Prologue 54-67 - France

Military 54-57

I gave it thought,,before I write my story who was I?? Where did I fit in the military? What led up to one of the best years in my life. So, education I had graduated from "Wayne junior High 9th grade in New jersey, From there I had went to Cedar keys Florida with my foster parents but never went to school in Dec 49.....I joined the Army Dec 13 1950..I went to the Korean war,, and made PFC (Private first Class) I would stay a PFC for many years.Yes education did play a factor....What would help me is they made a new rank Specialist 4th,5th class.That would come later.....In the Army and other services you were known partly by your serial number,,Example mine was RA 14 385 23 another would star with US.....An RA meant you were regular Army in other words you joined the Army..A US before your number meant you had been drafted.

My relative mostly lived in New Jersey..My sisters Mary, Flora and my Brother Bill,,and My Mother,,,

That next time I joined the Army I would stay until retirement..because of my education I went from a good job to a worse job.

Elvis Presley. Nat King Cole, Doris day, Bob Hope,Bing Crosby,,,were the stars of the day,,,...
I smoked a little,,,Pipe, cigar and cigarette but still a little,,,You have to smoke a Dutch cigar and cigarette to appreciate a good tobacco.

Church when I got to France I went to the local french Church....I read some very good spiritual books,, by St.Augustine,,,Seven Story Mountain by the Trappist Thomas Merton..and the Bible,,,
Television took a long time to start in France,,,During a festival I saw one for a moment that they had set up but not until 1959 I actually saw a TV in a French mans home,,,,
Communist was the word of politics,,54 to 57 my three year vacation.....began..1956 one of those years like good wine gets better every year.

Christmas 1951 Kumwah North Korea

Dear Readers...How the prayer the roster of 5th RCT survived all these years...its   amazng...

                                                                               JMJ
Kumwah valley,North Korea
Christmas 1951,,,
"L"Co, 5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                 Christmas ,North Korea
 It wasn't to long after the Chinese had broadcast us to surrender on Christmas that we came off the hill. Now it was walking through deep snow,,and when we went down the hill we simply sat down an slid off the hill with our rifle barrels pointed backwards, When we got to the holes we had dug with the small tents over them there was at least a foot of snow around them,,The mess hall (tent) had fixed a good dinner.We sat in the snow and ate our meal,,A paper was passed around..On one the company roster as of Dec 1951,On one paper the Christmas menu..and on the back a prayer written by Lt James Lee our Company Commander
which read.....................................Give peace oh God give peace
     This day we celebrate the birth of HE who has blessed us with..notable successes thru out the year with little hurt to ourselves.Under the present circumstances we cannot treat this season with the joy and good cheer that tradionaly accompany it.Instead we must turn our joy into thanksgiving for His protection and our cheer into Hope for better things to come.For Lee's Miserables I pray for the best possible CHRISTMAS and a NEW YEAR in which Gods peace shall come to our land. 
                                                      JAMES M. LEE
                                              1st Lt. Commanding Officer
One little pine tree was decorated with tin foil from cigaret packs,,It was bitter cold..Then we had a visit from Cardinal Spellman. With Priests they set up a tent for Mass and other priest heard Confession went in a frozen rice paddies to a priest for confession..
The only other big thing in the valley was receiving our Combat Infantry Badge awards in a frozen rice paddies,
                                                                  Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

Abbey St.Martin

Dear readers..This is the story I like to tell..because it just does not go the way you think it would,,but this is how i made my first trip to a Monastery..lets see not yet 20...In the Church 10 years..4 bioarding school around 3 1/2 Army...Maybe that had something to do with it..Phillip

                                                                               JMJ
Monastery St.Martin
Liguge, France
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                         St.Martin 1953
 Around June of 1953 the Flochets suggested I go to a monastery make a retreat.It wasn't that far away and I could go there on a bicycle................No you would think I would have on my best clothes catch a bus or train (if possible) I go to the Monastery door.They know I am coming and three days of spiritual bliss;
Well that is not exactly the way it happened..
                                                                          The visit to the Monastery.....
   I got a three day pass and I had some civilian clothes.A shirt and trousers that was about it,I caught the bus to town and got my old bicycle from the Flochets.I had a little sack to put items in it .I bought a loave of bread,,some cheese,a can of sardines,and a bottle of red wine,,,With that stuffed in my little bag I started to bicycle toward the Monastery.I passed many farms and finally reached Poiter,Hot and tired I stopped and went into a Church.On the floor were picturs in the stones from the Roman days..After the visit I kept on bicycling and arrive at Liguge.The Monastery took up most of the village.I went around the Monastery and went down a road by a farm,I sat by a tree,,I took out my food, The sardines went (with a little wine) the bread and cheese with a little wine) then all that was left was the wine which I finished with the hot sun beating down on me.I got on my bicycle..but I kept going from side to side (I wonder why).There was a door on the wall of the Monastery.I knocked on it and a Monk ask what I wanted.I just said I wanted to stay a couple of days.He let me in no questions,I was given a small room with just a bed,,The bathroom was an out house.nearby.
In the morning a priest came to my door very early wake me up to serve Mass.I served with Rev Reni Ossart
for many years.My first duty learn prayers in french as well as latin which I knew,.After Mass a bowl of very strong coffee and milk ,Honey and bread,That was it but very good,..I went in the worship area when no one was there.After awhile I started to cry I just kept on crying..To this day I do not know why..I went to the town which was not very much at that time.A few houses and a cafe,When I went in the café I found they spoke French much differently.It was hard to under stand..In the back of the Monastery was a railroad track,,I do not remember a train coming by...One day I was in the worship area and the Monk was playing the organ..That was something to hear,,At meal time dinner and supper I ate with the monks..As you ate a Monk read from a spiritual book,,That is where I got my love for endives that the Monks served with the meals,,It was over quickly,,I was ready to leave and father Rani Acerate had to remind me that a little donation was nice before you left,Lucky I had some francs in my pocket.Over the years as I came back I would be with father Acerate.
The Monastery built around the year 700...then rebuilt,,I served at an altar where St.Martn performed a miracle,,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret