Thursday, July 26, 2018

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks


A group of men discussed the European war in front of the Parkman Bandstand
from Census Records Bring 1940s Boston to Life
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/07/05/census-records-bring-life-distant-time/rQ5oOavtT0ySznXx4VAd4O/picture.html
 To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

On Saturday evenings I would leave Waltham for my visit to East Boston. Sunday Monday. Tuesday morning I would leave early to get to work.

Sometime in August of 1939 when Mary happened to come by she invited me to her 21st birthday. But I did not go. At the time my interest was in Betty.

On Sept. 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland thus starting WWII. And Sept 3rd 1939 France declared war against Germany.

The Germans disposed of the French in a matter of weeks. At that time the British were also fighting the Germans on the sea side. Things got to the point that the British should get their troops out of the main land of Europe. They didn't have enough vessels to do the job and word went from the Government that it needed citizens who own power boats to volunteer.The response was great. The citizens did a great job. Some vessels were damaged as they had to get into dangerous waters. It was a great feat. The British got all of their army out of France.

The French surrendered under German conditions. And the French and most of Europe came under control of the Germans. Italy was an ally of Germany and it did not sit well in the USA. And the Government became leery of its US citizens.

From time to time I began seeing Betty. And after each date we seemed to get closer together. At time Charlie would leave the Club in charge of one of our staff. I would invited Doris to go to the movies with me. She accepted.

Throughout this period the Government did a number of things. One was that all 21 to 35 year old males were to register for military duty. Everyone who registered was given a number. And numbers were pulled every now and then. At the same time, Land Lease went into actions and the USA gave Great Britain something like 60 destroyers.

Economically things also began to pick up. The German also declared war on Russia and we helped them [ed: Russia] as well as other allies.

My job in the Fall go to the point where I had to do janitorial work as well as working as a teacher in the afternoon.

I began seeing Betty more and we began to slowly get serious.

The draft did not bother me at the time since I would be 21 in March 1940.

In the Winter of 1939, I got a raise and it helped a lot. I was able to save more and also help pay Danucci, the grocer, a bill that my mother had run up. I also registered with Calvin Coolidge College for courses on Monday. I had 2 or 3 courses. Each aimed at social work. I was doing well.

I moved up to Assistant Director at the Club. I had a budget to order games, hold staff meetings, and training them.

19 comments:

  1. Those were hard and dangerous times, must have been a bad time to live through. Have a fun day, hugs, Valerie

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  2. My Dad was in WW2 and he always told stories about the war. But never about that build up to the war and his worries (or not) about being drafted. I like how your dad mentioned it with hope- that the war might be over and he wouldn't have to go when he turned 18. And he was a bit of a Casanova too, wasn't he? happy Thursday. Hugs-Erika

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  3. And so it began. The build up to the war where "we" Americans looked at our fellow citizens whose ancestors came from Axis countries. A time when we refused to allow German, Polish, and other Jews into our country and sent them back home to die at the hands of Hitler.

    Somehow this sounds strangely familiar. Like history repeating itself today, wall and all! I doubt we remember, unless we are native American, we are all immigrants in this country.

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    1. And let's not forget the Japanese-Americans that were sent to internment camps. As well as the Italian-Americans and German-Americans. These people labeled alien enemies.

      I wonder if the Statue of Liberty cries that this country is turning from the words written on her base. Those that don't study history are doomed to repeat it. )-:

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    2. It is just unbelievable that all this is starting up again with our immigrants. That the Statue of Liberty now stands for...what?

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  4. I wonder if dad was still "scared" his number would get called; just as "life" seemed to be starting; you know what I mean. It had to play in the back of young men's minds ~~~~~ ♥♥♥

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    1. At this point, the war was "over there". Talk would have been that is wasn't a US problem. Life went on as usual.

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  5. Fascinating. Isn't it interesting that the civilians rescuing the British Army is now getting so much pub in movies, etc.

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    1. Because history isn't taught in schools more than a cursory mention. My girls said they didn't learn anything in history class beyond the US Civil War. Civics isn't even taught!

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  6. love reading these fascinating posts ...how fortunate to have this journal.

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  7. This is wonderful, CJ. What a treasure to have.

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  8. Reading all the comments CJ. It is so wonderful your father did these journals. This time must have been so scary to live through. I feel for everything your country has been through and is going through now! I know we've done somethings in our country too.

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