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WWII started in December, 1941. I was almost five years old and remember going with my dad to the Chevrolet dealership and
picking up a four door sedan Chevrolet. They didn't make any more automobiles until about 1947 after the war was over.
Both Bob and BG graduated from highschool just in time to enter the military. I stood beside a concrete watering trough on
their farm as they discussed the war with their high school pals, Henry and Jerry Thomas. Henry came back, became an MD and
practiced medicine for years in Lawrenceburg before passing away following a heart attack. Jerry was killed in Europe when
a jeep he was riding in turned over. They lived just down the Pulaski highway on a diary farm. I used to go with them on the
delivery route and help deliver the milk to the front steps of their customer's houses.
Bob joined the Army Air Corp with his friend, Clarence Webb. Bob couldn't pass the pilot's physical because of his vision
but Clarence did and went on to fly single enging prop fighters in southeast Asia. He was shot down five times and lived
to tell about it. He married the daughter of a farmer in Cape Girardeau and lived there the rest of his life, raising a large
family and farming. He and Bob remained good friends and visited frequently.
Bob spent his time in the service training and trailing the front as the war made it's way across the Pacific.
BG on the other hand, joined the Marines. He spent his service on the front line in places like Iwo Jima and Guam.
He received the Purple Heart after taking a sniper shot in the arm and then returned to the front line.
Back home, we were rationed most things, including gas for cars. Pop decided to live with Mama Nelle in the Hassell Hotel
on the square in Waynesboro. We moved into their house in Lawrenceburg for the duration of the war. Since Dad worked at
Renolds Aluminum Company and aluminum was critical to the war effort, he never had any problem getting gas to commute to work.
When the war was over Dad purchased a house on First Street , across the field from Mama Nelle and Pop's house, and they moved
back to Lawrenceburg. Growing up, I spent as much time at their house as I did my own.
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