World War II and Away from Home
The first half of the ‘40s was rough on all of us because of World War II (Europe, 1939-1941). While the US was not directly involved at that point we were in a serious maritime battle with Germany who were trying to interdict and sink merchant ships supplying Great Britain and our other European allies. The German fleet boasted of many submarine’s (U-boats) that wreaked havoc on those ships, but none was as formattable as the German Battleships KMS (Kreigmarine) Von Bismarck and Von Tirpitz and their sister battlecruisers, most notable the KMS Scharnhorst. In May of 1941 while attempting to emerge down the Denmark Strait, the Bismarck and battle cruiser Prinz Eugen were confronted by the British battleship, HMS Prince of Wales and “new” battlecruiser HMS Hood, the most up to date and pride of the British North Atlantic Fleet. Within the first 10 minutes, the Hood was sunk by the combined shelling by the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen when its main magazine was struck with a direct hit. The battle of Denmark Strait was concluded with a badly damaged Prince of Wales, that was forced to retreat, and a badly damaged Bismarck, that had to withdraw any idea of raiding the merchant traffic between the US and Great Britain (its original mission). Instead she headed for a dry dock on the coast of occupied France (probably St. Nazaire with the only dry dock large enough to handle Bismarck or Tirpitz). To the cry “Sink the Bismarck”, the hunt for the Bismarck lasted several days, under the notion she was truly unsinkable. As usual in such claims, the impossible happened in late May of 1941 (Some claims that the ship was scuttled rather than sunk by the British holds some credibility).
As to the KMS Von Tirpitz, it remained the centerpiece of the German Baltic fleet. One of her main assignments was the task of interrupting merchant shipping from the U.S. to Europe. That mission was abandoned upon the devastating British commando raid on St. Nazaire. With an old lend-lease destroyer from the U.S. stuffed in the bow with time-delay explosives, and 50 small boats with some 150 commando’s, the strong sea gates to the dry dock were rammed by the destroyer while the 150 commando’s were sent to secure the area. Like all good plans this one was leaked and the commando’s were met with withering fire, and only 5 boats and 50 commando’s survived. The destroyer was more successful blowing up as planned, taking some 1,200 German personnel with it. The dry dock was never rebuilt during the war, and was the main reason the Tirpitz avoided the area. Soon after, a flight of British Avro Lancaster heavy bombers found her and hit Tirpitz with two direct hits and one near miss with 500lb “long boy” bombs, and that sank the mighty Von Tirpitz.
It was 1943 before the Shornhorst had its day. Still part of the Baltic fleet, the ship was moving south out of the Barents Sea to try to disrupt the Atlantic Merchant ship flow. Since the American entry into the fray, the merchant shipping was more of a problem and had become intolerable. She was confronted by a few gunboats, but unfortunately for Schornhorst, these boats were serving as escorts to the British battleship HMS Duke of York. The sinking of Scharnhorst was quick and represented the last real surface ship threat the Germans had in the Atlantic and North Atlantic oceans (DII-1).
Toward the end of 1941, the events unfolding in the North Sea paled in light of the major event which occurred on November 7, 1941. It was then early Sunday morning the Japanese launched a surprise attack (though some foresaw the potential) at the Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, in the Philippines. I highlight this date and attack for I don’t want any future reader of this time to forget it. It truly was “a day that will live in infamy”, to paraphrase the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President of the United States at the time. It was also the real end of the depression of 1929 (the good news) and represented a sea-change in the cultural fabric of the US. (Yet to be determined news.) The United States was no longer just a supporting participant in the hostilities, but now a full time participant.
Three pictures illustrate the horror of that day, which was early Sunday morning when most were still asleep in their bunks (DII-1). Men on watch could not believe what they were seeing and thought it was some sort of training exercise until bombs began falling on Hickam Field, destroying any land based aircraft response. The one fortunate circumstance preceding this attack was Admiral William (Bull) Halsey (commander of the US carrier fleet, Pacific) had an inkling that something was afoot, and commanded all US aircraft carriers to sea, and they took a northern course. The Japanese navy came in on a southern route, following the exact course of a major US Navy training exercise of a year before. Halsey really dodged the “bullet” and came back ready to fight.
On that very Sunday, Dave Crego and I were all of 12½ years old and were playing his invented game called Naval Strategy. We were using the small metal play ships (battleships, carriers, cruisers, destroyers and submarines) popular with the kids at the time. The game was played on a huge National Geographic World map upon which the ships were placed at exact geographic (Latitude/Longitude) of the players choosing, or in some cases actual locations of reported naval engagements. On this particular day, we (mostly Dave) were re-enacting the sinking of the British Battlecruiser HMS Hood by the German Battleship KMS Bismarck, during a brief battle earlier in May of 1941 (briefly described above). The attack at Pearl Harbor was to be a major game changer in WWII with regards to the US and Japan. The arrogance of the Japanese was remarkable given two high rating Japanese diplomats were at that time in Washington talking about peace and cooperation. Basic American culture changed almost overnight as well, and indeed the Japanese awakened a sleeping tiger. The United States declared war almost immediately and that included the entire Axis enemy (Germany, Japan, Italy Argentina and associated satellite countries). Although the battle of the North Atlantic did not end or even subside, full attention of the U.S. turned to the Pacific and specifically the Philippines and the fortress of Corregidor, where General Douglas MacArthur (commander of far east forces) made his famous stand followed by the infamous Bataan death march. While MacArthur and staff were successfully evacuated to Australia, many of the rest who missed the “Death March” were left to fend for themselves. Many joined various gorilla bands and proceeded to wreak havoc on Japanese forces that were stretched thin both in personnel and supplies. Much of this activity was coordinated by the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) under the direction of the famous “Wild” Bill Donovan. This organization was the forerunner of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
At home the changes were at least as dramatic. Almost immediately many of the women turned from typical stay at home housewives (except for secretaries and personal assistants), and instead became mechanics, riveters, welders, and any other jobs left vacant by men enlisting or being conscripted into one of the several armed forces. Even the armed forces increased their ranks of female troops. In the Army: “Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps” (WAAC), and in the Navy: “Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service” (WAVES). As can be imagined, there were many tasks required that didn’t involve serving on the front lines. A popular song of the time was “Rosie the Riveter ”. A good many took jobs at one of the several Henry Kaiser shipyards scattered along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts. Shortages began to show up everywhere, Automobiles, for instance. In many if not most cases their production was converted to war related production. For example, Chrysler corporation became prime manufacturers of armored vehicles including tanks, half tracks and other armored personnel carriers.
It should be remembered that the U.S. Air Force did not exist at this time. There was only the Army (land) and Navy (sea) air forces. The Marines and Coast Guard were considered Navy. In fact the entire war was waged without a stand-alone air force division. It was the National Security Act of 1947 when the United States Army Air Force was reinstated as the United States Air Force and was formally established in Sept. of that year with the naming a cabinet position of Secretary of the Air Force. Currently it is the largest of the armed services and by far the most technologically advanced (although the Navy isn’t far behind)
Like Dick, Joyce’s brothers, Lou and Gordy both entered the service. Lou served in the U.S. Army Airforce and Gordy a foot soldier in the US Army and both served in Europe. It was after the famous “Battle of the Bulge” where a major German offensive was carried out on the western front in Belgium, France and Luxembourg toward the end of the war (1944-1945), when the US suffered their greatest losses. Gordon was wounded, captured and imprisoned for a short time. During the same engagement, and after serving up on the front lines, my cousin Jack Upton was riding to the rear lines on an armored personnel carrier when he was picked off by a German sniper. So close and yet so far. While Dick never had to endure front line duty, he had to endure the tropical heat and humidity of the Panama Canal zone. When he arrived home in 19 he had a “galloping” case of “jungle rot”, (a skin-rotting fungus) the scars from which I don’t think he ever lost. The Veterans Administration (VA) medical assistance was existent only on paper at the time, but rarely available (and is only marginally better as I write this).
