Some early memories of WWII

Someone last night asked me about my memories of WWII, after he found out how old I was. I still have vivid memories of the time.

December 7, 1941, I was nine, spending a wonderful weekend in Greencastle, Indiana, where my brother was attending DePauw University. I think it was Homecoming weekend. We attended a football game on Saturday, and then on Sunday, went to Chapel, and had lunch at the Delta Tau Delta house. The dining room there served the greatest Parker House rolls, I ate some, which I was not supposed to do, allergic to eggs, so I had the itchy eyes, and had stretched out on one of the large leather couches in the main room there.

I was laying there when the news came over the radio about the bombing at Pearl Harbor. There was an instant somberness in the room, it is difficult to explain. It was if much of the air had changed, all somber faces. I was too young to realize it all, but I knew from the atmosphere change all the changes in expressions, smiles all went to somber looks. I think all those young men knew that their lives had changed, in that instant. Many looked at each other with almost ashen faces, smiles became frowns, something drastic had happened in the world, life changing. Something I will never forget.

As the war progressed, we saved cans, grease, I became a Junior Commando at a local department store, collected some wild pods that grew, supposedly they could be woven into much needed fabric. War bond drives, bought stamps each week and put them into a book. Occasionally a neighbor would come home on leave, admired those uniforms. I think that is one reason I chose The Citadel to go to college, the military atmosphere.

We had a Stromberg-Carlson radio/phonograph which could record small records. I still have a pile of them. Many friends and neighbors would come to our house and made a record which they could send to their person in the service, and the Red Cross and the USO had phonographs which could play them. They also could record, and many brought them to our house to listen. Recording then, was nothing like it is today. A voice from "home" or to heard from a son or husband overseas was something special.

I remember food and gas rationing, shoe shortages, news on the radio, Walter Winchell and H. V. Kaltenbourne, Edward R. Murrow, voices bring the war news to us. The Newsreel at the movie brought us visual news of the war. We cheered invasions, were coerced into hating the enemy, the Japs and the Krauts, we applauded seeing the enemy get killed, that was alright to do.

We somehow learned that killing the enemy was a good thing, something to applaud and cheer when we saw scenes on the screen. We saw "atrocities" being committed by the enemy which made us hate them even more. I have looked back at that time, and wondered how and when they were able to accomplish all of the "brain washing" they were able to accomplish. Killing the enemy is a good thing.

VE dah and VJ Day I remember pretty clearly, at least the elation  of the day, and then all the images we saw in Life and Look and the newspapers.

One vivid memory, my Dad, on that December day in 1941, shed tears and I think actually cried, which he never did, he had served in WWI, and knew what was ahead for all these young men. He knew that soon, he may have to see his son off, on a train, heading to war, as his father Caleb had done, when he went off to war.

This Moment in Time

Sunday Morning, nice bright, sunny Sunday. Have Music Choice, Easy Listening on, playing "This Moment in Time." Thinking of some "Moments" I have had in my life. Trying to think what my first Moment might have been. Looking back, I guess the first one that really stands out, December 7, 1941, that was a moment that will always be a Moment in Time for me. One prior to that, Emerson Junior High School, some event was going on, my Mom and Dad were coming after school,  and I was expecting my Captain Midnight Decoder Badge in the mail, if it came, Mom was going to bring it. It came, now I could decode all of the Captain's "Secret Messages." That was an unforgettable Moment for me.

DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, the Delt House living room, when the announcement came in over their Philco radio. The hush in that room, the expressions on the faces, the stunned silence. I was just nine years old, but when that moment happened, I knew it was a monumental moment. I think everyone in that room, knew that their lives were changing, things may never be the same again, the future was a big question.

I have four moments in time, when my children were born, I had moments when I was reunited with two of my children. One moment that was unforgettable, that early morning when the recruiter came up Montgomery Road, to take our "little" Brad off to the Navy. He came, Brad said his brief good by, and he was gone. What an impact that had on us. Later, a good Moment, when we went to Chicago to see him graduate from Boot Camp.

Another good Moment,  was when I put my Louie Roth suit on, white on white monogrammed shirt, french cuffs, low cut Alligator shoes, and entered the Primm in Reno, my first shift as a Box man. Two other Moments in Reno, entering the Nevada Club, making my way to the "cage" to confront Lincoln Fitzgerald, the owner, and ask him for a job. That moment changed my life, when he gruffly told me to go to the Police Station and have a check done. Life changing moment.

A lot of "Moments" in my life, mostly good, but some "bad" ones are in there also. At my age I am glad I can remember them.

December 7, 1941

Only one mention on my Facebook, have not heard anything on TV as yet, about this day. It come and goes like any other day, what a shame that is. I think that "someone" wants us to forget what happened on this day many years ago. I remember vividly.

I was nine years old, my Brother was attending DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and he was living in the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity house there. My Mom and Dad and I had spent the night in a guest house in Greencastle, attended an early morning Chapel Service on campus, and went to the Delt House for lunch.

I was allergic to many things in my younger days, one of which was eggs. The cook at the Delt house made the best Parker House rolls, which I was not supposed to eat, but ate two of them anyway, and later on had an allergy attack, wheezy, eyes swollen. So I was somewhat stretched out on one of the giant leather couches they had in the living room at the fraternity house.

I remember when the announcement came over the radio, the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I remember the tension filled hush that went over the room, even at my age, let me know that something of monumental importance had happened. I think all of these young men knew that they would become involved, somehow. They knew what the future held for them.

There were some other events scheduled for that afternoon, but, as I recall, we just said our goodbyes and headed back, in the 1939 Packard, to Dayton, our home.

Dad had served in WWI, and knew of war, Mom had known the worry about loved ones during war time, they both had lived through one war, and now another war was at hand.

I remember the day quite well, I will never forget it, December 7, 1941.