F WE'D
LEFT ! ,:ITE ,RIV] ,VALLEY4 ,I KNEW :AT
X M1NT4 ,B ,MRS4 ,T]ADA TRANSLAT$ = ME4
8,M1NS1 ,8,X _C 2 HELP$10'0 %E SD4
  ,I GL.ED AT ! WALLS4 8,GOV]N;T10 ,I
SD4
  ,%E GR9N$ AT ME4 ,X 0 ,GR&"M'S    #BCB
GR94 8,YES40 ,%E F.D H] PURSE & TOOK \ A
WR9KL$ DOLL> BILL & HELD X \ 6ME4 8,=
Y40
  ,I BACK$ T[>D ! DOOR4 8,I C'T TAKE X10
,I SD4
  8,Y SAV$ U10 %E SD1 / R1*+ \ )! M"OY4
  ,I HELD UP MY >M & %[$ H] MY BICEP4 ,I
FLEX$ X4 8,I'M TRY+ 6GET /R;G]10 ,I SD4
8,= SPORTS4 ,?ANK Y = LETT+ ME C>RY YR
?+S40 ,I />T$ "? ! DOOR4
  8,:AT IS YR "N80 %E SD4
  8,JOE10 ,I CALL$ BACK4 8,JOE ,HANADA40
  ,I W5T HOME & TOLD ,GR&"M H[ NICE
,MRS4 ,T]ADA WAS4 ,I TOLD H] %E %D >-
RANGE A VISIT4 ,MAYBE %E CD ADD ,MRS4
,T]ADA 6H] LI/ ( FRS4
  ,B N ALL ,NO-,NOS 7 NICE4 ,2F1 EV5 ?\<
"EY"O 9 CAMP 2LIEV$ :AT 0 HAPP5+ 0 WR;G1
MO/ EXPRESS$ _! 2LIEFS QUIETLY1 !Y W5T
AL;G1 !Y HOP$ "T WD RETURN _! LIVES TO
NORMAL4 ,B _M ,NO-,NOS >RIV$ ) DI6]5T
ATTITUDES1 DI6]5T LOYALTIES1 & WORE !M L
BADGES4 ,& EV5 ?\< N"O 7 PUT 9 B>RACKS 9
\R BLOCK1 !Y 7 FREE 6ROAM ! CAMP1 H>ASS+
P :O DIDN'T %>E _! 2LIEFS4 ,I ?"\   #BCC
! FEEL+ AT ! CAMP 0 UGLY 2F4 ,N[ X 0
WORSE4
  ,MIKE KEPT DO+ 8 JOB AT ! F>MS4 ,I
HOP$ HE WD L X S M* HE WDN'T WANT 6L1VE
X4 ,B :AT !N8 ,! JOB WD 5D AF H>VE/1
SOON AF 8 BIR?"D4 ,8 EI<TE5? BIR?"D4 ,!N
:AT WD HOLD HM8 ,W9T] 2H B>B$ WIRE8 ,TWO
HUNDR$ *ILLY "DS ( WA/$ "T8 ,TWO HUNDR$
D>K NI<TS HUN*$ OV] A /OVE8
  ,"O NI<T AF SUPP] HE ASK$ ME IF ,I
WANT$ 6PLAY CAT*4 8,I'LL GET MY BALL10
,I SD4
  8,I'VE GOT A SPECIAL "O10 HE SD4
  ,WE W5T \ 6! FIREBR1K4 ,HE OP5$ UP A
BR1D BAG & TOOK \ ! SPECIAL BALL4 ,B X
WASN'T A BALL4 ,X 0 A HOCKEY PUCK-%AP$
*UNK (! BR9$ LIV] !Y S]V$ U TOO (T5 AT !
MESS HALL4 ,HE SLAMM$ X 6! H>D DIRT4 ,X
B\NC$ BACK UP4
  8,P]FECT10 ,I SD4
  ,WE TOSS$ X BACK & =?1 CLOSE TGR AT
F/1 !N MOV+ \4 ,:5 WE MISS$1 X HIT !
GR.D & C>OM$ (F 9 CRAZY DIREC;NS1 GA!R+
DU/1 : 5D$ UP--GR1SY--ON \R H&S & CLO!S4
,WE LAU<$4 ,P WALK$ 0GIV+ U         #BCD
LOOKS4
  8,WE NE$ A BAT10 ,MIKE SD4
  8,Y1H10 ,I SD4 8,MAYBE "O ( ^? /ALE
LOAVES ( BR1D WE _H = LUN* TD40
  ,WE PLAY$ UNTIL DIRT CAK$ \R H&S &
DUSK _H SETTL$ 9 & WE 7 TIR$ ( LAU<+4
,!N ,MIKE RAN T[>D ! F;E & LAUN*$ ! LUMP
( 9SIDES F> 96! AIR1 F> \ OV] ! F;E4
8,=! COYOTES10 HE SD4
  8,I HOPE !Y SURVIVE10 ,I SD4 ,WE
LAU<$4
  8,DOGS10 "S"O SD4 ,I TURN$ BACK T[>D
\R B>RACKS4 ,TW5TY FEET AWAY ?REE GUYS 7
/&+1 HALF-SL\*+1 H&S JAMM$ 9 _! POCKETS4
,MIKE'S AGE1 PROBABLY1 MAYBE OLD]4 ,NO-
,NOS4
  8,:AT80 ,MIKE SD1 /EPP+ 9 FRONT ( ME4
  8,DOGS10 ! TALLE/ "O REP1T$4 8,! :ITE
S5TRIES WAT* Y F _! T[]S & ?9K :AT PLAY-
;L FOOT-LICK]S Y >E1 H[ Y >E S GRATE;L
6BE "H40 ,8 FRS LAU<$1 =C$ & L\D4 ,I
LOOK$ >.D2 NO "O ELSE 0 NE>BY4 ,MY IN-
SIDES RUM#D4
  8,DOGS80 ,MIKE'S %\LD]S SQU>$1 8 H&S
CAME UP1 8 KNEES FLEX$ A FRAC;N (   #BCE
AN 9*4 ,I MOV$ UP NEXT 6HM4 ,MY LEGS
FELT WAT]Y1 SU45LY4 ,B ,I CD HELP1 MAY-
BE4 ,HE'D TAU<T ME A FEW ?+S4 ,DAD _H
TAU<T ME A FEW ?+S4 8,DOGS >E BRAVE & QK
& FI<T 6PROTECT _! HOMES10 ,MIKE SD4
8,HY5AS LAU< /UPIDLY & SMELL BAD & FOLL[
! /9K ( D1?40
  ,! SMIRKS ON ! ?REE GUYS' FACES 4AP-
PE>$4 ,!Y /RUTT$ T[>D U & /OPP$ A /RIDE
AWAY4 ,9 MY ?ROAT A FAT FROG EXP&$ XS *9
P\* UNTIL ,I CD B>ELY BR1!4 8,"! >E ?REE
( U10 ! TALL GUY 9 ! MI4LE SD4 8,"O ( Y4
,S :O IS /UPID80
  8.,TWO ( U10 ,MIKE SD1 & MY ?ROAT EMP-
TI$1 MY HE>T SWELL$4
  ,! HY5AS GI7L$4
  8,Y ?9K Y H X BAD "H80 ,MIKE SD4 8,Y
WANT 6G 6,JAPAN80
  ,! MI4LE GUY NO4$4
  8,!N Y .>E ! /UPID "O10 ,MIKE SD1 &!
GUY FR[N$4 ,! HY5A ON \R "R SIDL$ AWAY F
! PACK1 "W+ 8 WAY 2H U4 ,I HALF-TURN$ TO
WAT*1 B ,MIKE SEEM$ 6IGNORE HM4 8,JAPAN
ISN'T YR C.TRY ANY M ?AN ,ITALY OR ,POL&
OR ,G]_M IS ! C.TRY ( T S5TRY UP    #BCF
9 ! T[]4 ,Y'LL 2 LO/ "!1 TRY+ 6SURVIVE 9
! RU9S ( ,JAPAN'S DEF1T40
  ,I HOP$ ,MIKE 0 "R1 B ,I WANT$ HM 6%UT
UP4 ,^! GUYS W]5'T "H 6TALK4 ,MAYBE IF
HE DIDN'T MAKE !M TOO MAD1 !Y'D J G
AWAY4
  8,Y 2LIEVE TOO M* ( :AT Y HE>10 ! GUY
SD4 8,PROPAG&A F A GOV]N;T T TURN$ XS
BACK ON Y40 ,HE TOOK 8 EYES (F ,MIKE1
LOOK$ PA/ HM = AN 9/ANT4 8,Y NE$ A LES-
SON10 HE SD4 ,8 SMIRK CAME BACK4 8,N[60
  ,SU45LY ! GUY 2H U L1P$ ON ,MIKE'S
BACK1 8 =E>M W5T >.D ,MIKE'S NECK4 ,I
MOV$ 6HELP B ! GUY ON ! LEFT GRA2$ ME F
2H1 P9N+ MY >MS1 RAIS+ 8 FI/ 6MY ?ROAT4
,I FELT SU6OCAT$4 ,I RAIS$ MY FOOT &
SLAMM$ X D[N ON ! TOP ( 8 J Z ,MIKE TOOK
A QK /EP =W>D & FLEX$ AT ! WAI/ &! GUY
RID+ HM W5T AIRBORNE1 UPSIDE D[N4 ,HE
L&$ 9 ! DIRT )A ?UD &A GRUNT & AN EXPLO-
.N ( DU/4
  ,I KEPT /RU7L+ Z ! *IEF HY5A RU%$ AT
,MIKE4 ,B ,MIKE SIDE/EPP$ HM & GRA2$ 8
>M Z HE W5T BY4 ,HE TWI/$ X & JAMM$ X
HI< UP T[>D ! GUY'S %\LD] BLADES1   #BCG
=C+ HM D[N 6HIS KNEES4
  8,LET G ( MY BRO!R OR ,I'LL BR1K ?
FOOL'S >M10 ,MIKE SD 6MY GUY4 ,FLY+ HY5A
/ LAY ON ! GR.D1 GROAN+1 N LAU<+4
  8,TELL YR FR 6LET MY BRO!R G10 ,MIKE
SD 6HIS GUY1 PUTT+ ON M PRESSURE4 ,! FR
/ _H ME1 B ,I FELT 8 GRIP RELAX4 ,I
BR1!D DEEP & SWALL[$ H>D4 ,MIKE =C$ ! >M
HI<]4
  8,LET HM G60 ! L1D] GRUNT$4 ,MY GUY
SWORE & TURN$ ME LOOSE & ,I SPUN AWAY TO
/& NE> ,MIKE4 ,I FELT NAUS1T$4 ,"O ( !M
0 ON 8 KNEES1 "O ON 8 BACK1 & "O /OOD
HELP.SLY1 WAIT+ = ORD]S4
  8,GD10 ,MIKE SD4 ,HE / _H 8 GUY D[N4
8,2T N[ &! "D Y HY5AS SAIL (F10 HE SD1
BR1?+ H>D1 8,I DON'T WANT 6SEE YR FACES
AG4 ,IF Y CAUSE MY BRO!R TR\#1 ,I'LL F9D
Y4 ,!Y'LL S5D Y 6,JAPAN 9 A BOX40
  ,SIL;E1 9T]RUPT$ ONLY 0! S.D ( BR1?+1
HUNG OV] U4 ,A ?9 LAY] ( GR.D FOG MOV$ 9
"? ! DUSK4
  8,"U/OOD80 ,MIKE SD4
  ,! GUY ON 8 BACK F.D 8 VOICE4
8,"U/OOD10 HE SD 2T QK GULPS (      #BCH
AIR4
  8,OKAY10 ! O!R TWO *ORUS$4 ,MIKE BACK$
AWAY & /OOD SIDE 0SIDE ) ME4 ,*IEF GUY
GOT 6HIS FEET1 FLEX+ 8 >M4 ,HE &! GUY
,I'D BE5 DANC+ ) HELP$ UP ! O!R "O4 ,)\T
A ^W !Y LIMP$ (F 96! GLOOM4
  8,GD JOB1 ,JOE10 ,MIKE SD1 WIP+ 8 H&S
TGR4 ,I LOOK$ AT M9E4 ,MO/ ( \R GR1SY
MUD 0 G"O2 ,I PICTUR$ X 9 /R1KS ON !
,NO-,NOS' CLO!S4
  8,Y TAU<T !M A LESSON10 ,I SD4
  8,B H !Y LE>N$ "O80 HE SD1 & ,I REMEM-
B]$ ,DAD'S ^WS AB LESSONS4 ,I REMEMB]$
:AT ,MOM _H TOLD U3 ,6LOSE IS 6W94 ,7 ^?
GUYS ! W9N]S1 !N8 ,X DIDN'T FEEL L X4
  ,"S"O WALK$ \ (! %AD[ ( \R B>RACKS1 L
A <O/ "? ! MI/4 ,HE GOT CLOS]1 & ,I SAW
HE 0 TALL1 UNI=M$1 SMIL+4 ,S&Y4
  8,"Y CITIZ5S10 HE SD4 ,HE HELD \ 8 H&1
& WE %OOK1 ,MIKE F/1 !N ME4 ,A FAMILY
WALK$ BY1 LOOK+ AT U CURI\SLY4 ,": _H !Y
BE5 A FEW M9UTES E>LI]8
  8,I'M GLAD Y FELLAS 7 A# 6H&LE T PROB-
LEM10 HE SD4 8,I CD'VE /EPP$ IN1 B !N
:AT AB ! NEXT "T8 ,MAYBE ,I WDN'T   #BCI
2 >.D40
  8,Y SAW X80 ,MIKE SD4
  8,NICE MOVES10 ,S&Y SD 6,MIKE4 8,& Y 7
HOLD+ YR [N1 ,JOE40
  8,HE 0 TOO /R;G40
  8,?REE AT A "T WD H BE5 T\<10 ,MIKE SD
6ME4
  8,Y'LL 2 EI<TE5 SOON1 ,MIKE80 ,S&Y SD4
  8,TWO WEEKS40
  8,PLANS80
  8,! >MY40 ,! WAY ,MIKE SD X1 S SURE1
GAVE ME ! *ILLS4
  8,EV5 AF ?80 ,S&Y SD1 GE/UR+ T[>D !
B>RACKS1 ! S5TRY T[]S1 ! F;ES4
  ,MIKE NO4$4 8,? IS MY C.TRY TOO40 ,HE
SMIL$4 8,I .AM A "Y CITIZ540
  ,S&Y LOOK$ D[N AT ,MIKE'S FACE =A L;G
"T1 Z IF HE 7 TRY+ 6SEE 2H X1 SEE :AT
MADE ,MIKE "W4 8,WE--! >MY--CD USE W>RI-
ORS4 ,Y'LL MAKE A HELLUVA SOLDI]40
  ,T WASN'T :AT ,I WANT$ 6HE>4 ,I WANT$
,S&Y 6TELL HM HE DIDN'T [E ANY"O ANY?+4
,B ,I LOOK$ AT ,MIKE & KNEW EV5 ,S&Y'S
^WS WDN'T H MADE A DI6];E4 ,MAYBE ,S&Y
KNEW X1 TOO4                        #BDJ
  ,HE TOOK TWO ,BABY ,RU?S F 8 POCKET4
8,DESS]T80 HE SD1 HOLD+ !M \ 6U4 ,MIKE
TOOK "O1 ,I TOOK ! O!R4 ,MY F+]S TREM#D4
  ,WE SAVOR$ ! TA/E (! C&Y ALL ! WAY 6!
BA?ROOM1 ": WE TRI$ 6CL1N UP4 ,!N WE
TRUDG$ BACK 6\R ROOM :ILE WE TALK$ AB
:AT EXCUSE WE CD MAKE 6,MOM & ,GR&"M =
\R APPE>.E4 ,B !Y SEEM$ N 6NOTICE4 ,MAY-
BE !Y 7 US$ 6U LOOK+ L HOBOES4
  ,MY :OLE BODY / FELT %AKY F \R MEET+ )
! ,NO-,NOS4 ,B ,I _H "S?+ 6WRITE4 ,I SAT
ON MY BUNK ) MY J\RNAL & 2GAN4
  ,0! "T ,I F9I%$ WRIT+ ( ,NO-,NOS--BUL-
LIES--& ME--SC>$--& ,MIKE--BRAVE--X _H
GR[N LATE4 ,MIKE TURN$ \ ! LI<T & MY
FAMILY GOT 96B$ & ,I LI/5$ :ILE ,MOM
TALK$ 9 ! D>K ( H] "D ( SLIC+ OP5 A BIG
FI% 6CL1N X = COOK+ & F9D+ XS /OMA* FULL
( MA7OTS4
  ,I CLOS$ MY EYES & TRI$ 6SLEEP1 B MY
HE>T / P.D$1 MY E>S FILL$ )! NI<T S.DS (
MY FAMILY3 EV5 BR1?+ & UNEV5 DR1MS4 ,ON
! O!R SIDE (! WALL ! ,SUZUKI FAMILY
/IRR$ & C\<$ & MURMUR$4 ,\TSIDE1 <O/LY
LI<TS REFLECT$ (F B>B$ WIRE1 SOL-   #BDA
DI]S WAT*$ F T[]S4 ,I FELL ASLEEP &
DR1M$3 ,! ,NO-,NOS -E BACK1 W.D$ & MAG-
GOTY1 WALK+ ON ALL F\RS1 FANGS GLI/5+1
SN>L+2 ,I'M AL"O4
  ,I WOKE 9 ! D>K1 9 ! COLD1 SW1T+4

  ,0! "D ( ,MIKE'S BIR?"D1 HE _H ALR
MADE >RANGE;TS = 8 L1V+4 ,! >MY 0 EAG]
6H HM4 ,S&Y _H VOLUNTE]$ 6DRIVE HM TO
,KLAMA? ,FALLS1 ": HE WD TAKE 8 PHYSICAL
& 2 SWORN 9 & L1VE = BASIC TRA9+4 ,B N =
?REE M "DS4 ,N UNTIL ! "D AF MY BIR?"D4
  ,WE _H A "PY = BO? ( U ON MY BIR?"D4
,WE 9VIT$ ,MAE & H] FAMILY & ,JAMES ,ITO
& 8 FAMILY4 ,NO ,PHILLIP4 ,! ROOM FELT
CR[D$ B EMPTY AT ! SAME "T4 ,!Y SANG
8,HAPPY ,BIR?"D0 TWICE4 ,WE _H CAKE F !
MESS HALL & COLD SODA POP F ,S&Y4 ,WE
OP5$ PRES5TS F ,MOM3 CLO!S = ME1 /,N]Y &
A BOX ( P5CILS = ,MIKE4
  ,GR&"M GAVE U SMALL SMOO? /"OS ) ,JAP-
ANESE SYMBOLS PA9T$ ON !M3 8/R5G?0 =
,MIKE1 8PATI;E0 = ME4
  8,Y HAV5'T NOTIC$1 ,GR&"M80 ,I SD4
  8,:AT1 ,JOSEPH80                  #BDB
  8,MY PATI;E4 ,X'S IMPROV$40
  8,! /"O IS J A REM9D]10 %E SD4 8,= :5
PATI;E 2COMES A *OICE AG1 9/1D (A S5T;E4
,= :5 WE >E NO L;G] "U ! GOV]N;T'S
?UMB40
  ,I CDN'T WAIT = T "D4 ,& N[ ,I _H AN-
O!R R1SON3 6PROVE 6,GR&"M T MY PATI;E 0
R1L4 ,NO L;G] 0 ,I ! LL KID C.T+ "DS UN-
TIL ,*RI/MAS4
  ,MAE GOT ME A NEW P54 ,! ,O',BRI5S S5T
ME ANO!R COAT1 ,MIKE A ,SA9T ,*RI/OPH]
M$AL4 ,HE PUT X ON4 ,I IMAG9$ X JANGL+
AG/ 8 DOG TAGS1 "W+ XS MAGIC4 ,B WD X8
,H[ _M D1D SOLDI]S _H ,SA9T ,*RI/OPH]'S
IMAGE HANG+ F _! NECKS8 ,I 0 ?IRTE5 N[1
B SU45LY ,I FELT "Y] 9/1D ( OLD]1 ON !
$GE ( CRY+ L A BABY4
  ,MOM GAVE U TWO PACKAGES F ! UN"KN P]-
SON AG4 ,S&Y1 ,I DECID$1 B HE _H N"E AD-
MITT$ 6LA/ YE>'S MY/]Y GIFTS4 ,I OP5$
M9E3 ..,! ,ADV5TURES ( ,HUCKLEB]RY
.,F9N4 ,MIKE UNWRAPP$ HIS3 ..,! ,R$
,BADGE ( .,C\RAGE4
  ,GR&"M LOOK$ AT MY BOOK4 8,I "K ? "O10
%E SD4 8,M>K ,TWA940 ,%E PICK$ UP   #BDC
,MIKE'S1 %AK+ H] H1D4 8,W>10 %E SD4
  8,X 5DS OKAY1 ,GR&"M10 ,MIKE SD1 &
GAVE H] A HUG4
  ,HE 0 UP E>LY ! NEXT "D1 2F WE CD /RAP
HM 6HIS B$1 2F ,I 0 ALL ! WAY AWAKE4 ,HE
0 G"O 2F ! SUN _H CLE>$ ! HILLS1 2F TE>S
CAME4 ,I /OOD ) ,MOM & ,GR&"M & WAT*$ Z
A TAIL ( DU/ TRAIL$ ! JEEP \ ( CAMP &
4APPE>$4
  ,I FELT EMPTY B N HUNGRY4 ,I SKIPP$
BR1KFA/ & W5T BACK 6\R ROOM4 ,MIKE'S FEW
2L;G+S 7 PIL$ 9 A CORN]4 ,I LOOK$ = 8
J\RNAL2 X 0 G"O4 ,I WOND]$ IF HE _H "E
WRITT5 ANY?+ 9 X4 ,WD HE N[8 ,I GOT M9E
F MY DU6EL4 ,I F.D "S ^WS4









