Jane found these words her father had written on a piece of paper . . .
"in the city of good times and glory dear ‘Frisco I saw the light"--written by Jane's father, Matti Adrian Noponen. we tried to piece together what he might have written if he had written a long piece . . .
the war is over nothing left for us to do
those of us who are left
but go home
at least we have a home to go to
most of us
it’s hard to get the stench
of the Philippines’
completely out of my clothes
its over
memories and smells
of the Trans Siberian Railroad
which we guarded
as our men were finally going home
train left Moscow
ended its run in
Vladivostok
. . . weeks and weeks later . . .
“in the city of good times and glory
dear 'Frisco I first saw the light”—
we hefted duffel bags
entered the city
drunkenness prevailed
tattoo shop
American Eagle
women throwing themselves at us
we were catching them too
through all the insanity
of those days
we finally made it to
Fairport Harbor, Ohio
licking his wounds
“no place in the world like Fairport Harbor, Ohio!!!” he said over and over
he had made it back
trying to forget what he had seen
over there
he had one regret
that he got the tattoo of the America Eagle
when people asked him why
he said, “the eagle was worth fighting
and dying for
but it was not for play”
(c)July 4, 2018 / Jerry Pat Bolton / Jane Elin Noponen Percinacci
I believe you got it right. Those were very heady days. And San Francisco always was a magnet. I can imagine how he felt after the campaigns he was on to see the mainland of the United States again and all the pleasures waiting for him in The City.
I was there only three years on the Peninsula. One time, a veteran came back from Nam to our apartment complex with $3000 sendoff/reup(?) money to spend and no way to get to Frisco. I provided the car and driver for him and his buddies. We did the town up right and I got them back home safe and sound before dawn.
When I was there, it was considered "Okie" (naïve Oklahoman) sacrilege to call The City, Frisco. San Francisco was the proper name and everyone knew what you meant by, The City by the Bay.
This is so heartfelt and moving, with a beautiful ending about the American eagle! I'm glad I have the chance to see this! Thank you both you and Jane for sharing this!
This brought tears to my eyes! Yes, those words and things he would talk about at home to us kids were amazing! Thank you so much Jerry Bolton for helping put this together so well. Yes, after my dad got home, he was boxing up until he met my mother! She stood by her man! Her name was Eila Margit Kuhlman.
Share
Print
Save
Follow
I was there only three years on the Peninsula. One time, a veteran came back from Nam to our apartment complex with $3000 sendoff/reup(?) money to spend and no way to get to Frisco. I provided the car and driver for him and his buddies. We did the town up right and I got them back home safe and sound before dawn.
When I was there, it was considered "Okie" (naïve Oklahoman) sacrilege to call The City, Frisco. San Francisco was the proper name and everyone knew what you meant by, The City by the Bay.
Ron
Sandie
Jane Noponen Perinacci
"dear 'Frisco I first saw the light..............