When Life Together Is A Waltz

Military Couple Celebrates 50 Years Together

(CBS)  Marriage is never easy, but when you are in the military, there are a number of added pressures.

So when Carleta Barton from Altus, Okla., wrote about her life with her husband, retired Col. C.B. Barton, The Early Show just had to respond.

The two met in 1952, the year the United States first tested the hydrogen bomb, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president, “Guiding Light” premiered on TV and big band music was the rage. It was the dancing, however, that brought them together.

Carleta was reluctant to go on a blind date with band leader C.B. Barton.

"I said, ‘No. I've had two blind dates in my lifetime, and they were disasters,’ you know," Carleta recalls. "And they said, ‘Oh, he's a tremendous dancer.’ And he was a good dancer. I made up my mind right then, if I could hook him, I would.”

C.B. Barton remembers it that way, too: "Just bang, bang, and I was in love. I was real happy with it.”

A few months later, they were married.

Shortly after that, Lt. Barton shipped off to serve at an Army base near Heidelberg, Germany. His pregnant bride soon followed.

And so it was there, in Germany, that they spent their first anniversary.

C.B. Barton says that was quite an experience for them. “We always went out on a Saturday night. And ate -- what was it?”

“Chateaubriand” his wife answers.

“Chateaubriand, and a bottle of wine, for $5,” he continues, laughing. “That's something you just don't do today.”

Through the years, the Bartons moved from base to base, from good times to bad and back to good.

“This is what I am responsible for," Carelta says proundly of her two children and three grandchildren. "All these children and grandchildren. And I had a little help. The husband of soon-to-be-50 years.”

And for 50 years, they danced.

“I think I am happiest when I am on the dance floor,” she says.

These days, they mostly dance at their local community center, but through the years, C.B. and Carleta have danced across America because for each anniversary, C.B. gave Carleta a special treat.

“Our 25th we were in New York City,” she says as she shows some photos. “It was our 30th that we went to New Orleans. Our 45th, we went to Hawaii.”

And now, they are about to celebrate a big one.

“There's just not a whole lot of people that go out for 50 years, and I think that this is a great accomplishment that we have reached the 50th year of our marriage,” says C.B. Barton.

Which is why this year, as they waltzed toward this big day, Mrs. Barton wrote The Early Show this letter:

"My husband and I will celebrate our 50th anniversary April 2, 2003. He is not well and no longer drives. We were dancers in our early days. We can still dance a dance or two but not like the old days.

My wish for us is to return to Germany, where we spent our first anniversary. He was military and I followed him to Karlshrue, Germany. He has given me lots of wonderful anniversary gifts. I would love to give this to him for our 50th. Will you consider us for the Week of Wishes."

And so on Wednesday’s The Early Show, Ricarda Lindner from the German Board of Tourism presented the couple an all-expense paid vacation to Germany.

“We'll start your trip in Heidelberg where you will be staying at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel. Afterwards your trip will stake you to Stuttgart and you will be staying at the elegant Intercontinental Hotel. From there on we'll take you to Germany's most famous Spa Resort Baden Baden. And most importantly, on your golden anniversary you will celebrate at Karlshrue's romantic hotel ,” she said.

And Mathias Friess from Lufthansa Airlines joined the gift-giving celebration by offering them round-trip tickets to Germany.