| My father came with all his gifts from Italy. The Navy had taken
the guys who had fought in the Pacific over to the European countries for a little
vacation before going home. (I guess that is what it was. I don't know for sure. But, I
know that Daddy said he had rather be going home instead.) He visited Egypt and Italy before making it home to be discharged from active duty into the Reserve. Foy Benton Jr. (Ben) had been born during this time and Daddy came home to Lorene, Nancy and his new son, Ben, whom he had not seen, his mother-in-law and his wife's niece. His nerves were damaged from "shell-shock" or what they call it today as PTSD. He was on the mend as he worked and found peace in his garden and enjoyed the love that abounded in the household. (One can read about Foy in Lorene's letter to Lipscomb.) Foy hired an artist in Rome to paint this picture of Lorene looking at a picture he carried in his wallet.
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