Monday, February 28, 1944

CONGRATULATIONS GRANDMA ROBINSON! On Monday, February 28, 1944 , Grandma Robinson passed her First Class examinations with perfect scores!

"I took my final test today for 1st class & my staying home nights to study was rewarded by my passing with 4.0, which in the Navy is perfect.  I go up to first class the 1st of March.  It certainly is a big load off my mind."

She took a study break the weekend before and spent the day at the beach.  Grandma got sunburnt but she's sure her skin will now be tough enough for future beach expeditions.

I got sunburned again this weekend.  It's quite sore but not as bad as last week.  You'd think I'd tan instead of burn.  I think now my skin will be tough."

During WWII people didn't worry about those pesky sunburns.  You wanted to burn so then your skin would tan and your greatest hope was to make your skin tough.  As a natural redhead, these statements make my skin crawl.  The Sun Tan lotion from my childhood felt like zinc laced oil, and I NEVER wanted to wear it.  There are at least a dozen photos of me at the beach wearing long pants and shirts with a bog floppy hat protecting my freckles from the scorching sun.  Grandma wanted her cowboy skin and all I ever wanted to do was go back inside into the AC.  Now I have a canopy chair, but someone needs to come up with a canopy inner tube so I can stay in the water as long as I want.  It was my idea internet, LEAVE IT ALONE!

And now back to Grandma:

The Woodworths, the Lieutenant and his wife who are also stationed in Miami and who are also from Missoula are hosting an "Everybody's from Montana" party!

"The Lt. Woodworth called me & want(s) me to go out with them next Saturday night.  They have an extra man who also from Missoula & a couple from Msla by the name of Beebe.  We will have a Montana get together I guess."

Grandma sure does throw some shade when she wants to.  Although that wasn't a very snarky line, I just hear how she would say it in my head, and know my Grandfather would have raised an eyebrow.  

P.S. I am the only family member who can raise their one eyebrow.  Molly FTW!

Beach Betty

On this day in WWII history

Friday, February 25, 1944 and a short recap

Well, February marks the half way point in the calendar year that I gave myself to read and understand all of these wonderful letters.  Me being me, I was really passionate about maintaining this blog and then my passion wained.  So, this is where we stand at the half way mark.  I have 72 letters to read, research, and digest in 6 months.  There will be three letters a week from here on out and two letters a week on bad weeks.  I need to regroup and remember I am not doing this for myself, but for my Grandma.  There are less than ten books about the WAVES contributions to WWII on Amazon, and one of those was a picture book!  My Grandma and the women who made the choice to be there in our country's greatest hour of need deserve to be heard.  I do this for them and in her memory.  I am proud and honored to call her my Grandmother.

In that vein, let's hear what Grandma has to say.

Great Aunt Peggy and their friend Marilyn are coming to stay the summer in Miami.  Miami is intense compared to Missoula.  I know Grandma will enjoy showing Miami off and taking them to all the happening places.

"I got a letter from Peggy and she had heard from Marilyn.  She sent the letter on to me.  Marilyn was sick in bed at the time she wrote the letter.  She said that she is going to come down here with Peggy this summer.  I think that will be good because I don't know whether I could live out of the Barracks and it would make the rent a lot less for Peg to have someone with her."

Grandma studies day and night for her First Class examinations.  She's pretty serious for a 22 year old.  Granted, she also went out and saw Eric Blore.  

"I went dancing to the Flagler Gardens last night with a sailor that I met when I first came down here.  He had a buddy so Beverly went with him.  We had a fairly nice time.  That is about all that I have done this week.  I am still studying and stick to it quite steadily.  Last night when Bev and I were over to the Old Castle eating Eric Blore the movie actor was in there.  I got a good look at him and was so pleased that I got to see him.  He takes parts of a butler in movies, he is a comedian."

As Grandma mentioned, Eric Blore was known for playing Butlers, waiters, and other service industry types.  He was a staple in the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals.  In my adolescent world, he was most famous for voicing Mr. Toad in Disney's Wind in the Willows.  His death caused a media stir when the New Yorker prematurely announced his death.  When Blore's lawyer caused a ruckus the New Yorker agreed to print a retraction.  However, the night before the retraction was due, Eric Blore passed away.  So, the New Yorker printed a retraction for the correct information that day after Blore's death.

Happy Anniversary to Grandma Robinson!  On February 23, 1944, Grandma had her one year anniversary with the Navy.

"I have been on active duty in the Navy for a year now.  Really the 23rd of Feb.  Altho, I was sworn in on the 20th of Jan.  My this year has certainly flown.  You know, the saying about your teeth being far apart means you will be far away from home someday, well that is the truth with me isn't it?"

She's come a long way in year for a 22 year old from Missoula, Montana.  She doesn't realize it, and I don't think she ever did, but she changed the world by joining the WAVES.  Grandma changed the way the Navy viewed women, and hence changed America's view.  I wouldn't have all of these privileges afforded to me without her or my Mom.  Thank you for changing the world for me.  

