Looking Back to 1941: "Some Gloom, Much Grim Determination, But Splendid Confidence"

From the December 121, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1941, 75 Years Ago.  War Is Here!!

"With over 90 Sycamore men in some form of service with the armed forces of the United States there was naturally considerable shock of the sudden outbreak of war.

"A brief survey among several housewives indicates that there is some gloom, much grim determination, but splendid confidence the victory will come to us though the time of its coming will be years away."

Like FDR's Declaration of War Speech.  --GreGen

Looking Back to 1941: Army Convoy Goes Through Sycamore, Illinois

From the December 14, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1941, 75 Years Ago.

"During the past three days Sycamore was once again feeling and hearing the rattle and rumble of an army convoy.

"Over 2,000 artillerymen, 450 vehicles and dozens of cannons and anti-tank guns have rolled westward."

Wonder What This Was All About, Looking At the Date?  --GreGen

Obama and Japan's Leader Meet at Pearl Harbor-- Part 1

From the December 28, 2016, Chicago Tribune ""Obama, Japan's leader make hope theme where 2,403 fell" by Christi Parsons.

"Pearl Harbor, Hawaii -- President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe together scattered petals on the waters of Pearl Harbor on Tuesday in a symbolic act aimed at laying to rest the enmity surrounding the Japanese attack 75 years ago that drew the U.S. into World War II."

It was a moment in history, but both leaders were focused on the future.

There was a nice picture of Abe and Obama shaking hands with Pearl Harbor veterans.

--GreGen

Looking Back to 1941: Cookies for Illinois' Camp Grant

From the Dec. 14, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1941, 75 Years Ago.

"Soldiers at Camp Grant are probably very contented evenings in their barracks this week.  They may be munching delicious cookies sent them by the Sycamore Woman's Club.

"The senior club was assisted in this excellent project by the Sycamore Junior Woman's Club."

Camp Grant was located in nearby Rockford, Illinois.

Taking Care of Our Fighting Men.  --GreGen

Obama and Abe Meet at the USS Arizona Memorial Today

From the December 22, 2016, AP "USS Arizona Memorial to close as leaders of U.S. and Japan visit."

The National Par service will close the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor Visitors Center during the visit by President Obama and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today, Tuesday.

The World War II submarine USS Bowfin, moored at the Center, will also be closed.

But the Pacific Aviation Museum and USS Missouri memorial, both by Ford Island, will remain open.

--GreGen

Jimmy Stewart, the War and "It's a Wonderful Life"-- Part 5: Eating problems and Hearing Problems

Jimmy Stewart was on the edge during filming because of his PTSD.  He always had a high metabolism and always had trouble digesting food.  During the war, this got worse.  According to Jimmy, he essentially subsisted on peanut butter and ice cream.

At night he had nightmares, shakes and sweats.

He even now had hearing problems, as did George Bailey, from the sound of the bombers during those seven-eight hour bombing missions.  He had problems hearing his cues on the set.

--GreGen

Jimmy Stewart, the War and "It's a Wonderful Life"-- Part 6: "Who Is This Monster?"

Playing the role of George Bailey was a personal and professional risk.

Lionel Barrymore, he played the mean-old Mr. Potter, even said to Jimmy Stewart; "So are you saying it's more worthwhile to drop bombs on people than to entertain them."  That really hit Stewart and made up his mind to play the role.

There is a scene in the movie where he questions his sanity and he's got that wild look about him.  Another scene is when he is in his living room and he's throwing things and yelling at his kids.  His wife and children are looking at him as if saying, "Who is this man.  Who is this monster.  He certainly isn't Dad.

Many American families faced men who came back from the war with this rage and Stewart played it beautifully.  He just let it out.

--GreGen

Jimmy Stewart's WWII and "It's a Wonderful Life"-- Part 4: Not a Happy Set

Frank Capra had supreme confidence in the story, Jimmy Stewart not so much.  But, he felt it to be his last shot at his movie career.  His performance as George Bailey in the bleak days as Old Man Potter was about to do him in was filled with a rage and an on-the-edge-performance.  This was no doubt partly because of his war experience.

