My Father's 36th Texas National Guard Division had already been federalized in 1940, so he was already serving as a Supply Sergeant in Battery ‘B’ 133rd Field Artillery Battalion. They had participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers during August and September of 1941.
The 36th was stationed at Camp Bowie, Texas, that 1941 Christmas and Dad got leave but had to hitchhike back to Kerens, Texas, for the holidays.
My Dad... 
a year later in England.
My Mother was just 14 in 1941 and along with her parent, my maternal grandparents, lived in Kerens that Christmas but my Grandpa was already looking to getting on with the shipyards in Beaumont, Texas. He would eventually work there for a couple of years during the war.
Mom used to tell the tale with her wicked, wicked laugh that she was a spoiled little 14-year old brat... 
at the time and her worst worry was that they would cancel Christmas because of Pearl Harbor.
My parents didn't get together until he came back from the war in late 1945 when, as Mom told it, she caught Bedford and saved him from himself.
My Father always replied that when he asked my Mother to marry him, she was already engaged to three other servicemen: one in the Navy, one in the Marines and one in the Air Corps. And that was the truth as Mom was larger than life and always did everything up big--
Anyway, they got married and in 1949, here they are... 
with a most handsome, intelligent child that grew up... 
to be me!
Merry Christmas Y'all and don't drink too much... 
'cause that means more booze for me!