Violet Remembers WWII Years


No I did not see it, really don't go to the movies too much, but I can remember like it was yesterday. I was standing in the living room when it came over the radio. I called for my Mom and we stood there and cried. I remember listening to President Roosevelt giving his speech and seeing the headlines. I have many sad memories of the war, but also many fond memories. I do remember the blackouts, the ration stamps for sugar, meat etc. Also was only allowed 3 gal of gas a week, Dad put the car up on cinder blocks in the garage for the duration of the war. The headlights of all cars were painted 1/2 black so there would be no reflections, and all the stores had to paint their front windows 2/3 of the way with black paint, all curtains had to be drawn so no lights would show as soon as it was dark. We had 200.000 soldiers in Atlantic City training, a Naval Base in Pomona, about 12 miles from us, also a Navy Base in Cape May. It was a sad time in our history but also exciting to young people. Of course we only could read in the papers and see the news at the movies, So many of our young men died during that war. Towards the end they made Atlantic City a place for the wounded to return. The Haddon Hall was made into a hospital, name the England General Hospital. Then is when you realized how many were so badly hurt when you would see them with no legs, or arms off. I worked on the boardwalk in the summer and saw so much. I will never forget that. Of course we have had several wars since then, and I think the VietNam war was so sad since some of the people and even our gov't were not committed to give our boys all of the support that they were so entitled too. Sorry, I went off again, but some of you who were not born yet might like to hear from my experience and the memories I have of Pearl Harbor. Of course this is only the tip of what I remember.


I remember reading the front page headlines that GERMANY SINKS ROBIN MOORE, a Merchant Marine ship that was supposed to be carrying foodstuffs and clothing to England. It was so scarey/ This was just before we went to war against Germany. Everyone was up in arms and of course had reason to be, but about 6 months into the war, a fellow I knew came home on leave from the Merchant Marine and told us the story about the German sub, and how it radioed our ship and the capt of the sub came aboard and told them to get off the ship because they were going to sink it because we were sending supplies to their enemy (England). They let all the men get off the ship into the lifeboats, made sure they had food and water and when they got far enough away, the Germans sank the ship. This fellow Tom, told us the ship was loaded with tanks, guns and amunition, not clothing and food which was printed in the paper. He said the Captain was very mannerly and he said he was sorry as we were not at war but this was his orders. Fortunately all the men were picked up and were all safe. It wasn't long after, the U.S. declared war on Germany, which we all know was inevitable. I remember after that happened then the whole country pulled together. I know in our little town most of the boys joined the service, or was drafted. I know the men got $21.00 a month for serving. Not much money even in those days. That was the beginning of women going to work in the factories. I think that also was the beginning of women wanting equal rights. I was 14 when the war started, but when I was 16 I went to work in my Uncle's factory doing war work. Of course I still went to school, and only worked part time. but I made 75 cents an hour. Only worked weekends, cause I worked in woolworths during the week after school, that was in the winter. In the summer I worked on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. I loved going to work earl in the morning and watching the soldiers marching down the boardwalk, singing. They even had a troop that rode horses on the beach. I think I told you how dark it was during the war with no lights shining toward the ocean. There were a lot of USO canteens around but I was too young. Had to be 18. so we more or less had our own at home. My mom and dad always had servicemen for dinner and holidays. We also had daylight savings time all during the war, in order to conserve energy. Of course we didn't have oil heaters, only coal and wood. and coal was hard to come by. They needed the coal for the troop trains etc. no deisel trains then. No jets either. in fact a lot of things weren't thought of back then. I can't remember the name of the planes that the Germans came out with toward the end of the war, but I think it was the beginning of the jet age. They were very fast, but not better than us. The Japanese used the Kamikazi planes, where a flyer would more or less commit suicide by flying their plane right into our ships. I knew a couple of fellows that were prisoners of war in Japan, it must have been horrible, not that they talked about it much, but the mental scars showed. Well, just wrote another book. Have so many memories. some sad and some were fun. Have to put on my thinking cap and decide what you might like to hear about. Hope you are all well. Lots of love and hugs to all.

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