Thanks a bunch for the help, especially with the telnet test.
Here is what I did:
...
...
  $SIG{CHLD} = IGNORE;

  if ($PID = fork){

    $| = 1;

    print $q->redirect("http://somewhere.outthere/OCFA/$USER.html");
    exit(0);

  }elsif(defined $PID){

    open(STDERR,'>/dev/null');
    open(STDOUT,'>/dev/null');
...
...

The control connection now closes right after the redirect
is sent and 5.5 picks up the new page.  The child becomes
a child of init and cleans up when it is through processing.
I'm not certain the semantics are correct but the script is
working.

Thanks
Comment on RE: Re: CGI.pm Flushing and Internet Explorer 5.5