The original hat was hung by the relative going into the United States Army Air Force. The hats were hung from the bar's rafters and eventually there were 420. Sixty of them were left by women.
At the hat reclamation party, several hundred people didn't want their dusty old hats, but were there for the free drinks. Three of the unclaimed hats were from those who were killed in action.
After the Fact:
Military hats recalled or disposed in 2001 from China by the United States: 618,000.
Illinois residents killed during the war: 22,283.
--GreGen
My Cooter's History Blog has become about 80% World War II anyway, so I figured to start a blog specific to it, especially since we're commemorating its 70th anniversary and we are quickly losing this "Greatest Generation." The quote is taken from Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Curre, who was on the USS Tennessee that day. He died Dec. 7, 2011, seventy years to the day. His photo is below at right.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Hats at the Ranger Inn in Chicago-- Part 2: Some More Facts
Labels:
bars,
Chicago,
hats,
Illinois,
U.S. Army Air Force
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