                                    #BDD
























               ,,"P ,,?REE          #BDE

,2H ?9 WOOD WALLS1
,FREEDOMS DIE1 PA/S DIM1 B DR1MS--
,DR1MS / RAM# FREE6

                ,,F\RTE5

  ,OCTOB] >RIV$4 ,! SUN 3T9U$ 6%9E1 B A
WEEP+ CL\D HUNG OV] \R FAMILY4 ,I F9,Y
GAVE UP ON A DIM HOPE T ! >MY WD S5D
,MIKE BACK4 ,HE _HN'T FLUNK$ 8 PHYSICAL1
HE WASN'T COLORBL OR T"O-D1F OR FLAT-
FOOT$ OR AFRAID ( L\D NOISES OR T\< S]-
G1NTS4 ,IF HE 0 ANY ( ^? ?+S1 ! >MY _H
OV]LOOK$ !M4 ,!Y'D SE5 ! FIRE 9 8 EYES4
  ,DAD 0 / A MEMORY1 FAD+4 ,8 PHOTOS1 9
: HE N"E *ANG$1 8 LRS1 YELL[+ ON ! WALL1
7 ALL WE _H ( HM4
  8,I'VE GOTT5 US$ 6,DAD'S 2+ G"O10 ,I
TOLD ,MOM "O "D Z ,I RER1D "O ( 8 LRS =!
HUNDR$? "T4 8,HE HASN'T BE5 "H = ANY?+40
  ,I EXPECT$ ,MOM 6GET ANGRY4 ,I 0 ANGRY
AT MYF = MY FEEL+S4 ,9/1D %E GAVE ME A
SAD SMILE4 8,X'S N 8 FAULT1 ,JOSEPH40
  8,MAYBE ,MIKE WDN'T 2 G"O IF      #BDF
,DAD _H BE5 "H40
  8,PUT YRF 9 8 PLACE10 %E SD4 8,F "T TO
"T ,I F9D MYF 4APPO9T$ 9 HM = 2+ G"O4 ,I
RES5T HAV+ 6FILL 8 %OES :ILE / WE>+ M9E4
,B !N ,I ?9K AB :AT HE HAS SU6]$4 ,IMAG-
9E H[ P[].S HE M/ FEEL40
  ,I TRI$ 6IMAG9E X4 ,I KICK$ MYF1 ,I
WANT$ 6KICK ! M5 :O 7 KEEP+ HM IMPRIS-
ON$4
  ,"! 0 A KNOCK ON \R DOOR4 ,I OP5$ X4
,MAE /OOD "! SMIL+ ) H] EYES1 TRY+ N TO
SMILE ) H] M\?4
  8,-E IN10 ,I SD4 ,! W1!R _H TURN$ COOL
& W9DY4 ,I FELT A *ILL4 ,%E SD HELLO TO
,MOM1 :O 9VIT$ H] 6SIT AT ! TA# & H TEA4
,I SAT D[N ) !M4
  8,:AT IS X80 ,I SD4 ,H] EYES D.ED4 ,%E
0 9SIDE1 B H] *EEKS / GL[$4
  8,MY FAMILY HAS A SPONSOR40
  ,MOM SMIL$4 8,WOND];L40
  ,I TRI$ SMIL+4 8,H[80
  8,! ,QUAK]S HELP$ U40
  8,": W Y G80 ,MOM SD4
  8,OREGON10 ,MAE SD4 8,A T[N CALL$
,ONT>IO1 L ! PROV9CE 9 ,CANADA40    #BDG
  8,:580 ,I SD4
  8,SOON10 %E SD4 8,A WEEK40
  ,A WEEK4 ,%E CDN'T /OP H] SMILE N[4 ,I
FELT MYF SMIL+ ) H]4 ,"S?+ GD 0 HAPP5+4
,& SAD4 ,BITT]SWEET4
  8,YR "F HAS A JOB80 ,MOM SD4
  8,A S]VICE /,N10 ,MAE SD4 8,& WE'LL 2
"W+ ON ! F>M ": WE'LL LIVE40
  ,A F>M4 ,A R1L H\SE4 ,A R1L S*OOL4 ,A
DAD :O -ES HOME E NI<T4 ,MY DR1M4 ,I
SIPP$ TEA & LET ,MAE & ,MOM TALK4 ,MAE'S
MOM CAME OV] &! ROOM FILL$ ) *ATT]4 ,MOM
WANT$ 6"K E DETAIL4 ,I DIDN'T4 ,F9,Y !Y
LEFT4
  ,I SAT "!1 ?9K+ AB ASK+ ,MOM :5 %E WD
TRY 6GET U A SPONSOR4 ,B ) ,DAD LOCK$ UP
& ,GR&"M A ,YES-,NO1 :AT *.E WD WE H8 ,I
PUT ON MY COAT & LEFT \R A"P;T )\T SAY+
ANY?+4 ,PATI;E1 ,I TOLD MYF4 ,I WALK$
UNTIL MY LEGS GREW WE>Y & D>K;S _H FALL5
OV] ! CAMP4 ,0! "T ,I RETURN$1 ,MOM _H
G"O 6"W4 ,GR&"M 0 WAIT+ = ME1 WAIT+ 6G
6D9N]4 ,MY PATI;E 0 G"O4
  8,:Y HASN'T ,MOM TRI$ 6GET U A
SPONSOR80 ,I ASK$ ,GR&"M Z WE       #BDH
LEFT ! A"P;T AT A SL[ %U6LE4
  ,%E TOOK MY >M1 MOV+ 9 CLOSE 6ME4 ,I
CD FEEL ! PRESSURE ( H] ?9 F+]S "? MY
COAT SLEEVE4 ,%E DIDN'T ANSW] AT F/1 &
,I LOOK$ OV] AT H]1 NOTIC+ =! F/ "T T ,I
0 TALL] ?AN %E WAS4
  8,:AT MAKES Y ?9K %E HAS N80 %E SD FI-
N,Y4
  8,%E HAS80
  8,YES40
  8,&80
  8,X W 2 DI6ICULT :ILE YR "F IS AWAY1
%E HAS LE>N$4 ,N UNEXPECT$ NEWS40
  8,ONCE HE IS ) U80 ,I SD4
  8,\R PROSPECTS IMPROVE40
  8,YRS1 TOO80
  8,YES4 ,I AM AN OLD WOMAN4 ,! GOV]N;T
MI<T DECIDE ,I AM H>M.S1 EV5 IF ,I AN-
SW]$ NO ON ! =M40
  ,WE 7 ONLY HALFWAY 6! MESS HALL1 LATE4
,P 7 ALR RETURN+ 6_! B>RACKS4 ,WE _H ON-
LY "O SPE$4 8,:Y DIDN'T ,MOM SAY ANY?+80
  8,%E KNEW T WE 7 N 9 A GD SITU,N4 ,%E
DID N WANT 6RAISE YR HOPES & !N CRU%
!M40                                #BDI
  ,MOM DIDN'T WANT 6RAISE MY HOPES1 B N[
,I FELT !M RISE A LL HI<]4 ,IF ,DAD RE-
TURN$1 IF ! GOV]N;T =GAVE ,GR&"M H] AN-
SW]1 IF WE F.D A SPONSOR1 WE WD H A *.E
= FREEDOM4 ,LOTS ( IFS1 B EV5 S ''' ,I
TRI$ 6PICK UP \R PACE A LL4 ,I SU45LY
R1LIZ$ ,I 0 HUNGRY4
  ,! NEXT "D ,I TOLD ,S&Y AB ,MAE'S
NEWS4 ,ON ! FOLL[+ ,SATUR"D HE ASK$ ME
IF ,I WANT$ 6GET \ =A HIKE 2F W9T] SET
IN4 ,I 0 R1DY 6G 2F HE F9I%$ 8 "Q4 ,I
ALM ASK$ IF ,MAE CD -E1 B ,I *ANG$ MY
M9D4 ,I WD LET H] FILL "S"O ELSE'S E> )
H] TALK ( FREEDOM4
  ,\R F/ /OP 0 A LAKE4 ,I 0 SURPRIS$ TO
SEE X 9 ! MI4LE ( ? DRY C.TRY1 & M SUR-
PRIS$ :5 ,S&Y TOLD ME X 0 ,TULE ,LAKE4
,I'D ?"\ ALL AL;G T :AT"E LAKE _H GIV5 ?
PLACE XS "N _H L;G AGO 4APPE>$4
  ,NEXT WE DROVE 6! BASE ( ,CA/LE ,ROCK1
": WE P>K$ ! JEEP4 ,S&Y KNEW ": HE 0 GO+
--UP4 ,H>D "W = "S"O :O 0 US$ 6DO+ A LOT
( SITT+--ME4 ,HE PICK$ \ A TRAIL & ,I
FOLL[$ HM1 SW1T+1 BR1?+ H>D4 ,I SMELL$
DU/ &! %>P P]FUME ( DES]T PLANTS4   #BEJ
,! HI<] WE GOT1 ! M ,I CD SEE4 ,I LOOK$
D[N AT ! CAMP1 ! R[S ( B>RACKS /RET*+
96! 4T.E1 ! B>B$ WIRE & GU>D T[]S & P
MOV+ F PLACE 6PLACE L RATS 9 A MAZE4
  ,WE HIK$ 6! P1K & SAT1 %>+ S&WI*ES &
C&Y B>S & ,COKES NE> A BIG :ITE CROSS "S
9T]NEES _H BE5 ALL[$ 6ERECT4 ,! VIEW 0
B1UTI;L B UNSETTL+4 ,9 "O DIREC;N1 CAMP4
,9 ! O!R1 M.TA9S1 =E/S1 & ?\S&S ( ACRES
( L& )\T F;ES4 ,B ,I CDN'T G "!4 ,MY
FAMILY CDN'T G "!4
  ,HALFWAY BACK D[N ! ROCKY TRAIL1 ,S&Y
SU45LY HELD UP 8 >M4 8,%HH10 HE HISS$4
  ,I /OPP$ J (F 8 "R %\LD] & LOOK$1 N
SEE+4 ,HE SNAPP$ OP5 8 HOL/] & SL[LY
DREW \ 8 PI/OL & ,I FOLL[$ 8 GAZE 6! OB-
JECT ( 8 ATT5;N3 A SNAKE4 ,EI<T FEET
AWAY A FAT SNAKE _H CRAWL$ \ ONTO A FLAT
ROCK 9 ! MI4LE (! TRAIL & COIL$ XF 9 !
SUN4
  8,RATTLESNAKE80 ,I :ISP]$4 ,Z IF 9 AN-
SW] ! SNAKE RAIS$ XS H1D & LOOK$ AT U &
GAVE (F A S.D ,I'D HE>D 2F ONLY 9 MY
IMAG9,N4 ,! S.D ( M>#S SPILL+ ONTO H>D
GR.D4                               #BEA
  8,BIG "O40 ,S&Y COCK$ 8 PI/OL & LEVEL$
X AT ! SNAKE4 ,B ! RATTL] DIDN'T FL9*4
,XS T;GUE SLIPP$ 9 & \1 TE/+ ! AIR4 ,X
DIDN'T "K AB ! P[] (A GUN4 ,B 9 MY IMAG-
9,N ,I DECID$ ! SNAKE 0 TOO PRIDE;L OR
MAYBE TOO A3EPT+ 6TRY 6ESCAPE4 ,= "S
R1SON ,I ?"\ ( ,DAD1 2+ L$ AWAY 9 8 PA-
JAMAS1 WALK+ ) 8 H1D HELD HI<4 ,P]H ?
SNAKE 2LIEV$ 9 ! ^WS .SHIKATA .GA .NAI4
,B ^? ^WS _H D"O NO?+ = ,DAD4 ,RUN1 ,I
?"\ 6MYF4 ,SLI!R AWAY4
  8,DON'T %OOT HM10 ,I SD 9 A L\D VOICE1
HOP+ 6W>N ! SNAKE4 ,X DIDN'T BUDGE4
  8,NO80 ,S&Y SD4
  8,HE C'T HURT U F "!40 ,I'D R1D 5 (
,MIKE'S ,ZANE ,GREY WE/]NS 6"K RATTL]S
CDN'T FLY4 ,I HOP$ ,ZANE ,GREY WASN'T
WR;G4
  ,S&Y GL.ED AT ME4 ,HE SMIL$4 8,Y'RE
"R10 HE SD4 ,SL[LY1 EYES ON ! RATTL]1
GUN / RAIS$1 HE B5T & PICK$ UP A GOLF
BALL-SIZE /"O4 ,HE LO2$ X "UH& T[>D !
SNAKE'S ROCK4 ,X HIT 9*ES AWAY & CLATT]$
6! GR.D4 ,! RATTL] T5S$4 ,!N X DROPP$ XS
H1D & UNCOIL$ GRACE;LLY & MOV$      #BEB
AWAY1 4APPE>+ 96! HILLSIDE'S CRACKS &
CREVICES4
  ,S&Y UNCOCK$ 8 PI/OL & HOL/]$ X4 ,I
TOOK "O LA/ LOOK AT ! =E/ 9 ! 4T.E :ILE
MY HE>T SL[$4 ,!N WE 3T9U$ D[N4
  ,LAT] T "D ,I MADE A J\RNAL 5TRY AB A
SNAKE ) DIGN;Y1 & ,DAD1 :O _H TWICE Z
M*4 ,MO/ ( ME 0 PR\D (! WAY HE WAS1 B A
SMALL VOICE 9SIDE ME WOND]$ :AT ?+S WD H
BE5 L = U IF HE _H BE5 DI6]5T--N A L1D]1
N A T1*]1 N H"O/ AB :O HE 0 OR :AT HE'D
D"O4 ,WD HE 2 "H ) U N[8 ,WD WE 2 FREE8

  ,ON ! EV5+ 2F ,MAE 0 6L1VE WE BR"\ \ !
M>#S & PLAY$ UNTIL X 0 TOO D>K 6SEE4 ,%E
DIDN'T TALK AT ALL AB H] L1V+1 ": !Y 7
GO+1 & ,I 0 A%AM$ T ,I _H BE5 J1L\S ( H]
GD =TUNE4 ,I WON "O GAME ON MY [N4 ,%E
LET ME W9 ?REE O!RS4 ,I KNEW :AT %E 0
DO+--MISS+ ON PURPOSE--B ,I ADMIR$ H[
CLOSE %E CAME1 & ,I DIDN'T SAY ANY?+4 ,X
0 H] GO+-AWAY GIFT 6ME4
  ,I _H NO?+ 6GIVE H] B A POEM ,I _H
WRITT5 ! NI<T 2F4
                                    #BEC
,R>E PE>L1 %>P%OOT]1
,DI7] ( %ELLS1 A SMILE T
,FILLS AN EMPTY HE>T4