The war touched virtually every one in the country in one way or the other. Sons, daughters, and loved ones serving, killed or returning injured. Some came home with mental issues in what we now call PTSD (Post Trauma Stress Disorder), which then was not defined and mostly went untreated. Those on the Homefront were also challenged. Women homemakers and moms working now at jobs previously only done by men heralded the beginning of the American woman in the workplace. This trend has grown and mushroomed up to and including today.
Wide spread rationing became a national priority, especially in gasoline and certain foods and fabrics. In terms of gasoline, windshield stickers were required to show maximum allowable per visit. The A sticker allowed the driver 4 gallons a week, and the B allowed the driver up to 8 gallons a week. The “C” sticker was for professionals like Doctors and others that had to travel in emergency situations. There was a tag “T” for trucks and a coveted one “X” reserved for politicians and those with plenty of money to pay for them. As you can see, not much has changed over the years. The interesting fact was the rationing was not because of the shortage of gasoline, but rather of rubber to make tires. With the Pacific war, the Japanese controlled many of the South Pacific Islands and territory where rubber plantations provided the US with that raw material (Brazil and Argentina were not friendly) (DII-2).
As can be imagined, gas rationing, regardless of reason, puts a big crimp in everyday living. People would not drive to save up for emergencies. My dad started using the bus to go to work. Carpooling became a common practice, and some companies provided van service to select neighborhoods where workers could drive a short distance for a lift to work. But if the gas rationing was inconvenient, garment materials such as nylon created dangerous situations. Pitched battles would break out at department stores announcing the availability (never mind sale) of nylon stockings. I mean, actual fist fights, hair pulling, the whole 9 yards. Steel, aluminum, copper and other construction products were also in short (if any) supply. Major companies such as Chrysler and General Motors were put into war production in lieu of private automobiles (With few exceptions, foreign cars were not available, especially Japanese, German and Italian).
National conscription (the military draft) was in force for all males 18 and over, and stayed in force until the war was over in 1945 . (I was 16 in 1945 and was able to dodge the bullet). As bad as war is, there is always a side benefit. In this case a resulting huge advance in technology (“Necessity is the mother of invention”). Some of the great technological advancements included the development of RADAR (Radio Detection And Ranging), efficient rocket and jet propulsion systems, aluminum, Teflon, various food substitutes and preservatives (most notable, the butter substitute Oleo Margarine “margarine”, “tang”, an orange tasting drink, “spam” a canned pressed ham-like substitute, to mention a few) and in automotive technology. One of the most outstanding was the Willys Jeep. It was probably the most diversified small vehicle ever developed by the military, and a more modern version is still in wide use by the military, as well as robust civilian renditions. This compact 4 wheel (4×4) drive all-terrain vehicle served a variety of purposes throughout the war. After the war was over, Willys Overland was merged with Chrysler Corp. and domestic versions produced that held little resemblance to the original, except for the name “Jeep”. Several models are still produced, the most popular being the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the all- terrain Wrangler (DII-2)
The development of RADAR had particular significance in artillery target acquisition. In the Canal Zone, Dick was trained as a RADAR technician. In that capacity, he served in a Service Squadron (providing services to the rest of the fleet). Part of that service was pulling targets flown from aircraft for gunnery practice. Deployed ships heading to the Pacific stopped in Panama on the way for just such practice. It was easy on the service squadron since the targets were rarely hit. Returning ships, after a few months dodging Kamikaze attacks (Japanese suicide bombers) rarely missed. RADAR would change all that, once they got some serious bugs out of the system. At first, the RADAR often picked up the towing cable and not the target, resulting in a few cases of actually shooting down the towing plane. Once that glitch was resolved, target seeking and hitting efficiency became markedly consistent, given proper training.
