Dire Circumstances: The War

By James Dwight Patterson

Dire Circumstances - The War is the second book of a three part series that follows a small town Oklahoma family as they deal with many of the issues involved in the tumultuous 1930's and 1940's. The first book, Dire Circumstances - The Great Depression covers the disastrous financial turmoil of the 1930's. It is available from smashwords.com and other ebook distributors.

Having survived the catastrophe of the Great Depression, the Pearson family is now faced with the challenges of World War II. The youngest son, Joe, eagerly goes off to join the Army. The eldest son, Tom, manages to complete college before joining the Army Air Corps. As the parents worry about the fate of their two sons, they contribute to the war effort by helping build airplanes. The uncertainty of war creates high anxiety all around.

Book three, Dire Circumstances - The Aftermath will be released later in 2020.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Dwight Patterson
• Release date: Feb 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463849149

James Dwight Patterson

James Dwight Patterson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His parents were both born in Texas and the family made numerous trips to Texas, especially Brownsville, where his mother graduated high school. Texas made a fond and lasting impression on James which is reflected in his writing. A Matter of Will was inspired by an actual murder that occurred in 1936. The fictional Sheriff of Brownsville, Will Pearson, diligently pursues the killers who have sought sanctuary in Mexico. His efforts are frustrated by conflicting laws and attitudes in the bordering countries. The events in the zealous pursuit of the killers are pure fiction.James is the author of a trilogy of books titled Dire Circumstances - The Great Depression; Dire Circumstances - The War; and Dire Circumstances - The Aftermath. He experienced the decades of the 1930's and 1940's, two of the most troubled and devasting periods in American history. The stories follow a smalltown Oklahoma family as they deal with the challenges of financial calamity, destructive war, and the adjustments to peace and an uncertain future.He received his BA in Industrial Psychology from Tulsa University and his MS in the same field from Purdue University. His writing skills were honed through numerous business publications and 5 film scripts. DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES is his first novel. He now resides in Santa Barbara, CA with his wife Judith. He can be reached at [e-mail].

Book preview

Dire Circumstaances

The War

By

James Dwight Patterson

Published by James Dwight Patterson

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2020 James Dwight Patterson

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you respecting the hard work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUTHOR’S NOTE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AUTHOR’S NOTE

DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES -The War is the second book of a three part series that follows a small town Oklahoma family as they deal with many of the issues involved in the tumultuous 1930’s and 1940’s. The first book, DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES—The Great Depression covers the disastrous financial turmoil of the 1930’s. It is available from smashwords.com for $2.99 in ebook format. It can also be purchased from most of the other ebook publishers. The third book in the series, DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES—The Aftermath will be available later in 2020.

CHAPTER 1

Hitler was fuming. How dare the Japanese attack the US without consulting me, he yelled at von Ribbentrop. He was as surprised as Roosevelt by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His armies were being decimated on the outskirts of Moscow, and the last thing he needed was another front.

Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan and Fascist Italy had entered into a strategic agreement, known as the Tripartite Pact, where the participants pledged to provide military assistance in the event any one of the countries was attacked by a nation not already involved in the war. Hitler’s motive in agreeing to this pact was primarily to discourage the US from coming to the aid of England and France. He believed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor would clearly bring the United States into the battle in Europe.

Three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese asked Hitler to declare war on the US. Hitler’s confidants cautiously advised against such action. Hitler thought otherwise. He strongly believed that the US would come to the aid of England and France very soon and he wanted Germany to be first in declaring war on America, mostly as an insult to Roosevelt, whom he gravely disliked. As a result, on December 11, 1941, Germany along with Italy formally declared war on the United States. Now there were 3 countries at war with the US.

The Tulsa World headline on December 12 shouted GERMANY DECLARES WAR ON US. John Pearson read the several articles and commentaries and gloomily shook his head. Nothing good can come of this, he thought. His son Joe had already committed to this fight, and it is only a matter of time until they draft Tom, he thought. He was reluctant to get into a discussion with his wife Maude because he knew how much she was hurting inside. Even though her relationship with Joe was a contentious one, her motherly instincts still wanted to protect him. With both Maude and John, it was concern about the boys that caused their despair.

Joe popped in just as Maude finished the scrambled eggs, his energy charged by his excitement about joining the Army. Hey, Pops, I haven’t had time to properly prepare my car for storage, can you handle that for me? he asked, clearly knowing he would do it. The guys and I are all getting together at the Pig Stand for lunch for a good bye sendoff, so I’ll be busy until we catch the train at 4 o’clock.

Maude glowered and said, I’ve washed and ironed the clothes you’ll need. I don’t want you goin’ around with dirty underwear.

Thanks, Ma. I guess after this I’ll be doing my own laundry. he smiled and replied.

What did they tell you about your training?, John asked.

Nothing specific. Just said we’d be going to Ft. Hood for basic training. Who knows after that.

Well, try to get into somethin’ other than infantry. Maude declared.

I’ll just have to wait and see what the options are, if any. Joe said.

Son, approach it just like you did with sports and you’ll do fine. Always do more than you’re asked. John said.

Thanks, Pops. I’ll do my best. he replied as he finished his eggs and took his empty plate to the sink. Gotta run. I want to stop and talk to Coach before lunch. With that, he was out the door.

