Coming Home

By William D. Ogle

The closer he came to his small farmhouse, he noticed the changes
in the surroundings. He glanced at the barren fi elds. He noticed the
paint chipping from the barn. In the distance, Henry saw two young
children in one of the fi elds. The children looked at him and dashed
away, heading for home. Henry picked up his pace. He could now
see his house. It was not burned or in ruins, yet it was not the bright,
joyful, beautiful place in which he recalled. The children rushed
into the farmhouse calling for their mother, Ma, Ma theres a strange
man coming up the road towards the house.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 30, 2007
• ISBN: 9781462833894

William D. Ogle

About the Author: William grew up in Hampton, Virginia and graduated in 1969, from Kecoughtan High School. In August of 1969, he was drafted into the Army and served for 9 years on active duty and 6 years in the Army Reserves. He married at the age of 22 and had 2 sons, Timothy the oldest and Joseph. Both sons are married and have their own children. He divorced in 1995 and remarried in May of 1997, to my beautiful wife Mary. In 1999, He went back to college to get his Bachelor’s degree in Business and graduated in May of 2003. While he was working a full time job as a Quality Manager, and remodeling a house, He graduated. With the birth of his first grandchild, He felt the desire to do something for his children and grandchildren. He wanted to leave a part of himself, a part of his life to his grandchildren. He wanted them to know that their grandfather had a wonderful imagination. He had stories that he wanted to pass on, just as his grandfathers and my father did. God bless everyone who enjoys this story, may they open up your hearts and imagination. There are other books from William Ogle, “Snapshots of the 31st Century and Coming Home.”

Book preview

Copyright © 2007 by William D. Ogle.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are many people who have directly or indirectly contributed to this work. I would like to thank them. I would like to thank my wife, Mary, for her support, understanding and sacrifice. She has given me a lot of encouragement and endless strength to complete this story.

I have a love for history and America’s past. As I was writing this story I would think about all of the military personnel who fought to keep America free. I want to thank the past, the present and the future military personnel and their families for the sacrifices so we can be free.

Other family members and friends have read my many drafts and given me their opinions, which are appreciated. And most of all, I want to thank God for the wonderful gift of imagination which he has given me.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I was named after my father, William Duane Ogle, Sr., who was a hero in my eyes. With work and putting other’s before himself, he inspired me. I grew up in Hampton, Virginia and graduated in 1969 from Kecoughtan High School. In August of 1969, I was drafted into the U.S. Army. I served for 9 years on active duty and 6 years in the Army Reserves. Married at the age of 22, I had two children, Timothy, the oldest and Joseph, the youngest. Tim is involved with music. Joseph is married to Rachel. They have a beautiful daughter, Shomrah. I divorced in 1995 and remarried in May of 1997 to my beautiful wife, Mary. In 1999, I went back to college to get my Bachelors degree. While I was working a full time job as a Quality Manager, and remodeling our house, I graduated in May of 2003.

With the birth of my first grandchild, I felt the desire to do something for my children and grandchild. I wanted to leave a part of me, a part of my life to my grandchild. I wanted them to know that their grandfather had a wonderful imagination. I had stories that I wanted to pass on, just as my grandfathers and my father did for me.

God Bless everyone who enjoys this book.

CHAPTER 1

On an early morning in May of 1865, the sun was just coming up over the ridge.

Henry and Jake Bower were walking down the long and narrow dirt road leading to their farms. Jake, Henry’s older brother, watched as the dust scattered beneath their feet with each step. They were noticing their surroundings which brought back many memories.

The gentle swaying of the trees as they bowed over the road was the same as it had always been. The same wild flowers were growing along the edges of the dirt road. The sound of the brook could still be heard over the rustle of the leaves, and the birds still sang their melodies in the trees above.

Henry thought to himself, Everything seems so familiar, but there’s a hint of loneliness in the wind. They could see the devastation of the fields from cannon ball explosions. Houses were in shambles. Some were falling down. Some burned. As they walked, getting closer to home, it was hard to ignore the devastation evident everywhere. The fields were bare and lifeless. No one was working in them. Each step they took led them closer and closer to their family and farms. What would they find?

They stopped for a moment to rest. They slid down beneath the shade of an old willow tree. Jake laughed at Henry’s appearance. His skin was caked with dirt and grime from the dust of their long journey. Their shoes had holes worn through the soles. Their gray uniforms, which were once stunning in appearance and had brought a gleam to their eyes, were now ragged and torn. Their hats were flattened and the color was no longer a bright gray, but a dingy cross between black and brown. Jake and Henry were once clean, now their faces were covered in long matted bristly beards.

After months on the battlefield, it was time for them to return home. Henry and Jake continued on their journey. They were about a mile away from Jake’s farm and two miles from Henry’s.

Henry wondered how Lucy had managed without him these last four years. How had the love of his life handled being all alone for so long? Had she been able to care for their four children, to keep food in their mouths and to comfort them when the entire world seemed so frightening and unforgiving? When she tucked the children into bed each night could she faithfully assure them that Daddy was okay and would be home soon?

He had so often longed to see all their faces and to feel each loving embrace. The many letters Lucy had written were not enough to console him. She appeared so optimistic and happy, but somehow he could see every word written in