I remember 1951 suddenly we heard that Pearl Harbor - oh 1941

It's ok

Oh that's great - great start. Pearl Harbor had been attacked and there was dreadful fear throughout the country suddenly because this was something new for us. We were usually the ones who were - I can't say that- the aggressor. This time we weren't - there were others that did not like us and it was an awful mess. The, the harbor was full of bodies I can remember seeing the movies of it. Um, two of the big ships were ablaze and um the papers were full of it that it was frightening for the whole country. Then it began to settle down and we realized we had to be strong and take the offensive, which we did. The life at home was very difficult. We had um, first of all there was the draft and that was frightening for so many, young men who are ready and able or the age, the draft age. As a matter of fact my husband was drafted.

Was he?

Yes, and um, and they were, they were. I had two little boys, five and three I think, and I was frightened by that because I thought, how can I go along alone, without his help. Well he was drafted and went to Florida for training. He never had to go out and fight. He was a very intelligent… naturally.

Of course

And um, so he was used in a different capacity so that he was near home all the time.

Oh good

I was very fortunate but he felt that he wasn’t doing his duty. You better turn that off someone needs to talk to me. 

(Turn off tape so orderly can speak with Dorothy.)

Life was very unpleasant in many ways at home because we had, we could go to my room but the hairdresser is here and she comes once a week - very necessary. I lost my train of thought. Life became very different. There was shortage of sugar, butter, and meat. They were rationed which meant we were issued cards, ration cards. One card for so much butter, etc. Times were posted when we could go in stores that would be able to serve us. It was um, we served in our ways but it was nothing like the soldiers.

How did Worcester change when the war started?

It became nicer. More caring. It used to be, Worcester used to be a very, snotty. It had been run by really one family for a long time. Wealthy people and they had a hand in about everything. They were all nice people but they kept the things right in their hands. Gradually Worcester became, what do I want, for everyone, what is the word, plebeian? Maybe you can supply the word. It was um, people cared about each other a lot more. Sometimes bad things make good things. 

Makes people come together.

Yeah, and um let's see. I was um, you're turning it off when I think I hope. I don’t want to waste your tape.

(Turn tape off for a moment so Dorothy can collect her thoughts)

I worked at Memorial Hospital. I'm a physical therapist. I had um, at that time I was director of a clinic for cerebral palsy children, preschool kids and I really loved it and we still helped some of the vets. I meet some of them on the street. They have no control. There's one young man, he's married and have three children- all normal, no cp. I see him on the street and he gets all excited and can't control it. It's so good to see him. He has a good position, he's a good father and he still shows the cerebral palsy. Do you know the reason for it? That's it’s an injury to the motor center. Sometimes its injury or illness. It can be either one. 

Did you work during the war? You worked at Memorial Hospital during the war?

Yes I did. The change there was, there was um, the feeling all the time. Who knows what's going to happen? It was, it really was a frightening situation - the whole thing. Any time there is aggression against you, you worry. What's going to happen to your children? What's going to happen? Well, God was good to us. We did survive. All though there was fear of bombing it never happened.

Do you remember the air raid drills? The air raid drills?

Oh yes, a horrible noise it is. The air raid, we had. I'm sorry

That's ok, take your time.

We had drills because we didn’t know if we were going to be bombed or not. And, we never knew when there was going to be one and suddenly there was this sound. (Imitates sound) It was awful, just an awful sound that terrified me. Maybe they're going to bomb us right now! Never, happened thank God but the fear never really left you. You never knew if it was real or not. I'm sorry.

That's ok.

I wish that was a strawberry shake (referring to her water). Now let's see what else. Have you any questions you want to offer?

Did you, in your community in Worcester, did you center around a Church or a community center during the war?

Um, was there a difference in the way people acted and felt about each other. Yeah, everyone cared about someone else and most of us had families and you were terrified. The children were excited - they thought it was wonderful. I remember my two little boys - "Guess what mother we had an air raid." "What happened?" "Big noise, a big noise. The air raid siren. The teacher got us all together and put us in the um, the community room and she read a story to us and we sang songs and then they said it was all right. Everything was ok and everyone went back to their room." It was a good - it didn’t hurt them a bit. They were frightened at first but then they realized that things were going to be all right. They trusted elders, older people. Kids are wonderful, they are.

Do you remember what it was like the day the war ended, when you found out the war had ended in Worcester. 

There was hilarity, happiness, and some people were exhausted from worry. Yes I do remember that day. I can't remember the date and that's important. Well, its old age. Empty head. All right, where am I? For days and months the kids talked about it - the war and other things that happened and didn’t happened. It was a lesson for them. They realized that the older people would protect them if anything happened and the aggressors were not good people. They're bad. In one thing that it was very hard I thought because we have a lot of Orientals who lived here and they were, some of them were put in camps and I thought it was dreadful because they knew those people weren't going to do anything. It was, um a gesture against the country - Japan. I thought it was too bad. They were good citizens and they suffered. After it was over, gradually people realized that they were just individuals and they had nothing to do with it so, um, attitudes towards them changed, thank goodness. I remember, they were, there was a family that lived. I lived near Maine on a very short private street. It was private and we a few people around it. I can remember the relief when the war was over. You didn’t have keep looking in the sky and listening for the air raids. Oh my. Life became quieter and settled down to normalcy. Any questions?

I was wondering if you remember all of the war production that Worcester took place in, like in the factories, like the making of guns and other things that would be used for war?

Unfortunately I was never able to get in. Everything was very closed. You were not allowed to go in and I remember I was, um, I had a, where I wanted to know something, how something was made. I was not able to find out because factories would not allow any of us to go in. I don’t think I ever did find out, which was unfortunate. Busy day? 

Is there anything else you can remember about the war, like when the soldiers came back from war - what was that like?

The men that were in it. There was a family near me and they had a son who had been in the, in the um fighting. He was not wounded but emotionally he was a mess, he really was. He was a fine intelligent young man and apparently because he was so intelligent it effected him more than somebody who didn’t care as much. He never got to live normally. He never married. He was what, I would say, he had been wrecked by the whole situation. That was only one, I am sure there are others and then there are others that are very strong. Oh I had a um cousin who went to a, he became lieutenant….

You were talking about some of the soldiers who came home after the war, your cousin.

There were two families. One of them, both of them, had sons who went and one came home. No, sorry, excuse me. Most of these aids are from Kenya. They talk Swahili. Have you heard the um language, it’s a lot of K sounds. One young man, he finally had to be hospitalized. He was a mess, a real mess. It was such a shame, it really was. Is that enough on that? You want more? Have you other questions?

Um no, I think that's it. Unless you have anything else you want to share with me?

Did you get a good picture?

I do. 

Are you sure? You're not patting me on the back?

Stop it was wonderful.

I was very glad to do it. I hope I have given you enough. It was a very frightening thing. 

If I have any other questions can I come back?

Of course!