A GLIMPSE AT WW II
by Donna B. Ryan
A personal glimpse into the realities and horrors of war was shared during a recent impromptu reunion of five World War II veterans, all members of the same family.
Merwin Clark, along with his nephews, Ron Rawleigh, George Rawleigh, and Wayne Kellogg, plus Merwin’s wife, Norma Reynolds Clark, had gathered for the funeral of their sister and aunt, Eleanor Howell, and were encouraged by other members of their family to talk about their experiences while serving in separate branches of the US military.
The shocking attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was the impetus for young people to rush to volunteer in the US armed forces, according to the veterans. “I remember vividly where I was when learning of the attack,” Merwin shared. “I was at a movie at the Steuben Theatre in Hornell, and they announced the bombing. Everyone was so shocked, they shut the theatre down and everyone went home,” he said.
The next month, Merwin and Wayne went to Buffalo to enlist together in the US Air Corps. “Wayne had two years of college, and they accepted him. But I didn’’t make it,” Merwin remembers. Wayne entered the Air Force January 17, 1942, and was eventually stationed outside London and Paris in the Strategic Air Force headquarters as crew chief. The operation, under the direction of General Spatz, allied forces commander, was a vital communications link for the war effort. Although he did not serve on the front lines, Wayne stated that London a perilous place to be, and was the site of bombing every night. He spoke with pride of the Air Force’s critical role in the war, saying “The airplanes would go over, and we would shout, ‘Go get’em fellas!’”” His volunteer tour of duty was one month short of three years.
Just four days later after Wayne signed up, on January 21, 1942, Merwin enlisted in the US Army and became part of the Third Infantry Division, 9th Field Artillery Battalion. This was the same division in which Wayne's dad, Clair Kellogg, whom Merwin described as "like a dad to me", had enlisted during WW I when he was 15. Merwin landed with his battalion in Africa, and participated in the invasion of Sicily and Naples and the liberation of Anzio Beachhead, where they were forced to live underground for three months. Merwin saw three hundred ninety-one days on the front lines, including the liberation of Rome on June 5, 1944. “After D-day on June 6, 1944, we thought for sure we would be home for Christmas. We were home for Christmas: the NEXT year – December 1945!” Merwin recalls.
Drawn by patriotism for her country, Norma wanted to join the Marines, but her father, John Reynolds, would not sign the papers for her. “I waited for my 21st birthday, and signed up on January 20, 1944, ” she remembers. After her enlistment, she went to Camp LeJeune at Cherry Point, NC, where she served in the paymaster’s office until February, 1946. “I got called home for my mother’s surgery, and Merwin was back in Almond from the service,” she explains. They had gone together during high school, and after this reunion, they began dating and were later married at Cherry Point.
Ron, who will be remembered as the “meat man” at Kellogg’s Store and who retired to Florida, enlisted in the US Paratroopers on December 15, 1942. He saw extensive action over the next three years, including the perilous invasion of Normandy and the siege at the Battle of the Bulge. “We weighed about 300 pounds with all our gear: grenades, ammunition, shovel, pack, blanket, tent, rifle, plus equipment to set up a depot,” he recalled. “When we jumped, we jumped into enemy territory. We jumped at 500 feet, and we came down 15 feet a second, hitting hard. If you jumped high, you hit the target. . . but don’t get hung up in a tree—then you are a targets for the enemy,” he recalled.
George wanted to be in a different branch of the service, and enlisted in the US Navy on August 31, 1943. He trained at Sampson Naval Base, and was assigned to the light cruiser Vincennes on her shakedown cruise to Trinidad. Beginning in June of that year, George saw steady enemy action as the Vincennes supported carriers as they launched aircraft and carried out air strikes throughout the Pacific. George and the men on the Vincennes survived typhoons, fired on enemy planes and brought down kamikaze bombers, and continued dangerous screening operations for the “flattops” for the next eight months. Two years and four months of gripping action resulted in passionate opinions, which George shared: “Throughout all that ordeal, now when someone takes the US flag and burns it or stomps on it, if I had my choice, I would shoot them!”
