Reflecting on Grand Niece Corinnes Photo: I am prompted to recall how blessed our parents were in the contribution they made to the WWll war effort in sending off 2 boys and a daughter - leaving home as fresh grads & returning as War Zone Veterans This Photo must have been taken 1942-1943 ( Pearl Harbor Dec. 1941) since the 3 of them are together before leaving for War. Art of perfect age was the 1st to go, followed by Raul who was allowed to finish Med School - then shipped off to the So. Pacific.Carmen wanting to join w/ bros. was drawn to the new Womens Marines, seeking Charter Members & memorialized at Arlington Natl. Cem. Art miraculously completed 34 missions as a B-24 Radio Gunner. It is said that flight crew fatalities exceeded soldier deaths with odds being that 6 out of 10 would not return. Raul served as a Navy Dr. aboard a combat ship deep in the So. Pacific war zones, while Carmen became Aid to the new Womens Marines Director Col. Towle all through the So. Pacific. I recall Carmen recruited me to write letters to Women Marines she came to know, many of whom looked me up after the War to thank me for my letters of encouragement!!! One FOOTNOTE: Art was the first to return after VE & quickly joined the LAPD & was shot by a car thief John Green from Montana, through his car door when approached by Art at his downtown post near 6th & Broadway. Under pursuit by detectives Fremont & Verala, Green was arrested, I.D.ed by critically wounded Art at the Hosp. & summarily shot in the downstairs lobby trying to escape. Justice was easy to define in 1946. Raul was brought in with great difficulty from Guadalcanal to see Art during the crisis & was returned back to duty with the Pacific War still on. Mother & Dad & the older siblings remained models of Faith and Stature. I came across these photographs while looking for the Pic just posted by Corinne. It was a privilege to be called an American in those years & I will carry memories of these times with me always and the growth in our family that followed. Big roots, Big tree, Big harvest!
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 02:08:17 +0000
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