Remembering Pearl Harbor, and news from the front line
Sunday, December 7, 1941. “… day that will live infamy” declared US President Franklin D. Roosevelt the day following . Tuesday will mark the 80th anniversary of the that day is often referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day and is remembered each year for the 2,403 American who were killed in the surprise Japanese attack on the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and led to the United States declaring war on Japan the next day and projecting the country into World War II.
Headlines in the Julesburg Advocate dated December 11, 1941 read “War Against Japan Felt in Julesburg with Scores of Boys in Armed Forces, Some of Them at Post in Battle Zone. ” The story goes on to tell us that Julesburg, all communities of Sedgwick County and probably every little hamlet of the nation is affected intimately by the outbreak of war in the Pacific. ” Undoubtedly local families, parents and relatives worried with fear for their enlisted loved ones. The following are excerpts of news reports and letters written home during the weeks that followed and were published within the Grit Julesburg Advocate and the Ovid Record in 1941.
Don’t worry about me
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself,” Private Chris William Dracon told his parents in a letter home who lived in Julesburg. Dracon was in the air corps and was in the thick of the Pacific War at the time he wrote home. His letter was received by the elder Dracons on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. As he wrote he was expecting orders at any time transferring him to an undisclosed destination. “I can’t tell you anything that goes on here,” he told them in his letter.
Under the baptism of fire
A cablegram from Honolulu brought comfort to Mr. and Mrs. J.V. Twomey of Julesburg when they learned that their son Pvt. James Twomey of the U.S. coast guard had safely undergone his baptism of fire. The cable from Pvt.. James Twomey of Julesburg who was stationed at one of the camps which was seriously bombed during the attack. The cable included holiday wishes to his parents, “Am okay. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Will write when can.”
Parents await news of son
Loren Miller, 20, pharmacist’s mate second class, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Miller of Julesburg is somewhere in the Pacific battle zone according to latest word his parents had received. The youth was last home on leave in September. Immediately upon his arrival back in San Diego, Calif, he was ordered aboard ship on the cruiser U.S.S. Salt Lake City and left soon after for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the site of the horrific bombing. His parents have not heard from their son since Nov. 15
Boy, was I ever surprised…
“At last we are in it and it is a fight to the finish,” wrote William A. Deist, seaman guard, U.S. navy to his mother, Mrs. Bessie Deist of Julesburg who is employed at Community hospital in a letter received here this week. “I am here and ready, I don’t have to wait now to be trained like I would have to if I had waited for the army. As I see it we are all better off than we think we are,” Deist’s letter stated.
The youth left Julesburg last Aug.15 for his naval training. Recently he said he had seen Denny Donnelly, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Donnelly of south Julesburg. “Boy, was I ever surprised when he walked up behind me and slapped me on the back,” Young Donnelly, Deist’s letter stated, is stationed at the destroyer base, San Diego.
He was stationed aboard the battleship Arizona
Service to Asiatic waters is nothing new to Keith Alexander, son of the late county treasurer, Frank Alexander and Mrs. Alexander, and at the present time the former Sedgwick County youth is in the thick of it, stationed aboard a submarine the Canopus, somewhere in the Pacific. During his first four years he was stationed aboard the battleship Arizona which was among those reported sunk by Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox after the first attack at Pearl Harbor. The last message his relatives here had from young Alexander was relayed from San Francisco last October. At that time it did not give his location and where he is at the present time is, of course, undisclosed.
Johnny Zeiler among “missing”
The headline read, “Johnny Zeiler Among “Missing” –The tragedy of war struck near home when it was learned this week that a Holyoke youth, prominent in athletics during school days at Holyoke and therefore well known in Julesburg, was “missing” after the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor. The family was notified by a telegram from Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, chief of the bureau of navigation, Washington , D.C. and was as follows: “The navy department deeply regrets to inform you that your son John Virgil Zeiler, seaman first class, U.S. navy is missing following action action in the service of his country. The department appreciates your great anxiety and will furnish you further information promptly when received. To prevent possible aid to our enemies please do not divulge the name of his ship or station.”
I was planning on being home for Christmas
“I suppose you are all worried to death about the war, as is everyone else, “wrote Garnett B. Cloud, machinist mate first class, U.S. navy to his mother Mrs. Leona Cloud of Julesburg. “…but don’t worry about me as I am perfectly alright. I don’t know where I shall be and couldn’t say if I did but I shall write whenever I can. I was planning on being home for Christmas but everything broke so fast that any leave now is quite out of the question.
Word received from Hawaii and Philippines
Mrs. Roy Nelson received word from her son Royal Williams, who is stationed in the U.S.S. Argonne, that he was uninjured and that everything was alright.
Mr. and Mrs. James Brown received a postal telegram Sunday evening from their son Harold, who is in the U.S. Army and stationed in the Philippines. The message wished them a Merry Christmas and stated that he was ok.
Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Rundall also received word Sunday from Hawaii but this was from Mrs. Paul Rundall. The contents of the letter are very short. Following is the letter:
Wed., Dec 19
Dear Folks:
Safe. Are eating and sleeping ok. Haven’t seen Paul but get word he is ok. Everything seems pretty well under control. How are you? Send mail to old address. We have evacuated our home but are doing ok. Don’t worry.
Lois, Girls, and Paul
Although welcomed news, the envelope that carried the letter was torn open on one end and re-sealed with scotch tape. The envelope bared markings presumed to have been made by the inspector checking to make sure limited information was released to the family.
We honor the bravery and courage of the men and women who were there and their families that were left behind, and the many other battles in which Americans bravely fought. Americans lost so much during World War II, but they never lost their courage to stand up to those who sought to attack their fellow countrymen or to protect our home.
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