1944: Jan: Soviets lift siege of Leningrad; U. S. forces land at Anzio, Italy; U.S. 5th crosses Garigliano River, Italy; U. S. assault on Marshall Islands begins; Feb: Soviet troops enter Estonia; Allies attack Monte Cassino, Italy; Big Week bombing of ball bearing and German fighter planes plants; Soviets big victory in Ukraine; U.S. landing on Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Is.; and Japanese launch offensive in Burma.
We have arrived at the boat basin in Oceanside, CA. Food is outstanding and word is that after a few weeks training we will be deployed somewhere in the South Pacific.
We have every other night off to go to Oceanside or? And an unwritten rule allows us to go through a tied apart fence to take in Oceanside or? on the nights we don't have official liberty! So, the result is we get every night off! We just have to keep our noses clean and don't do anything to embarrass us or the military. I'm phoning Marion!
When Marion heard I get every night off, plus weekends she put in for 2 weeks vacation! Sounds good to me. She has been approved and will arrive within two or three days!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
End of Radio School/How's the War Going?
The last few weeks of radio school went quickly and we were now Radiomen 3rd Class. We all prepared to board a train for Oceanside, CA where we would practice landing craft exercises at the Boat Basin.
Since the end of Boot Camp we found out how the war was going: July 1943: Soviets win largest tank battle of the war; Allies land in Sicily; Soviet summer offensive begins; U.S. troops enter Palermo, Italy; Mussolini overthrown, new government formed. Pacific: two large Naval Battles in the Soloman Is., and Japanese evacuate Kiska, Aleutian Is. Aug: USAAF bomb Ploesti Oil Fields, Romania, 50 of 177 bombers lost; Messina falls, Sicily ours; Disastrous USAAF raid on Scheinfurt & Regensburg; Soviets retake Karkov; New Georgia captured in Pacific and Naval Battle of Solomon Is.; Japanese resistance ends on New Georgia; Sep: Italian government accepts armistice; Allies land at Salerno and Taranto; German commandos rescue Mussolini, and Soviets recapture Smolensk; Allies & Australia land on New Guinea; Oct: U.S. troops enter Naples and British enter Foggia; Soviets launch offensive toward Baltic States; U.S. 5th crosses Volturno River, Italy; Stilwell's Chinese troops advance in Burma; Australians take Finschaven in New Guinea; Naval Battle off New Georgia; U.S. aircraft raid Rabaul Naval Base; Nov: Soviets retake Kiev; air battle of Berlin; British forces assault Gustav Line; U.S. Marines land on Bouganville, Tarawa and Makin, Gilbert Is.; Dec: Soviets launch offensive in Ukraine; Scharnhorst sunk; U.S. forces land in New Britain. Continued.
Since the end of Boot Camp we found out how the war was going: July 1943: Soviets win largest tank battle of the war; Allies land in Sicily; Soviet summer offensive begins; U.S. troops enter Palermo, Italy; Mussolini overthrown, new government formed. Pacific: two large Naval Battles in the Soloman Is., and Japanese evacuate Kiska, Aleutian Is. Aug: USAAF bomb Ploesti Oil Fields, Romania, 50 of 177 bombers lost; Messina falls, Sicily ours; Disastrous USAAF raid on Scheinfurt & Regensburg; Soviets retake Karkov; New Georgia captured in Pacific and Naval Battle of Solomon Is.; Japanese resistance ends on New Georgia; Sep: Italian government accepts armistice; Allies land at Salerno and Taranto; German commandos rescue Mussolini, and Soviets recapture Smolensk; Allies & Australia land on New Guinea; Oct: U.S. troops enter Naples and British enter Foggia; Soviets launch offensive toward Baltic States; U.S. 5th crosses Volturno River, Italy; Stilwell's Chinese troops advance in Burma; Australians take Finschaven in New Guinea; Naval Battle off New Georgia; U.S. aircraft raid Rabaul Naval Base; Nov: Soviets retake Kiev; air battle of Berlin; British forces assault Gustav Line; U.S. Marines land on Bouganville, Tarawa and Makin, Gilbert Is.; Dec: Soviets launch offensive in Ukraine; Scharnhorst sunk; U.S. forces land in New Britain. Continued.
