War and its impact on a small town

I was brought an old scrapbook that chronicled some of the war years in New London. It included a whole array of human experiences. As the war raged in Europe and the Pacific, New London went about its business. It seems fitting that I’m writing this on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day.

With the war as a constant, the little scrapbook focused on the years 1943-1944 as small town life went on. Babies were born, people married, people died, all with the never-ending thought of loved ones being in harm’s way.

The scrapbook is in pieces now, yellowed with time, but it is a testament to how World War II impacted the lives of real people. Take a little time with me and wander down memory lane.

· Pvt. Carol Darbyshire sent his California address home to the local paper. What was probably unspoken was that he would love to hear from people he knew. The year is 1943.

· Mrs. Minnie Dodds died at age 38. Her husband, Howard, was on a navy transport ship and could not return home for her funeral. It doesn’t say what happened to her son Glenn.

· There was a reunion of sorts of New London boys at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Dean DeVore, Ed Aspelmeyer, and Claire Bishop were in attendance.

· Bert Lee, son of Roy Lee, started his active duty on the same ship as the Sullivan brothers of Waterloo who were all killed at the same time. George, Francis, Joseph, Albert, and Madison gave the ultimate sacrifice.

· The first New London girl entered the service on Jan. 28, 1943. Betty Conrad joined the army nurse corps at Ft. Riley, Kansas.

· Titled “On the Job Despite Handicaps,” this article highlighted people who were blind, deaf, or mute who were doing their part to contribute to the war effort at the Ordinance plant. They are pictured inspecting ammunition.

· Even a world war did not dim the birth of twins. Gary Deane (4 lbs. 15 0z.) and Jay Gene (5 lbs. 1 oz.) were born to Mr. and Mrs. Forrest (Jim) Joy Jr.

· Yoma McKinnon received word from her sister-in-law, Mrs. Hollis Norton, that her brother, Captain Norton, had been captured as a Japanese POW when the Philippines were taken.

· In the midst of constant war news, there was a school board election. Elected were Wm. Obermeier (98), Oran Toft (93), and Willis Hanks (141).

· Mr. and Mrs. Sumner Shores celebrated Bobby’s first birthday with a family dinner. Both sets of grandparents were in attendance.

· O. T. Maginis opened a used furniture store in the F.W. Walter building on Main Street.

· Elvin R. Dickey, Camp Roberts, California, scored 192 out of a possible 200 points with a machine gun adding another medal to his collection.

· This week at the Alamo: “This Is the Army” starring the men of the armed forces and “The Dancing Masters” starring Margaret Dumont.

· Mrs. Ralph Eckles and daughter Dorothy left New London to attend graduation exercises in Texas for Wayne Eckles who will graduate as a pilot. Later, Wayne, who graduated in 1935 from NLHS, was piloting a mission. He was killed along with a crew of six in a routine flight of his B-24 Liberator bomber on Jan, 22, 1944.

· First Lt. Wayne Ritchey died on May 10, 1944. He was the navigator of a B-24 Liberator bomber. He and the crew were shot down over Austria.

· These two men, both named Wayne, were buried at Burge after giving their last full measure …

· James D. Marshall, who recently enlisted in the navy is stationed at Farragut, Idaho naval training station.

· President Roosevelt appointed Wilbur Flam postmaster and his name went to the senate for confirmation.

· CORP Byron Miller arrived from Alaska last week for a three week’s visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ora Miller.

· Donald J. Bell went with a group to Des Moines to join the army. He is the first Henry County attorney to enter the service.

· Second Lt. Harold F. Dumse was missing in action in the European area since Jan. 11, 1944. He was a POW and was eventually released, Dumse was a NLHS graduate in the class of 1933. He died in 1996.

As one can see, the life of New London had many facets in 1943-1944. Always waiting for the other shoe to drop, most New Londoners handled their loved ones being put in harm’s way with great stoic pride. These were people that wouldn’t hesitate to leave behind all they loved to protect the country they loved.

I knew several of the people written about, some quite well. Little did I know that they and their families were the real heroes among us …