Moving into the military world was a very different experience.
I am not sure how the description "boot" came into being. Maybe it was the implied threats by the drilling instructors that we would be booted (kicked) out of the sack, booted for messing up the cadence while marching, booted to assignments for disciplinary reasons (mess duty).
I can recall that at our first "fall-in," the instructor asked if there were any engineers in the squad. Those who raised their hands were assigned to duty in the mess hall, engineering (preparing) the food. That warned the rest of us to be aware of what we answered.
I enjoyed marching, even if it was at 5 a.m., in the darkness and under the stars. Most of the squad was able to march in cadence, but invariably, there would be one or two poor souls who couldn't do it, and they would drive the instructors crazy!
In December, Ruth and her sister came from Philadelphia by train for her one and only visit. When Ruth saw my shaved head all she could do was cry!
The six-week boot camp went quickly. From there I was shipped to Hatteras Island, North Carolina, in a holding pattern until February. While there, we were assigned lookout duty at the top of the Hatteras Lighthouse, to watch for ship explosions at sea (German submarine action) and reporting same to headquarters.
More, later.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
DRASTIC CHANGES
With the onset of World War II, conditions changed drastically in our lives. Employment rose to new heights in the shipyard. Security became a major factor, and the pace of work quickened.
The latter condition affected me considerably. Every two weeks I changed shifts, starting with the day shift, from 8a.m. to 4p.m. Then, I went from 4p.m. until midnight, and finally , the "dog shift," from midnight until 8a.m.
The "dog shift" was the toughest one in which to adjust. I tried to get some sleep until about 11p.m. Invariably, we overslept - to be awakened by the sound of a horn blowing from the car pool.
The two biggest changes came in July. Number One change was a letter from President Roosevelt, inviting me to join the Army. This was a big surprise to me because I thought I would be deferred since I was working in the defense industry. Number Two surprise was an announcement from Ruth that she was pregnant. Wow!
I had a friend who had joined the Coast Guard, so I did the same, with the hope that I could be stationed reasonably close to my pregnant wife. Besides I didn't think I would look good in khaki.
The first week in November, Ruth and our household goods moved in with her parents. The following week, accompanied by a sobbing wife and a flag-waving mother, I was on a train for Baltimore, Maryland.
More, later.
The latter condition affected me considerably. Every two weeks I changed shifts, starting with the day shift, from 8a.m. to 4p.m. Then, I went from 4p.m. until midnight, and finally , the "dog shift," from midnight until 8a.m.
The "dog shift" was the toughest one in which to adjust. I tried to get some sleep until about 11p.m. Invariably, we overslept - to be awakened by the sound of a horn blowing from the car pool.
The two biggest changes came in July. Number One change was a letter from President Roosevelt, inviting me to join the Army. This was a big surprise to me because I thought I would be deferred since I was working in the defense industry. Number Two surprise was an announcement from Ruth that she was pregnant. Wow!
I had a friend who had joined the Coast Guard, so I did the same, with the hope that I could be stationed reasonably close to my pregnant wife. Besides I didn't think I would look good in khaki.
The first week in November, Ruth and our household goods moved in with her parents. The following week, accompanied by a sobbing wife and a flag-waving mother, I was on a train for Baltimore, Maryland.
More, later.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS
December 23, 1941, was the first Christmas in our new home. Although it was a happy time for us, celebrations throughout the country were muted because of what happened at Pearl Harbor on the 7th.
News about Pearl Harbor came to our attention as we were having Sunday dinner with friends at a local restaurant. It seemed so far away and so unrelated to us that we kept on eating, without comment. Little did we know how it would affect us in the months ahead.
Getting back to holiday time, our first tree had to be small because we had a small house. Our living room had a sofa, a chair, a table and two lamps. Where would we put the tree? The solution was to put it in our bedroom, which had a window that fronted onto the street. Combining ornaments from both families, plus our purchases, made for a beautifully decorated tree.
I wish I could remember our gift exchanges on that day. No doubt I bought Ruth some clothing, a tradition that I followed all of our married lives.
Of course, we spent time with each of our families, returning home, loaded with gifts. It was the beginning of years of happy holidays.
More, later.
News about Pearl Harbor came to our attention as we were having Sunday dinner with friends at a local restaurant. It seemed so far away and so unrelated to us that we kept on eating, without comment. Little did we know how it would affect us in the months ahead.