Each veteran had a variety of stories to tell of their war experiences, but it is interesting to note that all returned to their “hometown” to make a life. One of the reasons may be the communication link between the community and the servicemen, established in the spring of 1944 and maintained in the form of a monthly newsletter underwritten by the Almond Union of Churches. The Rev. and Mrs. Robert Spencer, newsletter editor/photographer duo, were assisted by Agnes Fritz, chief news gatherer and writer, and typist/circulation editor Regina Martin.
ALMOND NEWSLETTER CONNECTS SERVICEMEN TO ALMOND
The Anniversary Edition of the Almond Newsletter, dated April 16, 1945, is on file in the Hagadorn House archives, and is a veritable treasure of local news and views of the time. The first page, entitled “Guess Who”, gives this introduction: “Greetings Friend: Guess who I am. I’ll give you some clues. I was born on May 15, 1944, and I am growing fast. At birth I had sixty readers and now I have over 130. I am a native of Almond and very proud of my hometown. I dearly love the spot and all of my friends have been made because they too love Almond. I am a member of the Almond Union of Churches and find there a wonderful Christian fellowship of people united for Community Service in the name of their Lord. I am a world traveler. I don’t say this to boast, but I do travel more than any other member of our church. Every month I go to several ends of the earth as well as touring our own United States. I travel by truck, train, plane and boat into the lands where there are people who remember Almond. I travel in order to greet all who love Almond. I like to tell them what is going on at home. I carry with me the good will of the village, the valleys, the church and the hills. I am a curious little fellow. I pry into every person’s business. I copy people’s letters. I scoop all the news of the births, deaths, weddings, and anniversaries. Ain’t I awful? I love it, and so do you.
“Now can you guess who I am? My name is THE ALMOND NEWSLETTER.” This expanded edition includes not only Mrs. Fritz’ “little homey chat” about the happenings in town, but also a compilation of letters received during the previous year from its readers stationed and living around the world. In an effort to keep Almondites “connected” during the war years, five pages in the back of the booklet contain the names and addresses of its recipients. To help defray costs, it was printed and bound and sold to townspeople and is now, sixty years later, sometimes found tucked away among the belongings of those whose families lived here in the 40’s.
Several photo pages are interspersed in the 63-page booklet, including pictures of long-gone places and people. Viewing these overwhelms our hearts with many memories: The “old” Post Office, located in the Fenner block, and Mabel McIntosh in front of the telephone office decorated with a star in the window in honor of her daughter, Lt. Viola McIntosh. The photo of the Almond Library shows a red cross in the window, designating the site where ladies gathered to roll bandages for the war effort. Also particularly interesting is a shot of the thirty-two young people and their AUC advisors who had attended the 1945 Easter Sunrise service held on Wightman’s Sand Hill farm.
Mrs. Fritz then provides servicemen with this view of happenings in Almond: “To those of you who haven’t been here for years, you wouldn’t know about our beautiful central school nestled among the hills on the Alfred Road, about a mile above town – a beautiful building with its spacious grounds so beautifully taken care of by Charlie Larkin, Clinton Hamlin and Earl Dungan. You have all heard of that terrific basketball team coached by Paul Powers – well they did get to Rochester which was a lot – played a great game with Sodus and lost just by one point. To make themselves appear really tough, I hear, the boys all got brush cuts before they ‘stationed-wagoned’ up to Rochester. In spite of that they weren’t quite tough enough. Now judging from the number of brush-cut boys about town, they must have had a colossal team.
“I almost forgot to tell you how our Red Cross drive went over – terrific – our quota was $925 and we (under the direction of Gertrude McIntosh) raised $1165. Besides this, Almond men and women gave where they worked. We have had a busy Lenten Season in church, but a nice one. If you service men and women could have seen the 83 candles lighted for you on the evening of the World Day of Prayer, you would have known none of you had been forgotten.
