From Susan Malaterre Johnson (69):
Note: Susan lives in Alvarado, TX
Hi ‘Ya all. Dale pretty much described our last few weeks. I’m a vol. driver with the Red Cross, the only female in the transportation div. Even as far north as Ft. Worth, we had some squalls. I’m the driver in charge of setting up the shelters. That would not be so bad but with out the extra volunteers we have to load and un load our trucks. I was lucky for a few times when I was given an asst. that was a young guy. He could help. So many times I had an elderly person or a lady who could not help unload. I do not expect to have a lot of shelters close soon. The children are already thinking of enrolling up here. When I was recruited I expected to help with the office, as the ladies were. They needed drivers, and what do you know. That’s me! 3 of us could handle a big truck and two of them were guys. I feel very honored. The work is hard but so rewarding. Susan Johnson
Request from Dave Wurgler (64):
To whom it may concern: This e-mail is asking you not to send any e-mails to my address starting Sept. 18th to Oct. 7th as Char and I will be leaving for California on our long awaited vacation. Thanks, Dave and Char. (RE GARY STOKES) Gary I enjoy very much reading all the e-mails from your blog, very interesting and maybe one of these days I can put in some input. Maybe you should pressure some of the class of “64″ for input then maybe we could get some history of our class going on this site. If you want to hold the e-mails until the 7th of Oct and then send if you can that would be fine. Thanks Gary. Dave “64″
Email address change from Bill Gimme (65):
Sorry for the inconvenience, but, can you please change my email address in your address books to Thanks.
Bill
From Shirley Olson Warcup:
Gary,
Thanks for the e-mails! I look forward to them every day. Reading Bobby Slyter’s account about the officer accompanying the body of a soldier killed in Iraq is an experience one of our grandsons had many times. Chris served in the Marines for 4 years–he was a member of a color guard unit that served at Arlington . He was also the flag bearer at Pres. Reagan’s funeral–again as part of the color guard unit. He said he also met many planes returning from Iraq with the bodies of soldiers killed there. He would then accompany the body to its final destination.
It was a very sad and sobering experience. As more men were needed in the middle east, his unit went through some additional training and were then sent over there. They were housed on a ship in the Mediterranean. They were designated as a Rapid response team (there’s another name for this but I can’t remember it). Wherever fighting broke out-Africa, Iraq etc. they would be sent there. They helped to evacuate civilians from some areas but were not involved in any actual combat. He’s now back in the states–he’s an engineering student at the Univ. of Utah—he is married and has two children. We just spent a week in Provo, Utah–5 of our 10 grandchildren are presently students at BYU, Chris (ex-marine) is taking classes as U of U but lives in Provo–his wife is finishing her degree there. Two of the 5 graduated but are working on Masters degrees there. The others are undergrads. Three of our 10 graduated from BYU a few years ago–one of them is still in school, however. He’s now in dental school in Ohio. And we still have one who is in junior high school. That’s probably more than you wanted/needed to know!!
Right now Ron is getting his old cars (1929 Phaeton, 1929 cloth top pickup) ready for another parade. They want to use the Phaeton, with the top down, to carry the dignitaries. Ron will drive that car–he wants me to drive the pick-up. We’re going to go out and practice but I’m doing this under protest. These are primarily North Dakota cars–Dick located the old cars and then various parts as needed–Ron has had a great time rebuilding them. I’m sure he would like to start another one but at 80 years old I think he may have decided it’s not a good idea.
Ivins , Utah is right next door to St. George–if any of you come through on I-15 we’d love to see you. We’re in the phone book. About a year ago Clifford and Joy Johnson stopped–we had a great visit with them.
Once again, Gary, thanks for all the time you spend keeping us connected.
Shirley Olson Warcup
Sybil Johnson’s Reply to Bobby Slyter (70):
Bobby, I have been wearing red on Fridays for the past 2 yrs, since a friend
of mine in Minot sent me an email, to do so. It would be nice to see all of
this wonderful country, to do the same thing.
Gary, I enjoyed the predictions. They were fun to read. I remember some of
them, from being married to Augie. Its been quite awhile, since Ive been to
Dunsieth and cant believe the changes that you mentioned. I remember Dale’s
very much.
Sybil Johnson
From Dick Johnson (68):
Gary and Friends,
Another story that Carroll Carlson told me was about how they spent time
between battles. He said they usually fired their 105 mm guns from a
long way behind the actual front line. They would line up several
tracked howitzers ( Priests ) and fire over the infantry into the German
lines. Then they would advance and line up again for their next orders
to fire. He said sometimes they waited for quite a while before they got
orders to fire again. They spent time playing cards and telling stories
and goofing off to pass the time. The commander of their outfit told
them to stay behind the guns for protection, but one day it was cold and
dark behind the ‘Priest’ and the sun was warm out in front, so they were
sitting in front of the gun, in the sun and out of the cold wind,
playing cards. Carroll said out of nowhere came a German 88mm explosive
shell and landed right beside them–and didn’t explode, just blew sand
and dirt on them! He said they never sat in front of the gun again,
ever!! The German 88mm was able to shoot clear through our Sherman tanks
and had the shell exploded, they would all have died instantly!
Carroll’s unit was in North Africa at the same time the unit that
Clarence Hagan was assigned to, was there. Carroll’s outfit had to pull
off the road so the Clarence’s group could pass. Neither of them knew
the other was there–they graduated together from DHS in 1934, and were
within 10 feet of each other, several thousand miles from home–and
didn’t know it! I don’t remember which one figured it out–I think it
was Clarence–and was given permission to go back, but Carroll was
already gone! I know Art Hagan, Clarence’s son, gets these messages each
day so maybe he can find out exactly who did what and let us know.
Thanks Gary!
Dick
Dick, Speaking of Clarence Hagen, I should know in a week or so, after I’m finished putting the 30′s classes together, But I think Clarence may be the oldest living to have graduated from Dunseith High School. Clarence will be 94 in October or November this year. He was born in 1914, one year ahead of my dad. He and Mary Ann are currently living in Bottineau. Gary
(Part 10 CARROLL CARLSON’S TRAVELING YEARS, BY VICKIE METCALFE (70):
WAR ENDS AND MAN GETS DAY OFF
When the war ended, Carroll’s Battalion was in Czechoslovakia. “The Czechs were very happy! The people were in the streets dancing in colorful costumes.”
The Battalion found a the Pilson brewery. Carroll’s Unit drove up to the brewery and left the Howitzer there and spent the day , drinking beer! (The beer was a light beer as it could not be made stronger at the time.)
That evening, in September 1945, the men left the brewery. Leaving the big gun behind, still parked by the brewery, the men boarded a train. Carroll says, “I spent three years on, M-7 105 mm self propelled Howitzer.” “I rode about 5,000 miles on one of these”, “It was my home away from home.” “On the train, the men were riding in boxcars, 40:8, Carroll with a laugh defines 40:8 as, “There was room for about forty men or eight mules.” “The boxcars were cold and not comfortable. It had probably seen better days prior WWI . ” The train traveled across Europe to the coast of France. The train arrived in LeHavre, France the next day about 10:30 a.m. The men waited for a ship for about a week, and boarded the first of October in 1945.
Carroll’s Traveling Years will Continue with part 11 tomorrow: