few weeks before I outgrew them -- my Mother was determined to fatten me up with steaks, she hoarded from rations, and she had tons of sugar she hadn't used during rationing but couldn't bring herself to pass it up when it was available --

I arrived in Denver in about three days, by train, and at the train my Mother told me that my wife had remarried in my absence and had started a family -- that was the most painful experience I had as a POW -- I accepted all the experience of combat and being a POW but was not prepared for that shock!! My Mother and Father hovered over me day and night to try to make me happy and finally I accepted the fact of the situation and set my course for my future -- I filed for divorce from my wife, under the only statue [sic] of law allowed in Colorado -"Adultry" [sic] -- when the baby was born it was born in my name because the other marriage was null and void - the father upon remarriage had to adopt his own son -- These are some of the {tradgeys} tragedys [sic] of war that take a definite bite out of personal emotions -

With my mother's cooking and doing practically no exercises, I shot up to 185 lbs with a flabby flat tire around my waist -- We were allowed to stay home for 66 days, to recuperate, and my eyes were always bigger than my stomach, because of our privation as POW's -- However, we reported to Santa Monica, California, to an ocean beach hotel set up for returning POW's and they whipped us back into military shape and new uniforms -- I went on to become a Finance Officer and a pilot -

I returned to flying -- went on to fly 57 combat missions in Korea -- I was a Flight leader and test pilot -- then in later training, I flew B-29-bombers, KC-97 tankers - F121 Fairchilds transports in Newfoundland and C-54's in Artic [sic] Resupply - I wound up with 3300 hours of flying training & combat -

I retired on February 28, 1961, at Mt. Home AFB, Idaho at the age of 38 years old and as a {in the} Major ^in the^ USAF -

With love - Corbin B. Willis Jr-