I'll close by following the orders my Grandma Robinson set out for her parents.

"Be sure to write often and don't overdo yourselves."

Photo of Eric Blore with Special thanks to Deeper Into Movies

On this day in WWII history

Thursday, February 10, 1944 part two

Grandma finally talks about her birthday in a round about way.  She talks about the gifts she received from some of the girls and from her parents.

"My roommate Pirtle and the girl across the hall went together and got me a box that is covered with bright pink creton and flowered.  It is for handkerchiefs, stocking and things like that. ... Mildred, the girl that works in my office, gave me a nice bar of real good smelling soap and two handkerchiefs.  Beverly hasn't given me a present yet as I didn't tell her it was my birthday and she didn't know until the 8th but she did take me out to dinner the night of my birthday."

Her parents and my Great Aunt Peg sent her money to buy a watch.  She cannot thank them enough.

"I got the check the other day and thank you so much.  I am going to put it with the money that Peggy gives me and then add a little of my own and get a wristwatch. ... I can get a $50 watch out at Ship's service* for $35.  I can save my money for a little while and get a watch within a month.  Don't worry about sending more and thank you for that much."

*For people like me who do not know what a Ship's service is, according to Merriam Webster it is a ship or Nay post exchange.

Now looking into, that means Grandma is going to spend around $428 in 2008 money for a wristwatch.  My first and still foremost reaction is why in the heck does a watch cost $428?! Fine, a high quality watch can cost a great deal, production processes were just evolving during WWII, and they did not have access to digital watches.  BUT STILL why does a watch cost this much?!  Could someone who is well educated in WWII watches explain this to me?

A Black out occurred on the evening of Grandma's birthday.

"On the night of my birthday we had a blackout.  It was ver successful and everything blacked out for 50 minutes."

This lines reminds me of a story told by a bygone acquaintance of mine.  She was in New York City when the power grid went down across the Northeast in 2003.  The most remarkable event occurred in New York City.  A New York Citizen could finally see the stars.

I bet the stars were gorgeous over Miami on February 8, 1944.  Happy 22nd Birthday Grandma.

On this day in WWII history

Thursday, February 10, 1944

Grandma writes a quick note to her parents in this February letter.  She doesn't mention how her birthday went, but she didn't want to make a huge fuss anyway.

She sent my great-grandparents several photos of Biscayne Bay and Boulevard.  This letter serves as a list of captions for those photos.  Unfortunately they are lost somewhere in the family archives, but I will try my best to give you an idea of what my Grandmother is talking about in each photo.

"#1 is a liberty ship that is in Biscayne Bay.  It's being converted into a transport.  The island in back is the Start of Miami beach."

So here is a photo of Biscayne Bay in the 1938, 4 years before my Grandmother relocated to Miami.  Special thanks to Vintage Everyday.

I also wanted to show you what a liberty ship looks so you can super-impose the ship onto the photograph above using your minds eye.  We're using our imagination today people!  Thanks to Patricia Hysell for posting about the SS Patrick Henry the first Liberty Ship built during WWII in 1941.

You can see my Grandma's photo slowly merging in your mind's eye.  Alright onto the next photo!

"#2 is sailors marching down Biscayne Blvd.  That is part of Submarine Chaser Training School in background.  They have marked off the center of Biscayne Blvd. for the sailors to march to & from school."

Special shout out to Eye on Miami for finding this photograph.  I am absolutely thrilled that I am able to show you exactly what my Grandmother was talking about.  I think that is so neat.  Obviously the geographic location might be different because I do not know the exact location of the Submarine Chaser Training School.  If someone can tell me that would be great!

Grandma sends one final photograph of Biscayne Blvd.

"#3 which is looking right down the blvd.  The buildings are hotels all taken over by the Navy.  This isn't the prettiest part of the blvd. tho.  The Atlantic is off in the distance where I marked (X)."

Unfortunately the only photograph I could find is a postcard but I think it does Biscayne Blvd. justice.

Special thanks to JR Postcards for this one.  

And as always, special thanks to my Grandma for taking us on a tour of 1940s Miami.

On this day in WWII history

Monday, February 7, 1944

Oh holy Jingle Bells and Happy New Year!  Where did December go?  I'm sorry y'all that I have been terribly remiss in maintaining this blog, but now I'm back and ready to show 2014 what I'm made of!  Now let's get back to Grandma shall we?

February 8, 1944 is Grandma's 22 birthday.  It makes me wonder what my Grandma would have thought of me if she saw me at 22?  Would she be proud?  I like to think so and I think she is still there looking out for me.  Really all of my Grandparents are making a running commentary of my life.  I wish I could hear some of what they are saying.  There would be a lot of groans and gasps.

Grandma decided to have a quite birthday this year, what with the war on and all.

"Well, tomorrow is my 22nd birthday and the first birthday that I haven't had any sponge cake.  I think I will take myself out to a real nice dinner tomorrow night.  I haven't told any of the kids tomorrow is my birthday because none of them have too much money and I don't want them to go to any expense--as they have enough.  Beverly suspects that my birthday is soon but I won't tell her."

