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Adjusted Service Rating Score: Click to Enlarge
Source: National WWII Museum

As America entered the war on 7 December 1941, troops began arriving in the British Isles on 26 January 1942. Fast forward to 8 May 1945, the US Army was faced with the enormously complex logistical problem of bringing its troops home. By the end of the war, there were approximately three million men and women in Europe. The adjusted point system was introduced on 15 September 1944 with two revisions introduced on 15 February and 5 March.

Sources:

  • https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/points-system-us-armys-demobilization
  • https://www.wwiidogtags.com/ww2-history/ww2-points-adjusted-service-rating-score-asrs
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjusted_Service_Rating_Score

Stateside, it is not exactly clear when Kenneth's assignments took him away from his love and his wife. After a brief stint a Fort Bragg, Kenneth went to medical technicians school, OCS, and Armor School. Prior to leaving for Europe, he took additional training at various installations. Kenneth arrived in Europe on 28 August. His letters, after his arrival in Europe like those before his departure when he spoke of his love for Elizabeth, their commitment to one another, and a desire that they are together again. His letter of 4 September 1944 saw him expressing hope and prayer that they would not be apart 'much longer.' It might be that this hope was based upon what he hoped to hear from Churchill's and Hitler's speeches on 3 September.

Kenneth was undoubtedly thinking about returning home during his time in Europe. His wish to be back at home with his bride, Elizabeth, was a recurring theme in his letters. Being at home with his family was definitely more compelling after Sandy, his son, was born. He calculated his points and included them in his letter dated 22 May 1945 : 82 points. Elizabeth comes to know that he was attempting to "cut a deal" in order to obtain more points and return home before his anticipated return date of December 1945.