As a follow up to my post about the Peter name tradition, I thought I’d share a cool story about my grandpa Peter A. This was written by Leo Ruffing, my grandma’s brother. It’s featured in the book “The Forgotten” by William A. (Bill) Cummins
In late October 1951 my time of service in Korea came to an end. My first Sergeant advised me that I could leave the unit and return to the United States for discharge from the army. I left the unit and caught a ride on a weapons carrier to the 7th Division Headquarters located at Chunchon. A brief delay there while they completed the paperwork and I was instructed that I was to take a train to Inchon where I would board a troop ship for the ride home. Early in the morning I boarded an almost empty car on the train going to Inchon. I noticed a corporal boarding entering the car. There were many empty seats in the car. The corporal looked around and walked over and took the seat next to me. He extended his hand and said “Hello my name is Pete” We chatted for awhile and learned that we were both from Pennsylvania. I was from Pittsburgh and Pete was from Butler, a few mile from Pittsburgh.
Pete and I hit it off pretty well and talked all the way to Inchon. He was on his way to get discharged also.
We arrived in Inchon only to be told that during the night a British freighter had drifted with the tide and knocked a hole in the side of the ship that was supposed to take us home. We got back on the train and made the long, slow trip to Pusan in the south of Korea. Trains were very slow in them days. Arriving in Pusan we were placed in “tent city” and told we would have to wait until a new ship was assigned to take us home. Then the typical army “snafu” kicked in. After a few days waiting we were ordered onto a ferry Very small and very crowed) that carried us to Sasabo, Japan where we waited in another “tent city” for about a week. We were told that a ship had been located and we would begin our voyage home the next day. Lo and behold we boarded the ship that was originally scheduled to take us home from Inchon. That’s right the ship with the hole in the side. We made a short journey to the navy ship repair depot at Yokuska and stayed aboard the ship for about five days while they made repairs to the ship. They welded plates on the side of the ship. They worked night and day and made a lot of noise. It was impossible to sleep. It was a good thing they had taken our weapons away from us when we left Korea or there might have been a shoot out between us and the navy. Keep in mind all this time Pete and I hung together like brothers. The trip home was a total different story. The ship was over loaded and short of rations. We ate one meal at 6 AM and another meal at 6 PM and nothing to do in between except hang around and complain about how slow the boat traveled and bemoan the fact that we had to shower in salt water. Bunks were canvas and stacked one above the other. All the away across the wide Pacific Pete and I hung out together and shared our dissatisfaction with the way we were being treated on the way home. We arrived in at Port Mason in San Francisco. I remembered the GI’s returning from WW 2 with all the bands, parades and the excitement. We arrived at Prot Mason after dark. No Parade, no band, no excitement. There was one lady in a red dress who sang as we disembarked. Except for her no one noticed that we returned. WE loaded onto buses and were transported to Camp Stoneman where we were processed, paid and ordered to our final duty station. Pete and I were given train tickets and ordered to report to Indian Town Gap near Harrisburg, Pa. I guess that is as close to home as they could get us. We remained there during our last few days in the Army and we were each discharged. Pete and I said goodbye and I think with the understanding that we would never see each other again.
I went home to Pittsburgh and within a few days found a job. I think it was about two or three weeks later one of my brothers, my youngest sister and I were walking down one of the streets in a section of Pittsburgh called Homewood. Lo and behold we ran into Pete. I introduced Pete to Jim and Alice. Some in the conversation Pete was invited home for supper. We went home for supper and Pete never left.
On September 6, 1952 Pete and Alice married and remained married until Pete’s death on January 1, 2002. Pete was a treasured member of our family for 50 years. Between 1954 and 1965 Pete and Alice had six children. They had three boys and three girls who are all great adults at this writing. Pete and I were friends and in-laws for 50 years and we never exchanged a cross-word.
In 1952 I joined the United States Air Froce and made a career out in the military. Pete told me that the reason he was not going to stay in the military was because he did not want to travel far from Pittsburgh. After Pete and Alice married Pete took advantage of the GI bill and worked his way thru college, earning a BA from Duquesne University and attended Graduate school at Western Michigan University. He made a career in the Food service industry and worked in a variety of places. Remember he did not want to travel. During Pete’s career he managed companies in Paw Paw, Michigan, Kennewick, Washington, La Porte, Indiana, Wheaton, Illinois, Duluth, Minnesota and St. Paul, Minnesota. Not bad for a guy who wanted to stay close to Pittsburgh.
Pete was buried at Fort Stallings, Minn. with full military honors.
It was right and fitting that he should have been buried with honors. Pete was a good man. – Leo Ruffing
Great story. I had the pleasure to see Leo about a month ago and he’s doing well. His mannerisms remind me so much of Grandma Alice, it’s amazing how similar they are. So similar in fact that the night I saw Leo a few of the Ruffing brothers ditched their wives at the party to go catch the Steelers game on the tv back at the hotel. Grandma Alice would have done the same… and that’s why I still fly the Steelers flag at our cabin in Packers country.
Go Steelers.
– Peter A.