Studying for her First Class exams is involving a great deal of her time.  Since Grandma did not get accepted into Officer's academy, I believe it motivated her to work harder towards her First Class certification.

"Yesterday, Sunday, I came down to the office and took some 1st class progress tests and studied.  I am nearly through with the book.  I am certainly glad that it is nearly over with.  I only have two more tests to take and then I have to go down to Personnel and take my advancement in rating test."

There is a Suicide submarine on display near where Grandma is stationed.  

"They had a Suicide Submarine on display here last week.  It was one of those affairs that they have only two men in.  It was over in Biscayne Bay."

Suicide submarines, or Kaiten submarines, were part of a last ditch effort by the Japanese towards the end of WWII.  The operators used only periscopes and instruments to find their way through the ocean's murky depths.  The pilots families were given a 10,000 yen reward if their son volunteered for the Kaiten submarines.  The men were always between the ages of 18 and 26.  War and money always asks crazy things of the earth's citizens.  No wonder this generation is called the greatest.  They made enormous sacrifices for the countries they believed in.  Sacrifices for their world and for the generations to come.

On this day in WWII history

Tuesday, February 1, 1944

WWII doesn't play.  You cannot stop running even if you have a cold.  Grandma coughed for the last couple of days.

"I have been coughing so much lately that it was getting me down.  I went down and saw the Dr. today and he gave me some cough medicine that is helping already.  I hope that it rids me of that cough for good.  I also have been studying for my first class test so I don't do too much running around nor writing."

I'm glad to hear that Grandma is being so studious.  I find that when Shannon women find something they believe is worth working for they fight for it.  When I graduated undergrad, my father told me he was proud and impressed, because he didn't expect me to be studious.  Like I told him that day, I found something I cared about.

Grandma received word from several Missoulians this week.  Both of them seem to be sweet on her, but she is not entertaining any ideas.  

"Sunday night Bailey Stortz called me.  His ship was in here and he is now on his way to Trinidad.  I had lunch with him yesterday afternoon.  He is still as homely as ever but very nice, he likes to brag a lot though.  I pretend I am listening but my mind wanders all over while he is talking."

Grandma is without feeling however as she demonstrates with a Marine friend who is desperately homesick.

"I got a package from Gib LaVoie yesterday.  He is in Hawaii you know.  He sent me a yellow and pink gold bracelet.  It is that kind like Marilyn's watch chain is made from.  In the middle of it is a heart and that opens and he put his picture in one side.  I just about died when I got it.  At first, my one thought was to send it back to him but then I got to thinking that he only thought it would please me and he knows that we are just good friends and that's all we could ever be, and in his last letter he sounded so homesick that I wouldn't have the heart to send it back------ and anyways it is awfully pretty.  Oh, yes, on the heart he has the Marine Corp insignia.  I won't put my picture on the other side though."

More and more girls are joining the war effort.  Grandma's bunk is adding on another roommate and she's hoping to get an apartment with Beverly. Let's hope it works out.

Thursday, January 27, 1944

Grandma and Beverly screamed their way through a carnival that is in Miami this week.  She went on every ride and she won a prize for throwing baseballs.  Also a Shannon trait that I inherited.  I can throw a baseball or football some distance but heaven knows where it is going to end up.

"There is a big carnival here.  Beverly and I went without dates to it the other night.  I went on all the rides and into every side show.  In fact, I even won a prize for throwing baseballs.  Also, a lady would guess your age and if she didn't hit it within two years you would get a prize.  She guessed me to be 24 and I am still 21 so she had to give me a prize.  I guess I must look like an old Grandma or something."

I remember taking offense at people telling me I looked like I was 25 when I was only 21.  Now that I'm 27 people are surprised that I'm not younger.  I'll take it.

New friends from Missoula pop up in WWII Miami.  They are a Lieutenant and his wife from Missoula who read about Grandma in the Missoulian before they came to Miami and they decided to look her up.  They found her and invited her over to their home.

"Tonight I am going out to that Lt. Woodworth's and his wife's place for dinner.  I'm not too anxious to go now but I guess I will have a good time."

This is the second time that someone in Miami who is from Missoula, MT reached out to my Grandmother.  Is Missoula a small enough city that you can do that?  Maybe back then people believed that when you are from the same town you will automatically be friends?  I know they were more trusting back in the day, but just because you're from the same town does not mean that you're going to get along.  However, when I lived in Chicago I thirsted for people who were form Atlanta.  If I heard someone even mention Georgia I was like white on rice.  I pumped them for their details about where they were from and what they're thoughts on Waffle House were.  We'd share our Atlanta stories and promise to hang out soon.  Usually Atlanta only brought us together for the one evening, but it was always magical.

The other thought I had about the phenomenon was that it also must be a wartime paradigm.  You all want to be home, and you are so far away from that place.  Whenever you have a chance to make that connection and share it with someone else you lunge for it.  War disrupts everyone's home and if there is something that can make your current city feel like home you reach out and make that effort.

On this day in WWII history