part0013

THE news of the damages and loss of life at Pearl Harbor hit Bert like a sucker-punch in the gut. Twenty vessels, eight battleships, and over three hundred airplanes were destroyed. But, worst of all, over two thousand souls were lost, and over a thousand injured. A residential area eight miles from the Harbor was bombed, and civilians were killed. Everywhere Bert went people had a heartsick look on their face.

Even though many people had suspected America would become involved in the war, no one expected such an attack. The shock and horror of it was felt by all. By the next day, December 8, people were listening to the radio waiting to hear the President make it official. Americans had moved past the shock and into the determination to strike back .

Finally, the President came on the air. In his speech, he declared the previous date a day that “would live in infamy.” Within an hour of his statement to the American people, Congress officially declared war.

Bert was at the newspaper, which was back to the frantic pace of its glory years before radio. There was news to spread, information to share, and opinions to be given. Bert’s fingers were bouncing off the typewriter keys. His coffee mug sat on a page of notes, having spilled down the side and stained the paper with a russet colored circle. He was so busy putting his thoughts to paper that he had let his coffee cool, and failed to notice his phone ringing.

“Bert!” Donna, one of the secretaries was running towards his desk. “Bert!”

He glanced up and noticed she was attempting to get his attention.

“Bert, your wife’s friend Margaret called. You need to go home.”

“Home?” He said as went back to typing. “Why do I need to go home, Donna?”

“To be with your wife…”

“Your baby’s arrived, Bert! She’s here!”

Bert looked at Donna as if he had no idea what she was talking about.

“Baby? Here?” He asked .

“Not here at the office,” she said with exasperation. “Just get yourself home to your wife and kids!”

“Kids?! The baby came!” Bert exclaimed, having just made sense of what Donna had told him. He picked up the phone and dialed home, and let Doris know he would home as soon as he finished. Forty-five minutes later, he drove home and met his newborn daughter, Dorothy.

Army and Marine recruitment centers, located in downtown, were swamped with young men enlisting. Lines of wool-coat clad men went out the door and down the sidewalk. Even when the weather was cold and rainy, they came from their family farms and neighboring towns, and proudly stood in line to be admitted to serve.

Fred, being just twenty-three years of age and physically fit, was one of those men. Once inside the center, he answered questions and filled out paperwork. His answers must have been acceptable because they sent him to the back to be checked-out by the doctor. He took off his shirt and trousers and socks and shoes as the nurse had asked before she left the room. A minute later, the doctor entered.

“Deep breaths,” he ordered as he placed the cold stethoscope on Fred’s back, causing him to jump .

“Stand up and walk for me.”

Fred did as he was asked.

“Stop there,” the doctor said as he grabbed the chart and pen from the table, and wrote something down. “Sorry, son.”

“You can’t be serious,” Fred said, giving the doctor a look of skepticism.

“Serious as I can be. Flat feet are a deformity. You will be prone to pain and injury that could prevent you from fulfilling your duties.”

The doctor left the room without another word.

Bert ran into the office. He had only spent yesterday afternoon with his new baby girl, and came into work early this morning. McNeil couldn’t be mad about that.

“Bert, this is Sergeant Copeland. He’s with the Army.”

The men shook hands but remained standing rather than making themselves comfortable in the chairs by McNeil’s desk. McNeil, however, sat down .

“The sergeant here is lookin’ for reporters to travel with the men overseas and report the goings on. He specifically asked for you, Bert, but I told him you’ve got a new baby, just arrived yesterday-”

“I’ll go.” Bert interrupted.

McNeil sat silent in shock.

“We’d appreciate your service, Mr. Vincent,” said Sergeant Copeland in a booming and authoritative voice. “We need men who can handle themselves in military situations, and also have journalistic skills. You’re young and I’ve personally read your work. It’s quite good. I think you’re a good man for the job.”

“You don’t have to talk me into it. I’m ready,” Bert replied.

“Now, Bert,” McNeil interjected and purposely slowed the flow of conversation, “you need to think about this. And, I might add, you need to talk to Doris about this. You got nothin’ to prove. Takin’ care of your family is admirable.”