A Man who Came for Supper
As a follow up to my post about the Peter name tradition, I thought I’d share a cool story about my grandpa Peter A. This was written by Leo Ruffing, my grandma’s brother. It’s featured in the book “The Forgotten” by William A. (Bill) Cummins
In late October 1951 my time of service in Korea came to an end. My first Sergeant advised me that I could leave the unit and return to the United States for discharge from the army. I left the unit and caught a ride on a weapons carrier to the 7th Division Headquarters located at Chunchon. A brief delay there while they completed the paperwork and I was instructed that I was to take a train to Inchon where I would board a troop ship for the ride home. Early in the morning I boarded an almost empty car on the train going to Inchon. I noticed a corporal boarding entering the car. There were many empty seats in the car. The corporal looked around and walked over and took the seat next to me. He extended his hand and said “Hello my name is Pete” We chatted for awhile and learned that we were both from Pennsylvania. I was from Pittsburgh and Pete was from Butler, a few mile from Pittsburgh.
Pete and I hit it off pretty well and talked all the way to Inchon. He was on his way to get discharged also.
We arrived in Inchon only to be told that during the night a British freighter had drifted with the tide and knocked a hole in the side of the ship that was supposed to take us home. We got back on the train and made the long, slow trip to Pusan in the south of Korea. Trains were very slow in them days. Arriving in Pusan we were placed in “tent city” and told we would have to wait until a new ship was assigned to take us home. Then the typical army “snafu” kicked in. After a few days waiting we were ordered onto a ferry Very small and very crowed) that carried us to Sasabo, Japan where we waited in another “tent city” for about a week. We were told that a ship had been located and we would begin our voyage home the next day. Lo and behold we boarded the ship that was originally scheduled to take us home from Inchon. That’s right the ship with the hole in the side. We made a short journey to the navy ship repair depot at Yokuska and stayed aboard the ship for about five days while they made repairs to the ship. They welded plates on the side of the ship. They worked night and day and made a lot of noise. It was impossible to sleep. It was a good thing they had taken our weapons away from us when we left Korea or there might have been a shoot out between us and the navy. Keep in mind all this time Pete and I hung together like brothers. The trip home was a total different story. The ship was over loaded and short of rations. We ate one meal at 6 AM and another meal at 6 PM and nothing to do in between except hang around and complain about how slow the boat traveled and bemoan the fact that we had to shower in salt water. Bunks were canvas and stacked one above the other. All the away across the wide Pacific Pete and I hung out together and shared our dissatisfaction with the way we were being treated on the way home. We arrived in at Port Mason in San Francisco. I remembered the GI’s returning from WW 2 with all the bands, parades and the excitement. We arrived at Prot Mason after dark. No Parade, no band, no excitement. There was one lady in a red dress who sang as we disembarked. Except for her no one noticed that we returned. WE loaded onto buses and were transported to Camp Stoneman where we were processed, paid and ordered to our final duty station. Pete and I were given train tickets and ordered to report to Indian Town Gap near Harrisburg, Pa. I guess that is as close to home as they could get us. We remained there during our last few days in the Army and we were each discharged. Pete and I said goodbye and I think with the understanding that we would never see each other again.
I went home to Pittsburgh and within a few days found a job. I think it was about two or three weeks later one of my brothers, my youngest sister and I were walking down one of the streets in a section of Pittsburgh called Homewood. Lo and behold we ran into Pete. I introduced Pete to Jim and Alice. Some in the conversation Pete was invited home for supper. We went home for supper and Pete never left.
On September 6, 1952 Pete and Alice married and remained married until Pete’s death on January 1, 2002. Pete was a treasured member of our family for 50 years. Between 1954 and 1965 Pete and Alice had six children. They had three boys and three girls who are all great adults at this writing. Pete and I were friends and in-laws for 50 years and we never exchanged a cross-word.
In 1952 I joined the United States Air Froce and made a career out in the military. Pete told me that the reason he was not going to stay in the military was because he did not want to travel far from Pittsburgh. After Pete and Alice married Pete took advantage of the GI bill and worked his way thru college, earning a BA from Duquesne University and attended Graduate school at Western Michigan University. He made a career in the Food service industry and worked in a variety of places. Remember he did not want to travel. During Pete’s career he managed companies in Paw Paw, Michigan, Kennewick, Washington, La Porte, Indiana, Wheaton, Illinois, Duluth, Minnesota and St. Paul, Minnesota. Not bad for a guy who wanted to stay close to Pittsburgh.
Pete was buried at Fort Stallings, Minn. with full military honors.
It was right and fitting that he should have been buried with honors. Pete was a good man. – Leo Ruffing
Great story. I had the pleasure to see Leo about a month ago and he’s doing well. His mannerisms remind me so much of Grandma Alice, it’s amazing how similar they are. So similar in fact that the night I saw Leo a few of the Ruffing brothers ditched their wives at the party to go catch the Steelers game on the tv back at the hotel. Grandma Alice would have done the same… and that’s why I still fly the Steelers flag at our cabin in Packers country.
Go Steelers.
– Peter A.