A Message From Mom

Fifty years ago today, I began my adventure with the U.S. Army. We were at war. I was escaping the neighborhood. It was an exciting time in my life. My Mother accompanied me to the Woodlawn station. She was unusually quiet that day. I hugged her on the platform and started to board the train. Suddenly, she pulled me back by the collar. Dragging me down to her level she said, ” I put up with you for 17 years. If anyone’s going to kill you, it will be me! With that she shoved me back through the subway doors as they were closing.