When I was a young man of 16, my brother came home from boot camp to Hosmer, Indiana. He was 18 years old at the time. He pulled off his uniform and hung it up on a hanger, on a nail in the wall. I admired that uniform, and couldn't wait to try it on. It just fit. As I looked in the mirror I saw a boy transform into a man, handsome and mature; visions of travel, women, money to send home.... I couldn’t get those thoughts out of my head. All I could think about was going to the Air Force; wearing a snazzy uniform like George’s. What did I have to lose? At the time I was a sophomore in high school, on a fast train going no where. Mom was having a difficult time trying to raise the last two children, me and Dot, and this would free her up somewhat. But I'm ahead of my story, let me backtrack a few years.
Henry Price, my dad, had a stroke and was unable to work the farm for 3 years. He died a young man in 1935, and the 36 acre farm work was left up to me, my sister, Dorothy, my brother George and our mom. Our grandfather, George Alstadt, moved in the farm house with us and continued the farming along with our help. In 1938 he got sick and died. We didn’t know what we were going to do, mom did the best she could as a single woman; when the taxes came due on the farm - -a house, a barn and 38 acres of land, we just didn't have it to pay. My older sister Opha and her husband, Ishmael, pulled together the tax money, approximately $200 or less to save the farm and now they had bought the farm- - lock, stock and barrel. Opha, Ishmael, and their baby, Dickie, took possession of the farm in 1939.
My brother George left home. He moved to town to live with my sister Delores and her family. While there he met a neighbor girl, and as passion would have it - soon she was pregnant with his child. Delores and her husband, Clark, told George to go enlist in the service to get out of this responsibility. He evidently didn’t want to marry the girl and this was his way out. He enlisted in the military service, and was gone for 6 years. As for me, I couldn’t get the thoughts of how good I looked in that uniform of George’s after he left. I decided I was going to the service. It was 1941 and I was 16 years old. I begged mom to sign for me to go to the service. She refused. I told her I would forge her name. She gave up and signed for me. It was February 1940, winter was upon us, I immediately packed my few belongings and gathered enough money to catch a bus to Indianapolis, Indiana where I signed up and was sent to San Antonio, Texas for training. I was there for “boot camp” - - 6 months. I trained to become a medic.
My next stop was Long Beach, California and there was where I was, in my smart uniform I might add, when war broke out. I didn't buy into that, but here I was a young man treating soldiers for venereal diseases at the time. On of my clear remembrances were the Japanese famililes in Long Beach who had their businesses shut down while they and their families were rounded up, as though they had anything to do with the war, and sent to internment camps. Yes, here in the U.S.A.
My next assignment was Bakersville, California to sit all day watching the flight line. I was a medic and the pilots were training to fly. If they crashed or bailed, our group was to take care of these young pilots - - that is, if they made it out alive! My brother, George, was in the signal corps stationed in North Africa when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. By then I was flown (my first and only flights) to Palm Springs where General Patton trained his troops. I did guard duty while surrounded by the mountains. I remember being so cold in California, while I walked my guard duty time. I couldn’t get warm, but it was beautiful with the mountain backdrop -still hard for this farm boy to believe California was that cold. Then I was flown back to Bakersville. Now that we were at war, I wanted to do something more; Airline mechanics were needed. I put in my paperwork to become an airline mechanic; going to Nevada to wait for my next assignment. It was there I was to meet my future brother-in-law. Red Barnett, a young man who worked in the office. He laughed lots, was fun, and started hanging out with me and my buddies. There were about 6 or 8 of us that clicked and became pals. Red wanted to go with us to train as airline mechanics. We all were sent to Dallas, Texas. Love field!
While there we hung out at Grady’s, a little hole in the wall place to eat, drink and dance. A good place to meet girls and enjoy a cold beer. Grady’s was where Red and I met our future wives, Jimmie and Ruth Green. We were smitten! They worked at the Pickle Factory on Denton Drive and lived with Bonnie (a friend of theirs) and Katy Green, another sister.