  ,%E TOOK ! SCRAP ( L9$ PAP] & W5T 6!
CLOSE/ CIRCLE ( LI<T4 ,R1D+ ! POEM %DN'T
H TAK5 M ?AN FIVE SECONDS1 B H] H1D /AY$
D[N4 ,:5 %E LOOK$ UP1 H] EYES 7 WAT]Y1 &
,I _H 6TURN AWAY4 ,F/ ,RAY1 !N ,PHILLIP4
,& N[ ,MAE4
  ,I GA!R$ UP ! M>#S--H]S & M9E--& PUT
!M 9 _! SACKS4 ,I PE]$ D[N Z ,MAE CAME
UP 2S ME4 ,9 ! D>K ,I CDN'T MAKE \ !
CIRCLE WE'D DRAWN 9 ! DIRT4 ,X _H 4AP-
PE>$1 J L MY SMALL CIRCLE ( FRS4
  ,I WALK$ H] BACK 6H] B>RACKS4 ,%E T\*$
MY *EEK ) H] F+]S & W5T 9SIDE4
  ,A SMIL+ MAN 9 A SUIT >RIV$ 9 A DU/Y
BLACK ,L9COLN ! NEXT MORN+4 ,MAE & H]
FAMILY LOAD$ _! 2L;G+S 9 ! TRUNK :ILE "S
( U--FRS F ! BLOCK1 F ! ,:ITE ,RIV]
,VALLEY--HELP$ OR WAT*$4 ,X TOOK NO "T4
,!N !Y 7 9SIDE ! BIG C>1 SAY+ GD-BYE "?
! ROLL$-D[N W9D[S4 ,! ,L9COLN CREPT
AWAY1 EAS+ "? SMALL CLU/]S ( ON-    #BED
LOOK]S4 ,I WALK$ AL;G1 KEEP+ ,MAE'S FACE
9 VIEW Z %E LOOK$ \ ! BACK W9D[4 ,TOO
LATE1 ,I REMEMB]$ A PROMISE ,I _HN'T
KEPT3 6T1* H] 6:I/LE4 ,AT ! GATE ! C>
/OPP$ :ILE ! GU>D *ECK$ PAP]S & WAV$ !M
ON4 ,MAE'S FACE 4APPE>$ 9 A CL\D ( DU/4
,I T\*$ MY *EEK ": H] F+]S _H BE54
  ,MIKE'S F/ LR CAME ! NEXT "D4 ,X 0
%ORT--A HALF-PAGE ( 8 NEW /,N]Y--B ,I
MADE UP = X 0R1D+ X AG & AG4 ,HE 0 BUSY1
HE SD1 LE>N+ 6BE A SOLDI]4 ,HE'D BE5 AS-
SIGN$ 6! #DDBND ,REGI;TAL ,-BAT ,T1M1 !
ALL-,NISEI UNIT4 ,! >MY _H F9,Y LET !M
H& 9 ! TOY GUNS !Y'D BE5 ISSU$ :5 !Y >-
RIV$1 & 5TRU/$ !M ) R1L "OS4 ,! FOOD RE-
M9D$ HM ( ,TULE FOOD1 ONLY WORSE4 ,HE'D
MET O!R GUYS F ! ,S1TTLE >EA1 & :5 !Y
W]5'T TOO TIR$ !Y _H A GD "T TALK+ AB
HOME1 AB ": !Y MI<T G4 ,FR.E1 "S ( !M 7
GUESS+4 ,! RECRUITS F ,HAWAII _H -E UP )
! MOTTO =! #DDBND3 ,G = ,BROKE4 ,X M1NT
PUTT+ "EY?+ ON ! L9E4 ,MIKE MISS$ U1 HE
SD4 ,WRITE 6ME1 ,JOE1 HE SD4
  ,REGI;TAL ,-BAT ,T1M4 ,G = ,BROKE4
,IMPRESSIVE4 ,B ,I DIDN'T L         #BEE
,MIKE'S 2+ A "P ( X4 ,I 0 HOP+ = ,:ITE
,H\SE ,GU>D1 OR ,SPECIAL ,ASSI/ANT 6!
,G5]AL ,:O ,N"E ,L1VES ! ,/ATES1 OR
,REGI;TAL ,LATR9E ,T1M4 ,I 0 HOP+ =A
MOTTO L ,G = ,%ELT]4 ,B ,MIKE _HN'T JO9$
6D ANY ( ^? ?+S4
  ,I WROTE BACK1 TELL+ HM AB ! SNAKE &
,MAE'S L1V+4 ,I TOLD HM WE 7 DO+ SWELL4
,I P9N$ 8 LR 6! WALL OPPOSITE ! WALL ":
,DAD'S LRS HUNG4 ,X LOOK$ L"O"S 0XF1 S
,I CUT \ >TICLES F NEWSPAP]S & MAGAZ9ES
AB ,AM]ICAN FLI]S DROPP+ BOMBS ON ,G]MAN
CITIES1 ,AM]ICAN SOLDI]S W9N+ VICTORIES
9 ,ITALY1 & P9N$ !M UP TOO4 ,!Y MADE ME
FEEL BETT]4 ,MAYBE IF WE KEPT :IPP+ !
BAD GUYS1 ! W> WD 2 OV] 2F ,MIKE _H 6G4
  ,AF ,I DECORAT$ ! WALL ,I SAT D[N &
PUT "S ?"\S 9 MY J\RNAL4 ,!Y 7 ?"\S AB
BOYS GO+ 6W> :O %D 2 HOME1 PLAY+ CAT* )
_! BRO!RS4 ,!Y 7 ?"\S AB GO+ = BROKE4
  ,I CAME HOME F S*OOL "O "D 9 MID-
,OCTOB] & F.D ,MOM & ,GR&"M TALK+4 ,S]I-
\S FACES4 ,L[]$ VOICES4
  8,A F>M "W] HAS DI$10 ,MOM TOLD ME4
  8,H[80 ,I _H HE>D RUMORS1 B NO    #BEF
DETAILS4
  8,A TRUCK OV]TURN$10 ,MOM SD4
  8,B>E TIRES10 ,GR&"M SD4
  8,BALD10 ,MOM SD4 8,P >E SAY+ !Y %D H
BE5 REPLAC$ L;G AGO40
  8,"S"O %D D "S?+10 ,GR&"M SD4
  ,I PICTUR$ A "W] CRU%$ "U A TRUCK1 OR
?R[N1 HURTL+ \ & D[N1 L A ,CANADA GOOSE
%OT F ! SKY4 ,"P ( ME 0 SICK5$ Z ,I ?"\
(! D1D MAN & 8 FAMILY4 ,"P ( ME 0 PL1S$
T ,MOM & ,GR&"M _H BR"\ ME 96_! 3V]S,N (
GR[N-UP GRIEF4
  ,! NEXT "D AT BR1KFA/--COLD PANCAKES &
,SPAM--! MESS HALL 0 FILL$ ) P & TALK4
,I WAT*$ ) ,GR&"M Z F>M "W]S SAT1 Z !Y
KEPT SITT+1 Z _! ANGRY VOICES ROSE4 ,^W
SPR1D4 ,A /RIKE4 ,! F>M "W]S 7 N GO+ 6"W
UNTIL 3DI;NS *ANG$4
  ,& !Y DIDN'T "W4 ,=A WEEK4 ,T5 "DS4
,/RIKEBR1K]S 7 BR"\ 9 6F9I% ! H>VE/4 ,!Y
7 PD A DOLL> AN H\R 9/1D ( :AT ! REGUL>
"W]S MADE3 LESS ?AN A DOLL> A "D4 ,ANG]
SWIRL$ "? ! CAMP4 ,F>M "W]S4 ,NO-,NOS4
,I WALK$ BACK & =? 6S*OOL AL"O1 HOP+ !
BAD FEEL+S WDN'T SPILL OV] ON ME4   #BEG
  ,! SITU,N WORS5$4 ,! P 9 *>GE ( ,TULE
REFUS$ 6ALL[ A PUBLIC FUN]AL =! "W]4 ,ON
! F/ "D ( ,NOVEMB]1 ,I SAT \TSIDE \R B>-
RACKS & WAT*$ Z HUNDR$S ( P M>*$ PA/4
  8,Y /AY \ (! WAY10 ,MOM SD Z %E LEFT =
"W4 ,B ,I FOLL[$ ! NOISY CR[D 6! ADM9IS-
TR,N BUILD+4 ,?\S&S ( P 7 /&+ 9 ! COLD4
,A MAN GOT UP & %\T$ \ A SPEE* & R1D A
LI/ ( DEM&S4 ,*ANT+ 2GAN4 ,X W5T ON4
,SOLDI]S MOV$ IN--HUNDR$S ( !M1 >M$ )
MA*9E GUNS & RIFLES & BAYONETS4 ,"S ( !M
LOOK$ SC>$4 ,"S LOOK$ ANGRY4 ,ALL LOOK$
R1DY 6%OOT4
  ,I MOV$ BACK4 ,I HURRI$ 6\R ROOM1 WI%+
= BETT] "DS4 ,I REMEMB]$ ! LA/ "T ,I'D
SE5 ,DAD1 :5 HE TOLD ME N 6BE AFRAID4
,_H HE "E IMAG9$ ANY?+ L ?8 ,I 0 GLAD T
,MAE & H] FAMILY _H GOTT5 \4
  ,ON ,NOVEMB] #D? ,MOM CAME HOME E>LY--
2F SUPP]--F H] JOB4 ,!Y _H %UT D[N H]
MESS HALL4
  8,WE W /AY "H TN10 %E SD4 8,GOV]N;T P
H BE5 TAK+ \R FOOD & FE$+ ! /RIKEBR1K]S4
,P >E UPSET4 ,"! H BE5 FI<TS & ATTACKS4
,"Y M5 >E ROAM+ ! CAMP4 ,SOLDI]S    #BEH
>E "EY":4 ,I SAW TANKS MOV+40
  ,GR&"M %OOK H] H1D4 ,WE /AY$ 9SIDE4 ,I
FELT EV5 M L A PRISON]4 ,WE CD HE> MOVE-
;T & VOICES UNTIL LATE4 ,I W5T 6B$ HUN-
GRY4
  ,\R MESS HALL 0 OP5 ! NEXT MORN+4 ,B
_M O!R ?+S--COAL1 G>BAGE1 W>EH\SES--W]E
%UTT+ D[N4 ,! /RIKE _H SPR1D4
  ,I SAW WORRY 9 ,MOM'S BRAVE EYES4 ,I
FELT X1 TOO1 L A *ILL F L+]+ TOO L;G AT
A DRAFTY W9D[4 ,%E MADE ME /AY HOME F
S*OOL =A FEW "DS4 ,:5 ,I F9,Y W5T1 !
TALK 0 ALL AB ! /RIKE & :AT 0 GO+ 6HAP-
P54
  ,A CURFEW 0 ON1 : M1NT WE CDN'T 2 \ AT
NI<T4 ,WE CD B>ELY 2 \ DUR+ ! "D )\T
SOLDI]S OR W>D5S "Q+ U4 ,CLUBS 7 2+ 4B&-
$4 ,D.ES1 A?LETICS1 ALM ALL ACTIVITIES 7
C.EL$4 ,!Y DIDN'T WANT ANY"O GA!R+ ANY-
":4 ,&A /OCKADE--B>B$ WIRE & GU>D T[]S--
0 GO+ UP >.D ! JAIL 6MAKE ROOM =! L1D]S
(! /RIKE4
  ,! CAMP 0 NE>LY P>ALYZ$4 ,! BOREDOM
,I'D FELT 2F 0 NO?+ L ?4 ,"! 0 LL 6D B 2
SC>$4 ,"DS GREW D>K] & COLD]4       #BEI
,SN[ FELL4 ,WE SP5T M & M "T 9 \R ROOM1
DRESS$ 9 SW1T]S & COATS1 TRY+ 6GET 0)!
LL COAL WE CD GET4 ,I WANT$ M ?AN "E 6BE
\4
  ,LRS F ,MIKE LIFT$ MY _SS4 ,I P9N$ !M
UP1 AL;G ) NEW >TICLES ON ! W> 9 ,EU-
ROPE4 ,I 9SPIR$ ,GR&"M1 :O TACK$ UP >TI-
CLES ( H] [N NEXT 6,DAD'S LRS4 ,%E _H
CLIPP$ !M F ! ,S1TTLE NEWSPAP]S 2F WE'D
LEFT HOME1 & SAV$ !M1 L A COP SAV+ !
3FES.NS ( CRIM9ALS4 ,^? >TICLES & _!
H1DL9ES _H D"O Z M* Z ANY?+ 6GU>ANTEE
WE'D 5D UP AT ,TULE ,LAKE & PLACES L X4
  ,"O >TICLE TALK$ AB RAIDS ON 8,JAP
SYMPA?IZ]S0 9 ! ,S1TTLE >EA & ELSE":4 ,9
ANO!R ! H1D ( ,WA%+TON ,/ATE'S ,AM]ICAN
,LEGION SD ALL ,ISSEI %D 2 PUT 9 3C5TR,N
CAMPS4 ,AN >TICLE 9 ! .,S1TTLE .,"TS
H1DL9$ .,>R[S .,( .,FIRE TOLD ! TALL
TALE ( >R[-%AP$ FIRES NE> ,PORT ,ANGELES
DIRECT+ ,JAPANESE PLANES 6_! T>GET--,SE-
ATTLE4 ,:5 X 0 LAT] 4COV]$ T ! FIRES _H
BE5 />T$ 0LO7]S BURN+ SLA%1 ! .,"TS
DIDN'T BO!R 6RETRACT ! /ORY4 ,GR&"M KEPT
CLIPP+ & SAV+ >TICLES1 EV5 AF WE    #BFJ
7 LOCK$ UP4 ,H] FAVORITE 3TA9$ A QUOTE F
,G5]AL ,DE,WITT1 6EXPLA9 8 SUPPORT ( IN-
T]N;T3 8,A ,JAP'S A ,JAP40 ,GR&"M CALL$
HM ,G5]AL ,DIMWIT4
  ,?ANKSGIV+ CAME4 ,P PUZZL$ OV] :AT 6BE
?ANK;L =4 ,GR&"M 9VIT$ ,MR4 & ,MRS4 ,TE-
RADA 6\R ROOM = TEA & COOKIES4 ,!Y 7
GRATE;L 6BE ) U4 ,I 0 ?ANK;L 6H !M4
  ,*RI/MAS SLIPP$ PA/4 ,LRS CAME F ,MIKE
& ,DAD1 WORRI$ AB :AT 0 HAPP5+ AT ,TULE4
,I WORRI$ M AB !M4 ,I WROTE BACK T WE 7
SAFE4
  ,! NEW YE>--#AIDD-->RIV$4 ,MY WALL
FILL$ ) NEWS ( ,ALLI$ /RU7LES 9 ,ITALY4
,"O >TICLE TOLD (A BLOODY BATTLE AT A
PLACE CALL$ ,CASS9O1 ": ,JAPANESE ,AM]I-
CANS F ,HAWAII 7 MAK+ AN 8\T/&+ 3TRIBU-
;N40 ,AM;G O!R ?+S1 !Y 7 US+ _! BASEBALL
SKILLS 6FIRE GR5ADES AT ,G]MAN POSI;NS1
KNOCK+ ! ,NAZIS BACK ON _! HEELS4 ,I
PRAY$ =A QK VICTORY--IN ! BATTLE & 9 !
W>4 ,MIKE WANT$ 6PROVE 8 LOYALTY4 ,HE
DIDN'T H 6PROVE ANY?+ 6ME4
  ,! GOV]N;T RE9/ITUT$ ! DRAFT =
,JAPANESE ,AM]ICAN CITIZ5S 9 GD     #BFA
/&+4 ,: M1NT ,YES-,YES ,NISEI WD H 6S]VE
9 ! >MY EV5 IF !Y DIDN'T VOLUNTE]4 ,:
BR"\ M H>D FEEL+S & >GU;TS & TR\# 6,TU-
LE4 ,IF T 7 POSSI#4
  ,MIKE 0 / TRA9+ 9 ! ,/ATES--A PLACE
CALL$ ,CAMP ,%ELBY 9 ,MISSISSIPPI--B
IT*+ =A FI<T4 ,! -BAT T1M _H YET 6SEE
-BAT4
  ,! "DS GREW L;G] & W>M] Z SPR+ AP-
PROA*$4 ,P RETURN$ 6! F>MS4 ,! /RIKE _H
5D$ B ! CAMP TURN$ UGLI]1 ) ,NO-,NOS
GLOAT+ 2C !Y WDN'T 2 DRAFT$ & DEM&+ !
CAMP = !MVS4 ,I WD H GLADLY GIV5 X 6!M4
  ,A LR CAME F ,MIKE4 ,HE _H GOTT5 OR-
D]S4 ,OV]S1S4 ,HE DIDN'T "K ":4 ,B HE _H
A TWO-WEEK FURL\<4 ,HE 0 -+ 6SEE U1 6SAY
GD-BYE4 ,BITT]SWEET4

  ,I HUNG >.D ! GATE ON ! "D HE 0 6>-
RIVE4 ,:5 ,I SAW DU/ RIS+ F> D[N ! ROAD
&! D>K %APE (A BUS APPE>$ & GREW L>G]1
MY HE>T /ALL$4
  ,! GATE OP5$1 ! BUS GR[L$ "? X &
/OPP$4 ,I HURRI$ 6! DOOR4 ,TWO :ITE
SOLDI]S GOT (F--,,MP'S RETURN+ F    #BFB
,KLAMA? ,FALLS4 ,!N ANO!R SOLDI]1 "O ,I
H>DLY RECOGNIZ$ 9 8 UNI=M & CAP1 /EPP$
(F4 ,8 FACE 0 D>K & ANGL$ & OLD]1 8 %\L-
D]S _H BROAD5$4 ,B HE KNEW ME4 ,2F ,I CD
MOVE1 HE'D CROSS$ ! SPACE 2T U & SCOOP$
ME UP Z IF ,I 7 A LL KID & WRAPP$ ME 9 A
BIG BE> HUG4
  8,T'S ! LA/ "T ,I'LL 2 A# 6D T10 ,MIKE
SD1 & ,I GOT ? S9K+ FEEL+ 9 MY *E/ Z HE
SET ME D[N4 ,I M/ H GIV5 HM A WORRI$
LOOK4
  8,Y'RE GETT+ TOO BIG10 HE SD4 8,NEXT
"T Y C PICK ME UP40 ,HE SMIL$1 WIDE &
EASY4
  8,OKAY10 ,I SD1 AL? ,I _HN'T GR[N T
M*4
  8,":'S ,MOM80 HE SD4 8,GR&"M80
  8,MOM'S "W+10 ,I SD4 8,%E'LL 2 (F
SOON4 ,GR&"M'S HAV+ A LL TR\# WALK+4
,%E'S WAIT+ 6SEE Y 9 ! ROOM40 ,I LOOK$
AT HM4 ,A D>K]1 SMALL] V].N ( ,S&Y4 ,H&-
"S4 ,DA%+4 ,H]OIC4 ,?+S ,I'D ONCE ?"\ 7
IMPORTANT4 ,B SEE+ ,MIKE 9 UNI=M REM9D$
ME ( O!R ?+S4 ,YE>S ( N SEE+ HM4 ,F>-(F
BLOODY BATTLES4 ,D1?4 ,I %D H       #BFC
R1*$ ACR ! TA# ON REGI/R,N "D & *ANG$ 8
ANSW]S 6NO-NO4
  8,GR&"M'S S\R;S HAS SETTL$ 9 H] LEGS40
,HE PICK$ UP 8 BAG & PUT 8 >M >.D ME &
SMIL$ AG4 ,WE />T$ =! B>RACKS &=A MO;T
"EY?+ SEEM$ BETT]4
  ,X DIDN'T /AY T WAY L;G4

  ,MIKE 0 HAPPY 6HANG >.D ) U T "D &!
NEXT4 ,HAPPY 6/AY 9 \R ROOM1 G 6! MESS
HALL1 G 6,MOM'S "W S %E CD %[ HM (F 6H]
FRS4 ,G 6! CANTE5 ) ME4
  ,B HE 0 US$ 6FREEDOM N[4 ,ON ! ?IRD "D
HE DECID$ HE WANT$ 6HIKE 6! F>MS4 8,I
WANT 6PRET5D ,I'M N "U ! GOV]N;T'S ?UMB
=A LL :ILE10 HE SD4
  ,I LEFT S*OOL AT NOON4 ,I _H ? IDEA T
! GU>DS WD LET ME G ) HM4 ,A CRAZY IDEA4
,WE GOT Z F> Z ! GATE4 ,T 0 X4 ,!Y WDN'T
EV5 LET ,MIKE \4 8,N )\T AN ESCORT10 AN
,,MP SD4 ,I CDN'T 2LIEVE X4
  8,I'M 9 ! >MY10 ,MIKE SD4 8,SAME Z Y4
,I >RIV$ )\T AN ESCORT4 ,:5 ,I L1VE "H1
,I'LL L1VE )\T "O4 ,I'LL 2 GO+ 6FI<T !
W> )\T "O40                         #BFD
  8,SORRY10 ! GUY SD4 ,HE LOOK$ Z IF HE
WAS4
  8,:AT IF ,I PUT ON MY UNI=M80
  8,SORRY10 ! ,,MP REP1T$4 8,REGUL,NS40
  ,MIKE GAVE HM A LOOK1 &=A M9UTE ,I 0
AFRAID "! 0 GO+ 6BE TR\#4 ,B ,MIKE TURN$
& />T$ AWAY4 8,C'MON1 ,JOE10 HE SD4
  8,MAYBE ,S&Y C D "S?+10 ,I SD4
  8,S&Y HAS A BIG HE>T1 B HE'S A S]-
G1NT10 ,MIKE SD4 8,^? ORD]S 7 COOK$ UP
0"S"O )A SMALL M9D B LOTS ( BRASS4 ,S&Y
C'T D ANY?+ AB X40
  ,I DIDN'T >GUE4 ,MIKE 0 "R4 ,WE W5T
BACK 6! ROOM1 ": ,GR&"M 0 MAK+ FL[]S4
,H] F+]S D.ED "? A PILE ( %ELLS1 SE>*+ =
! P]FECT "OS4 ,I _H MADE X H>D = H]2 ,I
_HN'T GA!R$ ANY S9CE ,MAE _H LEFT4
  8,I ?"\ Y 7 GO+ =A WALK1 ,MI*AEL10 %E
SD4
  8,I *ANG$ MY M9D40
  8,OH80 ,%E PUT D[N ! %ELLS & GAVE HM A
L;G LOOK4
  8,!Y WON'T LET HM G10 ,I SD4 8,N )\T A
BABY-SITT]40 ,I TOLD H] :AT _H HAPP5$1
:ILE ,MIKE /OOD AT ! W9D[1 LOOK+    #BFE
\ AT DIRT & GU>D T[]S & F;ES4 ,%E %OOK
H] H1D & H] JAW SLID \ & SET4 ,I _H SEC-
OND ?"\S AB MY DECI.N 6TELL H]4 ,MIKE'S
ANSW] MI<T H BE5 BETT]4
  8,Y >E AN ,AM]ICAN10 %E SD 6,MIKE'S
BACK4 8,A .CIT-I-Z540 ,%E /RET*$ \ ! ^W
L A SNAKE UNCOIL+ & SKIMM+ ACR A W>M
ROCK4 8,Y H %[N :AT T M1NS 0JO9+ ! >MY4
,:O "KS :AT T DECI.N W CO/ Y80
  8,X'S GO+ 6CO/ .!M10 ,MIKE SD1 TURN+
T[>D U4 8,! ,NAZIS W PAY40
  8,& :O ELSE80 ,GR&"M SD4 ,I CDN'T HELP
WOND]+ AL;G ) H]4 ,:O ELSE8 ,! "Q TOOK
MY BR1? AWAY4
  ,MIKE SIDE/EPP$ X )A %RUG4 8,DON'T
WORRY40
  ,B ,I DID WORRY4 ,I ESCAP$ 6MY J\RNAL4
,I WROTE AB ! WAY ,MIKE LOOK$ 9 8 UNI=M1
& F;ES1 & ,S&Y1 & L;G-AGO TRA9S4 ,I
WROTE AB A WI%3 ,MIKE & ,S&Y GO+ 6W>
TGR4 ,I A4$ A POEM4