Donna Reed, who played his wife recalled: "This was not a happy set.  These guys were very tense (Capra and Stewart).  They would go off and huddle."

The shooting of the movie started at the beginning of 1946 and went on into June, way longer than anticipated.  It was a very expensive, exhausting production, costing $3 million in the end.

--GreGen

Jimmy Stewart's World War II and "It's a Wonderful Life"-- Part 3: "You've Got No Other Offers"

Jimmy Stewart did not even have a place to stay when he got back to Hollywood and had to live with Henry Fonda who offered him a room.  Fonda had just come back from service in the Pacific and they both just sort of unwound and neither got any job offers.

Finally, Stewart's former boss at MGM, Louis B. Mayer, approached him with the idea of the movie "The Jimmy Stewart Story."  Stewart said no and wouldn't even talk about it.

The only kind of movie he wanted to do was a comedy, saying, "A comedy, I have to make a comedy.  The world has seen too much trauma and horror and suffering."

Frank Capra then approached Stewart about "It's a Wonderful Life" about a man about to commit suicide.  The meeting went so bad that Stewart got up and walked out.  Stewart's agent, Lew Wasserman, then said to his client, "You've got no other offers."

--GreGen

Jimmy Stewart's World War II Service and "It's a Wonderful Life"-- Part 2: Return From War

Before agreeing to do "It's a Wonderful Life" with director Frank Capra, Jimmy Stewart even considered quitting acting altogether.

"The war changed Jim down to the molecular level," Matzen writes in his book.  "He could never articulate what those four-and-a-half years, including fifteen months in combat, had done to him.  One thing he could do was express a bit of it on-screen."  And, we see plenty of that angst in George Bailey's breakdown.

Jimmy Stewart was the former squadron commander of the 703rd Bombing Squadron.  he flew his final mission at the end of February 1945 and was grounded because of PTSD issues.  Then, he came back to the U.S. at the end of August, returning to his parents home in Indiana, Pennsylvania, where he stayed for a week or ten days before deciding to go back to Hollywood.

There, a whole new generation of leading men were taking roles that likely would have gone to him.  To make  matters worse, the war had tremendously aged him.  A photo of him in 1942 shows him looking very youthful, but by 1944 he was "looking like hell."

--GreGen

Jimmy Stewart's World War II and "It's a Wonderful Life"-- Part 1

From the December 2, 2016, Chicago Tribune "Stewart's Inner War" by Nina Metz.

"Haunted by what he saw fighting in WWII, 'It's a Wonderful Life' star brought own angst on set to play George Bailey, author reveals."

Jimmy Stewart's 1946 holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life" will be shown on TV on several occasions this season.  I've already seen it once, somewhat of a Christmas tradition with me.

It was the first movie he made after returning home from war service, an experience which had psychological fallout.

Robert Matzen wrote about Stewart's war service and the fallout in his new book "Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe."  He spoke with the men who flew with him and they said he went flak-happy on several occasions, something we now call PTSD.  He wasn't afraid of bombs or bullets, but was terrified of making a mistake resulting in someone dying.

This was his endless stress and something that eventually ended up grounding him.

--GreGen

Lauren Bruner Returns to Pearl Harbor 75 Years Afterwards-- Part 3: Horrendously Burned

Lauren Bruner described the experience of being on the Arizona, "You're like a chicken getting barbecued."

Doctors on the USS Solace, a hospital ship, wanted to amputate most of his hands, leaving just forefingers and thumbs.  Fortunately, they didn't. They peeled off the burned, dead skin and let new skin grow to replace it.  They put him in a special bed with hoops that allowed sheets to be draped above him but not touch him.

Recently discovered Navy Department records show that he had burns on his face, back of his neck, his right shoulder, right arm and forearm, fingers, hands, outer thighs and lower legs.  The burns on his right arm were particularly bad.

--GreGen

The Saga of PT-305-- Part 8: A Rebirth

The Mediterranean PT-Boats fared better than their Pacific counterparts, which were stripped of valuable equipment and most burned on beaches in the Philippines, so few of those remain.

