Christmas in Memphis 1943

    In 1943 I was in two worlds. One was at my home, my school, my church. 
  
                                           But the other was what I learned from newspapers, radio, newsreels at the picture show, and even from the movies at the Rialto theater about the war my country was waging.
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 My first world was a very happy one. I loved the fifth grade and enjoyed learning.

I was ten years old and in September Will was five.                
                 


Before I went to sleep each night, I prayed for the war to be over soon.

*****September 3, 1943

British troops land on mainland Italy, beginning the Allied campaign in Italy. American troops land six days later the new Italian government formally surrenders.

September 10, 1943

German troops occupy Rome. Mussolini soon declares himself the head of a new fascist Italian government in German-occupied northern Italy.

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WE didn't get many glimpses of this my other world except through the media. Of course there was no TV to give us a constant stream of news about the war.


We knew Uncle Cliff was safe in Ft.Benning, Georgia. We knew the 82nd Airborne was learning about something, but had no idea what?




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In our first world something very exciting happened to our family.In November JAY WAS BORN!! 

                                            OTHER WORLD

November 1, 1943

U.S. Marines land on Bougainville island in the Solomons.

November 20, 1943

U.S. Army troops land on Makin island in the Gilberts. The next day, U.S. Marines land on Tarawa. Within four days, both islands were secured, but at the cost of thousands of casualties.

November 8, 1943

The Teheran Conference between the U.S., Britain, and the USSR begins. Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin meet together for the first time.

 Hospital on Goodenough Island

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At school life was actually fun, I am almost embarrassed to say.  Although my classmates and I worked hard and learned a lot, I admit we were mischievous!! We gave every student in our room a code name. Our teacher was "Old Battle Ax" and the principal was Prince Charming. When the notes we passed were intercepted, no one could be identified!! 

A highlight for me was when I was elected president of the safety councilors. The boys patrolled the street corners and the girls watched the halls. I remember when I called my first meeting. A classroom was full of boys and girls. I said, "The meeting will now come to order; the secretary will call the roll." I was terrified. Dudn't that beat all? But it was a memorable time for me. 

In December our Christmas would not be exactly the same because adorable Jay was only 5 weeks old. But it was almost the same as before...grandmother and aunt came with turkey & dressing, coconut cake, boiled custard, and Daddy brought home the basket as always, with the huge whole ham, which Mother baked to perfection as Jay was passed around to loving arms!! Jay had beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes.    Jay with grandmother.

There was one thing new in the Christmas Basket. Daddy's company gave all the employees a book with the pictures of all the servicemen who had worked for the company  nationwide. I remember looking at the pictures over and over.

Christmas morning I got a doll. That is the only gift Santa ever left that I clearly remember to this day.I made a bed for her in a shoe box. I think she loved it!! 

Five year old Will was so friendly and hung around everybody. Our family entertainer!! My two brothers and I remain close to this day.

 

                       

                        THE OTHER WORLD

 Bob Hope.

 Rangoon  Sad news below

  

December 1, 1943

The Teheran Conference between the U.S., Britain, and the USSR is successfully concluded. Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin agree that the Western Allies would invade France in June 1944and that when it began the USSR would launch a new offensive from the east.

December 24, 1943

Dwight Eisenhower is named supreme commander of Allied Expeditionary Forces

  

v old card another old card

This blog entry has not been easy to write,

because it was so hard to separate what I learned later from what I knew as a ten year old child. My final blog entry about Christmas during WWII will be Christmas in Memphis, 1944. Uncle Cliff will no longer be safe!!

Love and Merry Christmas, annie