Maude washed the breakfast dishes and silently cried. Her father had been killed in the first World War, so she knew personally the dangers of war.

Coach Whitworth was in his small second floor office when Joe knocked on his door. Hey, Coach, got a minute? Just wanted to say goodbye. Joe said.

Heard you and several others were off to the army.

Yeah, can’t keep us out of a good fight.

That’s one way of looking at it. I like to think you saw your duty as an American and are doing it.

That too. You know Buck, he likes to be right in the middle of things. We couldn’t let him get all the glory.

Son, it won’t be all glory. It’s not like a football game where when the game is over almost everyone is still standing—and alive. At any rate, I’m proud of all of you. You’re doing the right thing for your country. I was looking forward to your playing college ball, but that will have to wait.

Much as I like football, there are things more important. If all goes well, I’ll come back and take up where I left off. Who knows, maybe I’ll still play ball, even become a coach.

You’d be a good coach. But, first things first. He stood up and shook Joe’s hand with both his hands. God be with you, son. Stick it to those Krauts and Japs.

All across the country the buildup for war increased rapidly. The War Production Board ordered the temporary end of all civilian automobile sales on January 1, 1942. The auto industry ceased making cars and converted to producing military vehicles. The remaining autos were only sold to doctors, clergymen and anyone who could clearly establish they needed a new car for what they were doing to support the war effort.

The Office of Price Administration (OPA) quickly established ration boards of three volunteers each. Local boards determined who got items the board was charged with rationing.

Aircraft companies sought sites for expanding the production of airplanes. Tulsa was near the forefront of the air industry with the Spartan School of Aeronautics, where many British and French pilots were trained. In addition, the City had purchased a large tract of land to build an airport and convinced the Federal government to construct a bomber plant adjacent to the airport. The plant operator chosen was Douglas Aircraft. The plant to be built would be massive with over 800,000 square feet of interior space. It was 320 feet wide and nearly a mile long. It would need thousands of employees for 24 hour, 7 day a week production. People in Tulsa and surrounding towns eagerly looked forward to the plant being finished and plane construction beginning. The depression had been devastating in Oklahoma and the prospect of thousands of new jobs brought great hope for many who had been out of work for years. For the first time in over ten years, jobs would be plentiful and unemployment a thing of the past.

Immediately following the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attacked the Philippine Islands, a protectorate of the US and where the US maintained military bases on Corregidor and Bataan. The airbase on Corregidor was the largest US airbase within reasonable flight time to Japan, making it a threat the Japanese wanted to eliminate.

The Japanese invasion on both Bataan and Corregidor was the first land based fighting for our soldiers since WW I, and they were ill -prepared. The US forces, under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, found themselves extremely limited in supplies and inexperienced in jungle fighting. It did not bode well for the service men stationed there.

Leonard, John’s brother in law who worked at Red Fork Lumber, brought over some supplies John had requested for an expansion to the house so that Maude could continue her efforts to make the formerly run down house a comfortable home. As Leonard and John unloaded the truck, Leonard said, "It’s not lookin’ good for our boys on Bataan. Those Japs just keep comin’..

I know. It must take great courage to keep on fighting the way they do, especially when they pretty much know they can’t win. John added.

If they can just hold on a little longer, hopefully our Navy will arrive in time to rescue them.

Hope may be all they have. The Navy got hit hard at Pearl, and now they’re battling in the Marshall Islands. Even if the Navy wins in the Marshalls, if may be too late for our boys in the Philippines.

Time is on the Japs side. John said. I guess we should have started building up our military capability sooner.

Roosevelt tried to keep us out of it, and I agreed, but it looks like that was just wishful thinking.

Reports from the Pacific theatre grew more ominous daily.

John was reading the Tulsa World on Sunday morning in January, 1942 while Maude finished frying some eggs. It says here that the first thing rationed are tires. The Japanese have taken control of most all of the rubber producing areas and we don’t have enough capacity to produce synthetic tires.

Maude asked, So how are our tires?

Just fair. They should be good for a while. Maybe 9 months to a year, if we’re careful.

I heard they’ve set a new speed limit of 35 miles per hour. They say if you drive at no more than 35 miles per hour your tires will last longer.

I’ve heard that too, so, since you do most of the driving, keep it in mind.

I wonder what they will ration next. Gas most likely.

Maude drove downtown on a bitter cold day in February to pick up some needed groceries. She was checking out at Safeway when she overheard a woman saying a Japanese submarine had shelled a refinery near Santa Barbara, California. Immediately the other people in the store started asking questions. Where did you hear that? a woman asked.

I heard it on the radio. They said that Monday morning the 23rd, a Jap submarine shelled an oil refinery on the edge of Santa Barbara., the first woman responded.

Was anyone killed? another yelled. What kind of damage did they do?

All I know is what I said, the first woman answered. The buzz continued with mild hysteria.

John was at work when he heard about the refinery shelling. By the time the news reached him, it had been blown up to a Japanese invasion. When he got off work, he went directly home and waited for the Sapulpa Herald to be delivered to see what it said about the shelling. He was waiting near the front door when he heard the paper hit the porch. He