In 2001, the Defenders of America Naval Museum in Galveston acquired it.  It was authenticated as a Higgins-built PT-boat by a stamp under the deck in the bow and shipped by truck from Maryland to Galveston.  But a planned restoration project was stalled by lack of funds and, in 2007, ownership went to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

It had taken a volunteer group in Portland, Oregon, 12 years to rebuild a the World War II-era PT-658, and they had left-over parts, including an aft (stern) 20-foot section of another cannibalized PT-Boat in Vancouver, Washington, which was donated to the New Orleans project.

New Orleans is expected to spend between $3 and $5 million on the project.

So Happy to Have A Real One Back.  --GreGen

USS Arizona Pearl Harbor Survivor Lauren Bruner to Return for 75th Anniversary-- Part 2

There will be a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m., the exact moment the attack began.

Mr. Bruner did not know who was attacking them until he saw the red "Rising Sun" insignias on the planes.  They shot "everything in sight."  Then, an explosion tore through his battle station.  "That's where the flames blew right through and cooked me right there.  Everything burning."

He looked to jump overboard, but the water of the harbor was on fire.

He and several others spied a sailor on the ship moored next to the Arizona and got him to toss a rope over to them.  Then, the six of them crawled hand-over-hand across 100 feet to the USS Vestal.

They made it and another 335 sailors and Marines also somehow managed to survive the hell that had become their ship.  Sadly, another 1,177 weren't so fortunate.

--GreGen

The Saga of PT-305-- Part 7 A Sightseeing and Oyster Boat

When the war was over, Joe Brannon returned to the United States on a transport that also carried the PT-305 and other PT Boats.  On arrival in New York, the 305 was overhauled for use against the Japanese, but the war ended and the PT Boats became surplus and were sold.

The 78-foot boat's stern was cut to 60 feet 7 inches and its three powerful Packard engines replaced by two diesels for better mileage. The three Packard engines gave the boat a maximum 46 mph and two diesels 12-14.   For a time, the old PT-305 operated under the name of Captain David Jones and carried sightseers around New York City.

From 1988 to 2000, it was involved in the oyster industry in the Chesapeake Bay where it was used to dredge oyster spat, baby oysters, from the bottom and move them to a more suitable habitat.

Robert Crow's father and uncle bought it in New York and then to the Chesapeake.

--GreGen

USS Arizona Survivor Returns for the 75th Anniversary-- Part 1

From the December 5, 2016, ABC News/Yahoo! News   "USS Arizona Survivor Heads to Pearl Harbor 75 Years Later."

Lauren Bruner was getting ready for church on the USS Arizona that fateful day 75 years ago when the alarm sounded.  He was 21 and a bullet hit his left leg and then an explosion rocked his ship, sinking it nine minutes later.  There was a miraculous escape, but he was seriously burned.

Now, at age 96, Mr. Bruner lives in La Mirada, California, and has returned to visit Pearl Harbor many times over the years.

The U.S. Navy and National Park service expect several dozen Pearl Harbor survivors to attend this year's commemoration.

--GreGen

Commemorating Pearl Harbor

From the November 17, 2016, KHON 2, News "Waikiki parade to honor Pearl harbor survivors, service members."

This was held the Friday after Thanksgiving and was called the Waikiki Holdiday Parade.  In it were 30 bands and many Pearl Harbor survivors.

It began at 7 p.m. at Fort DeRussy.

The More Honor, the Better.  --GreGen

The Saga of PT-Boat 305-- Part 6: Attacked By British Planes

Mitch Cirlot, whose father, Joe Cirlot, was machinist mate on the first 305 crew said it was once ordered to put British commandos ashore on the occupied coast and then return to retrieve them.  He has the boat's original flag and commissioning pennant.

Joe Brannon served of PT-Boats in the Pacific Ocean the first two years of the war.

In the Mediterranean Sea, groups of three PT-Boats would leave their bases in early evening to be in the German shipping lanes well after dark..  Once, the 305 was hit twice in the same night by British planes that attacked by mistake.

Said Brannon:  "We weren't expecting anything.  We didn't know iy was a British plane until later when they reported attacking two Italian boats at the same place we were."

