THROUGH THE DOORS OF COUNTLESS AUSTRALIAN HOMES THAT ARE KEPT PROPPED OPEN FOR THEM, AMERICAN ...

THROUGH THE DOORS OF COUNTLESS AUSTRALIAN HOMES THAT ARE KEPT PROPPED OPEN FOR THEM, AMERICAN SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND AIRMEN ARE MARCHING BACK IN THE HOURS "OFF DUTY" INTO A HOME LIFE, THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD LEFT BEHIND. IT IS A LIFE OF HOME COOKING THE WAY MOTHER COOKED, OF PEELING POTATOES AND HELPING WASH THE DISHES, OF FEET ON THE MANTLEPIECE IN FRONT OF THE FIRE OF RAIDS ON THE ICE-BOX FOR SUPPER, OF QUIET NIGHTS WITH BOOKS, OF HILARIOUS NIGHTS OF SONG AND DANCE. THESE SHOTS WERE TAKEN IN A COSY SUBURBAN VILLA IN ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST CITIES. SCENES LIKE THEM ARE REPEATED EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK IN THE HOMES OF EVERY AUSTRALIAN CITY AND TOWN WHERE U.S. TROOPS ARE QUARTERED. THE MEN IN THESE PICTURES TRAINED TOGETHER AT HOME, SAILED FOR AUSTRALIA TOGETHER, ARE ENCAMPED TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER, PLAY TOGETHER AND SHARE THE SAME SET OF FRIENDS. THIS IS THEIR SHIELD AGAINST LONELINESS -- THIS AND THE FIRM, WARM GRIP OF THE WELCOMING HAND THAT AWAITS THEM WHEREVER THEY GO. IT WILL SOON BE A SCARF OR A PAIR OF SOCKS FOR AN ALLIED SOLDIER MANNING AN AUSTRALIAN BATTLEPOST. SGT. MCFARLAND HOLDS THE SKEIN OF AUSTRALIAN MERINO WOOL WHILE RALPH WINDS IT, AND BILL, WITH DEFT FINGERS, UNTANGLES IT. SUCH LITTLE SERVICES ENDEAR THE BOYS TO THEIR HOSTESS. "WHEN THEY GO HOME TO THE STATES IT'LL BREAK MY HEART," SHE SAYS.