“Twice this month the community of Almond has been recognized. The Gunlocke Chair Company of Wayland will soon open a branch to be known as the Almond Upholstering Company – location, Old Almond School. The Alfred-Almond Central School has been chosen by the Federal Government to install a miniature canning factory where women of this area may can to their heart’s content. Violet Bell Sharrett will be the instructor in this project as well as our homemaking teacher at the school next year.
“Marilyn Lockwood was recently saluted over station WHEC as Rochester’s’ ‘Citizen of the Day’ in recognition of her contributions to the war effort in that city.”
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
An eight-page section entitled “So This Is Almond . . . No Place Like Home. . .” begins thus: “March 28, 9:29 ½ p.m. temperature 80 degrees. This is such a nice evening let’s take a walk thru Almond and see how things look in the old town on this moonlight night in Spring. We’’ll start at the upper end and stroll down. This smart little place way back from the road overlooking the stream is one built and lived in by the Verne Paines. Verne is the SS Supt. and his wife teaches fifth grade at the A-A school. Verne is also the Chief Auditor for the church. In this job of keeping tabs on twenty-six separate treasuries, he is assisted by Milton Baker and Percy McIntosh. Next door to the Paines and with not nearly so long a driveway to shovel, live the Milton Bakers. Mrs. Baker is President of Philathea and is busy every minute with a dozen other tricks. Despite the fact that Milton is in constant demand to give his now famous Pillsbury Pancake Suppers all over the country, he still finds time to serve on the village board; time to teach a class of intermediate boys on Sunday morning; to serve as an auditor, an usher and an elder of the church – and time to chat over the fence with his neighbor, Ben Palmer.”
The writer then continues to take the readers up and down the Village streets, writing newsy tidbits about its residents and now defunct businesses. Describing the Nanrod Nursing Home as “filled to capacity at all times,” she moves North on Main Street : “Paul and Gladys Coleman live over the firehouse, and he is the Fire Chief. The Bell meat market is no more – and in its place Percy McIntosh has built a nice new farm machinery display building. The stores across the street are all vacant with the exception of Al’s Place.”
Going on to describe the “business block,” she writes: “Allen Witter still runs the Feed Store. Guy Washburn is shop foreman at Mason Typewriter Exchange and keeps plenty busy, as does his wife, Phyllis, with five little folks calling for her close attention. Fenner’s store is still going along just as usual, which is very good. Behind the counter Jessie Coburn and Bill VanOrman still give the same cheerful service. Bill’s wife, Ruth, also helps out with the clerking these days. The Post Office is presided over by Ken Hagadorn and Gertrude Bay less. . beyond the Post Office is Kellogg’s Store. They have quite a working force with Clair, his wife, Betty, Grace Washburn and sometimes extra ones.”
The narrative tells about a multitude of other residents, either self-employed or serving the community in other ways: “Carol Bird is busy these days with cattle dealing, trucking, and now gardening .. George Lewis is the local milkman and town supervisor . . . Mabel McIntosh is the ‘number please,’ lady, assisted by Susie Brown and Harriet Ide . . . Decker’s Garage is getting its usual spring uplift. Mr. Decker always keeps it looking so nicely around there. . .Mason’s Typewriter Exchange where Mrs. Fritz works as their very efficient secretary. Mr. Mason is Rotarian minded with capitals and is now enjoying a comparatively leisurely life after having been on the road for so long. Son Bob is taking over work at the Mason Typewriter Exchange. . . Elbert Burdick is getting a little rested from ploughing snow, but spring has come on so suddenly that he is in even greater demand to plough gardens. . . Gertrude McIntosh still holds the village championship for cakes, and loves to cook. Percy loves to have her. . . Esther Oliver Wagner is running her beauty shop full time after having spent two years in Elmira doing war work. . . George Kame is preparing the Golden Knob for the Horse Traders convention. . .Harry Perry and Harry Ide are getting caught up on a lot of sleep lost during the snowplowing, which went on nightly this winter to keep the roads open for school buses . . . Harry Ide operates the snow plow . . .Jim Stewart takes the mail bags to and from where the depot used to be . . .Libbie Emery is active around town and helps out with the Chapel Street mail distribution. . .Mayor John Reynolds has done some very fine historical articles for local newspapers . . . Frank Oakley markets the nicest eggs you can imagine. . .”
