My dad enlisted in the Army for WWII, he was not drafted. He was in his early 30’s and willing to serve. He was going to be trained on early radar equipment, but he was put with a journalist/news unit with other older guys, as he had worked at his dad’s rural newspaper. Probably knew his way around linotype and printing press. Leaflets, news copy, and newsletters, etc would have been a good way to fight the Nazis, too.
In Florida, “Camp Swampy,” he caught several tropical diseases, and his heart was damaged, so he ended up with a medical discharge.
But he was willing to serve. He was willing to fight the bad guys. He was willing to do his bit, even almost twice as old as the 18 year olds.
On his way to basic training, he spotted an auburn haired woman in the St Louis train station with two red-headed girls. He felt sorry for himself, and as a tall rangy redhead, hoped he’d survive the war, come home, get married, and have some redheaded kids.
In the early 50’s, my mom was riding the bus in Colorado Springs on her way to work. She saw a tall, red-headed man and thought “Oh, my GOD, that’s the man I’m going to marry.” He went into the local Woolworth’s. She was divorced, living with her parents, and raising 2 red-headed girls.
Many missed connections, and many afternoons sitting at the Woolworth’s lunch counter hoping to spot him, they finally met. He immediately recognized her as the woman from the train station.
After much discussion, she did mention that years before, she was waiting for a train home to the Springs with the girls in St Louis, and there were a lot of soldiers, and thought she remembered a mopey redhead.
Years later, I came along, and I still have my dad’s bright red hair. Just have some streaky white strands to show my vintage.
I am also glad he and my mom aren’t around to witness the enshittification of the American presidency. Pop would recognize POSTUS for what he is: a poor-little-rich-boy wannabe Nazi. Mom would recognize the snake oil the GOP is peddling as just updated Bircherism with a side of Cleon Skousen.
Pop died in 1968, Mom died in 2006. Wish I could talk to them to get their take.