Friday, February 5, 2010
There Must Be a Better Way
I walked to the road that would take me back towards Farragut. Imagine my surprise when a small truck picked me up and said he was going to Farragut! What good luck, maybe. I explained what had happened that day and that I had gotten married, but needed to stop and get out short of the sentry station. I also asked him to not say anything. He laughed and said he would help me out by not saying a word He had lived in Colorado also and we talked over the weather. True to his word he let me out about 200 yards from the gate and wished me luck. I got off the road, circled around the sentry station, walked through the trees until I could see the officer quarters and the place I had gotten out. I saw no one in the area and just started walking fast through the area until I reached the fence; placed my peacoat down and slid through under the fence. Got up and walked rapidly towards a barracks, which wasn't mine; pretended to go in, but didn't and walked around this first barracks and went to my own. I walked in just like I normally would and when I came into view of my friends they were shocked! They didn't think I would make it out, let alone come back in the same way. My first question: Did the Chief come and have roll call. When the answer was "No" I relaxed. When I told the story they were lying on the floor laughing like crazy. I said I would never do that again! They persisted, asked where and how I got out? I told them, but advised against it. One week later three or four of them tried to sneak out the same way, but were apprehended and they were given Captain's Mast and restricted to no liberty for the remainder of the time there. It was only two weeks more until we would be graduating and leaving so they wouldn't lose much. It was clear that the Navy knew we all wanted to fight the Japanese and for minor offenses they only restricted liberty for offenders unless it was for assaulting an officer or insubordination. I wast just lucky. I wasn't even mad at the guy who threw the snowball and didn't care or know who had actually hit the Chief in the head.
Marianne Returns to Seattle
After talking a few hours Sunday 6 Feb 1944 we went back to our room; gathered up our things and Marion put hers in a very small suitcase she brought. We then checked out - same clerk at the counter.
It was fun just holding hands, talking, enjoying each other's company. It felt like an osmosis type activity which just kept growing within us.
We had a light lunch and it was fun sitting side by side listening to each other's lives. We both wanted to win this war - fast - so we could get on with the rest of our lives.
I remember thinking what a great companion Marion was and we had barely touched the surface, plus we were very young. If we wrote often we could still keep up with each other's life to a great extent.
Finally it was time for Marion to return to the Greyhound Bus Depot for her 5:00 pm trip back to Seattle so we walked slowly back to the depot.
It was a lingering kiss and then she took her seat on the bus and the bus moved away.
It was time for me to go back to the barracks and I was a little worried because it was no longer snowing. Visibility was very good. Not a good sign. Still......there's hope the luck holds out.
It was fun just holding hands, talking, enjoying each other's company. It felt like an osmosis type activity which just kept growing within us.
We had a light lunch and it was fun sitting side by side listening to each other's lives. We both wanted to win this war - fast - so we could get on with the rest of our lives.
I remember thinking what a great companion Marion was and we had barely touched the surface, plus we were very young. If we wrote often we could still keep up with each other's life to a great extent.
Finally it was time for Marion to return to the Greyhound Bus Depot for her 5:00 pm trip back to Seattle so we walked slowly back to the depot.
It was a lingering kiss and then she took her seat on the bus and the bus moved away.
It was time for me to go back to the barracks and I was a little worried because it was no longer snowing. Visibility was very good. Not a good sign. Still......there's hope the luck holds out.
Mini Honeymoon in Spokane
It was an unexpected and wonderful experience to go through the experience of getting married. However I wouldn't recommend it to the casual observer in the way we had to overcome obstacles, and some of those obstacles still remained for me. I still had to get back into my barracks. We didn't think of any of this at the time we were in Spokane though.
When we arrived at our rental place the same clerk was at the counter; and now Marianne was effusive in her praise of Spokane, all the while very visibly showing her left hand, which now had her engagement and wedding ring in place. The clerk did take a good look at her hand however. Marion and I have laughed about it from time to time.
We were hungry and ate at a moderate priced coffee house nearby. Then we decided to go to a movie and we saw a Deanna Durbin (she was a very young singer and so so actress) movie which was actually one of her best. Then we went back to our room and looked at and read again the material Rev. Hughes had given us.
The next morning we got up early, went to breakfast and toasted each other for being married one whole day! We were both very happy and we talked about what we were going to do after the war was over, including where we would like to live. I wanted two children; an older brother who could help protect his younger sister. Marion surprised me by saying she wanted a basketball team - five! Wow, that's a lot! But sounds fun. (Continued)
When we arrived at our rental place the same clerk was at the counter; and now Marianne was effusive in her praise of Spokane, all the while very visibly showing her left hand, which now had her engagement and wedding ring in place. The clerk did take a good look at her hand however. Marion and I have laughed about it from time to time.
We were hungry and ate at a moderate priced coffee house nearby. Then we decided to go to a movie and we saw a Deanna Durbin (she was a very young singer and so so actress) movie which was actually one of her best. Then we went back to our room and looked at and read again the material Rev. Hughes had given us.
The next morning we got up early, went to breakfast and toasted each other for being married one whole day! We were both very happy and we talked about what we were going to do after the war was over, including where we would like to live. I wanted two children; an older brother who could help protect his younger sister. Marion surprised me by saying she wanted a basketball team - five! Wow, that's a lot! But sounds fun. (Continued)
It's a Miracle - Married!
We rushed over to the church, introduced ourselves to Rev. James B. Hughes and his wife. Rev. Hughes talked to us, asked us many questions, which we answered and he said he would marry us. We told him we had to go to Spokane to my jewelers and get the wedding ring and we would be back by such and such a time. He agreed to the approximate time to do the wedding. Cost? Whatever we feel we can afford was his answer. He said his wife and secretary would sign as witnesses, since we had no one there.
We then went back to the bus depot and took a bus to Spokane; went to the jewelry store and picked up the wedding ring; then we inquired about a room for the night. We were told this one place was good, clean and reasonable so we went there. While there I got a room, which had a community bathroom, which was acceptable to us. I signed us as Mr. and Mrs. while Marion discretely kept her left hand out of sight. We then left to go back to the church to be married. The bus got us to Couer d' Alene in just a short while and we walked to the church. Rev. Hughes had us married in nothing flat. The witnesses signed the certificate and I paid Rev. Hughes $5 I believe. They were all happy for us, which we appreciated. Then the Reverend gave us some material to read on the way back to Spokane. We read the material and some of it was nudgingly intimate! We laughed quietly on the trip back to Spokane. (Continued)
We then went back to the bus depot and took a bus to Spokane; went to the jewelry store and picked up the wedding ring; then we inquired about a room for the night. We were told this one place was good, clean and reasonable so we went there. While there I got a room, which had a community bathroom, which was acceptable to us. I signed us as Mr. and Mrs. while Marion discretely kept her left hand out of sight. We then left to go back to the church to be married. The bus got us to Couer d' Alene in just a short while and we walked to the church. Rev. Hughes had us married in nothing flat. The witnesses signed the certificate and I paid Rev. Hughes $5 I believe. They were all happy for us, which we appreciated. Then the Reverend gave us some material to read on the way back to Spokane. We read the material and some of it was nudgingly intimate! We laughed quietly on the trip back to Spokane. (Continued)
Is It Time to Get Married?
(Continued) I was helping the trucker get the lugs off the flat tire when a vehicle approached and I stuck out my thumb; he stopped for me (During the war it was very common for cars to pick up servicemen and women, and give them a ride, sometimes going out of their way for you. This is what happened to me.) I was driven to the bus depot; hopped out with a thank you and rushed into the depot, where I went immediately to the head and with paper towels and hand soap washed the mud off my coat. Surprisingly it looked clean! I immediately left the head to find Marianne (She was Marianne when I was serious and Marion when we were just happy and carefree.) There she was looking at the entrance and I had walked right past her! We greeted each other with a kiss and as we headed for the courthouse I explained what had happened. She was incredulous at first and then we both had a laugh and a big smile. We picked up the forms needed; were told they close at noon and they gave directions to where we would get our blood test. They were very cooperative and warned us we were on a short timeline. We rushed over to get the blood test, which we knew we would pass, but they said it would take a little past noon and to have the Licensing Bureau hold their counter open past noon by 15 or so minutes so we could get our license, so we went back to the Licensing counter and they said they would wait for us to deliver the blood test results; then back to the blood test lab and waited for the results; we passed and they handed us the envelope to give to Licensing. We got our marriage license and we thanked them for waiting past noon. They were all smiles, as were we. To answer our question they said a Minister of the Baptist Church did a lot of weddings and gave directions. (Continued)
Sometimes It's Better to be Lucky, Than Good
When I walked in the barracks I was firm but resolute. I quietly told my friends I was going to sneak out, if I could; at least I was going to try. If this doesn't work I said I wanted to talk to the guy who threw the snowball! My friends wondered if this was a wise choice? "Hell no, it's not, but it's what I'm going to do. At the least I've got to get word to Marianne at the bus depot." It was snowing harder so I put on my rubbers (galoshes) so I wouldn't ruin my newly shined shoes.
