My War: From Bismark to Britain & Back

By Christine C. Woods

Step back in time to 1943 and experience what life was like during World War II- both overseas and on the home front- for one American family. This fascinating historical journey is a rich compilation of interviews, newspaper clippings, letter and diary transcriptions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: May 17, 2005
• ISBN: 9781412230605

Book preview

MY WAR: From Bismarck to Britain and Back

The letters of Ruth Register, a Red Cross Worker in World War II, and the diary of Edith Christianson

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Edited by

Christine C. Woods

This book is dedicated to the amazing men and women whose sacrifice in the war effort-both at home and abroad-secured our freedom. To my mother, Ruth, whose incredible spirit is my constant inspiration, and to my husband, John, for his abiding love and immeasurable support throughout this process.

©

Copyright 2005 Christine C. Woods.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

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Note for Librarians: A cataloguing record for this book is available from Library and Archives Canada at www.collectionscanada.ca/amicus/index-e.html

ISBN 1-4120-4435-9

ISBN: 978-1-4122-3060-5 (ebook)

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Contents

Introduction

The Family

Edith Christianson’s War Diary

February 3,1943

February 5,1943

February 8,1943

February 12,1945

February 13,1943

February 19,1943

February 23,1943

March 1,1943

March 12,1943

March 16,1943

March 21,1943 (Edith’s Birthday)

May 9,1943

July 9,1943

July 19,1943

August 6,1943

August 11,1943

August 8 ‘Til August 27,1943

Enlisting In The Red Cross

Interview With Ruth Register Coleman From 12/25/1999

Red Cross Training

Ruth’s Letters From Washington, D.C.

November 2,1943

November 7,1943, Washington, D.C.

Transcription From 12/25/1999: Things They Had To Take And Why:

Edith’s Diary Of November 7,1943

Ruth’s Letter Of November 9,1943, Washington, D.C.

Edith’s Diary Of November 16,1943

Ruth’s Letter Of November 18,1943

November 21,193

November 24,1943

Edith’s Diary Of November 25,1943 Thanksgiving Day

Ruth’s Letter Of November 30,1943

December 7,1943

December 16,1943

"Merry Christmas״

December 31,1943

From Interview Transcript Recorded 12/25/1999:

Loading-St. George Hotel, Brooklyn

Somewhere On The Atlantic

Sailing-December 1943

Ruth’s London Letters-January 1944

From Taped Interview Transcript About Mail Censorship, Recorded 12/25/1999:

Landing

Transcript From Interview Taped 12/25/1999:

Ruth’s Letter Of January 16,1944

Ruth’s V-Mail Of January 19,1944

The Bases

First Assignment-8Th Army Air Corp Base, Braintree, England

Transcript From Interview Recorded 12/25/1999:

Slit Ditch-Or, What In God’s Name Am I Doing Here?

Transcript From Interview Recorded 12/25/1999:

Edith’s Diary Entry Of January 21,1944

Letter To Saint Peter

Ruth’s Letter Of January 22,1944

February 4,1944

February 9,1944

Red Alert-Me 109

February 13,1944

Spies Among Us…

February 28,1944

Recognition

Awards & Flowers

Tea

March 7,1944 England

March 13,1944 England

March 15,1944

March 26,1944

Edith’s Diary Entry On March 30, 1944

Move To North Pickenham Air Base, England

Ruth’s V-Mail Letter Of April 10,1944

April 10,1944

North Pickenham

Edith’s Diary Entry On Sunday, April 23,1944

Ruth’s Letter Of April 25,1944

Edith’s Diary Entry On April 26,1944

Ruth’s Letter Of May 5,1944 England

May 7,1944

April 20,1944

Letter To Ginny Kilgore From Her Husband, Jim

May 12,1944-Letter To Ginny Kilgore From Her Husband, Jim

Ruth’s Letter Of May 14,1944-England

May 24,1944

Edith’s Diary Entry On June 7,1944

Edith’s Diary Entry On July 3,1944

Ruth’s Letter Of July 5,1944

Much Love, Ruthie July 12,1944

Edith’s Diary Entry On Sunday, July 16,1944

Ruth’s Letter Of July 23,1944

Edith’s Diary Entry On August 9,1944

Ruth’s Letter Of August 7,1944

Love, Ruthie The Mission

Move To Grantham Air Base, Northern England

Ruth’s Letter Of August 29,1944

September 23,1944

Edith’s Diary Entry Of October 11,1944

Ruth’s Letter Of October, 1944

October 17,1944

October 17,1944

Edith’s Diary Entry On Thursday, October 19,1944

Ruth’s Letter Of October 27,1944

Grantham Halloween Dance

November 14,1944

November 25,1944

December 1,1944

December 2,1944

December 10,1944

Edith’s Diary Entry Of December 15,1944

Ruth’s Letter Of December 25,1944

January 4,1945

All My Love To Everyone And Keep Much For Yourselves-Ruthie January 5,1945

January 6,1945

January 8,1945

Edith’s Diary Entry For January 9,1945

January 11,1945

January 13,1945

January 18,1945

January 22,1945

January 30,1945

February 1,1945

February 5,1945

February 24,1945

Edith’s Diary Entry Of February 26,1944

France!

February 28,1945!

March 9,1945-Sens, France

March 17,1945-France

March 23,1945 France

Edith’s Diary Entry Of March 24,1945

March 29,1945-France

April 9,1945-France

Edith’s Diary Entry Of April 13,1944

April 14,1944

April 17,1945-France

April 18,1945

April 25,1945-France

Move To Beaumont-410Th Bomb Group

May 4,1945-Letter #1

Ve Day Was May 7,1945

Edith’s Diary Entry On May 7,1945

May 8,1945

May 10,1945-France

May 13,1945 Edith’s Diary Entry

May 24,1945

Pneumonia!

Transcript From Interview Videotaped On 7/18/1990:

June 5,1945-Paris

Edith’s Diary Entry On June 7,1945

June 10,1945-France

June 17,1945-Paris

Transcript From Interview Videotaped On 711811990:

"R&R״ On The Riviera

June 25,1945-Cannes, France

June 30,1945-Cannes, France

Transcript From Interview Videotaped On 7/18/1990:

July 5,1945-Paris

July 8,1945-Paris

July 15,1945-Paris

Clearing Red Cross

Transcript From An Interview Recorded February 25, 2003

Going Home!

Edith’s Diary Entry On Sunday, August 12,1945

It’s Finally Over-Over There!

Edith’s Diary Entry On Wednesday, August 15,1945-Vj Day

Edith’s Diary Of August 19,1945

Edith’s Diary Entry On September 17,1945

Transcript From Interview Videotaped On 7/18/1990

Edith’s Diary Entry On November 24,1945

The Rest Of The Story

Edith’s Diary Entry On September 26, 1946

Edith’s Last Diary Entry-On March 16, 1951

Editor’s Afterword-March 2005

Who’s Who In My War

INTRODUCTION

Like most children of the Fifties, I grew up listening to the stories my parents would tell about their experiences in World War II. These were shared readily and easily by my mother, but only after some extensive prodding-usually with the lubrication of a few drinks-by my father.

It’s hard for someone of my generation to truly understand the enormity of this conflict, and what it was like to live with the uncertainty of its outcome. We casually mention World War ii from the security of knowing that America and its allies ‘won’ but for the people who lived through it, there was no such certainty. Women who remained at home while their men went off to fight did not know if the national language would end up being English, German or Japanese. We can only begin to understand the magnitude of how the attack on Pearl Harbor galvanized a nation-our experience with the terrorist assault of the World Trade center in 2001 barely comes close. World War II changed everything about our country, our history, and the lives of those who managed to survive it.

The intensity of this conflict was removed from us, buried somewhere in the memories of our parents, carefully insulated in a safe compartment of their minds to keep the pain at arms length. Maybe it was all necessary to be able to ‘carry on.’ Or, perhaps, it’s just that new experiences-happier times-shoved it aside as life moved on.

