| Notes |
- By the way, Grandma didn't know for sure on which trip Grandpa met Dell
a Johnson. She thought it might have been on the first trip (1929) but I g
uess the second trip (either 1930 or 1931, she's not really sure which) h
e made with Dan Zimmerman and Helen, Dan's girlfriend and later wife, t
old Grandma some stories about Grandpa and Della so she said it could h
ave been on the second trip, too. Della's dad had something to do with p
ack animals for hunting and Grandpa spent time in the mountains buildin
g roads on the '29 trip so that was why she thought perhaps that was th
e time they met. (Email from Linda to Megan after speaking to Velma, J
anuary 2000).
From: Linda J. Montgomery [mailto:110235.567@compuserve.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 9:20 PM
To: Megan Montgomery
Subject: grandma's WWII info
Megan,
I will send you the info Grandma gave me; she had it written out and I'
m
going to copy her words exactly. I'm not sure if this is exactly what y
ou
had in mind; it is more about what she and Grandpa were doing during th
e
war. If you want something more specific, why don't you send me detail
ed
questions and I'll see what I can do. Anyway here goes:
"Rationing: sugar, coffee, shoes, gas, tires. Tell her what I was doin
g on
the Sunday Pearl Harbor was attacked. Dad was gone either hunting or
fishing and I was home alone.I was cleaning because I was still working a
t
the Selective Service Office. We went back to Illinois for Christmas o
the Portland Rose. That was the year my mother had the ruptured append
ix
so I stayed in Illinois for several weeks to help her.
Soon after I got back from Illinois, I found I was pregnant. In May we
decided to go to Portland so Grandpa could work in the shipyards. He d
id
that for awhile, then went to work for a company that was building larg
e
metal trailers to haul military equipment. Linda was born in October;
somewhere along in that time frame, Grandpa went back to work for the S
wan
Island Shipyards. He worked there until he quit because the foreman to
ld
him he would have to slow down because he was making the other welders l
ook
bad. They were working on oil tankers which were very much needed in t
he
war effort. Grandpa said "No" he wouldn't slow down and the guy said h
e
would be fired. Grandpa said, "I quit!" The guy said, "You'll go righ
t
into the service." So we moved back to Idaho and bought our little far
m
east of Caldwell. This was at the end of March, 1943. We raised sugar
beets so the sugar company would let us buy 100 pounds of sugar at a ti
me
so we didn't have to worry about sugar rationing any more. When we mov
ed
out on the farm, we had a coal heater in the living room. When Jay was
born, they let us get an oil heater, which was really an improvement.
We had both Japanese and German prisoners of war working in our beet fi
elds
at different times. I can remember the day the war ended. The news ca
me
over the radio, and I shouted, "The war is over, the war is ended!" and
began to cry. Linda and Jay couldn't figure out what it was all about a
d
looked at me as if I was crazy. It wasn't until some time after the wa
was over that we learned of the Bataan Death March and the raising of o
ur
flag over Iwo Jima. I remember so well when we dropped the atomic bomb o
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was so horrible but it did bring an end to t
he
war much sooner.
Today there are only about 300 of the 3,000 who were forced to march in t
he
Bataan Death March."
And this is the end of her account--like I said, if you had specific
questions to ask, she might recall more specific details.
I got Cheryl's birthday stuff today--I got her one of those decorative
cardboard oval boxes at Kelly's and some stuff to fill it--a bookmark, a
picture frame magnet, some cute stick-it notes, some regular floral not
es,
a bird house pin with a little hanging bird, and a little packet of spi
ce
drawer sachet. I now need to get it send. Do you think I should insur
e it
when I do or is her neighborhgood safe enough if the mailman just leave
s it
at her door?
It doesn't look like you have much free time while you are in Toronto. I
s
Sarah coming there to see you? I suppose she'd have to since you are
without transportation.
We are going to Pocatello, leaving Friday about 1:00 or so and coming b
ack
Sunday afternoon/early evening. Marvin's phone number is 208-237-8661
should you need to get ahold of us. Be sure you give his number to Che
yl,
too.
Gotta go--it's time to leave for choir. Talk to you later. By the way
,
loved the darling birthday card--and I love you with all my heart, too.
Mom
Indian Grove Twp., Livingston, Illinois Apr 12 1930
84 84 Kilgus, Herman J. Head R R yes M W 26 M 22 No yes Illinois German
y Illinois 61 13 1 yes Farmer General Farming VVVV 0 yes No 31
---Marie A. Wife-H x F W 26 M 22 No yes Illinois Alsace-Lorraine Illino
is 61 12 1 yes none
---Richard H. Son x M W 0 8/12 S No Illinois Illinois Illinois 61 none
85 85 Hoffman, Paul Head 0 yes M W 51 M 23 No yes France Alsace-Lorrain
e Alsace-Lorraine French 12 12 v 1883 No yes Farm Operator
---, Emma Wife-H x F W 50 M 22 No yes Illinois Wisconsin Germany 61 13 2 y
es None
---, Joseph B. Son x M W 22 S No yes Illinois France Illinois 61 12 1 y
es Farm Worker General Farming V 1 V V W no 12 No
---, Leona A. [sic] Daughter x F W 20 S No yes Illinois France Illinois 6
1 12 1 yes None
---, Levi J. son x M W 18 s No yes Illinois France Illinois 61 12 1 yes F
arm Worker Farming V O VV NP yes
---, E. Alice Daughter x F W 15 s yes yes Illinois France Illinois 61 1
2 1 yes None
---, Samuel N. son x M W 12 s yes yes Illinois France Illinois 61 12 1 y
es None
---, Paul Jr. son x M W 9 s yes yes Illinois France Illinois 61 12 1 ye
s None
---, Ralph E. son x M W 6 s no Illinois France Illinois 61 12 1 yes Non
e
---, Clyde R. son x M W 3 6/12 s no None
April 11 1940 Moline Rock Island Illinois SD 14 ED 81-38 Sheet 9A
7 Avenue
1212 264 R 30 No Bond Kenneth head M W 22 M No H4 Illinois Muscatine Io
wa no yes ---- 42 electric welder sheet metal factory PW 32 1504 no
---Irene x wife F W 22 M No H4 Illinois Benton Franklin Illinois No No N
o No No H 24 240 no
265 R 30 No Hoffmann Joseph head M W 32 M No 8 Illinois Fairbury Living
ston Illinois yes yes - - - - 40 electric welder sheet metal factory PW 2
4 820 no
---Velma x wife F W 23 M No H4 Indiana Forrest Livingston Illinois No Y
es - - - - 40 clerk typist Rock Island Arsenal GW 52 1287 no
|
1907 - 1983 (75 years)
[1] 