,A LOYAL HE>T B1TS1
,UNSE51 2N KHAKI SK94
,C N"O HE> X S+8                    #BFF

  ,! NEXT "D ,S&Y TOOK U "? ! GATE4 ,HE
DROVE U 6": HE & ,I _H G"O 2F3 ,TULE
,LAKE1 ,CA/LE ,ROCK4 ,WE WALK$ ! SAME
TRAIL1 B X WASN'T ! SAME4 ,MIKE TOOK X
ALL IN1 B HE 0 QUIET4 ,& ,I WASN'T M*
-PANY4 ,MY M9D 0 ALR ON 8 L1V+4 ,:5 WE
GOT 6! TOP1 HE W&]$ (F 0HMF & SAT D[N ON
A SLAB ( /"O & />$ (F T[>D ! TREES &
,M.T ,%A/A 9 ! 4T.E Z IF WE W]5'T "!4
  8,I H 6BE GO+ SOON1 TOO10 ,S&Y TOLD
ME4
  8,":80
  8,! W>4 ,!Y FIGURE ,I'VE SE5 5 ( ?
"O40
  8,Y'LL H 6FI<T80
  8,X'S :Y ,I JO9$40
  8,C Y G ": ,MIKE GOES8 ,LOOK AF HM1
K9D (80
  8,I'D L TO1 ,JOE4 ,B ,I'VE GOT NO SAY4
,& ,I DON'T "K ": ,MIKE'S GO+1 B ,I'M
GUESS+ ,EUROPE4 ,I'M H1D+ 9 ! O!R DIREC-
;N40
  8,6FI<T ,JAPAN80
  ,S&Y NO4$4                        #BFG
  8,& ,MIKE W 2 FI<T+ ! ,NAZIS80
  8,HE'S A T\< GUY4 ,I WDN'T WANT 6BE 9
_! BOOTS40
  ,S&Y 0 "R4 ,MIKE 0 T\<4 ,B DID T MATT]
6A BULLET8
  ,WE />T$ BACK D[N4 ,I TOOK ! L1D1
LOOK+ = SNAKES1 HOP+ = "S?+ 6*ANGE !
FEEL+ 9 ! AIR1 9 ME4 ,B "! 7 NO SNAKES4
,NO?+ *ANG$4
  ,:5 ,I LEFT = S*OOL ! NEXT "D ,MIKE 0
/ 9 B$4 ,:5 ,I GOT BACK HE 0 WAIT+ \T-
SIDE = ME4 ,HE _H MY BASEBALL &A C\PLE (
OLD BATT]$ GLOVES HE'D BORR[$ F "O ( \R
NEI<BORS4 ,WE TOSS$ ! BALL BACK & =?1
W>M+ UP1 MOV+ F>!R & F>!R A"P1 ?R[+ H>D]
& H>D]4 ,! BALL /UNG MY H& "? ! ?9 L1!R1
B ,I DIDN'T -PLA91 ,I DIDN'T WANT 6QUIT4
  ,:5 WE F9,Y DID1 ,I W5T 9 & GOT MY M>-
#S4 ,WE F.D A SPOT 9 ! %ADE ": ,MAE & ,I
_H PLAY$ A ?\S& GAMES1 B "! WASN'T A
TRACE ( U LEFT 9 ! S(T DIRT4 ,I DREW A
CIRCLE & WE DIVVI$ UP ! M>#S4 ,I LET
,MIKE H ! "OS ,RAY _H GIV5 ME1 B !Y
W]5'T MAGIC1 & HE 0 RU/Y4 ,I B1T HM F\R
/RAI<T4 ,HE DIDN'T SEEM 6M9D1       #BFH
?\<4 ,HE 3C5TRAT$ H>D] & $G$ ME 9 ! FIF?
GAME & ,I 0 GLAD4 ,IF ,I'D LET HM W91 HE
WD H GUESS$ X4
  ,MOM RETURN$ F "W4 ,WE W5T 6SUPP]4 ,:5
WE CAME BACK 6\R ROOM1 ,MIKE _H AN AN-
N\NCE;T3 ,HE WASN'T GO+ 6/AY Z L;G Z
HE'D PLANN$4 ,HE 0 L1V+ ! NEXT "D4 ,HE
LOV$ U1 HE SD1 B HE J _H 6L1VE4
  ,I DIDN'T H 6ASK :Y4 ,I "U/OOD H[ X M/
FEEL 6H "S FREEDOM AG & !N H X TORN
AWAY4 ,ONCE HE'D TOLD U1 & WE'D ALL /OOD
9 ! MI4LE (! LL ROOM & HELD EA* O!R1 &
HE'D G"O \TSIDE = "S AIR1 ,GR&"M SUMM$ X
UP4 8,GOV]N;T10 %E SD4
  8,V]M910 ,MOM SD4 ,I SMIL$ "? MY TE>S4









                ,,FIFTE5            #BFI

  ,:5 ,I WOKE UP ! NEXT MORN+1 ,MIKE 0 9
8 UNI=M1 SITT+ ON ! $GE ( 8 COT1 LOOK+
AT ME4 ,MOM /OOD NE> ! DOOR1 H] H&S
CLASP$ 9 FRONT ( H]1 Z IF %E DIDN'T "K
:AT ELSE 6D ) !M4 ,%E 0 WAIT+4 ,I ?"\ (!
O!R %OE4 ,GR&"M SAT AT ! TA#1 R1D+ !
.,SAN .,FRANCISCO .,*RONICLE4
  8,I'VE GOTTA G1 ,JOE40
  8,:580
  8,N[4 ,E>LY BUS40
  8,"S P >E PREDICT+ AN ,ALLI$ 9VA.N
SOON10 ,GR&"M SD1 EYES ON ! PAP]4
8,FR.E1 POSSIBLY4 ,A *.E =! ,NAZIS 6LOOK
D1? 9 ! FACE40 ,I KNEW :AT %E 0 DO+4 ,I
DIDN'T WANT 6?9K AB :AT 0 HAPP5+ "R "H1
9 ? ROOM1 EI4
  8,MAYBE !Y WON'T L XS LOOKS10 ,MOM SD4
  ,GR&"M GL.ED AT ,MIKE4 8,MAYBE !Y W
SURR5D]40
  8,I HOPE ,I'M "! 6SEE X10 HE SD4 ,HE
/OOD1 PUT ON 8 CAP1 GRA2$ 8 BAG4
  ,MOM PUT H] >MS >.D HM4 8,WE WD LOVE Y
6/AY L;G]40 ,%E _H BE5 /R;G1 ALW4 ,N[ H]
FACE--A *'S--BE7$ HM 6RECONSID]4    #BGJ
  ,HE SMIL$1 WET-EY$4 8,I C'T1 ,MOM40
  8,NO10 %E SD4 ,%E LET HM G & HE B5T &
HU7$ ,GR&"M4
  ,0! "T HE GOT 6! DOOR ,I 0 \ ( B$ & 9
MY PANTS & %IRT4 ,I W$G$ ON MY %OES &
CAU<T UP 6HM4 8,I'LL WALK ) Y10 ,I SD4
,I WANT$ 6SEE HM =A :ILE L;G]4 ,I WANT$
6L1VE ,MOM'S BRAVE1 SAD FACE 2H4
  ,HE NO4$ & GAVE ,MOM & ,GR&"M A LL SA-
LUTE & WE /EPP$ 96! COOL MORN+ AIR4 ,WE
H1D$ =! GATE1 ,MIKE WALK+ TALL4 ,I FELT
TALL] TOO1 J WALK+ 2S HM4 ,P 7 LOOK+ AT
U1 SMIL+1 NO4+1 WI%+ HM GD LUCK4 ,AN OLD
MAN SD "S?+ 6HM 9 ,JAPANESE & ,MIKE SD1
8,?ANK Y1 ,GR&"F40
  8,WRITE 6U1 ,MI*AEL10 ,MOM CALL$1 & HE
TURN$ BACK & GAVE H] A ?UMBS-UP4 ,GR&"M
/OOD NEXT 6H]1 A H&K]*IEF AT H] FACE4
,%E (F]$ X 6,MOM1 :O %OOK H] H1D4 ,%E
WIP$ AT H] *EEK )! BACK ( H] H&4
  ,! BUS 0 WAIT+1 XS 5G9E MUTT]+ & EX-
HAL+ BLUE EXHAU/4 ,! DRIV] CLIMB$ ON1
GL.ED AT 8 WAT*1 & GAVE ,MIKE A LOOK4 ,X
0 "T4 ,MIKE HU7$ ME TI<T1 LIFT+ ME (F !
GR.D ONCE M4 ,!N HE 0 UP ! /EPS &   #BGA
\ ( SI<T4 ,I WAIT$ = HM 6APPE> AT "O (!
W9D[S B HE M/ H SAT ON ! O!R SIDE1 ": ,I
CDN'T SEE HM4 ,I DIDN'T G *ECK4 ,I _H
TE>S 9 MY EYES4 ,MAYBE HE DID1 TOO4
  ,I W5T BACK 6\R ROOM4 ,MOM & ,GR&"M 7
BO? G"O4 ,S*OOL CD WAIT4 ,I GOT \ MY
J\RNAL & ?"\ AB ,MIKE4 ,I WROTE ( 8 L1V+
E>LY 2C /AY+ 0 TOO PA9;L4 ,I WROTE (
,MOM'S EYES MELT+ L WAX4
  ,! "D FELT EMPTY UNTIL ,I W5T 6\R
BLOCK MANAG] 6*ECK = MAIL4 ,A LR _H >-
RIV$ F ,MAE4 ,! P 9 ,ONT>IO 7 MO/LY NICE
--,JAPANESE & NON-,JAPANESE4 ,! >EA 0
DRY & HOT--N L ,S1TTLE--B !Y _H A H\SE
6LIVE IN2 H] "F _H A JOB4 ,%E _H MADE A
FR--A ,JAPANESE ,AM]ICAN GIRL--& ,MAE 0
TRY+ 6T1* H] 6PLAY M>#S4 8,B X ISN'T !
SAME10 ,MAE SD4 8,I DON'T MISS ,TULE
,LAKE1 B ,I MISS Y40 ,I R1D ^? ^WS OV] &
OV]4 ,%E SD %E HOP$ MY FAMILY WD AL GET
SPONSOR$ 0"S"O 9 ,ONT>IO4 ,%E 0 TALK+ )
H] P>5TS AB X4
  ,! IDEA S.D$ GD 6ME1 AL? ,I CDN'T SEE
X "W+ SOON4 ,GR&"M MAY H BE5 "R3 ,%E 0
OLD2 MAYBE ! GOV]N;T WD 3SID] H]    #BGB
H>M.S4 ,B / %E 0 A ,YES-,NO & ,DAD 0 A
PRISON]1 A ?R1T4
  ,B MAYBE ,MIKE WD BAL.E (F AT L1/ "O (
^?4 ,I %ELV$ ! ?"\ 9 ! BACK ( MY BRA91
": ,I KEPT MO/ ( MY HOPES4 ,I _HN'T GIV5
UP ON !M1 B X DIDN'T D ME ANY GD 6H !M
UP FRONT1 ": !Y MI<T GET 9 ! WAY ( R1L
LIFE4 ,I _H BE5 AWAY F HOME1 LOCK$ UP1 =
TWO YE>S ALR4 ,I WASN'T GO+ 6HOLD MY
BR1? WAIT+ = "S?+ GD 6HAPP54
  ,AF S*OOL ,I TOSS$ >.D ! BASEBALL )A
C\PLE ( "Y] BOYS F ! NEXT B>RACKS4 ,!N
,I DUG A BAG ( %ELLS = ,GR&"M4 ,%E 0
SP5D+ ! AFN AL"O 9 \R ROOM1 FILL+ X )
SI<S4 ,I WD GIVE H] "S?+ 6D4 ,%E 0
PL1S$2 %E SD %E WD TAKE A GIFT ( FL[]S
6,MRS4 ,T]ADA4
  ,T NI<T ,I _H A H>D "T SLEEP+4 ,"S"T
LATE OR E>LY--! ROOM 0 MIDNI<T-D>K--,I
WOKE 6A NOISE4 ,! CLICK (A LAT*1 A DOOR
OP5+1 CLOS+ AG4 ,MOM OR ,GR&"M1 ,I DE-
CID$1 GO+ 6! BA?ROOM1 -+ BACK4 ,B ,I
PE]$ T[>D _! COTS & EV5 9 ! D>K ,I CD
SEE _! \TL9ES1 MO;N.S EXCEPT =! PU% &
PULL ( _! BR1?+4 ,I LOOK$ T[>D !    #BGC
DOOR4 ,_H "S"O BE5 9 ! ROOM8 ,7 !Y / "H8
,_H ,I DR1M$ X8
  ,9 FRONT (! DOOR 0 A %APE1 /&+1 MOV+1
TURN+ 9 "O DIREC;N !N ANO!R4 ,I DIDN'T
"K :AT 6D4 ,KEEP QUIET8 ,YELL8 ,:AT WD
,MIKE D8 ,L1P UP1 MY HE>T 0 TELL+ ME1 B
,I DIDN'T D T EI4 ,I LAY "!1 FROZ51 Z !
=M--A MAN1 ,I DECID$--MOV$ AWAY F ! DOOR
& APPROA*$ \R COTS4
  ,WALK+ S.D.SLY1 HE CAME CLOS]1 PAUS$1
!N VE]$ T[>D ME4 ,I CLOS$ MY EYES4 ,:AT
CD HE WANT8
  ,I SMELL$ "S?+4 ,FAMILI>1 B N FAMILI>
9 ? ROOM4 ,%AV+ LO;N4 ,OLD ,SPICE4 ,:AT
0 ,S&Y DO+ "H8 ,_H HE -E 6SAY GD-BYE8 ,B
,S&Y WDN'T SN1K 96\R ROOM 9 ! MI4LE (!
NI<T4
  ,I FELT F+]S--N ,S&Y'S SAUSAGE-SIZE
"OS--ON MY *EEK4 ,I TRI$ N 6FL9*4 ,NEXT
WD !Y MOVE 6MY NECK8 ,I HE>D ! MAN MAKE
A S(T NOISE 9 8 ?ROAT--A SOB--& ,I S5S$
HM L[]+ HMF1 CR\*+ NEXT 6ME4
  ,SU45LY A DAM BUR/ 9 ! BACK ( MY BRA94
,A WALL ( HOPE SURG$ PA/ X4 8,DAD80 ,I
SD4                                 #BGD
  ,8 >MS W5T >.D ME1 M9E >.D HM1 \R
*EEKS CAME TGR1 WET4 8,YES10 HE SD1
LIFT+ ME1 /&+1 HOLD+ ME (F ! FLOOR4
8,YES1 MY BIG SON60
  8,DAD60 ,I %\T$4 ,! LI<T W5T ON1 ,MOM
& ,GR&"M HURRI$ 6U & WRAPP$ _! >MS >.D U
& WE /OOD1 HOLD+ ON 9 ! MI4LE ( \R UGLY
LL ROOM T 9/ANTLY LOOK$ B1UTI;L 6ME4
,TE>S FELL L W>M RA94 ,I /UDI$ MY "F'S
FACE--OLD]1 ?9N]1 %AD[$1 B / 8 FACE4 ,/
HM4
  ,WE SAT D[N >.D ! LL TA# & TALK$1 "S-
"TS ALL AT ONCE4 ,DAD _HN'T EXPECT$ 8
REL1SE1 S HE CDN'T WRITE 6TELL U4 ,HE'D
-E 0TRA9 & BUS ) "S O!R M5 & AN ,,MP4
,ONCE AT ,TULE ,LAKE1 HE'D _H 6ASK DI-
REC;NS (! GATE GU>D1 !N KNOCK ON AN A"P-
;T DOOR A C\PLE ( B>RACKS AWAY & WAKE UP
"S"O 2F HE CD F9D U4
  ,I CDN'T 2LIEVE H[ A "D T _H />T$ (F S
BAD _H 5D$ UP S GD4 ,B :Y CDN'T ,MIKE H
LA/$ "O M "D8 ,:Y CDN'T ,DAD H -E A "D
E>LI]8 .,GOV]N;T1 ,I ?"\4
  ,WE TOLD ,DAD AB ,MIKE'S L1V+1 :Y HE
LEFT4 ,8 EYES LO/ "S ( _! SP>K4     #BGE
,HE W5T 6! W9D[ & />$ (F 96! NI<T1 Z IF
HE 7 TRY+ 6CAT* SI<T ( "S"O 4APPE>+ 9 !
4T.E4 ,WE WAIT$4 ,HE CAME BACK1 TRY+ TO
SMILE4 ,HE HU7$ ME AG1 D\# TI<T1 Z IF HE
CD MAKE UP = N SEE+ 8 O!R SON4
  8,I W 5JOY ! FAMILY ,I H "H10 HE SD4
8,I W 5JOY ,MI*AEL :5 HE RETURNS40
  ,I HE>D ! RESIGN,N 9 8 VOICE4 ,I AL
HE>D ! /R5G?4 ,HE 0 TRY+ 6BE> UP "U "O M
BURD51 6MAKE P1CE )! SITU,N HE'D F.D3 A
GA91 A LOSS4 ,CD ,I 2 L HM8 ,I WOND]$4
,0 ,I / ! SAME P]SON :O _H FELT S M* PA9
:5 ,DAD _H BE5 /OL5 F U1 :5 WE'D LEFT \R
HOME1 LEFT ,RAY1 :5 ,PHILLIP1 !N ,MIKE1
!N ,MAE1 _H SLIPP$ AWAY8
  ,I DIDN'T ?9K S4 ,B _H ,I GR[N UP8 ,OR
J GR[N NUMB8 ,DID X MATT]8 ,I DECID$ ,I
WD TRY 6BE M L ,DAD4 ,& ,MOM1 TOO4
.,SHIKATA .GA .NAI4
  ,WE SD A PRAY] = ,MIKE1 = U4 ,WE W5T
6B$4 ,MY P>5TS MOV$ _! COTS CLOSE TGR &
TALK$ L;G AF ,I TURN$ (F ! LI<T4 ,I FELL
ASLEEP 6! -=T+ S.D ( _! VOICES4
  ,I WOKE UP LATE ! NEXT MORN+4 ,& AL"O4
,= AN 9/ANT ,I 0 AFRAID ! NI<T 2F   #BGF
_H BE5 "O ( ^? R1LI/IC DR1MS 9 : "S?+
WOND];L HAPP5S & Y WAKE UP ! NEXT MORN+
BITT]LY 4APPO9T$4 ,B ,I SAW ,DAD'S SUIT-
CASE1 8 CLO!S HUNG OV] A B5*1 & ,I KNEW
X _H RE,Y HAPP5$4 ,I _H "S?+ 6WRITE AB1
& ,I DID4
  ,MOM & ,DAD 7,I LOV$ 2+ A# 6/R+ ^? ^WS
TGR7 _H LEFT ME A NOTE4 ,!Y 7 WALK+4
,GR&"M 0 VISIT+ ,MRS4 ,NOMURA4 ,:5 !Y
CAME BACK1 WE W5T 6BR1KFA/4 ,A LOT ( P
CAME UP 6SAY HELLO 6,DAD1 6SAY H[ HAPPY
!Y 7 6MEET HM OR SEE HM AG AF ALL ? "T4
,AM;G !M 7 ,MR4 & ,MRS4 ,YANO & _! TWO
SONS4 ,I REMEMB]$ A "T M* E>LI]1 :5 ^?
BOYS1 SMALL] & / FREE1 _H /OOD AT \R
DOOR ) _! P>5TS4
  ,I WOND]$ H[ M* ?+S WD *ANGE N[ T ,DAD
0 ) U1 N[ T HE WASN'T A PRISON]4 ,0 "! A
*.E WE CD GET \R FREEDOM8
  ,MOM W5T 6"W LATE4 ,I W5T 6S*OOL LATE4
,MRS4 ,B]G] MADE ME WRITE AN ESSAY ON :Y
,I 0 GRATE;L 6H MY DAD BACK4 ,X WASN'T
EASY4 ,! R1SONS DIDN'T FIT 9SIDE ! B.DA-
RIES ( ^WS4 ,& E "T ,I ?"\ AB H[ GRATE;L
,I 0 6H HM BACK1 ,I ?"\ AB ALL !    #BGG
"T HE'D BE5 AWAY1 ALL ! ?+S ,I'D MISS$1
HE'D MISS$1 WE'D MISS$4 ,HE'D BE5 G"O =
TWO &A HALF YE>S4 ,0 ,I SUPPOS$ 6BE
GRATE;L = T8 ,I REMEMB]$ MY RESOLU;N 6BE
M L HM4
  ,J AF SUND[N ,DAD & ,I WALK$ 6! F;E4
,HE 0 US$ 6F;ES1 HE'D TOLD U1 B Z WE
/OOD LOOK+ PA/ ! B>B$ WIRE AT ! FLATL&S
& HILLS >.D U1 ,I FELT A%AM$4 ,I FELT Z
IF "S"O IMPORTANT _H DROPP$ 9 UNANN\NC$
& F.D ME LIV+ 9 A HOBO %ACK SURR.D$ BY
RU/+ WA%+ MA*9ES & ICEBOXES & SK9NY1
BAD-TEMP]$ DOGS *EW+ ON BR9$ LIV]4
  ,! SKY D>K5$ OV] ! HILLS4 ,! F/ />--A
PLANET1 MAYBE--TW9KL$ 6LIFE4 ,I _H _M
WI%ES1 B ONLY ?REE BIG "OS4 ,"O ( !M--
,DAD'S RETURN--_H J BE5 GRANT$4 ,ANO!R--
T WE WD GET \ ( ,TULE1 G 6A PLACE ": WE
CD 2 FREE--WD H 6HAPP5 ON XS [N4 ,! ?IRD
"O--,MIKE'S SAFE RETURN--WD GET ALL ( MY
ATT5;N F N[ ON4 ,T 0 ! WI% ,I HUNG ON T
F/ />4
  ,I FELT ,DAD'S EYES ON ME & ,I MOV$
CLOS] 6HM4
  8,DID Y WI%80 HE SD4 ,HE SMIL$4   #BGH
,I _H BE5 AFRAID 8 SMILE WD -E ONLY R>E-
LY1 L NEW NE$LES ON A FIR4
  8,YES10 ,I SD4
  8,MAY ,I GUESS80
  8,Y ALR "K40
  ,! AIR _H GOTT5 COOL]4 ,HE PUT 8 >M
>.D MY %\LD]S4 8,MIKE80
  ,I NO4$1 WOND]+ ": HE WAS4 ,ON A TRA91
PROBABLY4 ,AL"O4 ,N "K+ ,DAD 0 ) U1 N
"K+ H[ CLOSE !Y'D -E 6SEE+ EA* O!R4 ,I
?"\ ( MAK+ ANO!R WI%3 T ,I CD TURN BACK
"T1 T ,I CD BEG ,MIKE 6/AY ANO!R "D4 ,B
,I CDN'T AF=D WA/$ WI%ES4
  8,M9E1 TOO10 ,DAD SD4 8,I MAY -E \ "H
E NI<T & MAKE T WI%4 ,& :5 ,I'M N "H1 ,I
W 2 ASK+ HELP F ,JESUS OR ,BU4HA OR :O"E
HAPP5S 6BE LI/5+40
  8,"O ( MY WI%ES 0 ANSW]$10 ,I SD4
  ,DAD PULL$ ME CLOS] 6HM4 ,HE / FELT
/R;G4 8,"O ( M9E1 AL10 HE SD4 8,I AM S
HAPPY 6BE ) Y AG40
  ,HE ASK$ ME AB MY J\RNAL1 :E!R ,I'D
BE5 KEEP+ "O4 ,I TOLD HM YES1 B HOP$ HE
WDN'T ASK 6SEE X1 & HE DIDN'T4 ,/1 HE
LOOK$ PL1S$ :5 ,I GOT X \ ( MY      #BGI
BAG LAT] T NI<T1 :5 ,I SAT & /RU7L$ )
SLEEPI;S & MANAG$ 6GET "S?+ WRITT54






