I have noticed, however, that as the beloved members of our ‘greatest generation’ reach their senior years, these memories surface with all their intensity intact. You see it in the tearful television interviews of veterans as they recount their battle experiences. in working on this project, I came home from the office one day to find my mother in tears. I had asked her to write how it felt to meet one of her bomber missions-at age 84 the memories were still too painful to recount.

This project began as a family history. The renewed interest in World War II with the publication of Tom Brokaw’s wonderful book, The Greatest Generation and Steven Spielberg’s heart-wrenching

movie, Saving Private Ryan brought home the need to collect and preserve mother’s memories for future generations.

I was also alarmed at the lack of information available about the role played by the Red Cross workers overseas-especially in the Aero Clubs. There were a few published memoirs from the ‘donut dollies’ who drove the club mobiles, but nothing about the small group of women who represented a little bit of America to the boys who were flying fighter planes and bombers.

As someone who’s worked in public relations my entire career, I marvel at the collective genius of those who came up with the idea of putting American women in charge of recreation for the armed forces fighting on foreign soil. These women represented a touch of ‘home’ to the battle-weary troops. They reminded the men of wives, sweethearts, mothers, sisters, daughters-and all the good things they were fighting so dearly to protect and preserve.

My mother was born Ruth Christianson in 1917. When she married her first husband, she became Ruth Register, the name you will see in most of the letters and references. At the end of the war, she met and married my father, James c. coleman, Jr., and so became Ruth coleman.

Ruth grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota, the daughter of a state Supreme Court judge. She did all the things young ladies of her day and station in life were expected to do. Odds are, she would probably have lived her entire life there.

Like millions of other Americans, however, the second World War changed her life forever. she married Francis Register, who was her brother’s best friend and someone she’d grown up with. Francis, or Cash as he was affectionately known, had learned to fly at an early age along with my Uncle Marc on a North Dakota prairie. When the war broke out, he became a Navy fighter pilot and later, North Dakota’s first Ace. Sadly, Ruth found herself widowed at a young age.

Like many others, Ruth changed-almost overnight-from a pampered wife and daughter to a woman who answered her country’s call. After Francis was listed ‘missing in action,’ she applied to work with the Red Cross. She requested assignment in the Pacific Theater, because of her affinity for the Navy pilots. As luck or wisdom would have it, Ruth was sent in the opposite direction, overseas first to England and then to France. She was fortunate to get her wish to work with pilots, however, and ran Red Cross Aero Clubs at several air bases, providing what minimal comforts she could to the boys under her care.

During this period she wrote numerous letters home, and this book chronicles her service in Europe through the 79 letters that my grandmother, Edith, carefully kept.

At the same time, Edith was keeping a war diary. She was known for writing in 5 year diaries for years which are still with our family. These books are 365 pages, a separate page for each day of the year with a small slice of the page dedicated for each year.

In an earlier effort to transcribe these diaries, I found it unfortunate that her writings were mostly devoid of emotion. Ruth related that her mother lived by the Victorian sensibility, Don’t commit to writing anything you wouldn’t want to see published in a newspaper. So, in combination with the space limitation and this philosophy, Edith doesn’t share too much about what she’s feeling in the diaries.

Happily, however, both these restrictions were relaxed in her war writings, and we can gain an insight into what it really felt like being at home, ‘safe and sound’ in North Dakota, while the war raged on many fronts around the world. The war diary consists of a small, spiral binder, interspersed with newspaper clippings and musings about what was going on in the world. she was really interested in putting her thoughts on paper for future generations-a legacy we’re all most grateful to have!

I have inserted entries from Edith’s diary throughout Ruth’s letters in chronological order to show both sides of the war-overseas and the home front. it’s especially interesting to read Ruth’s many special requests for food and ordinary comfort items (like tooth powder and toilet paper) in contrast with Edith’s laments over rationing-they had to pull many strings and be very creative in order to find all the odd things Ruth was asking for in the small town of Bismarck in the 1940’s!

one of the other things I found most interesting were references to prices, especially in Edith’s diary-everything from stockings to eggs. To give you some perspective on her anxiety, consider that $1.00 in 1943 would be the equivalent of $10.87 in 2004!

