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The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 10

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The following was written by my late wife Elaine. She wrote a long book, a diary really, from which this is one passage:

Reporting to Japan on the Way to Korea (the Korean War was going on then). Around the time of my graduation and new Art Institute job, Dave was preparing for his tour of duty overseas. After his training at Ft. Belvoir, he received orders to Japan, expecting to go to Korea from there. Again, we had to go through our painful goodbyes, and I remember when Dad shook hands with Dave for the last time, he got emotional, with red, teary eyes, thinking back on his World War I experiences, dreading that Dave would face similar things. Dave told me today (2000, as I write this) that Dad told him something like, “I wouldn’t blame you if you did anything you possibly could to get out of going to the war.” Some bad things happened to Dad in WW I, like mustard gas, shrapnel in his back, great fear and narrow escapes, etc. He didn’t talk much about his experiences to me, but he talked to “the men” about it, including Ron, who has Dad’s World War I scrapbooks.

I have a post card showing the troop ship USNS RL Howze which took Dave overseas. His letters home to me go into detail about this two-week journey. In Japan he received new orders to go to the Philippines, not Korea, and he would be assigned to mapping remote areas of the Philippines for the Army. As seen in many pictures, he was the (tall and white) Surveyor leader, and his men were all (dark and short) Filipinos.
During that stopover in Japan, he picked out a beautiful set of Noritake china, service for 12, an unusual metal jewelry box, inlaid with assorted stones (it’s been on my dresser ever since he gave it to me) and a pair of opal earrings; everything arrived at my Detroit address, packed in wooden crates, in perfect condition. While he was paying for these items in the PX, he ran short of cash by about $15. An Army officer, watching him decide which item to leave behind, paid the $15 difference and said his only thanks would be that Dave would “do that for somebody else someday.” That’s something you don’t forget.

To be continued…

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About the Author: RD Blakeslee is a nonagenarian in West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.

Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family

 

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Comments

  1. 1

    RD Blakeslee says

    The troop ship USNS RL Howze was a converted ocean liner which rolled from side to side some 20 degrees as it travelled, which probably was the reason for its demise carrying civilians (nothing but the best for the troops). You never saw so many seasick people in your life.

    • 2

      Len Penzo says

      Yikes. Those kind of stories give me nightmares, Dave. I get seasick at the drop of a hat. It’s a big reason the Honeybee will never be able to convince me to take a cruise (although there are other reasons too).

      • 3

        RD Blakeslee says

        I won’t ever go on a cruise, Len. Not only because of the Norwalk virus and the like, but I would never live where I do if I wanted to be in a crowd.

        • 4

          Len Penzo says

          Yeah … Norwalk virus is another reason. Cruise ships are floating petrie dishes.

  2. 5

    bill says

    Thank you for sharing Mr. Dave.

    I wonder, what shade of green does Len turn when he’s seasick?

    • 6

      RD Blakeslee says

      You’re welcome, Bill.

  3. 7

    Gee says

    No cruises (or airplane rides) for me, either. If I can’t get there by car, I don’t go.

    Looking forward to the next installment, Dave. My brother (Navy) was stationed in the Phillippines during the VietNam war.

    • 8

      RD Blakeslee says

      Nice to hear from you again, Gee!

      Was your brother stationed at Subic Bay?

      As usual, our proclivities are in sync …

  4. 9

    bill says

    You know, that Sergeant was a man with a heart of gold. He knew what it was like to be away from loved ones. He knew you were early in your marriage too. He extended kindness to someone he didn’t know. He set a great example for all of us.