With many men away from their homes, the account indicates that others stepped up to the plate and filled in: “Postman Raymond Hanks and his son, Jerry, who saves the life of the housewife by gathering up her garbage in his jeep . . . Ernie Bird is as busy as a one-armed paperhanger with a job at the Erie Shops and all Almond’s plumbing problems for his ‘spare time.’ He has had to close his hardware store. . . E. E. Palmer is in great demand as a carpenter but cannot find time to do half that his friends would like to have done . . .Leo Burdick is not doing much barbering these days. . .”
Many residents who worked at the school were mentioned: “Otto Jones is one of the A-A school bus drivers. . . Eva Moses works at the school cafeteria. . .Virginia Bell Simmons is nurse. . . Mrs. Evelyn Kame is looking forward to Easter vacation to get a few good breaths before going back into the school cafeteria for the rest of the year. . . Mr. Gilmore, principal of the A-A school, heads the Religious Education Board in the church. . . Mrs. G is so ambitious, she always knits at the meetings. . .Ed Whitaker has been ill but is much better now. His wife is one of the janitors at the school.”
Describing two homes in the heart of town that housed schoolteachers, the story continues: “With Mrs. I.D. Karr are several teachers, also across the street Mrs. Burlingame has several more teachers, all very cute girls, and nice for the kids to look at several hours each day. Recently there was quite a stir in Mrs. Karr’s dormitory when one of her little protégés, Carolyn Davison, dashed off to New York and married her Lieutenant just home from India. They are still away on their honeymoon. Other members of the active and energetic Karr ‘family’ include Miss Edith Weaver who was baptized and joined the church not long ago with Carolyn Davison. Miss Weaver has made a hit with our youth group at the church with a program conducted to open our Lenten series of youth meetings. From the same house comes Mrs. Ethel Dexter who is one of our faithful workers in the Week Day Religious Education project at the Central School. Mrs. Dorothy Longley is doing her work with the Horizon Club. Mrs. Miriam Irvin teaches music in the grades and has often been a great help to our music—she and Mrs. Strong of Alfred Station stepped in and did a fine job when Leona Brady went to Florida. Across the street we find Miss Vera Paulson, Miss Delaurus Brink, and Miss Ruth Burlingame, who all live with Ruth’s mother.”
Despite the war, community activities prospered, and volunteers continued to toil on the home front: “Mrs. Patterson heads the Home Bureau. . .Mrs. Bird is superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School . . Cecile Colburn is active in the Red Cross. . . Bob Mason is doing a good job as assistant scoutmaster, and Marj Mason has the Campfire all agog with her contagious enthusiasm. . .Hazel Stewart hold an excellent position as District State Supervising nurse and certainly put in hours during the last summer’s polio epidemic. . . Mrs. Lee Cole is the nurse, companion, helper and good neighbor throughout lower battery on the Hornell Road. She is a fine Christian twenty-four hours a day . . .Harold MacMichael is busy with drafting in a war plant, beekeeping, and ‘setting on the school board.’ . . . Mrs. George Rice and Mrs. Stephen Hollenback were active last summer during the infantile paralysis epidemic and worked in the St. James Hospital. . . Mrs. Rice holds an outstanding record for Red Cross sewing . . .Nathan Hardy is Master of the Grange.”
Gardening and farming were necessary activities, as indicated in the booklet: “Jess Coleman whistles merrily as he goes gathering his eggs from his several hen houses . . Fred Makely has broken all records by getting most of his garden in before the end of March . . .Joe and Gladys McCullough are just ‘rarin’’ to go in their spacious gardens back of their charming little Cape Cod house . . .Postmaster Ken Hagadorn and his wife are getting ready for their Victory Garden . . .Clayton Smith is going to work Florence Lincoln’s gardens this year . . .This unseasonable weather is adding lot of color to Martha Easterbrook’’s flower gardens, and poor Martha is torn between desire to get her housecleaning done and to work in her garden . . Mrs. Stillman is on the beam again with the old cultivator. . .”