                                    #BHJ
























                ,,SIXTE5            #BHA

  ,DAD KNEW "O (! F>M =EM54 ,HE 0 A# 6L&
A JOB A FEW "DS AF HE >RIV$1 : M1NT A LL
M M"OY = U4 ,N M* ELSE *ANG$1 B ,I
WASN'T 4APPO9T$4 ,N YET4 ,I 0 LE>N+ PA-
TI;E4 ,&) HM >.D1 E "D SEEM$ B"R]1 Z IF
A LAY] ( CL\DS _H BURN$ AWAY4
  ,\R "DS SETTL$ 96A R\T9E4 ,DAD & ,MOM
GO+ (F 6"W1 ,GR&"M GO+ (F 6VISIT OR1 IF
H] LEGS 7 BO!R+ H]1 /AY+ 9 ! ROOM & R1D+
A NEWSPAP] OR "W+ ON H] FL[]S4 ,ME GO+
(F 6S*OOL4
  ,DAD CAME HOME TIR$ E "D1 B HE LOOK$
H1L?I]4 ,HE GA9$ WEI<T4 ,AT "D'S 5D HE
WD WALK1 "S"TS AL"O1 "S"TS ) ME OR ME &
,MOM4 ,"S"TS ,GR&"M WD G4 ,WE ALW /OPP$
AT ! F;E & PD \R RESPECTS 6! SUNSET1 !
F/ />4
  ,I WROTE 6,MIKE4 ,DAD & ,MOM _H ALR
WRITT5 6TELL HM ( ,DAD'S HOMECOM+1 B !Y
_HN'T TOLD HM (! TIM+4 ,I1 TOO1 0 C>E;L
N 6LET HM "K HE & ,DAD _H -E )9 H\RS (
SEE+ EA* O!R4 ,I _H TOLD ,GR&"M :Y ,MIKE
WASN'T ALL[$ 6G "? ! GATE1 & :AT GD _H X
D"O8 ,HE HE>D ! \-L\D ANG]1 ! RE-   #BHB
S5T;T 9 MY VOICE4 ,& %E 2CAME UPSET4 ,_H
\R ^WS CREPT 9SIDE 8 H1D1 GIV+ HM ?"\S (
L1V+ U E>LY8 ,& %>+ ) ,MIKE ? O!R BURD5
--! REUNION1 B>ELY MISS$--WD RELIEVE ME
B WEI< ON HM4 ,HE ALR _H M* ON 8 %\LD]S4
  ,I WROTE 6,MAE & TOLD H] ": ,MIKE MI<T
2 GO+1 T WE _HN'T HE>D F HM YET4 ,I SD
6F9D U A SPONSOR1 T MY M>#S 7 GETT+
DU/Y4
  ,A LR CAME F ,MIKE4 ,WE SAV$ X1 UN-
OP5$1 UNTIL WE 7 ALL TGR T NI<T1 !N SAT
AT ! TA# & LI/5$ Z ,MOM R1D X4 ,HITL] 0
/ 9 BUSI;S1 ,MIKE SD4 ,! #DDBND 0 %IPP+
\ ! NEXT "D1 DE/9,N "S": 9 ,EUROPE4 ,!Y
7 SAIL+ F AN ,EA/ ,COA/ PORT1 CROSS+ !
,ATLANTIC4 ,FR.E 0 / A POSSIBIL;Y1 HE
SD1 B X 0 PROBABLY TOO E>LY = ,FR.E4
,NOR? ,AFRICA _H BE5 A *OICE1 B ,NOR?
,AFRICA 0 \RS N[4 ,ITALY _H 2COME ! BET-
T+ FAVORITE4 ,HE MISS$ U4 8,I'LL KEEP MY
HELMET ON1 ,MOM10 HE SD4 ,HE DIDN'T SAY
ANY?+ 6,DAD4 ,HE 0 MOV+ TOO FA/ = \R LRS
6CAT* HM4
  ,"O EV5+ T[>D ! 5D ( ,MAY1 ,DAD CAME
HOME LATE4 ,HE'D BE5 WALK+1 HE      #BHC
SD4 ,8 FACE 0 D>K F SUN4 ,& "S?+ ELSE4
  8,:AT IS X1 ,TOMIO80 ,MOM SD4
  8,A MAN--"O (! M5 ,I "W )--WAS %OT
TD10 HE SD4 8,! GU>D ?"\ HE 0 TRY+ 6ES-
CAPE "? ! GATE4 ,HE 0 ONLY TRY+ 6CAT* UP
6! TRUCK40
  8,HE IS D1D80 ,GR&"M SD4
  8,IN ! HOSPITAL10 ,DAD SD4 8,N GD40 ,!
HOSPITAL4 ,I FELT SORRY =! MAN4 ,GR&"M
_H GOTT5 A HI< FEV] ONCE & REFUS$ 6G 6!
CAMP HOSPITAL4 8,A /OP ON ! WAY 6! CEME-
T]Y10 %E SD4
  ,! NEXT "D ^W SPR1D "? ,TULE4 ,! MAN--
,%OI*I ,JAMES ,OKAMOTO--WAS D1D4 ,UNRE/
BOIL$ UP ONCE AG4 ,2C 9T]NEE L1D]S DEM&$
AN 9VE/IG,N1 "O 0 D"O4 ,:5 X 0 F9I%$1 !
GU>D 0 F.D BLAME.S1 EXCEPT = MISUSE (
GOV]N;T PROP]TY--! BULLET4 ,HE 0 F9$ A
DOLL>4
  ,JUNE >RIV$4 ,S*OOL GOT \4 ,M "T ON MY
H&S4 ,I TRI$ 6PASS X 0PLAY+ BASEBALL--,I
_HN'T T\*$ A BASKETBALL S9CE MY LA/ "D
AT ,RAY'S H\SE--OR GO+ ON WALKS1 R1D+ !
NEWSPAP]S1 CAT*+ UP ON ?+S ) ,DAD4 ,B X
0 MO/LY "O-WAY4 ,HE WANT$ 6TALK     #BHD
AB :AT ,I'D BE5 DO+1 :AT ,MIKE & ,I _H
D"O 2F ,MIKE JO9$ ! >MY4 ,DAD 0 HUNGRY =
:AT HE'D MISS$ 9 ! YE>S HE 0 G"O4 ,I
ASK$ HM "QS1 B 8 ANSW]S 7 %ORT4 ,HE
DIDN'T L TALK+ AB 8 "DS 9 ,MONTANA &
,NEW ,MEXICO4
  ,I SP5T A LOT ( "T ?9K+ AB ,MIKE1 WON-
D]+ ": HE WAS1 H[ HE WAS1 & WI%+ "! 0 "S
WAY ,I CD F9D \4 ,B ! NEWSPAP]S DIDN'T
SAY ANY?+ AB ! #DDBND4 ,I _H 6GUESS1 &
MY GUESS+ ALW PUT HM 9 ! MI4LE ( "S T]-
RI# BATTLE ": M5 ON BO? SIDES FELL L
RIP5+ *]RIES 9 A HAIL/ORM4 ,S :5 ,I
LE>N$ ( ;,D-"D--! ,ALLI$ 9VA.N ( ,FR.E
ON ,JUNE #F?--,I PICTUR$ ,MIKE -+ A%ORE
ON ! BLOODY B1*ES ( ,NORM&Y1 BULLETS
:I/L+ PA/ 8 H1D1 BOMBS BL[+ GEYS]S ( S&
& WAT] HI< ABV HM4
  ,MY IMAG9,N CURS$ ME 6L;G "DS ( WANT+
6R1D ! NEWSPAP]S & MAGAZ9ES B N WANT+ TO
R1D !M1 WAIT+ =! MAIL B N WANT+ 6LOOK AT
X4 ,& DR1D+ ! SI<T (! ,WE/]N ,UNION C\-
RI]S ) _! TELEGRAMS ( TE>S1 ! >MY C>S )
_! MESS5G]S ( LOSS4 ,I'D SE5 ! GOLD />S
ON FLAGS HANG+ 9 B>RACKS W9D[S4     #BHE
,^? GOLD />S M1NT A MOM _H LO/ A SON 9 !
W>4 ,I CDN'T /& ! ?"\ ( "O ( ^? FLAGS
HANG+ 9 \R W9D[4
  ,I USU,Y R1D ! .,SAN .,FRANCISCO
.,*RONICLE OR .,LIFE MAGAZ9E4 ,BO? ( !M
7 = SALE AT ! CANTE54 ,B "O "D ,GR&"M
CAME HOME F H] FR ,MRS4 ,TAKAZAKI'S )
PIECES (A ,HONOLULU NEWSPAP]4 ,MRS4 ,TA-
KAZAKI _H A NIECE 9 ,HAWAII1 ": "! 7 _M
,JAPANESE ,AM]ICANS1 &A NEPHEW 9 ! #AJJ?
,BATTALION1 AN ALL-,NISEI UNIT ( SOLDI]S
F ,HAWAII4 ,MRS4 ,TAKAZAKI'S NIECE S5T
H] AUNT >TICLES F ! ,HONOLULU NEWSPAP]S
:5"E "! 0 NEWS (! #AJJ? OR ! O!R >MY
UNIT T _H A BIG %>E ( ,JAPANESE ,AM]I-
CANS F ,HAWAII--! #DDBND4
  ,GR&"M CALL$ ME 6! TA# & WE SAT &
TRAD$ >TICLES BACK & =?4 ,! PAP] 0 M ?AN
A WEEK OLD1 B ,I F.D REPORTS ON ! #AJJ?
&! #DDBND4 ,! #AJJ?--! ,PURPLE ,HE>T
,BATTALION1 X 0 CALL$1 2C ( ALL ! CASU-
ALTIES X _H SU6]$--WAS BATTL+ XS WAY "?
,ITALY4 ,! #DDBND 0 / AT SEA1 (FICIAL
DE/9,N UN"KN4
  ,I FELT BETT] "K+ T "S"O 0 PAY+   #BHF
ATT5;N 6! ,NISEI SOLDI]S1 T ,I'D 2 A# TO
SEE /ORIES--LATE OR N--ON :AT !Y 7 DO+4
,MRS4 ,TAKAZAKI _H PROMIS$ 6%>E :AT"E %E
GOT ) U4 ,& ,GR&"M SD ,MRS4 ,NOMURA'S
GR&DAU<T] 9 ,ILL9OIS WD S5D REPORTS F H]
NEWSPAP]S4 8,! PAP]S ON ! O!R SIDE (!
C.TRY TR1T \R SOLDI]S L CITIZ5S10 ,GR&"M
SD4

  ,I GOT A LR F ,RAY4 ,I TRI$ 6PICTURE 8
FACE4 ,I CDN'T4 ,H[ L;G _H X BE5 S9CE ,I
LA/ SAW HM8 ,H[ M* _H HE *ANG$8 ,0 HE Z
TALL Z A MAN N[8 8,I W5T 0YR OLD H\SE10
HE WROTE4 8,A NEW FAMILY 0 "!1 "W+ 9 !
Y>D4 ,I SAW A MOM & DAD & TWO BOYS4 ,I
CDN'T TALK 6!M4 ,I _H 6L1VE40 ,I FELT
HOLL[1 SU45LY4 8,ALL = "O10 HE SD AT !
5D4
  ,I WROTE BACK ) MY NEWS & 8,"O = ALL40
,I PUT ,RAY'S LR 9 MY DU6EL )! RE/4 ,I
DIDN'T SAY ANY?+ 6MY FAMILY4 ,RAY _H %>$
8 BURD5 ) ME4 ,TWO ( U 7 5 6C>RY X4

  ,S&Y KNOCK$ ON \R DOOR "O EV5+ AF
SUPP]4 ,I 9TRODUC$ HM 6,DAD1 :O     #BHG
SD HE 0 GLAD 6MEET HM & LOOK$ L HE M1NT
X4 ,MOM M/ H TOLD HM ( ,S&Y'S K9D;SES4
,EV5 ,GR&"M SMIL$4 ,%E (F]$ HM A *AIR1 &
HE SAT ON XS $GE1 DANGL+ 8 CAP 2T 8
KNEES1 KN1D+ X N]V\SLY ) 8 BIG F+]S4
  8,I'M L1V+ TM10 HE SD4
  8,= GD80 ,I SD4
  ,HE NO4$ & LOOK$ AT MY P>5TS4 8,?ANKS
= LETT+ ME SP5D "T ) YR SONS40 ,HE LOOK$
AT ,GR&"M4 8,) YR GR&SONS4 ,I "K Y'RE
ALL PR\D ( !M4 ,Y %D BE40 ,MY EYES CL\D$
OV]4 8,X'S BE5 A PRIVILEGE "K+ Y FOLKS4
,I WI% WE CD'VE MET "U DI6]5T CIRCUM-
/.ES40
  8,?ANK Y = ALL Y H D"O10 ,DAD SD4
  ,S&Y GOT 6HIS FEET & TOOK A PIECE (
PAP] F 8 POCKET4 8,? IS MY A4RESS1 9
CASE Y'D C>E 6WRITE ME4 ,I'D LOVE HE>+ F
ANY ( Y40 ,HE H&$ ME ! PAP] & WALK$ 6!
DOOR4
  8,WAIT10 ,I SD4 ,I W5T 6MY DU6EL &
TOOK \ MY J\RNAL & TORE \ A BACK PAGE4
,ON X ,I _H WRITT5 "S?+ = HM4

                                    #BHH
,?9K+ (! SEA1
,( :AT LIES ACR X1 HE
,/ F9DS "T = ME4

  ,I GAVE HM ! PAGE4 8,?ANKS10 ,I SD4
8,= "EY?+40
  ,HE R1D ! POEM1 SMIL+1 NO4+4 8,? IS
GRT10 HE SD4 8,GRT40 ,HE CLE>$ 8 ?ROAT4
8,M9D IF ,I %>E X80
  8,NO10 ,I SD4
  8,%E'LL LOVE X10 HE SD1 & ,I KNEW :O
HE M1NT4 8,I'D L 6SEE M ( YR WRIT+ "S"T1
,MR4 ,TWA940
  8,OKAY10 ,I SD4 ,WE %OOK1 MY H& 4AP-
PE>+ 9 8 "O LA/ "T4 ,I ?"\ AB ASK+ HM IF
HE'D GIV5 ,MIKE & ME ! BOOKS4 ,I WANT$
6?ANK HM4 ,B "S "QS >E BETT] LEFT UN-
ASK$4 ,& ,I WASN'T SURE ,I CD USE MY
VOICE4 8,I'LL MISS Y10 ,I MANAG$4
  8,TAKE C>E1 ,JOE40 ,HE GAVE ME A HUG1
A B"O-CRU%]4 ,I SMELL$ ,OLD ,SPICE4
  8,WE W PRAY = Y10 ,MOM SD1 & ,I 0 GLAD
6HE> H] ^WS4 ,WE _H DRIFT$ AWAY F *UR*1
B ,MOM _HN'T GIV5 UP ON PRAY]4 ,N[ WE _H
TWO SOLDI]S :O NE$$ WAT*+ OV]1 &    #BHI
,I 0 SURE ,MOM'S PRAY]S WD 2 M* M P[];L
?AN M9E4
  8,?ANKS1 ,MRS4 ,HANADA40 ,S&Y OP5$ !
DOOR & WALK$ \ 96! NI<T4
  ,GR&"M DIDN'T SAY .GOV]N;T4

  ,A LR CAME F ,MIKE4 ,HE 0 OKAY1 AT L1/
:5 HE WROTE ! LR4 ,I ?"\ (! F>AWAY />S1
H[ _! LI<T CD R1* U L;G AF !Y _H DI$ \4
,I PU%$ ! ?"\ AWAY4
  ,HE _HN'T BE5 9VOLV$ 9 ! 9VA.N ( ,NOR-
M&Y1 AF ALL4 8,WE L&$ 9 ,NAPLES1 ,ITA-
LY10 HE SD1 8!N >RIV$ 9 A PLACE CALL$
,ANZIO TWO "DS TOO LATE 6HELP KICK !
,NAZIS \ ( ,ROME40 ,! #DDBND 0 GO+ 6BE
JO9$ 0! #AJJ? ,BATTALION1 HE SD4 ,!N !Y
7 GO+ 6G 6W>4 8,SORRY ,I MISS$ Y1 ,DAD10
HE WROTE AT ! 5D4 8,B ,I'M GLAD Y'RE )!
RE/ (! FAMILY AT LA/4 ,I'LL SEE Y AF
WE'RE D"O BURY+ ,MR4 ,MU/A*E4 ,SOON40
  ,I RER1D ,MIKE'S LR1 TRY+ 6MAKE S5SE (
X1 WI%+ =A MAP4 ,:AT ,I DID "K 0 HE 0
GO+ 6BE FI<T+ N[1 9 ! ?ICK ( ?+S4 ,& ,I
KNEW IF ,I R1D ANY A3.TS (! ,PURPLE
,HE>T ,BATTALION--! #AJJ?--         #BIJ
,MIKE'S BATTALION1 ! #CRD ,BATTALION (!
#DDBND ,REGI;TAL ,-BAT ,T1M1 WD 2 NE>BY4

