“It seems that you’ve found something here. When are you going back?”
“Tomorrow.” Ethel smiled. “Maybe you should come with me. It would be good for the young boys to see a man who looks like them.”
“Darling, I’d love to. Maybe once work slows a bit. We are in the process of planning our next field maneuver exercises in an abandoned town south of here. I’ll probably be gone for a week or two, but I can join you when I return.” He stood up from the table and carried his plate to the sink. “I love that you’ve found some purpose.” He kissed her forehead, then trudged into the living room, where he turned on the television.
As Ethel slipped into her rubber gloves, she relived the savory sounds of the children crying “Mummy.”
CHAPTER 11Kitzingen Basic Training Center, August 1948
OZZIE
A week after Truman’s order desegregating the military came down, Ozzie stood in the moist grass in Tent City, where he had been learning how to operate the telephone switchboard. When he looked up from the machine in front of him, Sergeant Marshall had marched toward him with his clipboard in hand.
“Philips, Lieutenant Hill would like to see you in his office.”
Ozzie’s hands went cold. “Did the lieutenant say what this matter was about?”
“Soldier, please report immediately.” Marshall’s face was unreadable.
Ozzie trotted back across the grass toward the main building, wondering if the heated exchange he’d had with the white soldiers at the club last week had reached the ears of the lieutenant. Even though Ozzie had not put his hands on the men, as he would have liked, he understood that they could drum up any charges against him. It would be their word against his. At worst, he could be charged with bad conduct, placed in confinement, and docked two thirds of his monthly pay. He walked down the corridor and located Lieutenant Hill’s name on the last office door to the right. As he knocked on theopen door, Ozzie told himself not to worry. If it came to their word against his, he had witnesses.
“Sir, Private Philips reports as ordered.” Ozzie stepped into the office, stood at attention, and saluted the higher-ranking officer.
“Private Philips, please have a seat.”
A map of Europe was drawn on the wall behind the lieutenant, and the American flag was propped on a stand in the corner. Ozzie lowered himself in the seat adjacent to Lieutenant Hill’s desk as the lieutenant opened a manila file folder. A bright red stamp blazed across the piece of paper the lieutenant fingered. Ozzie exhaled. What would his mother say? He had been in the country only a week, and already he was in trouble.
“Philips, in all my years at Kitzingen, I have never seen anything like this.” He pushed the ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts to the side and slid the packet of papers across the desk toward Ozzie.
It wasn’t a bad-conduct report, it was his aptitude test.
“Not only did you pass the exam, but you got every answer correct.” Lieutenant Hill’s eyes widened.
“Thank you, sir.”
“How on earth did you do it?”
Ozzie dropped his chin. “I like to read, sir.”
“Clearly. Well, there is no point in wasting your smarts at this training facility. I’m recommending that you be transferred to a unit in Mannheim immediately. There are a few positions available in supply, maintenance, and transportation.”
Ozzie tried to keep the frown from reaching his face. Then tilted his chin. “I’d like to work in Intelligence, sir.”
The lieutenant crinkled his brows. “I’m not sure if there are any positions available there. Besides, for Intelligence, you need to speak an additional language.”
“I’ve been studying German, and I know a good deal of Latin, sir.”
“Well, I’ll put you down for maintenance, and once you learn theropes, you can try for branch reclassification. Now pack your things. You will move out in seventy-two hours.”
Three days later, Ozzie arrived by jeep to Sullivan Barracks in Mannheim. Morgan, who had also tested high on the aptitude test, was at his side. Thornton hadn’t received more than a Mississippi eighth-grade education and stayed in Kitzingen, where he was enrolled in high school equivalency classes in addition to basic training.
Sullivan Barracks was twice the size of Kitzingen. Ozzie and Morgan had been assigned to Building 201, and when they arrived, they were pleasantly surprised by their upgraded living accommodations. Instead of the communal sleeping quarters, the two shared a private room with two twin-size beds, a double wardrobe, and a chest of drawers for each of them.
“This is what I’m talking about.” Morgan lounged on his bed with his feet up while Ozzie opened the weathered Bible his mother had given him and removed the one photograph he had of Rita. She was standing on her front steps with both hands on her hips, smiling, with her hair pulled away from her beautiful face. Ozzie wanted to tape the three-by-five picture to his mirror but thought better of it. Instead, he slipped it into his top drawer and reread his military orders. Ozzie was to report to the motor pool for training on inspecting vehicles and equipment. A no-brains position that couldn’t be further from what he wanted to do.
“I’m telling you, Morgan, if they think I’m going to waste my time kneeling down to these hillbillies, serving them hand and foot, they got another thought coming. Desegregation must mean something, or what’s the point.”
“At ease, soldier.” Morgan looked up from the edge of his bed, where he was tying his boots. “Progress happens in phases. All things in due time.”