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor Survivor Gene Reinhardt, 95, Remembers

From the December 4, 2016, Shelby (N.C.) Star "Pearl Harbor survivor from Gaston County part of a dwindling breed" by Michael Barrett.

Gene Reichardt, 95 enlisted in the U.S. Army after dropping out of Shelby High School in 1940.  He was a technician fifth grade and oversaw radio and telephone communications in Hawaii.  Schofield Barracks was about 15 miles away and Wheeler Army Airfield, a major Japanese target, much closer.

After Pearl Harbor, he was transferred to Australia and later participated in many landings in the Pacific Theater, including New Guinea.  He was discharged in 1945.

It is not known for sure how many Pearl Harbor survivors remain.  In 2013, one person estimated it was between 2,000 and 2,500.

--GreGen

The Saga of the PT-305-- Part 5: PT-Boats

From the Columbia Daily Tribune "The Saga of the PT-305" by Terry Ganey.

PT-305 was manufactured in New Orleans in 1943 and decommissioned in New York City after the war.

PT-Boats are described as "small, fast and bristling with torpedoes and automatic weapons..."

Probably the best-known PT-Boat (Patrol-Torpedo Boat) was PT-109, skippered by President John F. Kenendy in the Pacific during the war.

The book and movie "They Were Expendable" helped popularize this service.  Best-known for their operations in the Pacific Ocean, they also operated against Italian and German forces in the Mediterranean Sea.

--GreGen

PT-305 Restored in New Orleans-- Part 4: Action in the Mediterranean

U.S. and British planes had destroyed bridges, roads and railways and German shipping along the Mediterranean Sea from France to Italy.  The Allies controlled the air in the daylight so the Germans had to turn to supplying their forces in Italy by sea at night.

PT Boats intercepted them from bases in Bastia on the island of Corsica and later from Livorno, Italy.  Every night a German convoy of 8-15 barges would depart for Italy.

Allan Purdy, of Columbia, Missouri, former professor and administrator of the University of Missouri was commanding officer of the PT-305 Joe Brannon boarded it in December 1944.  Joe had a 35 mm camera and shot more than 100 photos of the PT operations.

Allan Purdy was one of several commanding officers the PT-305 had.  Enlisted men rotated as well.  PT-305 had several nicknames, including "Half Hitch," "Barfly" and the already mentioned "Sudden Jerk."

During its service, the boat was credited with sinking two German barges.

--GreGen

--

Pearl Harbor a Big Reason Why I Have This Blog

I have always been interested in Pearl Harbor, even before I developed my interest in World War II in general, especially anything naval.  I write a lot about Pearl Harbor, probably my biggest single thing I write about here.

Pearl Harbor is one of my disaster interests.  The other two are the Alamo and the Titanic.

Counting this post, I have written about Pearl Harbor 508 times.

--GreGen

PT-305 Restored in New Orleans-- Part 3: $350 a Ride

The National Museum of World War II was started by historian Stephen E. Ambrose is thriving now.  But, back in 2005, Hurricane Katrina badly damaged it and visitors slowed to a trickle after that.  The museum had to lay off 60% of its staff.  It took them six years to get back to its pre-Katrina levels of 350,000.  In 2016, so far, they have drawn 700,000.

It is hoped that the "new" PT-305 will help even increase that.  Rides on the boat will cost $350, with the first one scheduled for April 1, 2017.  It will be home-ported in Lake Pontchartrain, the same place where it was launched 74 years earlier.

--GreGen

USS Nevada Flags Arrive in Nevada in 1946

From the June 18, 2016, Nevada Appeal, Past Pages.

June 18, 1946, 70 years ago.  "Three oil-stained and discolored flags of the famed battleship USS Nevada arrived in Carson City and now are on display at the state museum.

"The Nevada is on its way to Bikini atoll where it will be 'bull's eye' in the atom bomb target demonstrations soon."

Goodbye USS Nevada, Pearl Harbor Survivor.  --GreGen

USS Arizona Monument Dedicated at University of Arizona

From the December 4, 2016, Arizona Daily Star "New monument to the USS Arizona to be dedicated" by Natalia V. Navarro.