  ,UNRE/ 3T9U$ AT ,TULE ,LAKE4 ,E "D ,I
WAT*$ Z UNHAPPY RESID5TS & GRIM-FAC$
SOLDI]S EY$ "O ANO!R ) SUSPICION4 ,"EY"O
WANT$ 6BE "S": ELSE1 B MO/ ( U _H NO":
6G4 ,& AC 6:AT WE _H HE>D & R1D1 _M ( \R
OLD NEI<BORS DIDN'T WANT U BACK4
  ,JULY 2GAN )A MURD]4 ,A MAN 0 /A2$ TO
D1? \TSIDE A B>RACKS4 ,T5.N 9 ! CAMP
SWEPT HI<]4 ,! .,*RONICLE REPORT$ X1 B
B>ELY4 ,AN ALI51 !Y CALL$ HM1 Z IF HE
DIDN'T MATT]4 ,"D AF "D ,I *ECK$ ! NEWS-
PAP]'S LI/S ( W> CASUALTIES--W.D$1 D1D1
MISS+1 IMPRISON$4 ,I KNEW "! 7 ,JAPANESE
,AM]ICANS DY+ & W.D$ & MISS+ & IMPRIS-
ON$1 B ,I DIDN'T SEE ANY ,JAPANESE "NS4
,X 0 Z IF !Y TOO DIDN'T MATT]4
  ,ANO!R LR CAME F ,MIKE4 ,HE JOK$ AB !
FOOD1 ! BAD W1!R1 ! LATR9ES1 ! #AJJ?
,BATTALION GUYS & _! PIDG9 T NO "O CD
"U/&4 8,^? GUYS H BE5 OV] "H A L;G "T1
FI<T+1 SU6]+ CASUALTIES4 ,!Y DON'T ?9K
M* ( U NEWCOM]S4 ,S N[ WE H TO      #BIA
PROVE \RVS 6\R [N P1 TOO40 ,O!R ?AN T1
HE DIDN'T TALK AB ! W>4 ,I LOOK$ 2T !
L9ES4 ,MY IMAG9,N TOOK ME 6SC>Y PLACES4
,I PUT 8 LR ON ! WALL1 ?ANK;L = X4
  ,I ASK$ MY P>5TS & ,GR&"M IF !Y KNEW
": ,I MI<T F9D A MAP ( ,EUROPE1 OR AT
L1/ ,ITALY4 ,! LIBR>Y1 ,MOM ?"\4 ,! CAN-
TE51 ,DAD SU7E/$4
  ,GR&"M BR"\ ME A MAP4 ,ANO!R FR ( H]S
GAVE X 6H]4 ,A ,GOLD ,/> ,MOM4 ,%E
DIDN'T NE$ ! MAP ANY L;G]4 ,X 0 FRAY$ AT
! FOLDS & 4COLOR$ & WR9KL$1 Z IF "S"O _H
BE5 /UDY+ X ) _! F+]S1 B ALL ! C.TRIES (
,EUROPE 7 "!4 ,I SPR1D X \ ON ! TA# &
,GR&"M & ,I /UDI$ & PO9T$ & GUESS$ =A
L;G "T1 Z IF WE 7 PLANN+ A WOND];L VAC,N
& J NE$$ 6DECIDE ": ON ,ITALY'S BOOT WE
%D G4 ,MY P>5TS CAME HOME1 & WE ALL
LOOK$ AT ! MAP TGR Z IF WE 7 HYPNOTIZ$1
Z IF WE EXPECT$ 6SEE A M9IATURE V].N (
,MIKE MOV+ ACR XS SURFACE1 %\LD]+ A GUN1
WAV+ UP AT U4
  ,T NI<T ,MOM & ,DAD BORR[$ A NEI<BOR'S
*ESSBO>D & PLAY$ *ESS :ILE ,GR&"M R1D AN
OLD .,LIFE MAGAZ9E T 3TA9$ A PHO-   #BIB
TO (A ,NISEI SOLDI] :O _H BE5 BL9D$ 0!
EXPLO.N (A M9E :ILE FI<T+ 9 ,ITALY4 ,AN
,AM]ICAN H]O1 ! MAGAZ9E CALL$ HM4 ,I SAT
ON MY COT & PUZZL$ OV] 5TRIES = MY J\R-
NAL4 ,& WROTE4 ,& PUZZL$4 ,MIKE 0 ALR A
H]O4 ,HE DIDN'T H 6PROVE X 02+ BL9D$4
,OR WORSE4 ,HE DIDN'T H 6PROVE X 6ME4

  ,M "DS PASS$4 ,I TRI$ 6/AY \ (! SUN1
,I WAIT$ = MAIL4 ,I R1D NEWSPAP]S1 SKIP-
P+ OV] H1DL9ES T SCR1M$ .,JAP1 SQUIRM+
AT $ITORIAL-PAGE C>TOONS T %[$ A BUCK-
TOO!D1 SQU9TY-EY$ 5EMY4 ,I REMEMB]$ A
LIFE"T E>LI]1 :5 "S"O _H LEFT A SIMIL>
DRAW+ ON MY DESK AT S*OOL4
  ,HONOLULU PAP]S _H "S NEWS (! ,NISEI1
B ^? PAP]S 7 OLD4 ,S 7 ! CLIPP+S S5T BY
,MOLLY ,NOMURA4 ,! .,NEWELL .,/> _H /O-
RIES T RELI$ ON O!R PAP]S & LRS & RU-
MORS1 & SU6]$ F C5SOR%IP4 ,WE/ ,COA/ PA-
P]S _H ALM NO?+ 9 !M AB ,JAPANESE ,AM]I-
CAN SOLDI]S4 ,F9,Y1 ! ,JULY #BC1 #AIDD1
EDI;N (! .,*RONICLE _H "S?+4 ,A REPORT F
! ,ITALIAN FRONT H1DL9$ ..,D[N ,F ,!
.,HILLS TALK$ AB ! #AJJ? ,BATTAL-   #BIC
ION1 T X .9CLUD$ "S ,JAPANESE ,AM]ICANS1
T ! BATTALION _H -E \ (! HILLS & CAPTUR$
! T[N ( ,LIVORNO4 ,I UNFOLD$ ! MAP & F.D
,LIVORNO ON ,ITALY'S COA/4 ,X LOOK$
CLOSE 6,FR.E1 CLOSE 6": ! ,NAZI >MY WD
RUN \ ( ROOM 6BACKP$AL & 2G9 FI<T+ L A
CORN]$ PACK ( HY5AS4
  ,AUGU/ >RIV$4 ,H>VE/ 2GAN4 ,H1DL9ES 9
! .,*RONICLE SD ..,GRTE/ ,GA9S ,S9CE
.,9VA.N4 ,AN >TICLE REPORT$ T A ,P5NSYL-
VANIA MAN :O _H CORRECTLY PREDICT$ ,JUNE
#F? Z ;,D-"D 0 N[ PREDICT+ T ,G]_M WD
/OP FI<T+ ON ,AUGU/ #D?4 ,I PRAY$ HE 0
"R4
  ,9 ! -ICS ,SUP]MAN 0 MAK+ %ORT "W ( "S
BAD GUYS4 ,I WI%$ HE 7 R1L1 T HE CD WIPE
\ ! BAD GUYS :O _H />T$ ? W>4 ,B HE
WASN'T R1L4 ,& ,AUGU/ #D? CAME & W5T )
,G]_M / FI<T+4 ,PRAY]S & WI%ES--NEI "O 0
"W+4
  ,LRS >RIV$4
  ,"O F ,MIKE4 ,X 0 %ORT & SCRIB#D &!
PAP] 0 SME>$ ) DIRT4 ,I PICTUR$ HM WRIT-
+1 SITT+ "U ! LIP (A FOXHOLE4 ,HE TOLD U
M JOKES4 ,!Y 7 EMPTY1 B WE DIDN'T   #BID
C>E4 ,HE 0 / WRIT+4 ,HE 0 / ALIVE4 ,! LR
W5T ON ! WALL4
  ,"O F ,MAE4 8,MY P>5TS >E TALK+ 6P AB
SPONSOR%IPS = YR FAMILY40
  8,DON'T GET YR HOPES TOO HI<10 ,DAD
SD4 ,B HE LOOK$ HOPE;L4
  8,2C ( ME10 ,GR&"M SD4 8,2C ,I ANSW]$
YES-NO40
  8,N 2C ( Y10 ,DAD TOLD H]4 8,2C ( ME4
,2C X IS A DI6ICULT PROCESS4 ,B X IS K9D
( ,MAE'S FAMILY 6SP1K = U40
  ,"O F ,RAY1 HOP+ ! W> WD 2 OV] SOON S
,MIKE CD -E BACK1 S WE CD RETURN 6!
,:ITE ,RIV] ,VALLEY4 ,HE DIDN'T SAY ANY-
?+ AB P "! N WANT+ U--ALL = "O1 HE SD--B
,I 0 GETT+ GD AT R1D+ 2T ! L9ES4
  ,I WROTE BACK 6!M4 ,"O = ALL1 ,I TOLD
,RAY1 WOND]+ IF ,I WD "E SEE HM AG4 ,8
LR W5T 9 MY BAG )! RE/ ( MY ,:ITE ,RIV]
,VALLEY LIFE4 ,I P9N$ ,MAE'S LR 6! WALL4
  ,I KEPT R1D+ E NEWSPAP] ,I CD F9D1 E
>TICLE ,GR&"M BR"\ HOME4 ,"! 0 "O AB
,G5]AL ,DE,WITT GETT+ A SECRET ASSIGN;T1
AB HM 2+ ! "O :O _H ORD]$ \R 9T]N;T4
  8,DIMWIT10 ,GR&"M SD4 8,I WD L    #BIE
6*OOSE 8 SECRET ASSIGN;T40
  ,I KEPT R1D+1 "D AF "D4 ,! ,ALLIES 7
MOV+ T[>D ,P>IS1 ,HITL] 0 ON ! RUN4 ,B Z
F> Z ,I KNEW1 ,MIKE 0 / 9 ,ITALY4 ,^?
CORN]$ HY5AS 7 MAK+ A /&4
  ,I KEPT LOOK+1 & ,G5]AL ,EIS5H[]'S >MY
--N ,G5]AL ,CL>K'S1 : 9CLUD$ ! #DDBND--
3T9U$ MOV+ ACR ,FR.E4 ,MAPS ( ,FR.E AP-
PE>$ ON ! FRONT PAGES4 ,ALLIES 7 9 SI<T
(! ,EI6EL ,T[]4 ,!N 5T]+ ,P>IS4 ,B ": 0
,MIKE8
  ,I /UDI$ ! MAP1 ! ,HONOLULU PAP]S1 !
CLIPP+S F ,ILL9OIS4 ,I WAIT$ =A LR1 HOP-
+4 ,I WALK$ 6! F;E ) ,DAD & WI%$ ON />S4
,I ALW MADE ! SAME WI%4 ,S DID HE4 ,MOM
PREF]R$ PRAY+4 ,I PRAY$ T H] P[];L PRAY-
]S 7 "W+4 ,GR&"M DID H] "P & BUSI$ H]F
0R1D+ & TALK+4
  ,F9,Y1 9 ! F/ WEEK ( ,SEPTEMB]1 ANO!R
LR CAME F ,MIKE4 ,HE WASN'T SUPPOS$ TO
TELL U ": HE 0 B HE DID ANYWAY4 ,ITALY1
/1 B HE DIDN'T "K = H[ L;G4 ,HE 0 KEEP+
8 HELMET ON4 ,HE MISS$ U4
  ,S*OOL />T$ AG1 & ,I 0 GRATE;L4 ,X
GAVE ME "S?+ 6?9K AB 2SS ,MIKE4     #BIF
,DAD 0 BUSY )! H>VE/1 ,MOM ) H] JOB1
,GR&"M ) H] FRS4 ,WE DIDN'T TALK AB
,MIKE M*1 B HE 0 ALW 9 \R HE>TS4 ,AT
NI<T1 :5 ! LI<TS 7 \ & MY P>5TS _H QUIT
MURMUR+ 6EA* O!R & ,GR&"M _H 2GUN 6SNORE
S(TLY1 ,I LAY ) MY EYES CLOS$ & IMAG9$
HM 9 ! ROOM1 DRIFT+ (F 6SLEEP4 ,I HE>D 8
BR1?+ SL[ & DEEP5 & SETTLE 96A RHY?M4 ,I
TRI$ 6MAT* X Z ,I LAY ON MY SIDE & CLOS$
MY EYES & PICTUR$ HM 9 A COT NEXT 6ME1
CLOSE 5 6T\*4
  ,SEPTEMB] 5D$ )A SI<4 ,WE REMEMB]$
,MIKE'S BIR?"D 0/&+ AT ! F;E--MY P>5TS1
,GR&"M1 & ME--& TALK+ AB HM 96! NI<T4
,:5 MY BIR?"D >RIV$1 ,MOM & ,DAD GAVE ME
A BASKETBALL1 ,GR&"M GAVE ME A NEW MAP (
,EUROPE4 ,!Y SANG 8,HAPPY ,BIR?"D0--A
SAD & L"OLY-VOIC$ V].N UNTIL ! ,SUZUKI
FAMILY JO9$ 9 "? ! WALL4 ,WE LAU<$1 &
9VIT$ !M OV] = CAKE1 B "P ( ME / FELT
RES5T;L T WE _H S LL PRIVACY4 .,SHIKATA
.GA .NAI1 ,I TOLD MYF4
  ,\R NEXT LR F ,MIKE 0 DAT$ ,SEPTEMB]
#BE?4 8,A BUN* ( NEW GUYS H -E IN10 HE
SD1 86REPLACE ! ,HAWAIIAN GUYS :O   #BIG
W&]$ (F 9 SE>* ( POI & P9EAPPLE40 ,I
DIDN'T GET X AT F/4
  8,HE M1NS !Y H LO/ M540 ,DAD'S VOICE
S.D$ RASPY4 8,X IS SUPPOS$ 6BE LI<THE>T-
$40
  ,LI<THE>T$4 ,MAYBE4 ,B N FUNNY4 ,X 0 !
F/ "T HE'D TALK$ AB LOS+ M51 & ,I DIDN'T
L X4
  ,! #DDBND 0 L1V+ ,ITALY1 ,MIKE SD1
%IPP+ \1 GO+ 6A NEW PLACE 6PLAY TAG )!
,NAZIS4 ,HE DIDN'T "K ":4 ,X 0 A SECRET1
B RUMORS 7 FLY+4 ,! ,HAWAIIANS 7 BETT+
ON ,FR.E1 & ,MIKE SD HE WDN'T WANT 6BET
AG/ ANY"O :O LIV$ 0! MOTTO ,G = ,BROKE4
,HE GUESS$ !Y 7 "R4 ,I DIDN'T "K :E!R TO
2 GLAD OR UPSET T !Y 7 L1V+ ,ITALY4
,MAYBE !Y 7 GO+ "S": SAF]4 ,MAYBE !Y
W]5'T4
  ,T NI<T ,I /UDI$ ! NEWSPAP]2 ,I POR$
OV] ! NEW MAP UNTIL X GREW WR9KLES &
RIDGES ( XS [N4 ,MIKE ?"\ ,FR.E ? "T1 B
":8 ,P>IS 0 LIB]AT$ & SAFE--A GD PLACE--
B !Y WDN'T NE$ HM 9 ,P>IS4 ,BATTLES 7
RAG+ ELSE":4 ,"! 7 /ORIES ( SUP] >MIES
GU>D+ ,G]_M1 ,NAZI D1? CAMPS4 ,X    #BIH
0 ,OCTOB] N[4 ,MIKE CD 2 UP 6HIS NECK 9
W>4
  ,I W5T 6! F;E ) ,DAD1 ,I W5T =A WALK1
,I CAME BACK & WROTE 9 MY J\RNAL (
,MIKE'S FUNNY /ORIES ( W> T MADE NO "O
LAU<1 &! SC>Y A3.TS WE R1D ELSE":4

,:AT IF ! /ORIES
,>E J TALES1 L M5 F ,M>S1
,B1/S "U A B$8














               ,,SEV5TE5            #BII

  ,! DE/9,N (! #DDBND RE,Y .0 A SECRET4
,! NEWSPAP]S1 EV5 ^? F ,HAWAII1 LO/
TRACK (! ,NISEI1 Z IF !Y'D N J LEFT ,IT-
ALY B SAIL$ AWAY F ! PLANET4 ,WE WAIT$ =
A LR F ,MIKE1 CLIPP+S F ,MOLLY ,NOMURA4
,NO?+ CAME4 ,I R1D :AT 0 "! & LOOK$ AT !
MAP & TRI$ 6IMAG9E ": ,MIKE MI<T FIT 96!
PUZZLE4 ,I LIK$ 6PICTURE HM ON A B1* ON
! ,FR5* ,RIVI]A1 LY+ 9 ! SUN1 LOOK+ =
5EMY SUBM>9ES1 ) NO ,NAZIS )9 A HUNDR$
MILES4

  ,OCTOB] 9*$ BY4 ,WE / DIDN'T HE> F
,MIKE4 ,! PAP]S /AY$ SIL5T ON ,NISEI
SOLDI]S4 ,B ! .,*RONICLE BR"\ U NEWS F
,S1TTLE4 ,F>M]S 9 ! ,:ITE ,RIV] ,VALLEY
_H />T$ AN ANTI-,NISEI ORGANIZ,N CALL$ !
,REMEMB] ,PE>L ,H>BOR ,L1GUE4 ,!Y WANT$
6KEEP EVACUAT$ ,JAPANESE ,AM]ICANS F RE-
TURN+4
  ,I ?"\ (! ,SPOON]S4 ,!Y WDN'T H JO9$4
,I PICTUR$ !M /&+ UP AT MEET+S (! ,RE-
MEMB] ,PE>L ,H>BOR ,L1GUE & >GU+ AG/ !
HATE TACTICS ( T CR[D4 ,H[ _M O?-   #CJJ
ERS WD H /OOD ) !M8
  ,! .,*RONICLE SD T ,DILLON ,MY]1 ! H1D
(! ,RELOC,N ,AU?OR;Y1 MET )! L1D] (!
GR\P 6REM9D !M T RETURN+ ,JAPANESE ,AM]-
ICAN VET]ANS 7 CITIZ5S & T "! 7 TWELVE
?\S& ,JAPANESE ,AM]ICANS FI<T+4 8,IN "O
RELOC,N C5T] REC5TLY WE _H =TY-SIX ,GOLD
,/> ,"MS ^: SONS _H BE5 KILL$ 9 AC;N10
HE SD4 8,IN "O BATTALION "! 7 FIFTY-F\R
HOLD]S ( ,SILV] ,/>S & M ?AN "O ?\S& M5
) ,PURPLE ,HE>TS40 ,I WOND]$ IF ! NICE
^WS _H *ANG$ ANY"O'S M9D4 ,I _H A FEEL+
WE WDN'T 2 RETURN+ 6\R VALLEY4
  ,AT LA/ A LR CAME F ,MIKE4 ,HE CDN'T
TELL U ": HE WAS1 B !Y'D TRAVEL$ A ?\S&
MILES 0TRUCK 6GET "!1 & HE CD PRACTIC,Y
SEE ,G]_M4 8,X'S COLD "H10 HE WROTE1 8&!
RA9 REFUSES 6/OP4 ,! OV]COATS !Y ISSU$ U
AT F/ 7 TOO BIG1 S !Y GOT U "S ,,WAC
COATS4 ,J "R40
  ,=! F/ "T HE M5;N$ ! FI<T+1 & AF MY
PICTUR+ HM ON A QUIET B1*1 8 ^WS GAVE ME
A *ILL4 ,X 0 FI]CE1 HE SD1 MADE WORSE 0!
W1!R4 ,I CD SEE SIGNS ( X ON 8 /,N]Y &
5VELOPE--WAT] M>KS1 SMUDGES (       #CJA
DRI$ MUD1 A DIRTY HALF-?UMBPR9T4 ,LRS 7
/ -+ "?1 HE SD1 &! GUYS 7 GLAD 6GET !M4
8,B "S"TS ! SUPPORT P RISK _! LIVES 6GET
LRS 6! FRONTL9E GUYS & !N H 6TAKE !M
BACK 2C ! GUYS !Y 7 M1NT = H BE5 KILL$40
,0 HE TRY+ 6SAY "S?+ )\T SAY+ X8 ,? "T
,I DIDN'T WANT 6R1D 2T ! L9ES4
  ,AT ! 5D ( 8 LR HE WROTE "S?+ = ME4
8,JOE10 HE SD1 8WE'RE GO+ 6GET ? ?+ OV]
) 2F Y H 6PUT ON A UNI=M4 ,B ,I WANT Y
6=GET AB ! >MY1 ANYWAY4 ,TRY H>D 9
S*OOL4 ,G 6COLLEGE4 ,%[ "EY"O :AT A GD
WRIT] ,JOE ,HANADA IS4 ,MAKE "S?+ WOND]-
;L ( YRF4 ,MAKE ALL ? WOR?:ILE4 ,& KEEP
^? M>#S H&Y4 ,I'LL 2 R1DY =A REMAT* :5
,I -E HOME40 ,T'S :AT ,I WANT$4 ,MIKE TO
-E HOME4 ,:AT ,I DIDN'T WANT 0 8 ADVICE4
,I DIDN'T L ! WAY X FELT3 F9AL4
  ,! NEWSPAP]S 2CAME MY BI#4 ,I R1D !M &
/UDI$ ! MAP & TALK$ BIG1 FILL+ 9 GAPS )
FALSE C\RAGE4 8,I BET ! ,NAZIS >E RUNN+
SC>$10 ,I'D SAY1 &! FAMILY WD NOD & G
AL;G4 ,OV] ! NEXT "DS1 :ILE O!R KIDS ?"\
AB S*OOL & ,HALL[E5 & AN UPCOM+ D.E1 ,I
MO/LY R1D AB ! W>4                  #CJB
  ,A NEWSPAP] AD 5C\RAG$ ,AM]ICANS 6CON-
S]VE COOK+ OIL4 ..,! ,JAPS ,/ ,H ,!
.,FATS ! H1DL9E SD4 ,I WASN'T SURE :Y
FAT 0 IMPORTANT 6! W> EF=T4 ,B ,I 0 TIR$
(! ^W ,JAP4 ,"! 0 NEWS ( ,G]MAN ATROCI-
TIES 9 NOR!RN ,ITALY & >TICLES ON FI<T+
9 ! ,PACIFIC4 ,A PLACE 9 ! ,VOSGES ,M\N-
TA9S ( ,FR.E CALL$ ,BRUY@ERES 0 "U AT-
TACK 0! ,ALLIES4 ,AA*51 A C;Y 9 ,G]_M1
_H BE5 CAPTUR$ 0\R TROOPS4 ,WE 7 9 ,G]_M
N[8 ,AT L1/ "S ( U8 ,B ": 0 ,MIKE8
  ,M NEWSPAP] >TICLES3 ?REE ?\S& ,NISEI
5ROLL$ 9 COLLEGES2 ,FIF? ,>MY US+ SE>*-
LI<TS = NI<T FI<T+ 9 ,ITALY2 ,JAPANESE
FLEET 9 TR\#2 CREMATORIUM = ?\S&S ( ,NA-
ZI FOES1 9CLUD+ _M ,JEWS1 F.D 9 ,HOLL&2
,NAZIS DI7+ IN1 LAY+ NEW M9ES NE> ,BO-
LOGNA1 ,ITALY2 \R CASUALTIES 9 ,ITALY N[
N9ETY ?\S&4 ,B ,MIKE WASN'T "O ( !M4
,N9ETY ?\S&1 & "SH[ HE _H ESCAP$4 ,6:AT8
  ,I ?"\ ( \R CAMP POPUL,N1 SWOLL5 6TW5-
TY ?\S& N[4 ,I TRI$ 6IMAG9E N9ETY ?\S&1
ALL D1D4 ,!N ,I TRI$ 6=GET4

