Four Day Leave to Japan

Heroes Remember

Four Day Leave to Japan

Transcript

I had not yet had R and R and I had been in the theatre from mid- July, roughly now, until the first of December and I’d still not had any sort of a holiday or a break. When the second night was finished, I was called in by the CO and said, “You know it’s good job.” And I said, “Well yeah, but the credit goes to a lot of people, particularly the crew that I had been working with.” And he said, “Well,” he said, “yes. I think it’s time you had a holiday.” And I said, “Yeah, I think it probably is.” So he said, “Yeah. See the 2IC,” and I did. And what had happened was that they had arranged for a courier trip to Japan and that is to take some documents to Japan. How necessary these documents were to anybody and why they had to be taken at that time, I sure as hell wasn’t going to question it because it meant that I was going to get a holiday in Japan. And so that within a day or two I was back at the Echelon picking up an envelope and on my way to four days in Japan. That was what was my break. I must say getting away from the cold and desolation of Korea, because by this time it’s December, there’s snow on the ground, it’s cold. Stepping off a plane into humid climate, like Japan appeared to be at that time, quite mild, quite pleasant, was really a very nice sensation.

Description

Mr. Pitts tells us about delivering documents to Japan which provided him with a four-day leave of rest and relaxation.

Herbert Pitts

Mr Pitts was born in Nelson, British Columbia in June of 1929. After graduating from high school, he entered a four-year program of the Canadian Services College at Royal Roads, graduating from the Royal Military College in June 1952. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant, in the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians). On arrival in Korea in July, he served for a year as an Infantry Platoon Commander with 1st and 3rd Battalions of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He was awarded the Military Cross for Gallantry and Leadership with that Regiment. Mr. Pitts remained in the Forces serving with The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and the Canadian Airborne Regiment. He traveled extensively during his service, retiring as a Major General from National Defence Headquarters in 1978.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 1:36
Person Interviewed:: Herbert Pitts
War, Conflict or Mission:: Korean War
Location/Theatre:: Korea
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)
Rank:: Platoon Commander

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Date modified:: 2019-04-03