To help keep things clear, Edith’s diary entries are in italics, while Ruth’s letters are in plain text. Also included are short stories and interview transcripts from conversations with Ruth. Because of the censorship during the war, she could not write many details about events and happenings in her letters, and through these interviews, we’ve tried to fill-in some of the gaps.

This project has been a several year journey in the company of two fascinating women I barely knew. My grandmother was a distant figure, my memories limited only to short visits we enjoyed when she came to Florida or we went to North Dakota. It’s also been great fun to get to know the spunky 26 year-old widow who wiped away her tears, bravely put on her uniform and embarked on an adventure to ‘parts unknown.’ Her courage, spirit, talent and enthusiasm have been my life-long inspiration.

This book is my gift to my mother. I hope it will also be a gift to you, our readers.

Christine Coleman Woods, February 2005

THE FAMILY

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Edith B. Christianson was born March 21, 1882, in Columbus, Ohio. Edith had one brother, Paul, who was a year or two younger. Her folks were divorced when she was about 8 and that’s when her mother took her to Minnesota where she went to boarding school at a convent for about 6 years. Her mother taught school to make ends meet. Edith did beautiful handwork-a legacy of the nuns-and was an avid reader. Her life bridged a wide range of change in America-from the Victorian era into modern, 20th Century life.

Educated as a legal secretary, she met and married a first generation Norwegian lawyer, Adolph Marcus Christianson, on May 14, 1906, in Minot, North Dakota. Besides raising a family, she was active in society and politics. She was also a member of the Eastern Star and Daughters of the American Revolution. Edith passed away during one of Bismarck’s worst blizzards, on March 4, 1966.

Adolph Marcus Christianson was born in Brunmundalen, Norway, in 1877. He came to the United States with his parents in 1882, spending his childhood days and receiving his early education in Polk County, Minnesota.

He was, for the most part, self-educated but attended the Law Department of the University of Tennessee and was admitted to the Bar in 1899. Family history relates that he had a photographic memory, and could cite the actual title, page and location of many legal proceedings.

He moved to North Dakota in 1900 and was admitted to the North Dakota Bar on March 27th of that same year. A.M. [as his family & friends referred to him] immediately opened an office in Towner, North Dakota, where he practiced until his election to the State Supreme Court in 1914 at the age of 37-one of the youngest supreme court justices in the history of the state! During his practice in Towner, he served as State’s Attorney from 1901 until 1905. He was re-elected to the Court in 1920, 1926, 1932, 1938 and 1948. Justice Christianson was still serving on the bench when he died of a heart attack at the age of 76 on February 11, 1954. He served on the Court for 39 years.

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The Children

A.M. and Edith had a difficult time starting a family. Edith’s first six pregnancies were all unsuccessful. She miscarried or the infants died within hours or days after birth. They decided to adopt a child in 1917 and named her Ruth Edith Christianson (her birth mother’s name was Ruth).

shortly after that, Edith became pregnant again. she was able to carry the baby full term this time and he survived! Adolph Marcus Christianson Jr., was born in June of 1918.

Ruth and Marc enjoyed a privileged and idyllic childhood growing up in Bismarck. Both shared a life-long love of animals and mischief (which were frequently combined) that their parents graciously tolerated. They also had an extended family of human ‘strays’ who found their way to the Christianson’s dining room and lake cottage.

One of these was Francis Cash Register, who became Marc’s best friend. Ruth grew up knowing Cash since he was always involved in the same adventures as her brother, including learning to fly. On a trip with friends in 1941, she stopped in Pensacola, Florida, where Cash was finishing his Navy flight school. She was as surprised as everyone else when she returned to Bismarck, head over heels in love with him-never underestimate the power of a Navy uniform!

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Marc married Betty Barnes, a childhood friend who shared his love of flying-and everything else.

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A WAR-TIME MARRIAGE….

