Memories of WW II

11 years old.
Just before 8 a.m. on December 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese aircraft attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The barrage lasted just two hours, but it was devastating. The Japanese managed to destroy nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight enormous battleships, and almost 200 airplanes.  More than 2000 American soldiers and sailors died in the attack, and another 1,000 were wounded.  The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.  Congress approved his declaration with just one dissenting vote.

On December 11, 1941, the U.S. declares war on Germany.
Our normal lifestyle quickly started to change.  Young single men (eighteen years old) began to be drafted into the armed forces. Soon after, the draft was extended to young married men.  Many of these young men were killed in action.  Husbands and wives were separated, many for as long as three or four years.  I had a cousin who enlisted in the air force and served as a pilot in England for the duration of the war.  He  left a wife and one small son at home.  A sad thing happened while he was gone.  His wife became involved with another man and filed for divorce.  Even at my young age I appreciated how this situation must have been as heart wrenching as any thing that could happen.

Whenever a member of a family left home to serve in the military, the family was given a poster containing a large blue star that designated that a member of that family was serving in the military.  Later when a dreaded telegram was received by the family which began, "We regret to inform you", a gold star was issued to the family that indicated that a loved one had been killed while in military service. We could walk down the street and by looking at the front window, tell if a member of that family was presently serving in the military or if a member had been killed in the war.  Some families had both stars in their front window.

There was limited protests against the war.  All the population became involved in the war effort.  A few of these efforts were:
     Gasoline was rationed.  Each family was given coupons that were needed to buy gasoline.                    
     Meat was rationed.  Each family was given food stamps.
     Housewives saved all grease that was left after frying meat.  This was used to manufacture munitions.
     All school children gathered milkweed pods; used to manufacture life preservers.
     All commercial construction was halted. The materials were needed for military projects.
     Silk stockings disappeared from the stores.  Silk was needed to produce parachutes.

Grandpa's wisdom - money.
Money can buy a house, but not a home.
It can buy a clock, but not time.
It can buy a position, but not respect.
It can buy you a bed, but not sleep.
It can buy you a book, but not knowledge.
It can buy you medicine, but not health.
It can buy you a heart transplant, but not true love.
It can buy you blood, but not life.

So you see money isn't everything.  And it often causes pain and suffering.  I tell you this because I am your friend.  And as your friend I want to take away your pain and suffering!  So send me all your money, and I will suffer for you.  Cash only please!  No checks or money orders.  After all, what are friends for???