December 12, 2002
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in this issue
-- Saturday was Pearl Harbor Day
-- Before and during the War
-- Some excerpts from the letters
-- Memories
-- Homeward Bound
-- A Poem
-- In the Kitchen
-- 1942
-- Information sources:
-- December 10 was Wyoming Day
-- I am proud to be an American
-- Until next week,

Welcome friends,

Thank you for joining me. This is such a busy time of year with many activities taking place. Here in Newcastle, one activity I was involved in was the annual Candlelight Living Christmas ceremony at our museum. I helped make fudge in one of the old cabins. It was a nice experience and we had a large number of visitors to enjoy the live music, games, crafts and tree trimming, story telling and visits with Santa. There was an ornament contest and delicious refreshments were served.

Saturday was Pearl Harbor Day
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It has been 61 years since the invasion of Pearl Harbor by Japan. There are few people who didn't lose a loved one or a friend in World War II, or their family knew somebody who served. This war touched almost everybody in the world in one way or another. My personal memories of the War years are sketchy, but I do have a few, and my family made its sacrifices, along with many others around the world.

My parents were married in December, 1939. Times were hard and jobs were few. My mother lived in Gillette most of the time while Dad worked at whatever job he could find. Much of the time, he was herding and shearing sheep in Savageton, Wyoming for a guy by the name of Steve Lauby. Neither owned a car at that time so they had to depend on rides from family or friends, and there were no modern roads like we have today. My parents spent most of the first two or three years of their married life writing letters and visiting one another when the roads were passable and they could manage a ride with somebody.**In one of Dad's letters to my mother written in April 1940, he stated, "Lots of people think we will have to fight Japan soon." He had made similar remarks in earlier letters, as well. The possibility of war was on everybody's mind.

Before and during the War
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Two of my Dad's younger brothers had already been drafted and my dad was expecting to join them soon. His brother Milo was first assigned to B Troop of the 115th Regiment Division, a Cavalry Unit, horse and mechanized. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the guard was split up with the troops deployed into different platoons, patrolling the coast from Canada to Mexico. The Commander posted a list of outfits going overseas and had vacancies. The troopers were given the opportunity to volunteer for reassignment. Milo was assigned to the 82nd Chemical Mortar Batallion and sailed for the South Pacific, joining a convoy off the coast of New Guinea. They landed on Leyte Island in the Phillipines. This was the first island recovered by the Americans from the Japanese. Milo was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star while overseas and he was discharged in 1946.**My mother's brother Jim was also in the service at that time.**Dad's brother Everett was stationed at Fort Brady, Michigan from 1942 until 1943, Company E, 131st Infantry. He then went to camp Van Dorn, Mississippi. In February 1944, my parents received a letter from him "somewhere in Australia." By April 1, he was in Lae, New Guinea.**

Some things I notice when I look through the letters written to my parents before and during the War.**In 1940, postage was three cents. It remained three cents into the 50s.**In 1940, I noticed a postage stamp with a nice picture of a Pony Express rider and the stamp was honoring the Pony Express' 80th anniversary.**In the fall of 1941, I see "Buy Defense Savings Bonds and Stamps" printed on each letter.** In 1942, they began printing "For Defense" on the postage stamps.**(I found these things interesting.)

Some excerpts from the letters
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A few interesting things Everett said in his letters to my parents: December 15, 1942: "It kinda looks like this war is only going to last a few more years now."**"I've been trying to take some pictures here but it's hard to find a place where you won't get some military object and then you get in dutch."**April 3, 1943:"We've been getting all our shots and vaccinations again now; we just got our first tetanus." August 1943:"I expect to be packing up about tomorrow and going over there where they are. I guess nobody knows where they're going." In this letter, he mentions that he is sending pictures, etc. home.**August 1943:(asking my dad) "How do you think they'll classify you in the new draft next October 31?"**October 1943:"The rumor is that we leave here day after tomorrow and go to Fort Benning, Georgia. I guess I don't have anything that's hardly worth sending home now except some papers and receipts but there isn't any order to get rid of them so far."**October 1943:"All the papers here are full of the reports of what's happened to our men who were Prisoners of War in Japanese-held territory. I guess most of these little towns around here have a lot of boys over there. I'll bet there won't ever be another Jap Prisoner of War taken from now on. I saw a few of them, we were on a little hike and they laughed at us."**October 1943:"I just heard over the radio last night that the 131st was the best trained Infantry Regiment in the U.S."**January 1944:"I got a razor set and leather cigarette case with a package of humps (Camels) from home and 3 packs of Luckies from the American Legion." (talking about Christmas)**

Everett was killed in action on May 27, in Lae, New Guinea. His funeral service was held on August 20, and after the war ended, his remains shipped home for burial.**My dad had mailed him a letter in May, 1944 and it was returned to him in July, "Killed in Action" stamped on the envelope.**He had sent a second letter in June, which was returned in July, "Killed in Action" stamped on the envelope.**In the first letter, my dad had said, "I heard two nights ago about a new campaign in New Guinea and am wondering if you have seen some Japs by now." (this letter was written three weeks before he was killed.)

