Memorial Day 2016

Today is Memorial Day – a special day for me that’s even more special this year.

Last week was my mother’s birthday and I found an old sewing basket that belonged to her. Instead of needles and thread, it contained World War II artifacts and correspondence between my mother and father – as well as other family members – while my dad was stationed in France.

It also filled in the timeline about why and when they got married – and why and when I was conceived. If interested, you can read about it by clicking this link.

French Headlines

A French newspaper – L’espoir – was inside the sewing kit. Folded, yellow, and wrinkled, the date is Tuesday, May 8, 1945 – and the translation of the headline is “Total Capitulation (or surrender) of the German Army.”

The war was over in Europe.

In addition to the newspaper, here are some of the things I found inside that sewing kit. I’ve arranged them in a chronological order that’s pertinent to me.

First come the War Department manuals issued to my father upon his arrival in France:

Basic Field Manual & Soldier’s Handbook
Pocket Guide to France
French Phrase Book

Since my dad spent two years in France, he learned most of the phrases and expressions in the Phrase Book – and he used to speak them with me after he returned home.

My dad was part of the 9^th Bombardment Division – stationed in France and flying bombing missions over Germany on a regular basis. He was an Intelligence Specialist – third in command of a B-29 Superfortress.

As part of that group, he was also issued these two manuals:

Time Over Target – The story-of and how-to manual of the 9^th Bombardment Division.

German Language Guide – In case he got shot down, he was supposed to learn as much German as possible. Which he did because, like the French phrases, he used to speak some of those German phrases with me as well.

I was born while my dad was overseas and didn’t meet him until I was around two-and-a-half. But in that sewing kit, I found birthday cards and Father’s Day cards that I sent to him in France. Obviously, I wasn’t old enough to sign the cards and send them. My mother was responsible for that – and I had no idea about their existence until now.

Those cards – and other correspondence between my mom and dad – explained and defined the special relationship that developed between them. Forged by the hardships and deprivation caused by World War II, the normal bickering and arguments that are part and parcel of marriage had little effect on them. I now understand why they remained married until my father died.

Finally came the “Going Back to Civilian Life” manual as he was being discharged after World War II ended.