Glad you are back, Sonny! There are a lot of vivid memories for us. Jeanie became ten and I became eight in 1940. President Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor message was so etched into our minds. My brother, George, four and a half years younger, probably only remembers the post war years. The five additional Kegley kids born after George remember lilltle of the 40's although Jim and Mary Lou were born in the late decade. Dad (Forest E.) and mom (Mary eleanor),Ted, who was a heroic medic in Europe, Joan, Forest, Jr. (Bud) and Mary Lou are now deceased. Bud and I were non-combat veterans of cold war and Korean draft vintage.
That is why we older ones tend to the conservative side of today's politics. The USA had become a sleeping giant in regards to preparation for war. Our factories were certainly not in full production all over the country, but they quickly became active and women were making guns and goods for the active service people. Rationing for civilians occurred so as to support our troops overseas. Rubber was difficult to get from Indonesia, tin was tough to acquire to plate steel cans for food, etc.
I tutor young people today at Columbus State Community College. The ones I tutor, many are immigrants, have poor preparation from their earlier experiences, but most are eager to make the grades in a subject they dread in a large way. I am impressed that they too could rise to become proud of this country God has blessed above all others. The war and post war years of the forties and fifties had so much patriotism among us, anti Americanism was just not to be tolerated.
Tolerance and freedom were won through that war's efforts by Americans, but many subsequent wars have been more politically incited in my estimation. We would NOT have tolerated so many indignant foreigners during and immediately after that war.
I am so happy my sons avoided a draft, although lotteries were not as fair as the actual draft involving all able-bodied men. Women entered service later and have become so important in America's defense.
Ah, friend, you have brought a melancholy strand of thought. Brother George will love best the 1946 Hudson in the video. We had one about 1950. New cars were not becoming available so soon after the war. Dad loved the Hudson cars!
Thanks Mr. Hoskins!
Sam Kegley
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