As kids we were aware of all this, but basically we were not too inconvenienced,
The Sikorsky/Vought aircraft complex was completely transformed. Lordship never was the same again. What we did enjoy was watching the mock dogfights various popular fighter planes conducted over our heads (especially during the early years of WWII), and the airport (now named Igor Sikorsky Memorial Field) supported training exercises for test and fighter pilots alike. I can remember (1942-1943) my friend Billy Gallup and I watching mock dog-fights from an open field across from his house involving the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, (Army Air Force), or the U.S Navy’s Vought F4U Corsair, with the unique inverted gull wing necessary because of the large propeller. It was fun to watch them cavort overhead (DII-2).
We pretty much went on our way uninterrupted in our education and other social activities. About that time (1942) I was beginning to realize that girls were really more than a pain in the neck and objects for ridicule and harassment. One girl who became part of my young life was Mary Hamilton (“Ham”) Windsor. Boy she hated to be called “Mary Ham ”, so guess what all the guys called her? Her folks (John and Margarete) were great friends of my parents. Many afternoons as a youngster, I was placed under Windsor supervision while my mom was doing something that didn’t include me. The Windsor’s also had an older daughter (Peggy) about Dick’s age. Mary was not only my classmate, she also grew into my very first girlfriend (until High School, 4 months away).
It was our last year at Lincoln School (high school next year), so it was also time for my first social event. Mrs. Windsor had a bachelor brother who lived in downtown NY in a fancy apartment building with a swimming pool, game rooms and all kinds of goodies. He invited the two Windsor girls, Dick and me to NY City for a weekend. The weekend highlight was dinner and dancing at the Café’ Rouge in the Hotel Pennsylvania, where none other than Glenn Miller was featured that night. Of the big bands of that era, he was considered right at the top. I used to have a souvenir menu and you just couldn’t believe the prices. I mean, things like “Pheasant under Glass’ ‘ were priced around $20. Also remember our ages. Gender hormones were just beginning to kick in. I was with a girl I liked and to be dancing to the live music of Glenn Miller, I mean it couldn’t get better than that (Miss Comer was paying off). It was a bittersweet experience, however. It was 1941 or perhaps 1942, just after the attack on Pearl Harbor and our entry into WWII against Germany. Glenn Miller and his band went to England to entertain the troops and his plane was lost over the English Channel, and no one survived, nor was any wreckage ever found that I know about. Glen Miller died as a Major in the U.S. Army, and the nation mourned, not only the kids.
The “item” aspect of Mary and my relationship lasted until about 1/3 of our freshman year at Roger Ludlow (Fairfield) High School. During a class break and out of nowhere she accosted me in the hall and accused me of the unspeakable transgression of speaking to another girl. Well I had not done that, perish the thought. She relentlessly insisted to the point I realized she really wanted out, and I was not thrilled to be falsely accused of something I didn’t do. So that was it, I wished her a nice life and walked on. I don’t remember another conversation with her, mainly because I had decided that girls and I didn’t mix well, and next year I was going away to school anyway.
By 1945 and the war’s end, we were all becoming of age (16) and at least eligible for a drivers license (once we could get gasoline again). My first meeting with Joyce Edwards since the fifth grade occurred at that point, when she was the first to sport a new driver’s license, and cruised the neighborhood in their big old ’37 Buick and offered us all rides. Hey, maybe girls weren’t so bad after all. Joyce Edwards was sure fun to be around. We laughed and cut up (just like back in 5th grade) and thoroughly enjoyed doing things together. Trouble was, that wasn’t often since I was off at Choate School and she at Cushing Academy with both of us home during Christmas and summer breaks. Ah, those were the days, and don’t think those breaks didn’t count, a lot. But at least the war was over and we could get back to normal. It was though, and it proved to be a tough national remedy to break out of the financial depression of 1929