I knew I was in love in a short time, and in war times you had to make your move fast. Jimmie’s folks lived in Van Alstyne, Texas then. I asked her to marry me. She went home on the Interurban and her dad hit the ceiling. He wanted no part of this. Grandpa wouldn’t let her come back to Dallas, so I caught the Interurban and your mom picked me up at the station in your Uncle Jack’s car or Uncle Bill’s car, can’t remember whose car now, but Othel was already married and had your cousin Don and they lived in Val Alstyne too, so I’m remembering it may have been their car. Your grandpa Green had left the house because he wasn’t going to meet me or be asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage. He wanted no part of me. Your grandma Green gave her permission for me to marry your mom. Grandma said she did the very same thing against her parent’s wishes so she wanted to bless this marriage. Eventually Grandpa Green liked me, and I was happy about that.
Elmer Dodson from Kentucky went to the Dallas Courthouse with us to get married on May 17, 1943. I went back to my barracks and your mom went back to her apartment. Our next assignment was Sioux City, Iowa. Red went too. When I sent for your mom, Red said, “Tell Jim to bring Ruth with her” when she comes. Ruth and Mom arrived in Sioux City, Iowa and they got an apartment. Red married Ruth in Sioux City, Iowa. You and Jerry (their son) were born in Sioux City, Iowa at the Catholic Hospital. You were born during a blizzard and we had to take an ambulance to the hospital. It was February, in the throes of winter. Back then a woman stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks after having a baby. Your mom’s legs were weak from being in the hospital and I had to carry her up the stairs to our apartment while Ruth carried you.
Red and I were working on airplanes, in training still. I was a crew chief and had people under me. I remember I had a sore foot and couldn’t wear a shoe. I can’t remember what I did, but standing on my feet may have been the reason my foot was sore. I just don’t remember - - too many years have passed. While we were in Sioux City I had to go to Patterson, New Jersey to learn how to change engines out in airplanes while Ruth stayed with you and your mom. When I returned I was told to go to Salina, Kansas. We took a train and rented a room in a house. I stayed 2 weeks, but didn’t know we were only staying two weeks until we got our orders and I had paid a month’s rent. We were working on the new B29’s. It was 1944. We had left Ruth and Red behind, and she was still in the hospital after giving birth to her first born, Jerry. They took possession of our apartment there because it was bigger than the one they lived in. Grandma and Grandpa Green were coming to stay with Ruth after she got home. At this point Red and Ruth no longer were in the same places we were stationed.
My next assignment was San Rafael, California. Mom went back from Kansas to Van Alstyne, Texas on the train with you. When I was settled in for my new assignment, I took the train back to Van Alstyne and rode back 3 weeks later with you and your mom. I went AWOL. I just never reported when we got back to California; however I did go on post to buy supplies and cigarettes. Our landlady reported me and I went to the guard house, lost my rank and was there for 4 months. During that time the guards took me to see you and your mom every day.
I didn’t go overseas because my only brother was over there fighting with General Patton. He was involved in setting up communication on D day. When the war was over we had $300 to start a new life. Although I was offered a job in San Rafel, we moved to McKinney Avenue in Dallas, Texas and I begin working for the meat packing plant. We had lots of ham to eat during that time. I remember one of the people who lived in the house with us (there were 5 or 6 couples living there) was named Buck Duvall. I’m sure he is dead now.
My oldest sister Opha wanted me back in Indiana and wrote me a letter to let me know International Harvester was hiring. We picked up and moved to Oakland City, Indiana and I went to work for International Harvest. We lived in an apartment connected to Dorothy and Earl Rowe's home. They had 3 children, Charlotte, Tommy and Earlene. Earlene was profoundly retarded. They were like family to us. Your mom was very homesick for her sisters, brothers and parents. By the way, the old shotgun we have was from Dorothy’s dad. To get closer to work we moved to Evansville, Indiana and lived in Gatewood Gardens for a year or two (memory escapes me). My mom, Laura Price, moved in with us to keep you until, your sister was on her way, born in 1952. We were living on Faires Avenue when we brought your sister home. We moved to Tennessee Street to a larger house and finally bought a house on Roosevelt Drive in Evansville, Indiana. I worked for International Harvester until they were bought out by Whirlpool and then the trouble began. They let go of all union workers and hired new employees. Now I was out of a job.
(to be continued)
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