Archive for July, 1944

This Is the Old Timer Talking

Saturday, July 8th, 1944

The letters have been pouring in. Since I wrote Thursday night, 4 letters from Mom (plus one from Reuben and Leah) have come. And never have letters been more welcome than these, for I was eager, to say the least, to find out how things were and if they proceeded according to plan. Up to that time, I knew that Cleon was scheduled to leave on the 21st and that is all. The letters not only made good time, but they also came in the same order in which they were written, a circumstance as convenient as it was novel! (Even the post office dept slips up at times, it would appear).

And so, despite the fact that I am some 6000 miles removed from the scene of action, on this Saturday evening, the 8th day of July, 1944, I have a fairly complete understanding of the happenings which occurred at W. 703 Euclid Ave. during the latter part of June, from the gay celebration of Father’s Day and Cleon’s birthday on the 18th through the 28th, when Mom got the first news from the gob in the family.

My mood tonight is of a decided philosophic nature, tinged with nostalgia. All of which makes it no small mess! I hope Mom is in a similar calm state of mind. That is the best way. Ever since it became more or less certain that Cleon would be going into the service soon, I have been giving increased thought to the good times that we all had not long ago. The war has been an interruption, but that is all—just an interruption.

Some short time ago I reached the ripe old age of 21—that gives me 21 years to look back on, right? Those first years are dim, but I’ll bet you’d be surprised at some of the things that have come to my mind just lately. For instance: One of the earliest things I can remember is pushing Cleon back and forth in that two-wheeled baby buggy when we lived in LaCrosse. I must have been about 5 then. And now Cleon is a sailor at Great Lakes! Is it so surprising that his being there should seem a bit unreal to us? I think not. But we shall get used to it—and soon. That’s a good thing about people—they get used to things.

It wasn’t long after I “pushed Cleon around” that we moved to Clay Street in Colfax. I used to go to the store there, if I’m not mistaken. There is one night in particular I remember at Clay Street. The night Bonnie was born. I woke up with all the commotion, so dad and I went out and sat on the back steps. It was a very clear night. Of course, I didn’t realize what was going on, but I do remember the night. Soon after we moved to Meadow Street, Bonnie started to walk, and what fun that was. I was her big brother, age 7! And now Bonnie is a high school girl, playing tennis and going on dates, sometimes with a kid I used to “keep”. Yep, this is the Old Timer talking! Ha Ha ! Time staggers on. Well, looking back like that, I don’t have any doubts about our futures. We’ll all be back doing what we want to before we know it.

Just came back to the office from the mail room. Guess what? Got a letter from Cleon already. Dated June 25th. Will write him tonight, after the show.

[letterstohome copyright 2008]

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Like American Girls, Only Less So

Saturday, July 1st, 1944

Yesterday evening I received Mom’s June 20th letter.  That was the first one she wrote to me after learning that I am now a sergeant.  It is a fine letter, and one that I enjoyed reading very much.  What made me especially pleased was to know that she could bring herself to write such a nice, cheery letter as that on the eve of Cleon’s leaving.

Isn’t it interesting how things work out sometimes?  Of all the evenings that such news as that might reach her, it turned out to be that particular one.  If it made the event of the following day any easier for her, that in itself would make it worthwhile.  The general tone of Mom’s letter reassured me that she would take Cleon’s leaving in stride, which is the only way to do it.  I sincerely hope that her experiences in my case will point the way to a complete confidence in how Cleon will get along.  In other words, don’t worry about him just on general principles.  Many thousands of boys just like him have enlisted in the Navy since the war began, and they have made out alright.  In going in as he did, he has made a much better start than I did.

Mom shouldn’t trouble herself too much about Cleon’s and my “growing up” too soon.  In the sense that she means, I don’t feel grown up and I doubt that Cleon does.  That is one of the reasons that I am so carefully considering going to college.

I feel sure that I would have a swell time in school.  And there’s the educational side, too!  I could study “things”!  Ha Ha !

So I wonder if these Irish girls over here have the gals back home worried?  Well, what do you know about that?  I suppose you realize that you could have picked a better person to give you the “lowdown” on this than I.  My observations on the question are largely academic.  Someone who has worked “in the field” could probably be relied upon to give a more accurate and less biased opinion.  However, I will take a crack at it. I hope that you appreciate the fact that I am treading dangerous ground.  The good will of the Irish girls is of the utmost importance to us.  On the other hand, we must not allow the American girls to become unduly concerned as to the temptations which may be found here by American Joes.  (Rather nicely put, eh wot?).  In general I think I may safely say that Irish girls are much like American girls, only less so.

Wasn’t there a song titled “Johnny Doughboy Found a Rose in Ireland”?  Touching, isn’t it?  Anyway, this is Northern Ireland and we aren’t doughboys.  Perhaps they’re allergic to Air Force boys.

To get down to brass tacks, I think the American girls, on average, are more attractive than the average Irish girls.  And in regard to Irish girls and their use of cosmetics, it may be a case of “Too little and too late”, as Churchill once said.  (Shame on me!)  I guess that’s because cosmetic are hard to get; a few seem to get more than their share, though.

In the event that you think I’m being too harsh on these gals, let me point out one very important fact.  The crux of the matter is that we are American boys.  We don’t want to run down anyone else, but since we are American, it is inevitable that, in our eyes, everything American is tops.  That includes American girls, fortunately.  The people of most other countries feel the same way, I imagine, about their countries.  Throwing the cold light of logic on this state of affairs, it is at once apparent that one or more of these are unknowingly kidding themselves.  Which one(s)?

If the American Joes don’t think the American girls are something pretty special, why do they unanimously agree “it would be wonderful to see an American girl again”?.

Inasmuch as free public schooling ends with the elementary grades here, the average girl is not as well educated as the girls back home.  In fact, in many ways the country seems to be a decade or so behind he United States.  It is particularly true in the case of public health.

Lastly, I’ll tell you about how Irish girls “are”.  I guess they’re alright.  The most of us will be returning to the United States at the first opportunity, I dare say!

[letterstohome copyright 2008]

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