Ruth and Cash were married in Los Angeles on February 7, 1942, in the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood, California. Their honeymoon was brief-one night at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel-then it was south to San Diego, where they lived near the Naval Air Station on Coronado island.

Like most war-time marriages, they had only a brief time together. Cash was deployed almost immediately to the Pacific Theater, where his flying skill, daring and bravery made him a standout, especially during the fighting over Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

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EDITH CHRISTIANSON’S WAR DIARY

February 3,1943

The year which has gone since we were catapulted into war by the bombing of Pearl Harbor, December 7,1941, has been so confused, so filled with strange new ideas and new ways, so foreign to our old way of life that I haven’t found time to write down my impressions of it all. Now I must, for my own satisfaction, and, who knows? It may interest someone to read what I am thinking and experiencing long after I am gone. So much for preamble.

The war has been continuously in our lives through the insistent radio. How tired I grow of the ‘news’ dinned into our ears from early morn till late at night! But AM must hear every word, no matter how often it is repeated, and all the men are alike in that particular. There are a few news broadcasts each day that I hate to miss. My favorite commentator is Raymond Gram Swing-always temperate in his views and accurate in his statements, and with most pleasing delivery. Raltenborne and Gabriel Heaten weary me intensely with their dramatics.

Of course, when Ruth married Francis it threw the war into our laps and when he came home on leave, showing the strains of war and covered with glory, and wearing the Distinguished Flying Cross, the excitement of war became very real to us.

The first big change came with the restricted use of our cars to conserve our dwindling rubber supply and the 35-mile speed limit. To me, who loves 65, it was tedious indeed. [The irony here is that Edith never learned to drive-AM drove her everywhere! Ed.] But, I have learned to walk again, and love it, so having little use of the car doesn’t bother me.

In May, sugar rationing began-one half pound per week, per person. We got extra for canning, however, and I put up a lot of applesauce from our own tree, which was laden to the ground again this year. I also canned a lot of tomatoes and juice from our own yard.

Coffee rationing hit us the last of November-one pound per person for five weeks! I had coffee on hand, so did not cut down so drastically, but have learned to make it sans egg, which gets more strength and to use less coffee. I can’t complain when I think of the coffee-loving people of Scandinavia who have no coffee and very little of anything else.

An amusing thing to me is the יalphabet corps’ that have sprung up among the women-the WAACS, WAVES, SPARS, WAFs, etc. But they are doing fine work, all honor to them.

No silk or nylon hose for many months past. I find the cotton ones, $1.50 a pair, (that’s $16.32 in 2004 dollars-quite a luxury! Ed.) do not withstand garter-strain nearly so well as the silk ones. I haven’t bought any Rayons, yet, haven’t needed any, but they look very well, and with proper care, wear well, too, but must dry 36 hours.

I have been appointed Block Chairman for the Civilian Defense Council, and have made contact with all my neighbors three times. First, on grease salvage, then selling war stamps, and last week, on the share-the-meat program. Two and half pounds per week, per person, which is the forerunner of meat rationing. So far, we have plenty here, but on either Coast they have scarcely any-some cities, none. No more bread slicing by the bakers. No more milk delivered in pint bottles. No more whipping cream. I don’t buy cream, as it is not worth the money, but siphon some off the milk bottles when I need it. Butter is exceedingly scarce in other parts of the country and eggs are out of sight-but still 35 cents a dozen here. ($3.80 in 2004 dollars.)

We are still plenty warm here, but in the east, houses are kept at 65 degrees due to shortages of coal and fuel oil. We save our old silk hose, wash and flatten tin cans, salvage every drop of grease (which the butcher buys and turns in) and are required to turn in an empty tube when we buy toothpaste and shaving cream.

February 5,1943

Some one has said (Ina recalled it the other night) that a nation’s history may be found in current advertising. I am putting many of these in my war scrapbook. The great industries that are converted to war production have really wonderful ads-well worth preserving.

