2-27-70

By John Podlaski

I grew up in the city of Detroit and was taught that my heritage and strong family values were important. Every year, our birthdays were a cherished event within the family – especially when it was dad’s special day – we always celebrated his with great fanfare, a special family dinner and dessert.

However, on February 27, 1970, my dad’s birthday, that annual tradition was broken when I was forced into a situation beyond my control. I had to leave home and the family gave me an emotional send-off, but the thought and possibility of my never returning devastated them.

This short story follows me on this one special day. Thousands of young men preceded me on this path, and tens of thousands never made it home. Find out where I was heading and why I had to go.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Podlaski
• Release date: Jun 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005576646

John Podlaski

John served in Vietnam between 1970 and 1971 as an infantryman with both the Wolfhounds of the 25th Division and the 501st Infantry Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. The Army awarded him the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, two Air Medals, and a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry among others. He had spent 50 years working in various supplier management positions within the automotive industry and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2004. John is a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 and Rave Reviews Book Club. He and his wife Jan live in Sterling Heights, MI and recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. Both retired in 2013 and enjoyed not working. That ended with the birth of their only grandchild in 2018 when they began taking care of Scarlett, while her mom - a single parent - worked. John has published six books: three about his Vietnam War experience and three short stories based on his personal experiences. In his spare time, he manages a heralded Vietnam War website, contributes to social media platforms, and takes part in writing seminars to improve his craft.

Book preview

2-27-70

-A Short Story

by

John Podlaski

Smashwords Edition

Copyright  2022 John Podlaski

Janice J. Podlaski – Contributor

4WillsPublishing – Editor/Proofreader

Nicole A. Patrick – Copy/Line Editor

Nicole A. Patrick – Cover Design

Cover photo courtesy of Renee Benson © 2015

All rights reserved. Do not reproduce, scan, or distribute this book in any printed or electronic form without the author’s permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

This is a true story. The portrayed events took place as I remember them.

For Jan, Nicole, and Scarlett

February 27, 1970 – a day I always remember for both good and bad reasons. That day was Tat’s 58th birthday, and every year, the family woke to the aroma of fresh bread and birthday cake baking in the oven. Tata was dad in Polish and Tat was how we referred to my dad. Mom worked in the dress department of Federal Department Store on Harper Avenue, and always arranged to have the day off to prepare a special family dinner and birthday cake. If Tat’s birthday fell on a weekday, Mom waited for all the kids to return home from another grueling day of Catholic school, before decorating the dining room. Our arrival by three o’clock always gave us more than enough time to finish before Tat got home at five.

We had fun helping Mom with the special decorations, which she brought out and reused every year – birthday signs, banners, garland, two pop-up table centerpieces, balloons, and finally, a dozen small blue candles for the top of a chilled sheet cake. Mom’s only investment, other than time, was the cost of a small bag of balloons for us three kids to blow up.

I will never forget when my younger brother, George, first started helping us. He was a remarkable sight, struggling to fill his rubbery spheres. We first noticed his eyes growing wide and then pushing outward from their sockets as he attempted to blow up a balloon. My sister, Christine, gasped, thinking they might pop out. His cheeks expanded to a level unseen in the past, and his beet red face darkened