by Milton J. Long
I met my wife on a Greyhound Bus in 1943, while in route to my home from Fort Knox, KY.
I was stationed at Fort Knox on Cadre the entire year of 1943. This offered me the opportunity to go home over the weekend whenever my schedule would permit. My method of getting home was to try and hitch a ride if possible.
I always kept the bus behind me so my folks would know when I would get to Columbus Ohio, where they would pick me up. I usually left Louisville about 5 PM and this would get me into Columbus about 10 PM Friday night. This was in June 1943 and I went to the service man’s pickup station in
Louisville and waited for a ride.
I got a ride with a fellow that was going towards Cincinnati and all was well until about half way to Cincinnati. he said he was leaving the main road so I had to get out. Well, I waited for another vehicle to come and finally I saw the headlights headed my way. It was the bus with Cincinnati on the sign. I flagged it down and got on. We hadn’t gone very far until I noticed a good looking gal and her mother riding in the front seats. I started a conversation with her and learned that they had been visiting her brother at Camp Campbell, KY. They were from Stow, Ohio near Akron. We had coffee while we stopped in Cincinnati and got on the Columbus bus. I got her address and told her I would call her the next time I was in Wooster. They went on to Akron when I got off in Columbus to meet my folks.
I received cookies and letters from her and the first time I was able to go and see her was in October. This 3 day pass was to include a visit to Stow, however on Saturday while riding my motorcycle, I hit a dog and it threw me off the bike and skinned up my knee so bad I couldn’t kick the starter to use the bike.
My folks told me to take their car, which I did. Coming home from the visit in the morning, I was involved in a car accident and it banged up the folks car quite a bit. Well, needless to say, when I got back to Ft. Knox, I was a sad sight. I had tore up my uniform and still had a stiff leg. During the months that followed, I got to see her quite a bit. My mother and her visited me at Camp Campbell, KY just prior to my going overseas. During 1944, we carried on with letters and cookies and while I was overseas, and I sent her some gifts.
When I returned home in February 1946, we got to know each other and decided to get married.
On August 24th. 1946 we were married in Wooster, Ohio. We had 4 children, 3 boys and a girl. My oldest son went to Kent and received a ROTC commission and served 20 years in the Army Reserve and reached a rank of lt. Colonel. I retired in 1983 with over 34 years of service and the rank of Lt. Colonel. My wife and I have now been married 58 years and are very proud of our family.
That’s the rest of the story. If in 1943 it had not been a bad night for hitch hiking, the story would have been a lot different, I am sure. So love on a Greyhound Bus is a lasting love.
Milton J. Long
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Published U.S. Legacies February 2005
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