Social get-togethers also met the needs of residents, with just a few reported: ““Dale Lorow just entertained a bunch of friends at a spaghetti supper . . .Harriet Bailey is getting ready to go to her summer home in South Canaseraga where she and ‘Ginie’ will divide their energy between farming and giving picnics for their numerous Almond friends who like to get ‘out into the country’ . . .Martha Delavergne is already making plans to entertain the Philathea Class at the annual picnic at their home, ‘The Locusts’’, where the old Baptist Church used to stand . . .Clint and Rada Gillette recently were feted at a 20th anniversary party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Sick . . . Ila Delehanty, girl’s physical ed supervisor, has been entertaining her dad and mother, her sister and baby thru the winter at the little house near the garage . . .”
And most important of all, residents and families anxiously awaited news and visits from servicemen, the commentary recorded: “Mr. and Mrs. Patton are looking forward to John’s letters. . . Jimmy Heers has just been visiting his parents . . .Jean Hanks has just been home on a two-week furlough from her cadet nursing in Buffalo . . . Mrs. Dodge keeps the pastor up on the five Dodge addresses . . .Hazel Mosher Doty, whose husband has just been home from the Army, has been made manager of the Market Basket Store in Hornell . . .Corral Moshers hear frequently from Leland in the South Pacific. . .the Ponds look forward to hearing from their son Arnold who is in the Navy. . .Mrs. Tuttle and Clayton are keeping Fred’’s beautiful white collie while he is in the service. They live in the brick apartment owned by Mr. and Mrs. Leon Crooks. . Leland Peck is now working in Sears after having been discharged from the Army. . . Mrs. Haskins is hopefully awaiting news of Clifford who has been interned so long as a Japanese prisoner. . .Mrs. Smith and Clayton keep busy with their correspondence with their relatives in the service . . .The Murphys were pleased to know that a Navy mothers organization was named for Robert Dineen who was killed during the early part of the war. Many of you remember Bob who used to live at Murphys. . . The Zirkelbachs will plan on a new daughter-in-law when Jr. gets out of the Navy or sooner – engagement was announced last Fall . . Bert Sherwood and his family look forward so much to the fine letters they receive from ‘Bert’ and Leslie . . The Truman Wheeler family gets most of its mail in the form of cartoons. . . Lorna Wagner Champlin with her two adorable little girls lives upstairs over her people while Boyd is in the Army. . .The Old Reynolds property is taking on new life, and the Berrys who bought it are making it the delightful place it should be for entertaining. They recently lost a son who was a pilot in the army. . .The Hamlins across the way are waiting until June until ‘Hammy’ leaves for the Army – or if he’s lucky, the Navy. Two stars are on the service flag at the Stevens’ home, one for Ruth Dickinson’s husband and one for Mrs. Geitner’s husband. .”
MEET THE FAMILY – LETTERS FROM SERVICEMEN
The back of the booklet features five pages of names and addresses of recipients, and is entitled, “Meet the Family . . .” The list is prefaced thus: “At the present time we are sending our Almond Newsletter to soldiers, sailors, marines, wacs, cadet nurses, college students, war workers, former pastors of the church, non-resident church members, and a large miscellaneous group of persons who are afflicted with a disease known as ‘Almonditis.’” Ten families have multiple servicemen or women listed, with the Dodge family topping the list with five sons: Clifton, Ford, Garland, Warren, and Alfred and the Tuttles with three: Walter, Milton, and Fred. Duo-sibling combinations included Edward and Leroy Dungan, Norm and Tom Guthrie, Charles and Robert Sharrett, Irving and Leslie Sherwood, Ray and Richard Studley, Norma and John Reynolds, and Jean and Leon Hanks, as well as cousins, Leland and Merne Mosher.
