Goodbye My Love, Goodbye

By William Snead



It was hot on the 14th of August, back in ’64.



Kim and I left Yong Je Gol in a taxi and headed for Kimpo Air Field.  It was time for me to leave for the States and then go on to a second tour in Germany.



Specialist Bals sat in a chair across from Matt’s Passenger Service.  Bals had dark wavy hair and a friendly smile you could not help responding to.  Bals was a career Trooper.  He’d won a silver star back in ’53 in the old war.



“I see you brought a pet with you.”



I made no comment in response.  I just looked at him.



“Ara so mi da!”



“Nan Nun Tungsan Sara Hum Ni DA!”



And I said, “Kim, I’ll always love you!”



I headed past the open entrance to the field away from Bals to Matt’s Passenger Service.  I showed my orders that read, “1st Cav Division to 1st Brigade Berlin.”



I returned to sit with Kim on my left and Bals on my right.  The Hell of leaving her here would stay with me forever.  The army and its policies were certainly controversial.  They’d always use the excuse that the girl might be a spy or perhaps a North Korean agent.  Paperwork delays, tie ups, and prolonged investigations hindered a lot of the marriages from happening.  One thing was for sure, neither the army nor a lot of South Koreans cared much about soldiers marring their girls.



Kim, Bals and I sat in the hot sun.  the only shade was across the airfield entrance at Matt’s Passenger Service.  It was already past 1400, we’d leave at 1430.  I then noticed an old transport prop job running its motors.



I held Kim close to me.  The touch of her closeness was always my blanket of escape.  Realizing no how much I did love her was small consolation for all those empty years that would follow.



A big MP was now motioning for us to get on the plane that would take us back to the States.  I held her close one last time and said, “Goodbye my Darling, Goodbye!”



As I left for the plane she was crying, and so was I.