Memories of Leaving Union Station to Serve Our Country

Springfield area residents shared their memories of friends, family and loved ones leaving Union Station to serve our country. As described below, some did not return and others brought the war home with them. We honor all veterans this Memorial Day and especially, those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

I remember leaving from the old Union Station for boot camp headed to Vietnam, the song “Leaving on a Jet Plane” was playing.
– John

Union Station was the focal point of sadness and joy during the World War II years. My father said goodbye to his wife and baby on the platform, and returned over three years later to reunite on the train platform — the little girl, no longer a baby, now excited to meet her daddy, whom she had never known except in his uniform portrait photo. To my parents’ generation, Union Station meant connection to faraway places, and was an emotional shrine, of sorts.
– Jacqueline

My mother, Rosalina Martins, worked at Westinghouse (now site to the subway car manufacturer) and on a lunch break saw a poster for the US Marines. It said to “Free a Man to Fight.” Her older brother was island hopping in the Pacific with the Marines, mom wanted to be part of a ‘crackerjack’ service, so she signed up. Never told anyone what she did until the day before taking the troop train to NC LeJeune. My grandmother made her promise she’d stay on the east coast, which she did. She went to the station and waited for the troop train alone, boarded and began her time in the Marines. She was assigned as a clerk in the blueprint department as LeJeune was being transformed from swamp to camp in a hurry. One day she entered her office and her instructor was gone. Mom waited then asked where he was. The Gunny was abrupt, “Well, didn’t you join to free a man? He’s on his way Private Martins.” She never flinched, did what she had to do, and to her dying day always said it was no big deal, everyone was doing what she did: enlist.
– Gloria

My father a Springfield native left for boot camp WW2 veteran. I remember him showing me the station but it was closed and run down. So glad it’s back.
– Martha

My brother left in 1970 to serve with the US Air Force in Thailand. We were worried for him, and missed him so much during the year he was there. However, Ham Radio operators helped us to have phone conversations during that time, and I will always be grateful to them!
– Helen

We were married nine days and Tom left for Vietnam 1966.
– Gail

My husband and his friends left for the Korean Conflict. My husband was the only one that served his time in Korea. The group all were from the Boys Club in Springfield.
– Jackie

My father left from Union Station as the only “Tuskegee Airmen” from Holyoke, MA on September 3, 1942.
– Daniel

My dad coming home from Vietnam in 1969. He left in 1968.
– Faith

My grandfather in the Navy and my grandmother taking the train to see him off for WWII.
– Patsy

My Uncle George leaving, was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, WWII.
-Richard

My father going to Vietnam in 68.
– Blake

To son Jose Rafael Feliciano is a great example of how much he has been thinking about his life motherhood has been a great success in love but he is still alive in love with a heart of God bless him Migdalia Rosado has been in my heart for years now 17 years. God bless him so much and I love him more than ever since he has been a hero in his career as a child of a young man in his life as well but people have always loved him and I am always proud. God is a good father to me for life in love with him in love with his family and I am proud in my experience as well and the rest peace.
– Migdalia

First of all I’d like to say, Thank You to all who shared their stories and Thanks to ALL THOSE WHO SERVED!!!! “SEMPER FI”
I guess you can say my son, Tremayne A. King was born to be in the military at some point in his short life. His father was in the Marines. He fell in love with uniforms at age 5, begging me to sign him up for the Tiger Cubs (the youngest group of Cub Scouts) during the first year for the BSA’s. Then he went through all the Cub Scout 35 Ranks into Webelos, then into the Boy Scout Troop 35. At the same time he was in Troop 35 and ROTC in High School. While trying work towards his Eagle 🦅Scout honors he became a young father. He never put in his hours to become an Eagle 🦅 Scout, which always bothered him because his high school mascot was an eagle 🦅! Realizing that he was supposed to be the supporter of his new family, he joined the US Marines. After bootcamp and completing his training schools, he was deployed to Desert Storm. Returning home when his tour of duty was ended and unable to make the money he needed. Hoping to have better success earning money now for his ever-growing family, Tremayne re-enlisted in the Army National Guard. Unfortunately, during his 4-day leave before being deployed again, he was murdered. So Memorial Day holds a bittersweet place in my heart and household. R.I.P. Tremayne A. King! Gone Too Soon at 27 years old! In honor to his father Joshua King, became the 3rd generation to become a US Marine.