Several pages of letters from grateful recipients confirm the effectiveness of the Almond newsletter in boosting morale. Harold Sisson wrote from Belgium on 10/25/44: “Altho these newsletters bring on that old feeling of real honest-to-goodness homesickness, way deep down in our hearts it gives us that added spirit to continue on to the end of this war, which, of course, we all hope won’t be too far in the distant future.”
Leland Mosher, in a letter written 2/7/45 from New Guinea, stated: “Your newsletter of the month of June arrived this morning. At this time I wish to state that your efforts are a boost to morale that seems to be waning at times. Every community should endeavor to do the kind of work that the Almondites are finding time to do with all of the added burdens called ‘necessary to the war effort.’’”
Richard Braack, also in Belgium, sent an interesting description of life in England and Belgium: “Next to a letter from home, there’s no more interesting reading in this Army life. It’s newsy, breezy and just like a breath of Almond air.” Truman Wheeler, stationed in England in June, 1944, commented on the hometown “events”: “I don’t know as such minor happenings are very important to you folks at home, but to us it means a lot. . .”
John Reynolds, with an APO San Francisco address, wrote in March, 1945, about the newsletter being “about the only link between the old gang. Especially interesting are the vivid descriptions of Almond, which always makes me a little homesick. I know I speak for everybody when I say it’s a great thing and keep it coming.”
Charles Lockwood, corresponded from Alaska in August, 1944: “I get the newsletter very often and it sure helps to keep me up to date as to what is going on back home. I didn’t do much to help others when I was home. I hope that will be changed once this war is over. . .” His wife, Marilyn, worked in the engineering department at GM in Rochester, and noted that she had just completed a Red Cross “grey lady course and will get my uniform this week. We will work at least one evening each week in a hospital aiding the staff and nurses. As for expecting to return to Almond – of course we do, Chubby and I. He mentions in almost every letter ‘getting back to Allegany County near Almond somewhere and getting a farm of our own.’ Those are our post-war plans.”
From Italy, Max Whitford wrote on 6/19/44: “Just received your newsletter which started out with – Greetings: Can remember receiving a letter with the similar salutation almost three and a half years ago – you know – ‘Greetings from your President.’ But this newsletter from you was a great deal better for it spoke of everyday life in one’s own community. It makes one feel that he hasn’t been forgotten by his home town even if it has been years since he last resided there. . .”
Reunions of hometown GIs were joyful occasions, as reported by Charles Sharrett in his letter from China dated 11/30/45: “Your newsletter has been most welcome here. Cap’t VanHorn reads them when he visits me and enjoys them as much as I do. I planned to save them for John Patton. I was going to visit him at the end of this month. Our plans backfired though, he has returned to India. We did get together one afternoon though and we really compared notes on Almond. Naturally I was disappointed to learn he had returned to India. It helps to chat with a fellow from the home town.”
Other GIs linked up via the monthly news sheet, as described by Truman Wheeler from England in 1945: “Through the newsletter I received a letter from Les Sherwood and Terry Gifford. I had lost track of both of them and want to thank you for helping me locate them.”
A surprise meeting between James Broughton and Leon Hanks was reported by both boys in letters they wrote from their respective ships, the USS Litchfield and the USS Fulton: James writes: “It is a small world. I was coming from a canteen with my arms full of junk, when I ran smack into one of your local boys and one of my friends. Guess who it was, none other than Leon Hanks. It didn’t take me long to drop what I had in my arms and we had a swell talk.” Both men spoke of their desire to be back in Almond, as revealed in Leon’s comments: “To give you a quick resume of what I have been doing in the past two years or so – wishing – just plain wishing that I could come home. Doesn’t sound like much but I sure takes up a lot of my time.” James concurred: “I haven’t yet found a dearer place, and I have seen lots of places. I sure wish I were there now . . .”
