Page 176 - Anthology

After lunch my job was to carefully climb the fence so I could reach the handle, of a type of paddle, to stir
the mash, then carefully climb down and turn on a valve and fill up a very long trough that fed the hogs. I
was ordered by my dad to never climb over the fence, even if one of the pigs was in trouble. I was very
happy for the orders to come through to sell this group of fat hogs, but another bunch would be moved in
to get ready to be delivered.

Japan seemed very remote to me at age twelve, but when we entered the war in Europe with the reality
that Hitler was sweeping through the European countries and was bombing England relentlessly, I knew if
the British were forced to surrender my country would have a war that might be impossible to win - a very
frightening thought at age twelve.

My country changed from a peace-loving place to war with the enemy with a swift determination. The
entire country was ready to help in whatever capacity they had to offer. Our school started each day
meeting in the auditorium to say, “The Pledge of Allegiance” and to sing “America the Beautiful”.

Names of the young senior graduates that were called to serve in the armed forces were announced.
Our history class included updates on the war and the school students were made aware of any support
we could do to help. Scrap metal drives were scheduled so we could be certain that our parents knew
the details. Tin foil was deposited in a location at school and after a certain quantity was collected it was
sent to a designated place. Our school sponsored war bond sales and we were encouraged to write
often to our family members in the armed forces.

My cousins, Frank Mitchell (army), Lawrence Smither (army), Earl Stringfellow (Marine, career), Uncle
Julian Pribble (army), were drafted or volunteered. Our church minister volunteered to be with the
wounded. Frank served in the Pacific, recapturing each island that was lost in our battles with the
Japanese, and he was one of the few in his regiment to return home, but the price he paid to serve was
mentally devastating, and he could not fully recover and died at an early age.

Lawrence Smither returned home broken in spirit. He lived in Indiana and we received word that he had
taken his own life. Earl Stringfellow was already in the Marines as a career person when the war was
declared, and he seemed to be better prepared and finished his required time for retirement, after the
war. I remember him as tall, in full Marine dress; he was really a handsome man; however he was
inclined on occasions to overly indulge in “spirits” (my grandmother’s name for liquor). Uncle Julian
Pribble (married to my dad’s sister Mayme) was in the European area of the war and turned to alcohol for
relief.

Our minister no longer delivered the sermon on Sunday and was replaced by his wife, who was also
ordained. He sought mental medical help and spent nights knitting or working with his hands. He
continued to visit the Veteran’s Hospital to comfort the wounded until he died at an early age.

There are so many from school mates and friends who have horror stories they could tell, but the above
is just a small example of the impact of war on those who served.

All manufacturing was geared toward the war effort. Military was first in all areas. Ration books were
issued to each family with detachable stamps and if we were fortunate enough to find the item, in the
almost empty shelves in the stores, we used our stamp for our allotment. Sugar, lard, meat, shoes, and
gasoline were a few of the choice items I remember. Each week a group of ladies would meet and fold
bandages to be shipped to the Red Cross.