Memories
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I vaguely remember sitting on my Uncle Everett's lap as he bounced me on his knee. I may have been trying to get things out of his pocket.**For my first birthday, he sent me a little pair of leather beaded mocassins from Michigan. (I still have them)**My mother spoke of him often as we were growing up, and everybody loved him.**After reading letters that he wrote over a period of almost two years, I really grew to love him and feel that I know him. They seem to be written to me, and when I came to the sudden fact that he had been killed, I got a knot in the pit of my stomach and cried, even though I already knew the outcome. Reading his letters, liking him, then suddenly the realization that there will be no more letters because he has been killed comes as a shock every time.

My dad joined the Army in August, 1944. He served in Korea and Okinawa.**In March, 1945, he completed the Sound Locating Course.**He wrote, in part:"To Okinawa per flagships with Jack Dempsey and Ernie Pyle. Task Force 58?" He names two of his buddies who were wounded on April 20 and details his movements for several days.**"About 25th of May, moved to Gonabaru via Kuba Pier and L.S.T. and went to 7th Inf. Div. 17th Reg. at Escarpment to left of 96th Div. close to Ewa. (where I captured single-handed 1 Jap non- com - complete with rifle (carbine) and bayonet, using only a Marine K bar knife which I had with me. Later in day, Snuffy, Cafone and I went back to the area and routed out 5 more. They ran. Later, attached to 88th till official end of Campaign, and then to P.I. via L.S.T."**"Operation with 6th Army at Okinawa 1945. On way to Luzan, hit by terrific hurricane. Welding crews worked around the clock to keep our L.S.T. from breaking in two and sinking."**On December 8, 1945, a certificate was issued to my dad stating that he was entitled to retain in his possession the captured trophy: that it was legally obtained.- - One Jap Carbine Rifle.

Homeward Bound
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There was a ship newspaper, published daily, called Cape Mendocino Scuttle Butt. News source: Ships radio and Army News Service.**The December 16, 1945 edition states: 7th Day at Sea, Enroute to the U.S.**The Ships position is: Latitude 31 degrees 24 Min (N), Longitude 149 Degrees 37 Min (E), Distance covered Past 24 hours 348 Mi, Distance covered to date, 1614 Mi, Distance to go 5069 Mi.**Some headlines in this issue were, NEW CHARGE IN NAZI CRIME TRIAL, BYRNES PLANE IN TROUBLE, (James F. Byrnes was then Secretary of State) CHINA'S ARMY PLANS, BRITISH, FRENCH SIGN PACT, CONGRESS DELAYS LABOR BILL, YOU CAN KEEP DOG TAGS WHEN THEY LET YOU OUT.My dad was discharged in January, 1946.**For the first time since their marriage, my parents were able to be together, with their three daughters, the youngest born while he was overseas.**They named their first son, born in 1949, after Uncle Everett.

**Some of the language sounds harsh today, or "politically incorrect," but this is how it was at that time.

A Poem
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Last year I wrote a poem in memory of my dad.

MY LITTLE DADDY**I overheard Mama's conversation with her sister. She spoke tenderly of her Love, gone fighting in the Second War. His copper hair was mentioned and the child who grew inside. I heard them speak of freckles on the bridge of some small nose. I spoke out impulsively, the words I had to say; "My Little Daddy have peckles on him ears." I wasn't even three. Fifty-some years later, I told my Dad goodbye. This can't be him, my Daddy, flag-draped and still. My lips kissed his forehead cold as unshed tears churned inside. Memories of a life well lived took me to another place, another time. He's gone. His pain is over. I know that to be true. Oh! He's gone. My Little Daddy, goodbye.** 2001 Rosie Cooley

In the Kitchen
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FUDGE**3 cups sugar, 1/3 to 2/3 cup cocoa, 1/3 tsp salt, 1 1/2 cup milk, 1/3 cup butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract.**Cook to softball stage, add butter and vanilla, beat with a wooden spoon until candy loses shine. Pour into buttered pan. (This is the recipe we used at the museum on Friday night.)

PEANUT BUTTER BARS**2 cups powdered sugar, 1 cup peanut butter, 6 graham crackers, 1/2 cup margarine.**Crush graham crackers. Melt butter and mix all ingredients together. Press in bottom of pan. Melt: 1/3 cup peanut butter, 6 oz. chocolate chips. Pour on top of pressed mixture and chill until set. (Recipe can be doubled)**From Jo in South Dakota** (this is one of my favorites)
1942
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"With tobacco supplies limited, French stores are selling cigarette cases with special compartments for butts." (Newsweek, 1942)

"The Naval Ordnance plant of the Hudson Motor Car Co. ran the following help-wanted ad (and meant it): wanted - Toolmakers and jig and fixture inspectors; age limits 45 to 98 years."( N.Y. Post, 1942)
Information sources:
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Family letters and documents; personal knowledge.

December 10 was Wyoming Day
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Governor John Campbell signed the suffrage bill on December 10, 1869.

I am proud to be an American
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Until next week,
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Take care of yourself, stay warm and smile at a stranger. Rosie

© 2002 Rosie Cooley All rights Reserved