When 'Johnny' came marching home

When 'Johnny' came marching home
Experiences among veterans vary; emotional wounds run deep
By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: May 29, 2011

SEBRING - Monday is Memorial Day and a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

Highlands Today interviewed three veterans on how life was when they returned home. Here are their stories.

World War II

There was no brass band to greet then-Staff Sgt. Robert B. Gleisner when he returned home in 1945 after World War II ended. He was one of about 16 million Americans who served, and one of millions to come back. More than 996,000 American men and women died fighting in the war.

When Gleisner, now 90, took off from Guam to fly 35 bombing missions over Japan in a B-29, he left behind his 2-month-old daughter, his wife, Dorothy, and his dream of piloting planes.

Gleisner was 23 when he was drafted in 1943. He had enjoyed a couple of deferments, but they eventually ended.

He went to basic training and entered flight school as a cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps. A supervisor told him he had lots of potential, but an edict from President Franklin D. Roosevelt ended his dream of becoming a military flier.

"All cadets who had been drafted are eliminated from the program," he remembered, his voice quivering, as if reliving the disappointment in his mind. "All cadets who had volunteered stayed in; I was drafted."
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When 'Johnny' came marching home

When Johnny Comes Marching Home(sometimes "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again") is a popular song of the American Civil War that expressed people's longing for the return of their friends and relatives who were fighting in the war.

Lyrics
The original lyrics as written by Gilmore, are:

When Johnny comes marching home again
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.
The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.
Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.
Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah, hurrah!
Their choicest pleasures then display,
Hurrah, hurrah!
And let each one perform some part,
To fill with joy the warrior's heart,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.