May 27 1992
Dear Marcia:
I remember thinking to myself, “At least he won’t have to become involved in the war”. This was Sept. 1939. I am referring to your Uncle Alvin who was taken from us, and is to this day the only sibling out of (16) to be have been called in.
It was about this time, in Aug. of 1940, to be exact, that I, my darling wife Della, and our first born, Patty made what was for us, a bold move. We drove our 1930 Model A Ford from Canton Ks. to Chicago. The reason—to complete (hands on) a correspondence course in air-conditioning and refrigeration.
Most of the family thought we would come back to Ks., but we stayed on in Chgo, where for the first time I became involved in a mfg. plant. This was in 1940 – ’41.
Well, you know what happened on Dec. 7 1941. Our nation was at war. Although we had been involved in Europe on a lend-lease basis, this was all out.
Draft boards we set up, bids were being issued for contracts to produce tools of war. Being connected with a mfg. plant—in a matter of months we were producing—ammo. cases for the Navy’s mach. guns and toolboxes for the Army’s field kitchens. Later on aircraft engines for B24’s.
So, you see your mother is wright—I missed military service—was needed somewhere else, and I thank God for it.
Your Uncle Walt.
P.S. More power to you on this project.
The original letter:
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