On Saturday, February 28, 1942, the heavy cruiser USS Houston (above) and the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth came under attack by Japanese forces during the Battle of Sunda Strait. The Houston lost 693 men, and the Perth lost 353.
Battle Of The Java Sea
Birth Of The Air Defense Command
On Monday, February 26, 1940, the United States Air Defense Command was created. It was inactivated in 1944, when the threat of air attack seemed negligible. It was reestablished as a major command in 1951, and I did some computer programming work for it in the early 1960s. It was redesignated the Aerospace Defense Command in 1968, and divided into the Tactical Air Command and the Strategic Air Command in 1980.
Dale Drives Home
On Tuesday, February 25, 1958, after attending Pearl Gardner’s funeral (see yesterday’s blog), Dale wrote, “I drove to Minneapolis from Osceola in 6 hours. Had Stan’s car washed at a Richfield car wash. High was 57°. Beautiful day for driving, south wind. Helen and I went to the library after supper. Stan went to class at the U at night.” That was a 300-mile drive.
Dale Drives Stan’s Chevy
In Osceola from Minneapolis on Monday, February 24, 1958, on his way to Pearl Gardner’s funeral, Dale wrote, “Lloyd, Marie, and I drove Stan’s Chevy to Milo for Uncle Pearl’s funeral. Nice day, high 52°. Mother and I went to the cemetery at sunset to see the flowers on Uncle Pearl’s grave.” Pearl Gardner was a second cousin of Dale’s. Lloyd and Marie were Dale’s siblings. My Chevy was a 1957 model similar to the above – I wish I had kept it.
WW II Early Days
Dale Gets Holiday Time
Putting On Chains
Moving Bill And Leona
A Delicious Dinner
In Minneapolis on Sunday, February 19, 1967, Dale wrote, “Light snow again. I shoveled five inches of new snow off the driveway and sidewalks. Watched basketball in the afternoon. To Stan and Judy’s for dinner, delicious.” My first wife Judy was a good cook. In this photo at my house, Judy and I (holding daughter Virginia) and my sister Dalene are in the back row, Helen and Dale are in the middle row, and my sons Christopher, David, and Jeffrey are in the front row.
Jettie Takes The Train
Dalene Goes To Stillwater
Shoveling Out
Keep Watching Port City
In Muscatine on Thursday, February 15, 1951, Dale wrote, “Stan talked on radio station KWPC about Junior High.” I’m sure I could see a light at the end of my eighth grade tunnel. You can listen to KWPC here: http://tunein.com/radio/KWPC-860-s26338/