In regards to a submitted photo:

We know his Father and Grandfather would be very proud of the Man he has become. He’s Brave, Proud, and Reliable! A true Marine, and a father of 3! Joshua believes he has fulfilled his father’s dreams. Joshua is now a Police Officer.
– Valerie

My Uncle Jake was only 18 yrs. old when he went into the army. He served in the Korean War and was MIA. We never saw him again. He was my Grandmothers youngest (of 18 kids) and the family was devastated at his loss. I was just a little girl, probably three or four, but I will always remember him in his uniform when he came home from boot camp before being sent to South Korea. Two of my older Uncles Robert and Herbert were in WW2 and were prisoners of war, but made it out of the prison camps and came back from the war as did my Dad who made it through without injury or internment in the pow camps. My Uncle George was a career man in the USAF and served for 30 years. My Uncle Raymond was in the Navy and all but Jake survived. I can only imagine how my grandparents felt during these times. God bless all these people who serve our country in the military. Thank you all for your service and dedication and for keeping this country free.
– Donna

My high school boyfriend Ric Laiho enlisted in the Marine Corp after I graduated in 1966. He was in Vietnam by Feb ’67. In May, he received his 1st Purple Heart for injuries sustained during Operation Hickory. In September, while fighting with the 3rd Battalion 9th Regiment Kilo Co. 3rd Marine Division at Con Thien, he received on Sept 20th his 2nd Purple Heart and September 25th he received his 3rd Purple Heart. He was only 19 years old. Luckily he came home alive but our lives were forever changed.
– Patricia

To date, the hardest moment in my life was the day in March ‘03 when I hugged my first-born son – a VMI student & Marine Infantry. When I hugged him goodbye & turned and walked away – without turning back – not knowing if I’d ever see, touch, or hug him EVER AGAIN!!! It took everything this Military Mom had…
All 3 of my children are Military. 2 Marine sons & a USAF daughter.
Son & daughter are Iraqi Vets.
Very proud of them & thankful to all others that serve(d)!!!
– Gail

First and foremost, I want to say this – THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all of the women and men who have served in our military to keep everyone here and abroad – SAFE!!! I had 4 brothers who served all at one time in the Armed Forces – 2 Marines, 1 Navy, 1 Army. My husband was drafted 6 months after we were married and he served his country well. This wonderful country would not be what it is today if it wasn’t for all of our brave servicewomen/men who are gone and the ones still here. GOD BLESS ALL OF OUR ARMED FORCES MEN AND WOMEN!!! Love you to the moon and back!!!
– Marcella

My son went into the Marines, I was flipping out, even called Westover and crying said give me back my son, then after tornado, I saw the national guard coming down the road, a bunch, all these super cool cars, and I cried, a beautiful site it was, I got it then, I understood.
– Donna

Watching my brother leave for Vietnam is embedded in heart and soul. Thankfully he did make it back, but the war has never left him.
– Sue

My Uncle Laurence L Soffen fought in Vietnam and fortunately returned home to us. He never really talked about what he did or saw and he passed a few years back and is in Wichendon Cemetery buried with the rest of soldiers who now serve the Lord.
– Debra

My daughter. Vanessa Anita Carter-Hill. She was in the Marines.
– LuAnne

My son. A1C Jack Munroe.
– Meg

My dad was back and forth to Vietnam in the 60’s. He was a mechanic working on the Sikorsky Huey Choppers.
– Mandy

My son Christopher Mark Evan’s served in the Air Force 2005, died in 2016.
– Carolyn

My grandfather WW2, I still have his dog tags, myself, my wife, and my stepson.
– Michael

My Army Dad who was in the Battle of the Bulge WWII.
– Dennis

My daddy just passed, Marine, Vietnam….bigger than life, I don’t think it has hit me yet…thank you to all services, I’m a FREE AMERICAN because of y’all…….my son air force, my uncle Navy
– Dayna

Both my dad served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and mom served in the Navy during WWII. I served in the U.S.A.F. during the Vietnam War. Thanks to all current serving military personnel. Be safe and kick ass if needed!
– Robert