(When I told this story to our entire family at our sixtieth wedding anniversary the grandchildren laughed at the word "rubbers".) As I walked out of the barracks wearing my peacoat I looked at the area to see where the best place was to get out of our fenced area; I quickly decided there was some water, with snow, going under the fence in one place and I took off my peacoat; folded the outside so it covered the inside; slid on the coat, forcing the mud ahead of me so I could get under the fence; got under and out; looked around and guess where I was--Officers Quarters! Takes brains, I thought, but I forged on, with the snow now coming down even harder. I walked within 50 feet of several quarters where officers and their families stayed; heading for the trees beyond. Before long I realized I had lost one of my rubbers and when I got into the safety of the woods I threw the other rubber away into the bushes. I circled around the gate where the sentries were and came upon the road when I could no longer see the sentry area. I just started walking down the road when a truck appeared from the gate. I was relieved to see it was a civilian truck that had delivered some supplies; stuck out my thumb and he picked me up. He was headed for Couer d' Alene and I was thankful I had gotten this far. We progressed a few miles down to a better road when he realized he had a flat tire! I apologized for not being able to help him, having already told him I was late to my wedding. At this stage I felt it was his problem - not mine. He understood and wished me well. (Continued)
(When I told this story to our entire family at our sixtieth wedding anniversary the grandchildren laughed at the word "rubbers".) As I walked out of the barracks wearing my peacoat I looked at the area to see where the best place was to get out of our fenced area; I quickly decided there was some water, with snow, going under the fence in one place and I took off my peacoat; folded the outside so it covered the inside; slid on the coat, forcing the mud ahead of me so I could get under the fence; got under and out; looked around and guess where I was--Officers Quarters! Takes brains, I thought, but I forged on, with the snow now coming down even harder. I walked within 50 feet of several quarters where officers and their families stayed; heading for the trees beyond. Before long I realized I had lost one of my rubbers and when I got into the safety of the woods I threw the other rubber away into the bushes. I circled around the gate where the sentries were and came upon the road when I could no longer see the sentry area. I just started walking down the road when a truck appeared from the gate. I was relieved to see it was a civilian truck that had delivered some supplies; stuck out my thumb and he picked me up. He was headed for Couer d' Alene and I was thankful I had gotten this far. We progressed a few miles down to a better road when he realized he had a flat tire! I apologized for not being able to help him, having already told him I was late to my wedding. At this stage I felt it was his problem - not mine. He understood and wished me well. (Continued)
Game Day! We're Getting Married - Or Are We?
I was awake early on Sat. 5 Feb 1944, exactly 66 years ago today! It doesn't seem possible in some respects. This year the fifth falls on a Friday. I rechecked everything I was taking and wearing, which wasn't much; brushed my teeth, showered, shaved and dressed in my dress blues; then went down early for muster to get our instructions and be told we were given passes for our assigned liberty weekend--only, guess what?--it didn't happen! How could this be? It was snowing lightly and there was snow on the ground. The Chief turned his back to us briefly and in that instant everything changed! Someone from the back row threw a snowball and hit the Chief on the back of his head. From the back came laughter, but as the Chief slowly turned most of us cringed, because he did not look amused at all! He said only a few words, "Liberty is cancelled! You are all restricted to your barracks!" Then he started walking away. I was stunned briefly but quickly went after him to tell him that my wife-to-be was right at that moment at the Greyhound Bus Depot in Couer d' Alene, awaiting my arrival; she had no one else to meet her; didn't know another soul, and I said we were getting married this day, the fifth. He took one look at me and said, "You WERE getting married!" When I protested, he said, "This is final!" I walked away, furious at whoever threw the snowball, but I had a bigger concern - Marianne!
