St. Petersburg, Florida, Feb – May 1945
I was rotated back to the USA the beginning of 1/45. After one month’s furlough, I reported in February to the reclassification center in Miami Beach, Florida. After a few weeks there, I was sent to the Don Ce Sar Convalescent Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.
It was here that the Air Corps was determining my medical status and in turn the next step for me. I never flew again but continued to receive basic pay (about $200/month) PLUS flight pay (1/2 basic salary).
I spent 16 glorious weeks in sunny Florida until the end of May when the war ended in Europe and I was discharged from the service.
During my stay at the Don Ce Sar, I was not assigned to an active unit and managed to attend my brother Jerome’s wedding as his best man. Jerome and Vera were married on February 24, 1945. The very next day my sister, Charlotte, reconnected with my childhood friend, Julius Brier, and they were engaged by April.
Good thing I was finally promoted to 1st Lt. so I could show off for family and friends back home. Good thing I was convalescing in Florida and was able to get a great tan for the wedding.