Leafing Through The Past

[mgc1961]

A couple of weeks ago I posted the contents of a letter detailing the death of my brother-in-law's uncle during World War II. If you wish, you can reread it at http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9041798.

After my Mother's birthday dinner on Sunday, we decided to catalog the contents of the photo/scrap books Beatrice "Sis" Colvin Klinck kept. Since Steve and Melany are busy with their work, I got started without them. What follows is a somewhat cursory inventory of what I found:


The contents are dated '44 and '45.

The two newspaper clippings announcing the death of Jake are undated. One says he died on 29 February 1944 and the other one says 19 February 1944. According the page on which Sis pasted the clippings, she says the date of death is February 29th.

There's an earnings statement for work at the Springs Cotton Mills. It's dated 23 December 1944. This is possibly for work done during Christmas break from school. The total is $25.26.

There's a hospital letter on Red Cross stationary from a wounded Chester Martin who is the most prominent person in this album next to Jake. There's a copy of a D-Day battle citation for Chester's unit, the 18th infantry regiment that appears to have reached Sis by way of Chester's mother. A short letter from Nelle Martin accompanies the citation. Nelle refers to Chester as Buddy. Chester won the Bronze Star and was wounded later in the year during which time he wrote Sis from the hospital. The Nazi flag was sent to Sis by Chester. Part of the package wrapping is in the album with a insert stating the contents were inspected and approved for removal from Essen, Germany.

Homer Cook is prominent in this album too. He was a P-47 pilot. There are several newspaper clippings regarding his military activity. His aircraft was shot down late in the war but he survived without serious injury and safely returned home.

There's a POW postcard dated 25 October 1944 from Lake Jameson responding to Sis's inquiry about the whereabouts of Jake. He says there are several of Jake's friends there. "I have talked with them and the only thing I can tell you is that Jake is not here." Two of the person's named on the card were member's of Jake's crew (Johnson and Glass). The album also contains a complete list of Jake's crew and their respective home towns.

The final few pages are composed of sympathy postcards from friends after the fate of Jake was finally made known in the local newspaper.

There's a newspaper clipping from 8 May 1945(?) about a car accident that killed a Betty Colvin. She was the 16 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Guy Colvin, Jr. She had sisters Mary and Evelyn as well as two brothers named John and Robert.

There are several invitations to events at which the Erskine Girl's Glee Club sang. Sis sang soprano in the sextet.

There are photos of the following people:

Nancy and David Smith, a young couple in bathing suits standing on a dock.

Aldrich Atkinson

Claus Busch - This guy may actually have been a German immigrant. Before meeting your mother he wrote her a short note telling her to ignore anything she may have heard about him because it was probably propaganda. He's wearing a military uniform in the photo.

A. T. Adams (Allen)

Mina ?

Kitty ?

Lavinia ?

Lila ?

Nancy King

? Dugan

Homer Cook is photographed receiving a Distinguished Flying Cross

William "Billy" Rogers

Gene Morrison - A guy Sis went out with.

What appears to be Trish is written under a couple of photos. No last name.

There are several photos from an Erskine College May Day event at which Sis was one of the maids.

There are a few birthday, Easter, and Valentine Day cards from various people. One birthday card is signed by Grandmother, Jessie, and another name I can't make out.

There are at least two letters from a guy named Fred Singleton that Sis went out with a couple of times, at least.

The wrapping for two packages (one with chocolates) sent to Pfc. Dewey McKeown were returned stamped deceased.

A page with five(5) photos of a B-24 and crew. It's probably Billy Rogers but the names are not written on the photo. The person in the photo who your mother knows, quite possibly Rogers, is referred to as "my bom-bar-dear."

The letter from Johnson giving details of Jake's death is in this album as well as a letter from Sis's Dad to her regarding his death and his devotion to her stating if there is anything he can do to help her all she needs to do is ask.

There are various clippings about the death, wounding, or safe return of several young Chester, SC men who served in the military including Charles Young, Clyde Boy, and William Lindensweig.

[Blue_Tires]

1. kick