Mrs. Cordie's Soldier Son: A World War II Saga

Discharge and A Civilian

DISCHARGE AND A CIVILIAN In November 1945 Staff Sgt. D.C. Caughran Jr. reported to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, with the express purpose of being discharged from the U.S. Army. Fort Sam was where many Texas soldiers went to obtain their discharge—in both wars. My grandfather, who served in France in World War I, was discharged at Fort Sam Houston, and my father was discharged there upon his return from the Pacific in World War II. During his service, D.C. accumulated seventy-one points, which eventually made him eligible for discharge. However, since he had been a prisoner of war, U.S. Army policy did not allow him to be discharged immediately, no matter how many points he had. The acute infectious hepatitis that nearly killed D.C. in 1945 resurfaced after his discharge. Several years later he filed a claim for disability through the Veterans Administration but was unsuccessful since, approximately a month before his discharge, he was tested for hepatitis, but the result was negative . In 1954 D.C. was offered an opportunity to refile a claim, but he declined. The last letter that D.C. wrote as a soldier was postmarked November 28, 1945. He expressed his disappointment that he had not yet been discharged, but he went to the PX to buy a few things and gave his folks an idea of the bus schedules back to Dallas, knowing that he would soon be a civilian on his way home. His discharge papers document his separation from the U.S. Army the next day—November 29, 1945. After the war D.C. considered every year that he lived a bonus. To me, an outsider, D.C. had everything a man could ever hope for or Discharge and a Civilian 147 dream of. The great thing is, he knew it, too. Another former POW, Bob Neary, articulated similar feelings: “I had never fully realized before going overseas just how wonderful this country of ours is. I had always taken for granted my complete liberty, freedom of speech and countless luxuries that I considered my heritage as an American.” He continued, “My year and a day of oppression and want in prison camp have challenged my perspective completely. I think I had learned my lesson well and feel that I shall never forget it. I am an American! And I am grateful.” In a college English composition prior to the war, D.C. stated that his character did not suit him. He considered himself too serious and felt that he was unable to forget his problems and enjoy himself. He believed that he took his work too seriously and could not rest until it was finished. He stated that he admired a person who could have good times despite the problems that life continually throws at us. The latter is the type of person that he wanted to be. I doubt D.C. ever thought about that long-ago English paper. The day-to-day stresses probably weighed too heavily on him (just as for many of us), but with his family, I know how much he appreciated life. I saw it often with his wife, Mildred Darst Caughran, his daughters, and his grandsons. ...