Dedication of it will be today at the University of Arizona Mall.

The monument consists of a 6-inch curb of running track outlining the size and shape of the battleship.  At about the site of where the ship's foremast was (this is the one blackened and leaning over toward the bow after the attack) is a brick path lined with waist-high concrete walls adorned with 1,177 bronze medallions, each engraved with the name, birth date and home state of the 1,177 sailors and Marines who died aboard the ship that day.

Being located at a college campus as it is strikes home even more when the average age of those who died was 20.

The money for the project was privately raised with $175,000 coming from individuals and veterans organizations in 20 states..

The dedication will begin around 3 p.m. with a flyover.

Hopefully some of the five remaining Arizona survivors will be able to attend.

--GreGen

PT-Boat 305 Restored in New Orleans-- Part 2: The "Sudden Jerk"

PT-305 was built in New Orleans by Higgins Industries, makers of the Higgins Boats, those small ones used to transport troops onto enemy beaches.

Since restoration, the PT-305's hull has been extended back to its original size, its mahogany decks repaired and made seaworthy again.  They even renamed the vessel with its original nickname, "Sudden Jerk," on its bow.  One of the boat's two surviving crew members said the it got its nickname after a hard landing at a dock in 1944.

Donald Rursch, a corn and soybean farmer from western Illinois, contributed the three Packard engines that powered PT-Boats in the war.  He had started to collect surplus engines in the 1960s to use in tractor-pulling competitions.

--GreGen

Bits of War: Pearl Harbor-- Rent-A-Car Foundation-- Mount Diablo Beacon

As we near the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

1.  RENT-A-CAR FOUNDATION--  This foundation has donated $50,000 for the 75th Anniversary Commemoration of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

2.  MOUNT DIABLO BEACON--  The Mount Diablo Beacon is to be relit on this December 7 by Pearl Harbor survivors.  This is sponsored by the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.  The light was extinguished after Pearl Harbor was attacked and stayed dark until Pearl Harbor Day in 1964 when it was relit by World War II Admiral Chester Nimitz who suggested that it be relit every December 7th after that, which it has been.

--GreGen

Bits of War: Pearl Harbor: 100 to Be Honored-- Joe Triolo to Be Honored

As we are just now four days away from the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

1.  100 TO BE HONORED--  Over 100 Pearl Harbor survivors will be honored for the 75th anniversary of the attack ceremony in Hawaii.

2.  JOE TRIOLO TO BE HONORED--  Pearl Harbor survivor Joe Triolo of Des Plaines, Illinois, was on the USS Tangier on December 7, 1941, and is expected to attend the annual Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony December 7 at the Prairie Lake Theater in Des Plaines.  He is one of the last surviving men in northern Illinois.

The event is put on by the Sons & daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.

--GreGen

World War II PT-Boat Restored--- Part 1: 13 Feet Chopped Off

From the November 21, 2016, New York Times "New Victory for World War II PT Boat: Restored and Museum-Ready" by Patrick McGeehan.

The PT-305 was taken to a barge on the Mississippi River and from there it will become a fully interactive exhibit for the National World War II Museum in New Orleans this April.  The museum hopes to offer the only opportunity in the U.S. to ride in a PT Boat.

It weighs 50 tons and is 78 feet long. and was found in Galveston, Texas as a sawed off wreck.

After the war it was a tour boat in New York City and later an oyster boat in the Chesapeake Bay.  Like other revamped PT Boats that survived the war, it had 13-feet of its hull chopped off so it wouldn't need a licensed master captain under Coast Guard regulations.

--GreGen

Shorpy Home Front Photos: Painting the Trains and Florida Ice

From the Shorpy Photo site.

NOVEMBER 22, 2016--  BOXCAR BROWN 1942:  December 1942.  "Research laboratory worker at Chicago & North Western's 40th Street Yard examines paint samples used on freight cars and coaches of the railroad."  By Jack Delano, the "Train Guy,"  OWI.  Have to keep those trains looking good and provide a canvas for the graffiti folk.