Ruth had a third letter from Francis yesterday. He was still on the Islands, so we hope he is not going to get into the battle that is raging now in the Solomons. I marvel how the name Guadalcanal which we never heard before, is part of our daily lives. Francis says his flying and gunnery have greatly improved, and that being the case, I think he can win the war single-handed and alone.

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Struggling now with canned goods rationing, which is coming next month. It means we must consume or otherwise get rid of most of our store of canned goods, because, under the point system, we couldn’t get a can of peas, for instance, because we had a can of tomatoes on the shelf. Well, it’s not conservation, whatever it may be. It’s the only rationing of which I rebel. Not the actual rationing, but the way they approach the problem. [My grandfather used to buy canned food by the case, so there was always a supply in the basement-which put them in an awkward position when it came to canned goods rationing! Ed.]

The war has touched us so lightly, so far. Marc (Ruth’s brother, ed.) is teaching and probably will keep right on as the need for flight instructors is desperate. He is trying to get into the ferrying command, but it involves much red tape, and he doubts if he can do it. He brought a young lieutenant to dinner the other night-he had left Dallas, Texas, at 10:30 that morning and landed here at 5:30pm, flying alone in a Douglas light bomber, which usually carries a crew of four. We are puzzled by Francis’s letters-they take one to two days to come from Hawaii to San Francisco, and 8, 9 and even 10 days to get from San Francisco here!

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February 8,1943

Today all shoe sales cease and tomorrow rationing goes into effect. Three pairs a year-which certainly is no hardship on anyone-and heels no higher than 2 5/8 inches, which is one inch higher than I wear.

One pound of coffee must last six weeks now, instead of five. Oh woe

is me.

Down deep in my heart, I fear Russia. I’m sure many do. She is so wonderful-and bids fair to finish the Germans all by herself-then surely she will dictate the peace. Any one man with so much power as Josef Stalin is to be feared. But the whole world stands amazed at the war in Russia. The victorious Red Army sweeps over the ruins like an avenging flood. Of course, Russia will be fully occupied for a long, long time in building up again what the Nazi’s have destroyed, and what Russia, too, has destroyed to keep from falling into Nazi hands-the scorched earth policy-but I am afraid.

Curious tales come of weeks of mourning proclaimed in Germany and dirges broadcast over their radios, for the Russian defeat. Well may Germany mourn! No person will ever know the number of dead they have left on Russian soil-hundreds of thousands-and Russia too-well over 6 million men, women and children! And it is far from over.

Ruth has been hearing from Francis often, but only one of her letters has reached him, although she sends a V-mail every day while he is still on the island of Maui, across the bay from Pearl Harbor. We hope he can let us know when he goes to sea. Their wedding anniversary was yesterday-Grandmother Register and Helen sent an exquisite handkerchief and a sweet card. Virginia gave her another cup and saucer, and they all went to Mandan for spaghetti supper, by way of celebration. Ruth is a brave, good sport, and I’m proud of her.

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February 12,1945

Last week I sent to Montgomery Wards for some white yarn for baby afghans-one for Ginny (Ginny Kilgore, Ruth’s best friend). Yesterday, I got my money back-no yarn. Then I got some yarn from Chicago to make AM some socks-but it is so poor that I am sending two skeins back-it’s half rayon and is harsh and scratchy.

Had to furnish 2 dozen little cakes for a tea and couldn’t get any-they have quit making them on special order, and right, too. Then I decided to get an angel cake, cut it up and frost it, as I couldn’t spare sugar for making some. AM hunted the town over and found one little one. No more dried beef to be had, either.

Francis got a bunch of Ruth’s letters, much to her delight. She made the cleverest valentine for him, featuring the F4U, and a big heart, etc.

February 13,1943

Letter from Tilly yesterday, asking me to please send her a potato masher, as there are none to be had in Fort Smith, nor muffin tins. I went to three stores without success. Got the last muffin tin at Woolworth Store, then gave up as it was storming so badly. This morning, AM found potato mashers at Andersons, so I am sending a box to Tilly. I am putting in some jam and a gay new lunch cloth. Also, today Ruth sent the Finnegans and the Allisons each two pounds of butter and a pound of bacon. Mr. Hemphel told AM that quantities are being sent by persons here to relatives on the Coast.