Two pals from Almond High School, Fred Bayless and Dick Braack, also kept in touch, according to one of Fred’s letters from Southern Italy, 3/15/45: ““In our high school days Dick and I were great pals but since leaving Almond I have had little opportunity to see him. It is interesting to note that both Dick and myself received letters telling us that we had been ‘chosen by our friends and neighbors’ at about the same time. We were both sent to the same reception center on the same day but it was only an hour before Dick was sent out that we located each other and had a short visit. Now Dick and I are both overseas and doing the same kind of work.” He went on to reminisce about “home”, saying “Almond seems to have something that holds the interest of those who have ever lived there. I have talked with many people who have lived in Almond or had heard their parents tell them about Almond and they all say the same. . .”
Wayne Kellogg, corresponding from France, spoke of the need for blood for the troops. “I gave a pint of blood today. The boys up at the front seem to need it fast and they aren’t getting it. Seems funny with all the people at home who are earning more money than ever before and keeping warm, that they can’’t send such a little thing as a pint of blood.”
Irving Sherwood was stateside in Colorado when he reflected on his responsibility as a soldier: “As to the Army it has been a good experience for me, but I will be ready to come home when it is all over. We are looking forward to that day. I guess that one of the things you learn in the Army is to live with all kinds of people. We all have to work together and even if we do not like it we do it anyway. I hope that when this is all over everyone will try to do the same in our government and our institutions.”
Carleton Gillette wrote from Yuma, AZ, after being home: “I have just completed a two week vacation . . I’ve found Almond pretty much the same as it was when I left. It sure has been swell to be back and meet the old friends and make some new ones.”
Heartfelt gratitude for being back in the USA was expressed by Dean Ewell, apparently wounded in England, as he wrote about his trip in a “big beautiful hospital ship” back to the states. “As I walked the gangplank my heart seemed to pound harder each step I took for I could hardly believe it was true. It seemed good once more after being overseas 21 months to sit down to a meal and have fresh white bread and most of all a cold glass of milk and ice cream, which we had once every day. It took us twenty long days to get back.”
Mrs Fritz’ comments gave further information on those in the service: ““Last week we were glad to see Clifford Babcock home from Iceland. He took an active part in our Sunday School, helping teach the 4L Class. Mike Bay – just released from the German Prison Camp. We are so very happy to send him the news and those who know him will be happy to hear he is safe – and free . . It seems good to hear from Merwin Clark right along. He is in France now – wonder if he, Wayne Kellogg and Ron Rawleigh will get together – they are all in France – and they were quite buddies in Almond – what a reunion that would be! Sammy Moses (Carl to Uncle Sam) was keeping Almond busy looking out of their windows to see what went by a couple of weeks ago. Sam and Dorr Ewell seem to spend all of Sam’s furlough on a motorcycle. John Patton is being kept very busy . . doing some special work somewhere in India.”
The awfulness of war brought about spiritual needs in many respondents, as read in these remarks: “I have been going to church over here most every Sunday . .” commented Harold Weitzel. Dick Braack wrote: “We have a fine Protestant Chaplain in our outfit. He held services in the school here at 3:00 this afternoon . Figure I missed going with my wife by about one hour.”” In Italy, Max Whitford noted they had a nicely painted chapel with Sunday morning and evening services. “We were lucky to have nurses here for they make our choir sound more like the one back home. ..” Leland Mosher spoke of their beautiful chapel built in the grove of coconut trees in New Guinea, and expressed this thought: “A community without a church is a people without a God. The life of each individual is constructed on his fellowship and worship. His faith in a living God is his success.”
Merwin Clark expressed appreciation for the church and its regular correspondence with the soldiers. From Italy, he wrote: “Many thanks for the Sunday program and the pamphlet ‘Today.’ It helps me in my readings for the day and I can almost believe I am at home when I read the scripture from the Bible. I still have the Bible the young people of the church presented me and not once have I let it out of my sight.” On Christmas Day, 1944, he penned these poignant thoughts from France: “Today is Christmas but it is not like the Christmas I used to know . There are big guns booming all the time here and aircraft is fairly active. The weather is cold but we have no snow. Some of the people have Christmas trees but because the war is so near most of them are just living from day to day. One day is just like the next. Holidays like Thanksgiving, Easter, New Years and Christmas do not stop a war. When one sits down and thinks about the good times and freedom they had before this war it makes them wonder if the time will ever come again when they can have those good times over again. Last evening I heard Christmas carols over the radio. It made me homesick listening to those carols being sung and they were beautiful. Our church services today were held in a room off the main part of a church in France. The room had so many soldiers in it that one had to squeeze in it in order to get in.”