(Continued)
(Continued)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Marianne Travels to Couer d' Alene
Marianne and I have been calling each other nicknames since shortly after we first met. Almost right away she called me Maximus and now has shortened it to Max! At times she tells me she likes Hank also, because my Dad called me Hank I like it! Also, when she was calling me Maximus she was forever talking about Marion County, Iowa, where her father Sam was born, plus his many siblings and I starting calling her Marion. She would smile when I said it so I've lately started calling her several nicknames, but the one she enjoys the best is Marion - so Marion it is, along with some others.
On the fourth of February, after finishing her shift, Marion told a few of her closest friends that we had decided to get married during my liberty (every two weeks) on Saturday, 5 February 1944. They were very happy for her, and for us. She carefully started packing her suitcase for every essential she could imagine and walked, with her suitcase in hand, for eighth and Stewart where the Greyhound Bus Depot was; she bought her round trip ticket and waited for her bus to Spokane. She was able to sleep some during the trip to Spokane and was thinking of our impending marriage and what the future would reveal. After the bus arrived in Spokane she had a light breakfast nearby and left on another bus for Couer d' Alene, ID where she settled in to await my arrival. (Continued)
On the fourth of February, after finishing her shift, Marion told a few of her closest friends that we had decided to get married during my liberty (every two weeks) on Saturday, 5 February 1944. They were very happy for her, and for us. She carefully started packing her suitcase for every essential she could imagine and walked, with her suitcase in hand, for eighth and Stewart where the Greyhound Bus Depot was; she bought her round trip ticket and waited for her bus to Spokane. She was able to sleep some during the trip to Spokane and was thinking of our impending marriage and what the future would reveal. After the bus arrived in Spokane she had a light breakfast nearby and left on another bus for Couer d' Alene, ID where she settled in to await my arrival. (Continued)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Marianne (Continued)
Marianne loved the challenge of learning to be the best nurse she could be. Many considered her the top student in her class and told me so privately. It was fun listening to the compliments her nurse and doctor friends gave her when I had met them only briefly. She seemed to excel at all assignments given her. She had explained to me that due to the shortage of R.N.s, except for the R.N. supervisors of their departments, the student nurses did all the patient care. This gave them more responsibility and helped them to become the very competent nurses they were, after a relatively short period of time. Also, the nurses were excited they would be given three years of very comprehensive training. Marianne loved it all.
Marianne made preparations to leave by Greyhound Friday evening, after her nursing duties were finished for the day; then Coeur d' Alene (Idaho) "here I come!"
We would get married Saturday, and she would leave Sunday, around five o'clock to get back to Seattle for her duties Monday.
Little did she know what would ensue!
Marianne made preparations to leave by Greyhound Friday evening, after her nursing duties were finished for the day; then Coeur d' Alene (Idaho) "here I come!"
We would get married Saturday, and she would leave Sunday, around five o'clock to get back to Seattle for her duties Monday.
Little did she know what would ensue!
Marianne the Cadet Nurse (Continued)
There were so many students there was not enough room in the dormitories for them all. Five of the best students moved into rooms at the Sorrento Hotel, which was an outstanding hotel. Part of Marianne's education included three months at a mental facility. She went to Western State Hospital at Steilacoom, near Tacoma. About once a week the patients would attend an assembly where there was entertainment and singing. They would quickly request a very popular song of the day "Don't Fence Me In", which brought a few smiles.
Marianne's class was supposed to attend a class that many considered to be boring and nearly all said they were going to skip the class. There were only three or four nurses who showed up for the class; Marianne was one of them. Then came the thunder; the school took away all privileges for those who skipped class, which included leave and outside activities. The school also made an allowance that provided for students to marry! Marianne sent a telegram asking me to call her and said we should take this opportunity to be married as soon as possible! I called her back and we set up my next liberty, Saturday, 5 Feb 1944 as the date to be married. One worry; the wedding band was at the jewelers in Spokane. Oh well, where there is a problem there is a way! I was to meet Marianne at the Greyhound Bus Depot. She was all set to take the bus for an all night trip Friday evening. We would "wing it" the rest of the way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)