February 19,1943

The battle in Tunisia, which as been raging since last Sunday, has resulted in the total defeat of our troops. Rommel surprised them and, with his experienced desert fighters and superior equipment, put our soldiers to rest. I can imagine the smug satisfaction of the English, who, undoubtedly, were greatly dissatisfied with the appointment of American General Eisenhower to be Commander-In-Chief of the African campaign. Perhaps it will serve to put a stop for awhile to the loud mouthing of the Big I in the White House. This defeat surely leaves a bitter taste after all the talk aired often at the Casa Blanca meeting.

All sales of canned fish were stopped night before last. I think the country, as a whole, has come to the realization that we are facing a serious food shortage.

Yesterday, Madame Chiang Kai-shek addressed both houses of Congress and it was broadcast to the nation. Of all the really fine speeches I have ever heard, I can’t recall one that impressed me more, and AM feels the same way. Truly a masterpiece. Speaker Rayburn, in presenting her, called her the יgreatest woman in the world. The commentators all remarked about her beauty. Tiny and beautiful" were the adjectives one heard all day.

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She was the second woman to address the Congress of these United States, the first being Queen Wilhelmina of Holland, and we had great difficulty understanding her. Madame Chiang, on the other hand, spoke with no trace of an accent, other than dropping ‘r’s’ in the southern manner-quite natural, since she received her early schooling in Georgia. Her voice, too, is pleasing-forceful, but not strident. It is a curious thing, that the two women who have impressed me the most deeply were of other races: Marian Anderson, the great Negress, and Madam Chiang Kai-shek, the great Chinese.

February 23,1943

Yesterday, I spent exactly 2 hours getting Ration Book #2. This week, all canned goods are frozen and March 1, the point rationing system goes into effect. Of course, we have plenty on hand, which I declared, but I am going to use it as sparingly as possible, and make use of what fresh foods are available. It’s not that I don’t like to really cook, goodness knows, but our markets have little choice in fresh fruit and vegetables during the winter months, and many which are available-cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, rutabagas, onions, etc. AM and Betty cannot eat. So what!

I wonder how many families are going to manage-for the cut is drastic. For lunch today, we are having macaroni and cheese, and tomato juice-some that I canned last summer. Ordinarily, I would have served canned fruit and a salad, too. Oh well, we still have much, much more to eat than any country in the world. Our reverses in Africa will call for more cutting down at home, naturally. They figure that it will take months to retrieve the ground we have lost there. But nothing can bring back the men!

Vegetable cooking fats come in cardboard cans instead of tin, except sherry which sports a fat glass jar with screw top.

March 1,1943

Out of the war, to date, have come three outstanding songs: the tender and poignant-

"There’ll Be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover… Tomorrow, just you wait and see.

There’ll be love and laughter, and peace ever after Tomorrow, when the world is free.

The shepherd will tend his sheep; the valley will bloom again; and Jimmy will go to sleep in his own little room again…

There’ll be blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover Tomorrow, when the world is free."

Then the soul-stirring words and blood racing line of the Army Air Corps song, and Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.

There will doubtless be many more, but these are really good.

March 12,1943

The war’s tempo has speeded up a little. Germany has made some gains in Russia, and now they are locked in a bitter struggle for the oil fields. Many think the outcome of this engagement will mark the beginning of the end.

One thing I’m certain of-German people have no sense of humor. They are screaming to high heaven and even appealing to the Pope, forsooth, to stop the bombing of their cities! One simply cannot imagine such mentality, after all the bombing of London, and all the other beautiful cities laid to waste. The RAF and our planes nightly pour bombs on the German cities, trying to destroy their munitions plants and armaments and especially the coast cities of France where the submarines are built-and Germany,

Cash and his flight crew. The 8 Japanese flags indicate the number of enemy planes he had shot down.

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seemingly, ‘can’t take it’. They haven’t the tight-lipped courage of England. They can take it-and give it,