See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.
April 18, 1943 – Sunday
“Arose about 8:30. Harley and I went to San Francisco on greyhound bus. Enjoyed it. Took street car to Ocean Beach. Swell zoo there. Took roll of film. Came back to Golden Gate Park – too late to see aquarium. Came on to city ate dinner at 7 p.m. Went to News Reel-no good. Hard time getting bus home but finally made it at about 10 p.m. Arrived at Vallejo at 11:15 p.m.“
No entries for the next few days in G-ma Ruth’s diary, but I have noticed a few things in putting these posts together. I had always heard that during that time my grandparents lived in St. Helena, California. They even had a P.O. Box #43 there. But I have noticed that the telegrams that were delivered in April 1943 are addressed to 1731 Alabama Street, Vallejo, Ca. This is the house at that location. It was built in 1928 so I have to assume it was somewhat similar in 1943. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths.
In the diary my grandmother calls it an apartment so perhaps the addition on the house contained a small apartment or the area where the garage is now could have been a small apartment. Will have to see if I can find any other information on this address. This house is very close to the Mare Island Naval Station, so I can see why they would be living here. St. Helena is about 30+ miles away. From her diary she talks of visiting St. Helena often and usually staying over at her brother-in-law’s (Carl) place.
She has written already in her diary her desire to live in St. Helena…even looking at some places there. Will have to see as the diary continues whether they move or not!
See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.
April 15, 1943 – Thursday
“Mailed lots of letters to friends & relatives about Earl. Must wait for further information, address etc before I can write to Earl.“
One of those relatives she wrote was to my Dad’s (Earl) father. He had also remarried and was living in Farmington, N.M. Here is the telegram she received back from him.
See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.
April 14, 1943 – Wednesday
“Cloudy. Took aspirin but still couldn’t sleep last night. Was after 4 a.m. before sleep came. Arose 11 a.m. Everyone told me today I looked 10 yrs younger. One said she would like to see what I looked like when Earl came home. I replied they would put me in diapers then!“
See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.
April 13, 1943 – Tuesday
“Well at last the long wait for news is over. Received telegram that Earl is a prisoner of war in the P.I. Sure a big relief. Telegram was under door when we returned from work at midnight. Was delivered at 5 p.m. Swell day.“
I can’t even begin to imagine the relief and joy that she must have experienced that day!
See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.
April 11, 1943 – Sunday
“Swell day. My day off. Harley worked – so did I at home. Washed bathroom walls & ceiling. Also curtains. Never left the apartment. Wrote six letters and two cards. Made candy.“
Looks like it was a good day for cleaning. With rationing on sugar and other items, I wonder what kind of candy she made? Too humid for divinity!
April 11, 1943 – St. Helena, CA
| High | Low | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 67F | 47F | 55F |
| Dew Point | 51F | 43F | 47F |
| Humidity | 92% | 42% | 75% |
| Precipitation | 0.00in | — | — |
See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.
April 9, 1943 – Friday
“One year ago today Bataan fell to the Japs. Still no word of Earl. Gladys Haskins sent a paper (Santa Fe) telling of Clark Lee being there. He told a lot about our boys. Can only hope & pray I will hear soon that Earl is safe. Felt pretty low. Warmer today. Some wind!“
Clark Lee wrote the book “They Call This Pacific”. A copy of which my grandmother had and my father gave to me. This is the article my grandmother was referring to in her entry. She created a scrapbook of newspaper articles about what was happening in the Philippines. I am thankful that my father gave me this scrapbook before he passed away.
Mon, March 29, 1943 – Page 1 – The Santa Fe New Mexican
See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.
April 7, 1943 – Wednesday
“Jerry & Leonard came over. Their day off. Word from Laverne that he has rec’d the rank of Corporal. Makes us very proud.“
Jerry was my grandfather’s daughter, Leonard was her husband. Laverne was my grandfather’s son who was in the Army Air Corp.
See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.
April 6, 1943 – Tuesday
“Well it’s my day today. Got my 2nd class rating. Sure time. Harley bought giant cigars for his bosses. Had a lot of fun over them.“
See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.
April 5, 1943 – Monday
“Harley got up early and went to St. Helena. Got his release from Dr and went to work this P.M. Ears still bothering him but got his 3rd class fitters rating so feels pretty good about that. Pretty fair day.“
“There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: One is roots, the other is wings.” Teaching children values and giving them the opportunity to excel is essential to good parenting. However, I feel I must also provide my children (and myself) insight into the ones who came before us: our ancestors whose lives and stories have shaped us into who we are. This is my journey; these are their stories…
Life under the thinking tree
Louise Mabey
Dharma Docs
A genealogical site devoted to the history of the DeKorn and Zuidweg families of Kalamazoo and the Mulder family of Caledonia
Fun With Genealogy
Writerly ways for Family Historians and Storytellers
This WordPress.com site is Pacific War era information
Gleanings from my father Glen S. Player's ephemera from Seattle school reunions. He graduated WQA 1932 and QAHS 1936.
Family history from the Western District of Victoria, Australia
Kathi O'Neill Genealogy 