                                    #CJC
  ,HALL[E5 CAME & W5T4 ,NOVEMB] >RIV$1
D>K & W9DY & COLD4 ,ANO!R LR CAME1 DAT$
,OCTOB] #BE?4 ,X 0 %ORT1 B>ELY HALF A
PAGE ( DIRTY PAP]1 N EV5 ,MIKE'S /,N]Y1
B ,I ?ANK$ "EY"O & "EY?+ =! ^WS4 ,HE 0 /
WRIT+4
  ,! W1!R REMA9$ BAD1 HE SD1 ! FI<T+
WORSE4 ,!Y'D PULL$ BACK 6REGR\P1 6RE/1 B
SLEEP 0 H>D 6-E BY4 8,N[ !Y'VE GIV5 U "S
K9D ( SPECIAL ASSIGN;T10 HE SD1 8B NO
"O'S SAY+ :AT X IS40 ,! #BND ,BATTALION
0 GETT+ R1DY 6L1VE1 ,MIKE'S #CRD &!
#AJJ? WD 2 MOV+ \ 9 A "D OR TWO4 8,"EY-
"O'S ON $GE1 TRY+ 6PASS ! "T ) R,NS &
WAT] & HOLL[ LAU<T] & SNAT*ES ( SLEEP40
,HE SD HE'D MANAG$ 6GET HOLD (A C\PLE (
,H]%EY B>S & HE 0 SAV+ !M =! MY/]Y AS-
SIGN;T4 8,I MISS ALL ( Y10 HE SD4 8,I
C'T WAIT 6SEE Y40
  ,I KEPT AT ! NEWSPAP]S4 ,I R1D AN >TI-
CLE 9 ! .,*RONICLE AB "S SEV5TE5-YE>-OLD
,AM]ICAN SOLDI]S--TW9S--MISS+ 9 AC;N 9
,ITALY4 ,ONLY ?REE YE>S OLD] ?AN ME1 &
FI<T+4 ,MISS+4 ,I REMEMB]$ !M 6! />S T
NI<T4 ,! ,NOVEMB] #F? .,*RONICLE    #CJD
_H AN EV5 M AMAZ+ /ORY4 ,A COA/GU>DSMAN
0 RETURN+ HOME 6! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES AF TAK+
"P 9 F\R ,S\? ,PACIFIC 9VA.NS4 ,HE'D LI$
AB 8 AGE 6JO94 ,HE 0 F\RTE54 ,MY AGE4 ,I
PICTUR$ MYF LY+ AB MY AGE1 GETT+ ASSIGN$
6! #DDBND1 MOV+ UP 6! FRONT L9E1 CRAWL+
96A FOXHOLE NEXT 6,MIKE1 TAK+ UP MY PO-
SI;N ) MY RIFLE AT MY %\LD]1 & HAV+ HM
LOOK OV] & SEE ME1 J KNEEL+ "! Z IF ,I
2L;G$4 ,I PICTUR$ 8 SMILE1 ! WAY HE'D
GET ME 9 A H1DLOCK & TELL ME H[ GLAD HE
0 6SEE ME4
  ,B WD HE 2 GLAD8 ,D WELL 9 S*OOL1 HE'D
SD4 ,G 6COLLEGE4 ,/AY F> AWAY F UNI=MS &
GUNS & W>4
  ,! SAME PAP] _H AN >TICLE AB ! RESCUE
(A BATTALION ( ,TEXAS SOLDI]S T _H BE5
TRAPP$ 2H 5EMY L9ES 9 ! ,VOSGES ,M.TA9S4
,! >TICLE DIDN'T SAY :O _H RESCU$ !M1 B
,I GOT A :ISP] (A FEEL+4 ,I TRI$ 6"W \ 9
MY H1D ! TIM+1 ! LOC,N ( :AT 0 HAPP5+
OV] "!4 ,I WOND]$ AB ,MIKE'S SECRET AS-
SIGN;T4
  ,M NEWS /ORIES4 ,) MO/ (! VOTES C.T$1
,,FDR--! MAN :O _H S5T U AWAY--     #CJE
0 W9N+ ! #AIDD PRESID5TIAL ELEC;N4 ,AL-
LIES 7 ADVANC+ 9 ! ,PACIFIC1 9 ,ITALY1
,G]_M1 ,FR.E4 ,AM]ICAN CASUALTIES 9 !
BATTLES 9 ! ,VOSGES ,M.TA9S 7 DESCRIB$ Z
8LI<T40 ,I F.D -=T 9 T ^W4
  .,LIFE _H A PHOTO ( ,G5]AL ,MAC,>?UR
WAD+ A%ORE 9 ! ,PHILIPP9ES4 ,I /UDI$ !
PICTURE ON ! SLIM *.E T ,S&Y CD 2 9 X4
,HE WASN'T4 ,! SAME MAGAZ9E _H AN >TICLE
AB ,G]MAN SOLDI]S--PRISON]S ( W>--:O _H
BE5 CAPTUR$ 9 BATTLE & IMPRISON$ 9 ,K5-
TUCKY4 ,_! PRISON--B>B$ WIRE1 GU>D T[]S1
T>PAP] B>RACKS1 DIRT1 DESOLATE C.TRYSIDE
--LOOK$ J L ,TULE ,LAKE4

  ,A ,SATUR"D4 ,COLD1 DRY1 W9DY4 ,I SAT
ON ! /EPS \TSIDE \R B>RACKS1 WAIT+ =!
MAIL 6BE DELIV]$ 6\R BLOCK MANAG]4 ,I
HOP$ =A LR F ,MIKE1 OR ,MAE1 OR ,S&Y1 OR
,RAY4 ,P WALK$ BY1 BUNDL$ UP AG/ ! W1!R4
,GU>DS DROVE PA/ 9 _! JEEPS4 ,9SIDE \R
ROOM ,MOM & ,DAD & ,GR&"M SAT1 W>M+ !MVS
0! FIRE1 WAIT+ =! NEXT BIG EV5T--SUPP]--
6TAKE _! M9DS (F ?+S =A :ILE4
  ,I LOOK$ UP AT ! S.D (A C> AP-    #CJF
PROA*+ F ! DIREC;N (! GATE4 ,X WASN'T A
JEEP S.D1 & N[ T H>VE/ 0 OV]1 WE DIDN'T
GET M* ELSE 9 CAMP4 ,AF A FEW SECONDS ,I
SPOTT$ A DU/Y1 >MY-BR[N ,*EVROLET 9*+ XS
WAY 2T ! R[S ( B>RACKS4 ,X /OPP$ NEXT TO
"O BUILD+1 !N MOV$ ON1 SUNLI<T GL9T+ (F
XS W9D%IELD4
  ,MY *E/ TI<T5$4 ,I _H 6"W 6GET A BR1?4
,I'D SE5 ? C> 2F1 OR XS TW94 ,I PRAY$ X
WD /OP ": X WAS1 TURN >.D1 G BACK4 ,& X
DID /OP4 ,B ONLY TEMPOR>ILY4 ,X 0 SE>*+1
ON ! PR[L4 ,FIFTY Y>DS AWAY X J]K$ AH1D
AG1 & ? "T X ANGL$ T[>D \R B>RACKS1 T[>D
ME4 ,XS BIG GRILLE 0 LOCK$ 9 AN UGLY
GR94
  ,X CREPT =W>D1 CLOS+ GR.D1 L1V+ A L[
WAKE ( DU/4 ,2H ! W9D%IELD ,I CD SEE !
DRIV]1 ! PASS5G]4 ,SOLDI]S1 L;G-FAC$1
H1DS HELD HI<4
  ,I /OOD4 ,I WANT$ 6G 9SIDE & W>N MY
FAMILY4 ,I WANT$ 6RUN4 ,B MAYBE ? WASN'T
:AT ,I FE>$4 ,MAYBE ? 0 "S"O ELSE'S
BRO!R OR SON OR GR&SON4 ,MAYBE X 0 ,MIKE
B HE 0 J MISS+ OR CAPTUR$ OR W.D$4 ,HE'D
GOTT5 A FLE% W.D1 L ! GD GUYS 9 !   #CJG
C[BOY MOVIES4
  ,I F+]$ ! SMOO? SILV] (! CROSS ,MAE _H
GIV5 ME4
  ,! C> /OPP$ T5 FEET AWAY1 CLOSE 5 TO
SPIT AT1 6HIT )A M>#4 ,I DIDN'T D EI4 ,I
J />$ Z ! DOORS OP5$1 Z ! TWO SOLDI]S
GOT \4 ,! PASS5G] C>RI$ A BULG+ MANILA
5VELOPE2 ! DRIV] RETRIEV$ A PACKAGE F !
BACK S1T4 ,!Y CLOS$ ! DOORS & MOV$ TGR &
/OOD1 EYE+ ME4 ,I WAIT$ = !M 6ASK ME DI-
REC;NS 6"S O!R POOR FAMILY'S ROOM4
  8,? ! ,HANADA FAMILY'S A"P;T1 SON80 !
PASS5G] SD4 ,HE 0 AN (FIC]1 "O SILV] B>
ON 8 %IRT COLL>4 ,A LIEUT5ANT1 & "Y4
,:AT DID HE "K AB /UFF L ?1 ANYWAY8
  8,YES10 ,I HE>D MYF SAY+4
  8,YR FOLKS IN80
  8,:Y80 ,I SD1 B ,I KNEW !Y W]5'T GO+
6TELL ME4
  8,WE NE$ 6TALK 6YR FOLKS10 ! DRIV] SD4
,HE TOOK A C\PLE ( /EPS1 WALK+ )A LIMP4
,HE _H A "Y-OLD FACE & WORE S]G1NT'S
/RIPES &A BUN* ( RI2ONS ON 8 UNI=M COAT4
  8,J A M9UTE10 ,I SD1 & ,I OP5$ ! DOOR
& /EPP$ 9SIDE & CLOS$ X 2H ME1      #CJH
L1V+ ! TWO SOLDI]S \TSIDE 9 ! COLD4 ,MY
HE>T 0 P.D+ & ,I 0 SURE ,I WDN'T 2 A# TO
TALK PA/ ! LUMP 9 MY ?ROAT4 ,MAYBE IF ,I
DIDN'T SAY ANY?+1 IF ,I KEPT ! DOOR
CLOS$1 !Y'D J G AWAY4
  ,GR&"M LOOK$ UP F H] FL[] MAK+4 ,I
FELT H] EYES ON ME4 ,%E SMIL$ T P]FECT
:ITE SMILE B !N X 4APPE>$4 8,:AT IS X1
,JOSEPH80
  8,"S SOLDI]S10 ,I SD4 ,MY VOICE E*O$
>.D ! B>E ROOM4 ,MOM & ,DAD GOT 6_! FEET
AT ! S.D ( X4 ,!Y MOV$ T[>D ME4 8,!Y'RE
"H10 ,I SD 6!M4 8,!Y WANT 6TALK 6Y40
  ,MOM SWALL[$ A SOB4 ,I HE>D X DIE 9 H]
?ROAT4 ,GR&"M ROSE & FOLL[$ !M1 WALK+
/I6LY1 Z !Y MOV$ T[>D ! DOOR4 ,I OP5$ X
= !M1 WAIT$ = ,GR&"M 6PASS1 & FOLL[$ !M
\4
  ,! SOLDI]S 7 / "!1 9 ! SAME PLACE1 9 !
SAME POSI;NS1 )! SAME SAD FACES1 Z IF "T
_H /OPP$ ONCE ,I'D G"O 9SIDE4 ,I LOOK$
PA/ !M1 PA/ _! C>4 ,P WALK$ BY1 HURRY+
ONCE !Y TOOK 9 ! SC5E1 LOOK+ AWAY OR
D[N1 \ ( RESPECT1 MAYBE1 OR FE> T X CD
HAPP5 6!M NEXT1 T X 0 CAT*+4        #CJI
  8,MR4 & ,MRS4 ,HANADA80 ! LIEUT5ANT
SD4 ,WE /OOD 9 FRONT (! SOLDI]S ON ! H>D
GR.D1 L9$ UP L ! T>GETS (A FIR+ SQUAD1
,DAD ON "O 5D1 !N ,MOM1 ,GR&"M1 & F9,Y1
ME4 ,! LIEUT5ANT LOOK$ AT ,GR&"M & NO4$4
8,MA'AM40
  8,I AM ,MI*AEL'S GR&"M10 %E SD1 RAIS+
H]F UP 6H] FULL HEI<T4 ,%E KNEW :Y ^!
SOLDI]S 7 "H4
  ,! LIEUT5ANT NO4$ AT H] AG4 ,! S]G1NT
LOOK$ AT ME4 8,? IS 8 BRO!R ,JOSEPH10 %E
SD4 8,HE IS TOO "Y 6G 9 ! >MY40
  ,! LIEUT5ANT GAVE H] A HALF-SMILE T
TURN$ SAD4 8,I'M AFRAID WE H BAD NEWS10
HE SD4 ,HE GL.ED AT A PIECE ( PAP]--A LR
--IN 8 H&4 8,WE'VE RCVD NOTIFIC,N T
,PRIVATE ,F/ ,CLASS ,MI*AEL ,HANADA 0
KILL$ 9 AC;N 9 ! ,VOSGES ,M.TA9S ( ,FR.E
:ILE S]V+ )! ,?IRD ,BATTALION (! ,F\R-
=TY-SECOND ,REGI;TAL ,-BAT ,T1M1 ,UNIT$
,/ATES ,>MY40 ,! ^WS FLOOD$ \1 B !Y HIT
L SEP>ATE WAVES3 CRA%+1 CRA%+1 CRA%+4
  ,I HE>D S(T NOISES F ,DAD & ,MOM B ,I
DIDN'T D>E LOOK AT !M4 ,! LIEUT5ANT
/UDI$ ! PAP]4 ,8 F+]S 7 TREMBL+4    #CAJ
,GR&"M'S >M W5T >.D MY %\LD]S B ,I CDN'T
FEEL X4 ,I FELT NUMB4 8,HE &! RE/ ( 8
UNIT 7 5GAG$ 9 AN EF=T 6FREE A BATTALION
( SOLDI]S : _H 2COME TRAPP$ 2H 5EMY
L9ES10 HE 3T9U$4 8,PRIVATE ,F/ ,CLASS
,HANADA & 8 FELL[ SOLDI]S F"\ VALIANTLY
& AG/ ALL O4S4 ,& !Y 7 SU3ESS;L40
  ,HE W5T ON1 TALK+ AB ! IMPORT.E ( :AT
!Y _H D"O 6! OV]ALL W> EF=T1 ! GRATITUDE
(! "MS & "FS (! SOLDI]S :O _H BE5 RES-
CU$1 ! M$ALS T 7 LIKELY 6BE AW>D$4 ,8
VOICE FAD$ 96! BACKGR.D Z MY M9D DRIFT$
AWAY4 ,I ?"\ AB ,MIKE'S SPECIAL MIS.N4
,I RECALL$ ! >TICLE ,I _H R1D AB ! LO/
BATTALION ( ,TEXAS SOLDI]S4 ,I WOND]$ :O
0 RESPONSI# = _! GETT+ TRAPP$1 :O _H
MADE ! DECI.N 6S5D ! BATTALIONS ( ,NISEI
9 6GET !M \4 ,"P ( ME WANT$ "S"O 6BLAME4
,B :AT GD WD T D8
  ,I DRA7$ MYF \ ( MY ?"\S & BACK 6MY
NI<TM>E4 ,! SOLDI]S 7 H&+ ! LR & 5VELOPE
& PACKAGE 6MY P>5TS1 SAY+ "S?+ AB P]SON-
AL E6ECTS4 ,GR&"M 0 CRY+ 6H]F4 ,I CD
FEEL H] SOBS4 ,!Y SPR1D 6ME4 ,"? MY TE>S
,I WAT*$ ! SOLDI]S TURN & WALK TO   #CAA
_! C>4 ,!Y GOT 9 & />T$ (F1 MAK+ A SL[
HALF-CIRCLE 2F H1D+ =! GATE4
  ,WE CAME TGR--,DAD1 ,MOM1 ,GR&"M1 & ME
--IN A KNOT ( GRIEF4 ,S.DS ( M\RN+ P\R$
\ ( \R M\?S & FL[$ >.D U L A DEEP MOAT4
,P 3T9U$ 6HURRY PA/1 GO+ 6SUPP] OR 6VIS-
IT FRS OR 6R1D _! LATE/ LR F _! [N SOL-
DI]4 ,NO "O BRIDG$ ! MOAT4
  ,WE SKIPP$ SUPP]4 ,WE SAT \TSIDE1 IM-
MUNE 6! PUNY *ILL 9 ! AIR4 ,X 0 DW>F$ 0!
*ILL 9 \R HE>TS4
  ,F9,Y WE MOV$ 9SIDE 6! W>M? (! FIRE4
,DAD PUT ,MIKE'S ?+S 9 A CORN]1 UNOP5$4
,WE TALK$ B SD NO?+4 ,AT F/ ,I EXPECT$
AN \TBUR/ F ,GR&"M1 BITT] ^WS F ,DAD1 A
TORR5T ( MIS]Y F ,MOM4 ,^? ?+S DIDN'T
HAPP51 & :5 !Y DIDN'T1 ,I ?"\ ,I "U/OOD
:Y4 ,? ?+--,MIKE'S D1?--WAS TOO BIG4
,:AT CD MAT* X8
  ,WE _H _H MON?S 6?9K AB ! POSSIBIL;Y (
,MIKE'S DY+1 6PREP>E1 B X _H LEFT U 9
%OCK ANYWAY4 ,:AT ,I SAW ON ! FACES (
,MOM & ,DAD & ,GR&"M1 9 _! EYES1 0 NUMB-
;S4 ,& "O O!R ?+3 WAT*;L;S4 ,!Y ALL
SEEM$ 6BE WAT*+ ME1 EXPECT+ ME TO   #CAB
CRUM#1 WAIT+ 6PUT ME BACK TGR4 ,B ,I
FELT PETRIFI$1 L A PIECE ( ANCI5T WOOD4
,I CDN'T CRUM#4
  ,I W5T 6! WALL & RER1D ,MIKE'S LRS4
,OV] & OV]4 ,/>LI<T4 ,! AFGL[ (A D1D />4
  ,NO "O R1D ! NEWSPAP]2 "! 0 NO NE$4
,WE W5T 6B$ E>LY & LAY 9 ! D>K & LI/5$
6EA* O!R /RU7LE = SLEEP4 ,GR&"M SLIPP$
AWAY F/1 !N MY P>5TS1 \ ( ^WS 6SAY 6EA*
O!R4 ,I LAY "! L;G]1 WIDE AWAKE4 ,F9,Y
,I F.D MY FLA%LI<T & SWIT*$ X ON4 ,I
WROTE4 ,MY FEEL+S ROSE L A RA9-SWOLL5
RIV]4 ,!Y SPILL$ OV]1 ONTO ! PAGES ( MY
J\RNAL4