Perhaps the most touching comments came from Ron Rawleigh, as he described his duty and his feelings from his post in France on 2/3/45: “You said you would like to know a few things about me and our work out here. At the present time I’m in France but can’t tell you where. . . I am in the paratroopers and our work is the most dangerous going. Most of you have read what they have done in France and Holland. It’s rough and very hard and without God’’s help I wouldn’t be here today. If a lot of people could be over here and see what is going on they would realize what Christianity really is. It means the world to a fighting soldier and I’ve experienced it myself. We have wonderful churches and good turnouts. Our fighting men need God more today than ever before. God bless you all and may I see you soon . .”
There were others – many others – from this area who served in World War II. At least two lists exist – one contains the names of the AACS students and teachers from the classes of 1940-1947, and the other records those who lived, at one time or another, in the Town of Almond.
The AACS register is found on a large wooden plaque in the school’s front hallway by the auditorium doors. Each name of the one hundred five persons who served is engraved on a brass plate, along with the class from which each was a member. Another list was compiled some time ago by Helene Phelan, AHS curator, who came up with one hundred seventy-five persons from this community who served in various branches of the service from December 1941 to 1945. Personal notations follow some of the entries, one of the first of which is: “Leo Alsworth – Drafted . . . . he and wife devastated.” Four others sadly report these men making the ultimate sacrifice for their country: “Donald Berry, Lt., killed 12/23/44 in Battle of the Bulge, silver star posthumously; Robert Dineen, lived with Murphy family, ‘first man from Almond to be killed’’; Clifford Haskins, missing when hospital ship was sunk by Japanese in S. China Sea; Kenneth Preston, Cpl, killed in action in France, 11/30/44, having been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds previously received in action.”
Many other veterans were previously mentioned in quotes from the 1945 Almond newsletter. In addition to those, a large number on the list have since passed on, including Wayne Brownell, Roland Gardner, Willard Smith, Lee R. Ryan, Duane Dennison, Howard Buckmaster, Carolyn Westlake, Max Marvin, Edwin Bertch, Vince Petric, Terry Gifford, John Washburn, and George Benson.
Several more share surnames: Malcolm, Richard and Robert Davison, Basil and Leland Emerson, Everett, Jeanne and Jim Thomas, Frank and Max Whitford, Donald and Gerald Zirkelbach, Joseph and Samuel Castelino, Donald, Paul and Marilyn Berry, Andrew and William Hawkins, Donald and James Heers, Kenneth and Bruce Witter.
More than five decades later, we are fortunate to have others still living among us, some of whom are: Clyde Bracken, Phil MacMichael, Doug Montgomery, Harlan Mullen, Ron Mullikin, Wendell Taft, John Leland Kernan, and George Morgenfeld.
A thought-provoking tribute, written from England in April, 1944 by the community’s physician, Dr. Charles Rose, was fitting at the time, and appears even more appropriate as America strikes back today : “The people of the community may well think proudly and soberly of the impact of the war on such a peaceful village when they see so large a number of their boys and girls changed into soldiers. Their pride will not be lessened by the part those boys have played and will play in the crucial days so close to us now. I have seen their courage and their suffering and their ability to stand up under the worst punishment possible and can tell you that they deserve the best from all of you when some come back. May your prayers for all of them be answered.”
A personal visit with five WW II vets, an interesting hometown newsletter, and documents listing those who served, have given us just a small glimpse at some of the struggles and accomplishments of this “greatest generation.” We sincerely say THANK YOU, to all those men and women who have so bravely fought for our freedoms in the past – and to those who may soon be called on to do so again. May God be merciful to us all.
