To the Editor:
I read with interest Arlene Cole’s article in the May 30 issue of the LCN “Growing up in World War II.” Her story brought back memories of that special time in my life, growing up in Wilmington, Del., during World War II.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941 I was writing thank you letters for my 16th birthday, Dec. 6, 1941 and was listening to the symphony on the radio at 3 p.m. when the program was interrupted with news of Pearl Harbor. The following week President Roosevelt addressed the nation.
I was in high school at the time and young men in my class, one in the Marine Corps and the other in the Navy, gave their lives for their country.
When it was time to graduate, in January 1944, I didn’t have a date for the high school prom. My Mother called the local Edge Moor, Delaware Coast Guard Station and I was able to go to the prom with the young commanding officer.
Mother worked for the local War Housing Center in Wilmington. She was in charge of placing the Chinese workers who came to work for the Dravo Shipyard in local homes which was a first for the area. She was beloved by the Chinese and was made a member of their local community in a special ceremony at the Far East Tea Room in Wilmington.
Mother was an air raid warden for the block on which we lived. My sister, Carol enlisted in the WAVES several weeks after Pearl Harbor and was stationed at the San Diego Naval Hospital. My two brothers-in-law joined the service, one serving in the Marine Corps and the other in the Army. I volunteered for dances at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, and the Bainbridge Naval Training Center, both in Maryland.
There were many patriotic war movies made during that time with famous actors and some volunteered to serve. There was also the USO with many in the theatrical world volunteering their time.
I remember D-Day, the atomic bomb and the end of the war in August 1945. All in all, I feel everyone who served was a hero, then and now.