NOVEMBER 24, 2016--  FLORIDA ICE:  February 1943.  "Jacksonville, Florida.  Street scene in the Negro section."  Gordon Parks, OWI.

Even with the war on, people still needed to keep items cold in their ice boxes.  Many people did not have refrigerators yet.

--GreGen

Rosie the Riveter at Age 95

From the October 5, 2016, "See Rosie the Riveter at 95:  Woman Who Inspired WWII Poster was lost to history for 7 decades" by Tiare Dunlap.

Naomi Parker-Fraley turned 95 in 2009, did not think the iconic Rosie the Riveter poster looked much like her when she first saw it.  She was one of six million women who worked in U.S. wartime industries while the men were away fighting.

The poster was based on a photo taken in 1942 and it caught the eye of artist J. Howard Miller who made the poster in 1943.

There are some who also think woman was Geraldine Hoff Doyle (1924-2010).  Mrs. Fraley is still alive.

--GreGen

Looking Back to 1941: WPA to Concentrate on Defense Operations

From the July 6, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

"Although an order has been issued stating that all WPA projects not of a defense nature are to cease no later than July 8, word was received yesterday stating that the DeKalb WPA playground will continue to operate until September 2.

"The project sponsors three playgrounds at the Haish, Ellwood and Glidden schools, in this city as part of the activities of the DeKalb Recreational Council."

Preparing for War, But Time Enough for Playgrounds.  --Cooter

With Thanks and Remembrance: Six WW II Veterans at Lindenhurst, Illinois Ceremony

From the November 23, 2016, Hi-Liter.

Six World War II veterans: Earl Kelly, Frank Kraft, Tom Atchinson, Marvin Ryan, Norbert Pischke and Don Martin, were recognized for their service at the Veterans Day ceremony held at the Lindenhurst, Illinois Veterans Memorial on Friday, November 11.

Always great to see a group of them still alive as we continue to lose the Greatest Generation.

GreGen

Government Project at Wilmington, Illinois

In the last blog entry, I mentioned that the DeKalb Wagon Works Company, in DeKalb, Illinois, was building thirty special truck bodies for the government project at Wilmington, Illinois.

This very likely was what became known as the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant.which opened in 1940.

--GreGen

Looking Back to 1941: Preparing for War

From the February 10, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

"At the present time the DeKalb Wagon Works Company is thought to be the only firm in the city working on a government contract.  Thirty special bodies for trucks are being made there which will be used in the government's big project at Wilmington.

"The firm has also figured on some small gun carriages, but did not receive the bid, and are working on other bids that are being asked for special equipment which the firm is able to manufacture."

There's Money to Be Made.  --GreGen

Stealing World War II Warships Off the Ocean Floor-- Part 2

The site of the Battle of Java Sea is considered a graveyard for the 2300 Allied sailors who died there.  As such, there should be no diving, salvage or anything else that would disturb the final resting p;ace of those men.

A recent mission to film the sunken vessels as part of the 75th anniversary commemoration discovered that many of the wrecks are no longer there.

The HNLMS De Ruyter and HNLMS Java, both Dutch ships, are completely gone and a large chunk of the HNLMS Kortenner is also gone.  The HMS Exeter and HMS Encounter and the submarine USS Perch (SS-17) also have been completely removed.

The wrecks of the ships were found in the early 2000s and believed to have been hit by metal scavengers.

The Lowest of the Low to Desecrate Graves Like That.  --GreGen

Stealing World War II Warships Off the Ocean Floor

From the Nov. 18, 2016, Extreme Task "World War II warships, submarine are being stolen off the ocean floor" by Joel Hruska.

A very alarming story here.

On February 27, 1942, Allied forces consisting of two heavy cruisers, three light cruisers and nine destroyers fought the Japanese Navy at the battle of Java Sea.  The Japanese Navy was on a roll since Pearl Harbor and this too proved to be a massive defeat for the Allies consisting of ships from the Australian, Dutch, British and American navies.

The Allies lost two light cruisers and three destroyers sunk and one heavy cruiser badly damaged.  The Japanese lost no ships and only one destroyer was damaged.

--GreGen