Getting back to holiday time, our first tree had to be small because we had a small house. Our living room had a sofa, a chair, a table and two lamps. Where would we put the tree? The solution was to put it in our bedroom, which had a window that fronted onto the street. Combining ornaments from both families, plus our purchases, made for a beautifully decorated tree.
I wish I could remember our gift exchanges on that day. No doubt I bought Ruth some clothing, a tradition that I followed all of our married lives.
Of course, we spent time with each of our families, returning home, loaded with gifts. It was the beginning of years of happy holidays.
More, later.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
FINDING OUR LOVE NEST
It was time to separate ourselves from Ruth's parents' hospitality by deciding where we would live, so house-hunting became the priority.
We "roamed" the area, starting in West Philadelphia, then to Northeast Philadelphia and, finally to New Jersey. The major factor was to be somewhat near my work, so we eventually found THE place in the town of Oaklyn, New Jersey, about a twenty minute ride to the shipyard.
The house was about three years old and ready for immediate occupancy. It had five rooms which included a living room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. It also had a floored attic and a usable basement. The lot was 45 feet by 110 feet. There was no garage, but that was o.k., because we didn't have a car.
The next steps were to furnish the home. Ruth and her mother went to the J.B VanSciver Furniture Company in Camden, the most reputable home furnishings company in the area and made on-the-spot decisions. The choices were made easier by the gift of a complete dining room set from Ruth's parents. Wow!
Early in November, we moved into our love nest. With movers and Ruth's parents gone, Ruth prepared her first-ever dinner and it was delicious.
More, later.
We "roamed" the area, starting in West Philadelphia, then to Northeast Philadelphia and, finally to New Jersey. The major factor was to be somewhat near my work, so we eventually found THE place in the town of Oaklyn, New Jersey, about a twenty minute ride to the shipyard.
The house was about three years old and ready for immediate occupancy. It had five rooms which included a living room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. It also had a floored attic and a usable basement. The lot was 45 feet by 110 feet. There was no garage, but that was o.k., because we didn't have a car.
The next steps were to furnish the home. Ruth and her mother went to the J.B VanSciver Furniture Company in Camden, the most reputable home furnishings company in the area and made on-the-spot decisions. The choices were made easier by the gift of a complete dining room set from Ruth's parents. Wow!
Early in November, we moved into our love nest. With movers and Ruth's parents gone, Ruth prepared her first-ever dinner and it was delicious.
More, later.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
SIGHTSEEING AND MORE
Ruth and I spent the next two days sightseeing in the Big Apple, before moving, by train, to our honeymoon location, Mountain Lake House, in the Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains.
The Pocono Resorts billed themselves as honeymoon havens and our choice certainly lived up to those claims. We swam, played tennis, hiked, ate, and ate some more. As a result, we arrived home somewhat heftier than before.
While at M.L.H., we met a couple celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary, and we became instant friends. Mike and Sarah lived in Brooklyn, near his place of employment, the Bush Terminals, where Mike was the general manager of an olive-packing company.
At the end of the week, we went back to NYC for more sightseeing and an evening with Mike and Sarah, where we enjoyed a delicious Italian-style dinner.
At the end of the second week, it was time to go home, to return to reality of back to the job and planning our future. The job was important, for we arrived home with about $5.00 cash. So the need for funds was basic.
The next Monday, I headed for work, a difficult adjustment after two weeks of having fun. On the agenda were house-hunting, furnishings and the like. Busy! Busy! Busy!
More, later.
The Pocono Resorts billed themselves as honeymoon havens and our choice certainly lived up to those claims. We swam, played tennis, hiked, ate, and ate some more. As a result, we arrived home somewhat heftier than before.
While at M.L.H., we met a couple celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary, and we became instant friends. Mike and Sarah lived in Brooklyn, near his place of employment, the Bush Terminals, where Mike was the general manager of an olive-packing company.
At the end of the week, we went back to NYC for more sightseeing and an evening with Mike and Sarah, where we enjoyed a delicious Italian-style dinner.
At the end of the second week, it was time to go home, to return to reality of back to the job and planning our future. The job was important, for we arrived home with about $5.00 cash. So the need for funds was basic.
The next Monday, I headed for work, a difficult adjustment after two weeks of having fun. On the agenda were house-hunting, furnishings and the like. Busy! Busy! Busy!
More, later.
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