Interesting Saturday In The River City

so lucky

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This week in Cape Girardeau, we had a B-17 bomber, the Sentimental Journey, at the airport, for tours, and even rides, if you wanted to fork over 4 to 6 hundred $$. But you could look for free. Many well educated volunteers on hand to explain the various gun areas, fuel consumption, survival rate, etc.

At the same time, on the river front, there was a WWII tank transport ship, called USS LST 325. She was at Normandy, bringing tanks, jeeps and other necessary stuff to the beach, right after the day of the invasion. We toured the ship, and I met the co-pilot. The ship is still in service, and has been almost constantly since it was built. Since she can pull up right to the beach, many uses for this ship have been found in the past 70 or so years.
Looking at the tiny crowded bunks where soldiers slept, and the narrow metal (slippery) steps they had to use made me think about the everyday hardships those men endured, even under non-combat times. I imagined how hot it must have been in the summer.
There was a great turnout for both exhibits, and I was thrilled to see how many young people listened to the information. And of course us old folks remembered our dads mentioning their war experiences....
 

digitS'

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And, Moms!

My mother may have helped build that B-17. Yes, she was a Rosie the Riveter -- except she built wiring harnesses.

In Long Beach ... before she had any children. Dad was in the South Pacific. So were 3 of her brothers. Two of Dad's brothers were in Europe.

Most everyone in the U.S. was involved. Tax rate for the top income bracket was 94%, lowest income bracket was 23%. Just looking at that ...

Steve
 
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so lucky

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As was my mom.
She worked in St Louis in a munitions factory. She worked the 2nd shift, and had to ride the city bus home at midnight. She used to tell of a time she was followed by a frightening (to her) man. At the next stop, she went up to a strange man in uniform and tucked her arm in his and said "There you are! I was looking for you!" as if they were a couple. Of course, the guy who was following her left immediately.
I wonder how our generation and our children's would fare under the same trying times. I pray we don't have to find out.
 

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