Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Kenneth C. Bush (Ken) said that one of his assets was that he was a military brat. That meant that one or both of his parents was serving in the military while he grew up. He moved, literally, about the globe. After graduating from high school, he...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. "Go west, young man" must have been ringing in the ears of Vincent Havorka (Vince). After graduating from high school in northeastern Nebraska, he made his way to California. It was late in 1940. He looked for jobs and found a good one with Lockheed...
The Selective Service System reached out to a number of young men around the Country. This activity affected lots and lots of young Nebraska men as well. A group was contacted and assembled in the Seward area. Their number was enough that they traveled from Seward to the military induction station in Omaha by bus. Usually draftees were sent to the Army. When the bus arrived at the Omaha site, Vernon Hermann was given a choice. There were two slots available in the Navy, some available in the...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Betty L. Johnsen Kern was a twenty year old young woman who got her start in the Cohagen, Montana area. After graduating high school, she obtained further education including stenography, shorthand and typing. The knowledge and skills allowed her to ob...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. William Graves, "Bill" was drafted into the US Military in Battle Creek, MI. He had already had the physical exam at an earlier date. He was aware that things were going on in the world that could actually involve him. Once inducted, Bill and several others boarded a troop train that took them from...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. A US Navy Reserve unit was newly positioned in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1947. Ed Winslow and three of his high school buddies joined up when most of them were seventeen years old. It was the thing to do. This unit had just formed but didn't quite have its...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Matthew Wilkins came to the United States from England in 1992. He came over to the US with a buddy so they could go backpacking in the northeastern area of the US. After covering some ground, the friend went back to the UK while Matthew remained in...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better under- stand the realities of war. Jessica Rhods came from a family that was long on military service. Although that was all well and good, it is not necessarily a requirement to follow the lead of members of a family tree. At age eighteen, Jessica needed a change in her life. Things...
At age twenty one, the Selective Service System, also known as the “Draft” caught up with Bill Cross of Camden, Arkansas. Sooner or later, the system usually won out. Bill went off to Little Rock, AR for his induction physical and testing. Immediately after successfully completing first steps, Bill headed for Camp Bowie, TX. This was his new home for a few weeks. There were no memorable problems as Bill got his introduction to military life and the military. He did his share of night watches, KP, marching, rifle shooting and Drill. He and his...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Leland Inscho's family lived in New Castle County, Delaware, having moved there from Basin, Wyoming. Leland was very aware of the situation brought on by Pearl Harbor and what was going on in Europe. He wanted to do his part, as a patriot. In November...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Dorothy and Cecil Holloway were a married couple before World War II began. Cecil was quite a pilot and had joined the Navy. His talent for airplanes was put to use quickly. He became an instructor pilot and he and his wife Dorothy moved about the...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Richard Hughes (Dick) and his family relocated to Laramie, Wyoming. By the time he was sixteen years old, he had graduated from high school. Dick went on and took some classes at the University of Wyoming. He wanted to...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. By the time Joan Fowler-Hughes was twenty one years old, she had graduated from high school as well as college. She was seriously involved with a man who was a college graduate as well as a pilot... and deployed to the theater of war in Europe. The...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Brian Walter interviewed with all branches of the military when he was seventeen years old. It was his considered opinion that the US Navy had better opportunities for him. In addition, his father and older brother had been sailors. Brian took advantage of the delayed enlistment program. He could...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Harvey M. Reiger, Colonel Reiger, Harvey, was an exceptionally bright young man from the time he entered this world until now. By age fifteen, he had a college degree. When he was sixteen, he called on a recruiter's office inquiring about the...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Anthony F. Urban, "Tony", was sworn into the US Army in Sioux Falls, SD. He was among twenty-two young guys from South Dakota who enlisted at that time. The group went to Fort Polk, LA in November of 1966. The winters there are cold and wet. His Drill...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. William G. Norton (Bill) had graduated from high school when he was 17 yrs old. He had some time to do jobs and plan a career. He stopped by the US Army Recruiting office and made some inquiries. Soon a recruiter was doing some follow up and went to...
National Law Enforcement Memorial Week brings serious thoughts to American citizens who remember the loss of those elected or charged to protect and serve. There are ceremonies all across the Country with higher ranking officials talking about service and commitment. At Washington DC, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is resplendent with memorabilia and care.Many law enforcement agencies send a representative to the Nation's Capitol to be a part of the program. There are car doors f...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. It was a round-about route to get into the military for William O. Graves (Bill). At age 20 he was drafted by the Selective Service Board in Southern Illinois. He went to St. Louis, MO for the physical and other testing. He returned home for a short...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Robert Palmer's Dad made Robert promise to finish high school before he went into the Navy. The dad, a WWI sailor, knew that if his son went off to the Navy, he would never finish high school. Robert (Bob) went to the school principal and talked with...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Thomas J. Roberts (Tom) had graduated from High School in Burlington, WI in 1967. He was trying to learn the trade of being a printer and working with photography. He was working for the people who managed the Burlington newspaper and had been with...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Samuel House (Sam) is from Tilden, Nebraska. Sam wanted to be in the US Army. He had researched some items that might be in his future including joining early. He learned that the National Guard had an option that appealed to him. It was called the split-option enlistment. On completion of his junior...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Ernest Kahrs graduated from high school in Lodgepole, Nebraska in 1949. By this time, there were several branches of the military he could have joined. The US Air Force had become an entity of its own; the US Navy was hiring young folks; the Marines...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. In May 1964, Beverly Webb graduated from Sheridan, Wyoming High School. The following month, she enlisted in the United States Army. She knew that she wanted to get as much schooling in accounting as she could get. The Army offered her some great...
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. For several different reasons, people visit the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Depending on the time of the day, there is some good rock and roll music being sung in the stairwells of the hospital. It's sweet, clear, and...