                ,,EI<TE5            #CAC

  ,I WOKE ! NEXT MORN+ 6! S.DS ( MY P>-
5TS4 ,!Y 7 SITT+ ON ! $GE ( ,MOM'S BUNK
9 ! E>LY LI<T F ! W9D[1 HOLD+ EA* O!R1
SI<+ & SO2+ & %AK+ _! H1DS & MURMUR+ TO
EA* O!R 9 ,JAPANESE4 ,I LOOK$ >.D \R
%A2Y LL ROOM & TRI$ N 6TELL MYF T ? 0
:AT ,MIKE _H DI$ =4 ,I CLOS$ MY EYES &
PRET5D$ 6BE ASLEEP4 ,0 ,GR&"M1 LY+ S /
NEXT 6ME1 DO+ ! SAME8
  ,I WOND]$ IF "! 0 A WAY 6MAKE A TRADE1
MY LIFE = ,MIKE'S4 ,MAYBE IF ,I DI$ & X
WD BR+ HM BACK1 MY P>5TS WDN'T 2 S HE>T-
BROK54 ,& ,I WDN'T H 6BE1 EI4 ,B EV5 )
MY M9D CL\D$ ) SLEEP & SORR[ ,I KNEW MY
P>5TS LOV$ ME TOO4 ,& ,I KNEW A TRADE
WASN'T POSSI#4
  ,EV5TU,Y ,I DID FALL BACK 6SLEEP4 ,:5
,I WOKE1 MY P>5TS 7 G"O4 ,6*UR*1 ,GR&"M
SD4 ,I 0 GLAD !Y _HN'T ASK$ ME4 ,I
WASN'T HAPPY ) ,GOD4 ,I _H NO?+ 6SAY TO
HM4 ,N N[4 ,I NO L;G] FELT L A LL KID1 &
MAYBE ,MOM & ,DAD SAW T4 ,MAYBE !Y 7 AL-
L[+ ME 6MAKE MY [N WAY1 AT L1/ =A LL
:ILE4                               #CAD
  ,I GOT UP1 EMPTY Z A HOBO'S POCKET1 &
W5T 6BR1KFA/ ) ,GR&"M4 ,I FELT P'S EYES
ON ME4 ,"S ( !M CAME UP & SD !Y 7 SORRY
6LE>N AB ,MIKE4 ,I WAT*$ _! M\?S MOVE1 B
,I HE>D ! S.DS ( BATTLE4 ,I DIDN'T "K
:AT 6SAY BACK EXCEPT ?ANK Y4
  ,! "D DRA7$ ON4 ,I WALK$ 6! CANTE5 )
,MOM1 R1D A .,LIFE MAGAZ9E1 DUG = %ELLS4
,ANY?+ 6GET MY M9D ON "S?+ LESS PA9;L
?AN ,MIKE'S D1?4 ,B ,I / KEPT PICTUR+ HM
OV] "!1 DY+ 9 "S /RANGE COLD PLACE1 AL"O
MAYBE4 ,! SOLDI]S _HN'T SD EXACTLY H[ HE
DI$1 S MY IMAG9,N TOOK OV]1 *OOS+ A L9-
G]+1 CRUEL D1? "O M9UTE1 A QK1 M]CI;L "O
! NEXT4 ,B N"O ( !M 0 M]CI;L1 RE,Y4 ,I
FELT Z IF MY HE>T 7 GO+ 6%ATT] L T L;G-
AGO M>#4
  ,I W5T 6! F;E T NI<T ) ,DAD4 ,! />S
CAME \1 B"R1 MOCK+1 D>+ ME 6MAKE ANO!R
WI%4
  ,S ,I DID4 ,I DECID$ 6G = BROKE4 ,I
WI%$ =A SAFE & P1CE;L PLACE = ,MIKE2 ,I
WI%$ ,I CD SEE HM AG "S"D2 ,I WI%$ WE WD
GET 6L1VE ? PRISON SOON2 ,I WI%$ =A NEW
PLACE = U 6LIVE ": P JUDG$ U 0:AT   #CAE
WE DID 9/1D ( H[ WE LOOK$4
  ,DAD 0 QUIET4 8,MIKE HELP$ SAVE _M
LIVES10 HE SD F9,Y4
  8,Y1H10 ,I SD4 ,I CD SEE MY BR1? 9 !
COLD AIR4 8,I WI% "S"O WD H SAV$ HIS40
,B X 0 TOO LATE = T WI%4
  ,T NI<T1 AF ! LI<TS 7 \ & ,I ?"\ "EY"O
0 ASLEEP1 ,I GOT \ ( B$ & DRESS$ & TOOK
MY M>#S \ 6! FIELD ": ,MAE & ,I _H PLAY$
S _M "TS1 ": ,MIKE & ,I _H PLAY$ 2F HE
LEFT4 ,9 ! MOONLI<T ,I DUG A HOLE )!
%OVEL ,S&Y _H GIV5 ME4 ,I BURI$ ! BAG (
M>#S DEEP 9 ! ANCI5T SOIL & PACK$ X D[N
ON TOP ( !M4
  ,DAD 0 WAIT+ = ME 9 ! %AD[S :5 ,I NE>$
! B>RACKS4 ,I 0 GLAD 6SEE HM4 ,I DIDN'T
FEEL Z GR[N UP J !N4 ,HE PUT 8 >M >.D
ME1 & )\T ^WS1 WE W5T 9SIDE4 ,WE W5T 6B$
& LI/5$ 6EA* O!R BR1!4

  ,! NEXT MORN+ ,I WOKE UP E>LY1 2F ANY-
"O4 ,I TRI$ 6GET BACK 6SLEEP1 6RECAPTURE
A SWEET1 LIFELIKE DR1M ,I _H _H 9 !
NI<T4 ,B ,I CDN'T SLEEP4 ,I KEPT RELIV+
! "D 2F1 ! "D 2F T4 ,:5 F/ LI<T     #CAF
CAME 96! ROOM1 ,I WROTE ( ^? "DS4
  ,I SKIPP$ S*OOL2 MY P>5TS SD NO?+4
  ,T AFN1 LRS CAME 9 ! MAIL--"O = ME F
,MAE1 "O = MY P>5TS F ,MAE'S P>5TS4 ,GD
NEWS1 F9,Y4 ,A WI% GRANT$1 F9,Y4 8,WE H
F.D A SPONSOR = Y60 ,MAE WROTE4 8,"! IS
A JOB = YR DAD &A PLACE = Y 6LIVE40 ,WE
WD 2 L1V+ ,TULE Z SOON Z F9AL >RANGE;TS
CD 2 MADE )! GOV]N;T1 MOV+ 6,ONT>IO1
,OREGON1 NE> ,MAE & H] FAMILY4 ,A FEW
WEEKS1 & WE WD 2 G"O4
  ,MY HE>T FELT LI<T]1 UP F ! BOTTOM (
MY *E/4 ,I WD MISS ,RAY1 B ,I _H GOTT5
US$ 6MISS+ HM4 ,MAE WD 2 MY FR1 & MAYBE
"! 7 O!R FRS 9 ,ONT>IO ,I J _HN'T MADE
YET4 ,I WD MISS ! ,:ITE ,RIV] ,VALLEY1 B
,I _H A FEEL+ X WDN'T MISS ME4
  ,I SAW SAD SMILES ON MY P>5TS' FACES1
LIFE 9 ,GR&"M'S EYES4 ,MIKE'S D1? WD 2 )
U ="E1 B MAYBE HE _H DI$ = "S?+ AF ALL4
,I WANT$ 62LIEVE T1 EV5 ?\< ,I DIDN'T
FEEL X4
  ,MY P>5TS WROTE BACK 6,MAE'S P>5TS1
?ANK+ !M = "EY?+ !Y _H D"O4 ,I WROTE
BACK 6,MAE4 ,I TOLD H] AB ,MIKE1    #CAG
H[ ,I MISS$ HM4 ,I TOLD H] ,I WD KEEP MY
PROMISE 6T1* H] 6:I/LE4 ,B ! RE/ ( MY LR
0 FILL$ ) ?ANKS4 ,I WALK$ 6! PO/ (FICE &
MAIL$ ! LRS4
  ,:5 ,I RETURN$ 6\R ROOM ,GR&"M 0 G"O1
DO+ LAUNDRY4 ,DAD & ,MOM 7 AL AWAY1
TALK+ 6REPORT]S =! .,/> AB AN >TICLE ON
,MIKE1 TALK+ 6,R"E5D ,SAKAMOTO AB A ME-
MORIAL S]VICE4
  ,I /OK$ UP ! FIRE 9 ! /OVE & /OOD
BACK1 LOOK+ >.D ! LL ROOM ": WE _H SP5T
M ?AN TWO YE>S ( \R LIVES1 REM9D+ MYF WE
_H ONLY A FEW M WEEKS "H4
  ,MIKE'S 2L;G+S / SAT 9 "O CORN]1 UN-
T\*$4 ,I />$ AT !M =A M9UTE1 3SID]+1
WOND]+ IF ANY"O WD C>E IF ,I LOOK$4 ,%D
,I LET MY P>5TS 2 ! F/ 6G "? 8 /UFF8 ,B
,I DECID$ T IF !Y WANT$ 6BE F/ !Y WD'VE
LOOK$ 0N[1 !Y WD'VE W>N$ ME AWAY4 ,S ,I
W5T 6! CORN] & PICK$ UP ! 5VELOPE &
PACKAGE & BR"\ !M 6! TA#4
  ,! 5VELOPE DIDN'T 3TA9 M*3 ! H&K]*IEF
)! RIV] & TREES ,GR&"M _H MADE = ,MIKE1
! /"O %E _H GIV5 HM1 MY OLD S*OOL
PICTURE1 "S (! LRS WE _H WRITT5     #CAH
6HM1 ! ,SA9T ,*RI/OPH] M$AL4 ,"EY?+ 0
DIRTY1 WAT]-/R1K$1 WR9KL$ & B5T & DOG-
E>$4 ,EXCEPT =! M$AL4 ,X 0 %9Y1 Z IF "S-
"O _H RU2$ X CL1N1 & ,I WOND]$ :Y4 ,0 X
J MUD T _H BE5 SCRU2$ AWAY8
  ,I PUT "EY?+ BACK & CLASP$ ! 5VELOPE
%UT4 ,PU%+ X ASIDE1 ,I TURN$ MY ATT5;N
6! PACKAGE4 ,X 0 WRAPP$ 9 BR[N PAP]1
TAP$ & TW9$4 ,GOV]N;T-ISSUE PACKAG+1 ,I
FIGUR$4 ,I SLIPP$ (F ! TW9E & TORE AWAY
TWO LAY]S ( PAP]4 ,9SIDE 0 ..,! ,R$
,BADGE ( .,C\RAGE1 DIRTY & BATT]$4 ,"U X
0 ANO!R BOOK3 ,MIKE'S J\RNAL4
  ,I PICK$ X UP & ?UMB$ "? X1 BACK TO
FRONT4 ,! PAGES 7 SWOLL5 & DIRTY &
BLANK4 ,BLANK4 ,BLANK4 ,ALL BLANK4
  ,UNTIL ,I GOT 6! 2G9N+4 ,AT ! TOP (!
F/ PAGE 0 A DATE3 ,OCTOB] #BD?1 #AIDD4
,2L ! DATE 0 A POEM4 ,ON ! NEXT FEW PAG-
ES1 OV] ! NEXT FEW "DS1 HE'D WRITT5 O!R
POEMS1 "S 9 P51 "S 9 P5CIL1 ALL ( !M
/R1K$ ) GRIME4 ,I NE>LY SMIL$ AT ! ?"\ (
,MIKE AVOID+ 8 J\RNAL = S L;G1 Z IF X 7
AN EXTRA HELP+ ( BR9$ LIV]4 ,I NE>LY
CRI$ AT ! ?"\ ( :AT MON/]-"U-!-B$   #CAI
HORRORS F9,Y DROVE HM 6/>T WRIT+ 9 X4

    ,OCTOB] #BD?3
,D1? 9 ! "D1 FE>
,AT NI<T4 ,HURRY UP & WAIT1
,HURRY UP & WAIT4

    ,OCTOB] #BE?3
,FREEDOM IS A BL
,MAN1 CAN+ "? A M9EFIELD4
,HE> 8 TAP-TAP-TAP8

    ,OCTOB] #BF?3
,SOLDI]S1 FI<T+ SLEEP1
,%IV] "U DR5*$ BLANKETS4
,FRIGID SUN RISES4

    ,OCTOB] #BH?3
,BLOOD SPILLS1 *]RY-R$1
,F BR[N BODIES4 ,D COLORS
,MATT]1 9 ! 5D8

    ,OCTOB] #BI?3
,:5 FREEDOM WALKS "H1
,NISEI C H1D HOME AT LA/4           #CBJ
,:5 W !Y 2 FREE8

  ,:5 !Y DIE1 ,I SD 6MYF4 ,:5 !Y DIE4
  ,I R1D ,MIKE'S ^WS AG & AG1 UNTIL MY
?ROAT 0 ?ICK ) SAD;S1 UNTIL ! L9ES
BLURR$ OV]4 ,!N ,I SAT )! J\RNAL OP5 9
FRONT ( ME1 WAIT+ = MY FAMILY 6-E BACK4
,MOM & ,DAD & ,GR&"M NE$$ 6R1D :AT ,MIKE
_H WRITT54
  ,DAD RETURN$ F/4 ,! BURD5 ( TALK+ AB
,MIKE WEI<$ ON 8 %\LD]S1 MAK+ HM LOOK
OLD]4 ,B :5 HE SAW ME A SMILE CROSS$ 8
FACE4 ,I REMEMB]$ 8 BRAVE ^WS :5 HE'D J
MISS$ ,MIKE'S L1V+3 ..,I W 5JOY ,MI*AEL
:5 HE .RETURNS4
  ,I /OOD & GAVE HM ,MIKE'S J\RNAL4 8,HE
WROTE "S?+10 ,I SD4
  ,HE H&$ ME A SMALL SACK4 ,! CLO? 0
PURE :ITE & C9*$ AT ! TOP ) ORANGE /R+4
8,AN EX*ANGE10 HE SD4 8,Y W NE$ ^! N[40
  ,WEI<+ ! 4TANTLY FAMILI> 3T5TS (!
SACK1 ,I WAIT$ = HM 6/>T R1D+ ,MIKE'S
^WS4 ,!N ,I UNC9*$ ! /R+ & LOOK$4 ,M>#S4
,NEW "OS4 ,DOZ5S ( !M4 ,SURPRISE--&
,DAD'S ?"\;L;S--TOOK MY BR1?        #CBA
AWAY4
  ,^! ,I WD KEEP4 ,^! 7 FREE (! MEMORIES
,I F.D M BITT] ?AN SWEET4 ,I WAT*$
,DAD'S FACE Z ,I SLIPP$ MY H& 96! SACK &
LET ! SMOO? GLASS FL[ "? MY F+]S4 8,?ANK
Y10 ,I SD1 GRATE;L HE DIDN'T ?9K ME TOO
GR[N UP = ? GIFT4
  ,HE NO4$1 EYES ON ! PAGE4 8,?ANK .Y1
,JOSEPH40 ,HE PULL$ A *AIR 6! /OVE & SAT
) 8 COAT / ON1 R1D+ & RER1D+4 ,I W5T 6MY
BAG & GOT \ MY J\RNAL4 ,I SAT 9 A *AIR
NEXT 6HM & A4$ "S ^WS4
  ,:5 HE F9,Y CLOS$ ,MIKE'S J\RNAL & SET
X C>E;LLY ON ! FLOOR NEXT 6HM1 ,I H&$ HM
M9E4 8,NO "O ELSE HAS R1D X10 ,I SD4
  8,I AM HONOR$1 !N40 ,8 VOICE 0 WAT]Y1
8 EYES 7 SPILL+ OV]4 ,HE MOV$ 8 *AIR
CLOS] 6M9E & OP5$ ! J\RNAL4 ,HE R1D1 !
EXPRES.NS ON 8 FACE *ANG+ L ! S1SONS1
:ILE MY ATT5;N %IFT$ BACK & =? 2T HM &
MY M>#S1 :ILE ,I REMOV$ EA* "O F ! SACK
& EXAM9$ X 9 ! FIRELI<T1 IMAG9+ X Z A
PE>L4
  ,I WOND]$ :AT HE 0 ?9K+1 :AT HE WD SAY
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A FREE PLACE1 AB L1V+ ,TULE ,LAKE4 ,I
?"\ AB ,MIKE'S DR1M = MY FUTURE1 ! AD-
VICE HE _H GIV5 ME AB S*OOL & COLLEGE &
WRIT+4
  ,I ?"\ AB MY DR1M (! NI<T 2F1 ! "O ,I
WANT$ N"E 6=GET1 ! "O ,I _H J WRITT5 ( 9
MY J\RNAL4
  ,9 ! DR1M ,MIKE & ,I >E BACK 9 \R GRE5
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BR1! 9 ! COOL SPR+ AIR1 SMELL ! FRE%
SMELLS ( NEW LIFE SPR\T+ F TREES & %RUBS
& GR.D4 ,WE TOSS A FIR C"O BACK & =?1
LAU<+1 UNTIL D>K;S S5DS U HOME4










             ,AU?OR'S ,NOTE         #CBC

  ,JAPAN'S #AIDA BOMB+ ( ,HAWAII RATTL$
! _W L A MON/R\S E>?QUAKE1 ROLL+ GIGAN-
TIC %OCK WAVES ACR ! ,PACIFIC4 ,! WAVES
CDN'T 2 SE51 B !Y 7 R1L & !Y _H "NS4
,4BELIEF4 ,SORR[4 ,FE>4 ,ANG]4 ,HATR$4
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LY W> ) ,JAPAN & XS ,EUROP1N ALLIES4 ,&
WA%$ AWAY ! "RS ( ?\S&S ( \R [N P4
  ,9 ! "DS J AF ! BOMB+1 \R GOV]N;T >-
RE/$ _M 9FLU5TIAL ,JAPANESE ,AM]ICANS
LIV+ ON ! ,WE/ ,COA/4 ,)9 A FEW MON?S1
_! FAMILIES & FRS--5TIRE POPUL,NS ( LOY-
AL RESID5TS & CITIZ5S--W]E 2+ =C$ F _!
HOMES1 PROCESS$ "? PRIMITIVE ASSEMBLY
C5T]S1 & S5T F> AWAY 6LIVE 9 BACKC.TRY
9T]N;T CAMPS4 ,= MO/ "Y M51 ! ONLY WAY \
( ^! CAMPS1 : AT _! P1K HELD APPROXI-
MATELY #ABJ1JJJ ,JAPANESE ,AM]ICANS1 0
0JO9+ ! >MY & FI<T+ =! C.TRY T _H TURN$
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  ,ONCE GIV5 ! OPPORTUN;Y1 !Y VOLUNTE]$
0! ?\S&S4 ,!Y S]V$ 9 ! ,PACIFIC1 9 ,NOR?
,AFRICA1 9 ,EUROPE4 ,_! BRAV]Y &
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PRICE4 ,! M$AL "KN Z ! ,PURPLE ,HE>T IS
AW>D$ 6^? :O >E KILL$ OR W.D$ 9 BATTLE4
,SOLDI]S (! #DDBND ,REGI;TAL ,-BAT ,T1M1
LIV+--& DY+--0_! MOTTO ( ,G = ,BROKE1
RCVD OV] N9E ?\S& ,PURPLE ,HE>TS4 ,!Y 7
AW>D$ AN EQUAL NUMB] ( O!R M$ALS1 9CLUD+
?IRTY-?REE ,4T+UI%$ ,S]VICE ,CROSSES1 !
HI<E/ DECOR,N = VALOR ^! SOLDI]S 7 3SID-
]$ = 9 ^? "DS4
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,UNIT ,CIT,NS4 ,AT ! 5D ( ,_W ,W> ,,II1
:5 ,PRESID5T ,TRUMAN PRES5T$ ! LA/ ( ^!
CIT,NS DUR+ A C]EMONY ON ! ,:ITE ,H\SE
GR.DS1 HE SPOKE 6! ,NISEI SOLDI]S AB !
IMPORT.E ( :AT !Y _H D"O4 8,Y F"\ N ONLY
! 5EMY1 B Y F"\ PREJUDICE1 & Y WON40
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ES1 ,NISEI SOLDI]S & _! FAMILIES--^? :O
_H SURVIV$ ! W> & 5DUR$ ! CAMPS--CAME
HOME 6-MUNITIES ": _M P / LOOK$ ON !M Z
! 5EMY1 ": RESUM+ _! LIVES M1NT />T+
OV]4 ,_M ( !M _H NO?+ 6RETURN TO4 ,_M (
!M DECID$ N 6RETURN4
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,:ITE ,RIV] ,VALLEY1 NE> ,S1TTLE1 7 AM;G
^? ^: LIVES 7 ="E *ANG$4
  ,X WASN'T UNTIL #AIGF T ,EXECUTIVE
,ORD] #IJFF 0 (FICI,Y T]M9AT$4 ,X WASN'T
UNTIL #AIIF T ,3GRESS REQUE/$ A REVIEW (
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CANS & ,PACIFIC ,ISL&]S ^: ,_W ,W> ,,II
H]OICS _H BE5 OV]LOOK$1 IGNOR$1 OR 9T5-
;N,Y D[NPLAY$4 ,Z A RESULT ( T REVIEW1
TW5TY ,JAPANESE ,AM]ICAN SOLDI]S1 _M (
:OM 7 NO L;G] LIV+1 7 AW>D$ ! ,M$AL (
,HONOR1 ! HI<E/ AW>D = VALOR GIV5 6MEM-
B]S (! >M$ =CES4 ,! AW>D C]EMONY TOOK
PLACE 9 ,WA%+TON1 ,D4,C41 ON ,JUNE #BA1
#BJJJ1 FIFTY-FIVE YE>S AF ! W> 5D$4









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