“It’s the right thing to do. I need to do this.”

McNeil nodded his understanding. Bert arranged to meet with the sergeant the next day. He tried to return to his work, but McNeil wouldn’t have it. If he was going to join the Army and go overseas, then he was to leave work early and spend the day with his wife and children.

Bert held Dorothy in his arms while Amos sat next to him, leaning on his shoulder. Doris sat in his big, comfy leather chair, holding back tears and holding her tongue. She wanted to confront him. She wanted to yell at him and tell him how wrong it was, how foolish, how unreasonable. Her tears fell in spite of her resistance, and dabbed at them with her handkerchief.

“Amos, son, why don’t you get your momma a glass of water.”

He walked to the kitchen and used the step stool to reach a glass. Bert kissed Dorothy’s forehead, and laid her in her bassinet. Doris watched his tenderness with his baby girl, and the thought occurred to her that maybe Bert wasn’t being selfish at all. It wasn’t that he wanted to go to war for his own sake. He wanted to go to defend her, defend their children and to defend their way of life. In his own way, he would be an integral part of the war; reporting battles and events for the families at home.

Still, she didn’t want him to leave. Doris broke down in sobs. Without saying a word, Bert sat on the arm of the chair and wrapped her in his arms.

“Here ya go, Mother,” said Amos, offering the glass of water.

She took it and thanked him. Amos stood beside the chair and leaned in to join their hug.

Fred and Margaret were home preparing some gifts for Bert and Doris before Bert left with the Army men the next day. Freddy came running in the front door from playing outside.

“Der’s men here! I need apple!” He yelled while running into the kitchen and grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl on the table.

“Young man, you didn’t ask!”

“Sorry, Momma. May I?”

“Yes, you may. Now get back outside so the grown-ups can talk in peace.”

Fred had greeted the men and let them inside.

“Bro. Fred,” began Billy Summers, the head of the deacon board, “Pastor Russell has resigned the church to serve as a chaplain in the military.”

“He’s a good man. Those boys over there will need him.”

Fred felt a lump in his throat as he thought of his own rejection from the army.

“The deacons held a vote this morning, and we want you to take over as Pastor affective tomorrow. Pastor Russell will preach a farewell sermon in the morning. You’ll need to be prepared for next Sunday should you agree.”

Fred, a bit stunned, looked at Margaret who, knowing what he was thinking, nodded in agreement.

“This is why you were turned away for flat feet. Because God needed you here,” Margaret hugged him tight and he kissed her forehead.

“I have no doubt. This is what I’m meant to do.”

Bert was gathering his things and packing a bag. He was simultaneously excited for the opportunity, nervous about being in combat zones, and sad to be leaving his family. Every possible emotion seemed to be running its course through his body, and he thought for a moment he might lose it altogether. A quick whispered prayer steadied his nerves and calmed his mind, and he was able to finish packing.

“We have something for you,” Amos was standing beside him with a present, wrapped and topped with a bow.

Bert tore off the paper and opened the box. Inside he found a deck of cards, three cigars, and a picture of Doris and the children that was the perfect size to fit inside his cigar case.

“This is perfect. I couldn’t ask for a present than this.” He gave Amos a big hug and tussled his hair for good measure.

Doris brought Dorothy into the room and placed her in Bert’s arms. He spoke to her gently, kissed her soft chubby cheek, and held her close to take in that sweet baby smell .

Doris picked up the picture she had given Bert. She was wearing a white dress with a small red floral print. Amos was in his navy blue Sunday suit, and Dorothy was in a pale blue frocked gown. She had the picture taken just for Bert, and purposely had the American flag in the background. She wanted him to not just think of them when he looked at this picture, but to also be reminded that they were proud of him, and respected his decision. She tucked the picture into his cigar case, and laid it in his bag with his deck of cards from Amos.

Bert sat on the edge of the bed and asked Doris to sit beside him.

“There are some things I want to go over with you. First of all, I finalized arrangements with your parents. Thankfully, your father’s retirement has come at a good time, and they can move here in two weeks. Fred and his crew will be here day after tomorrow to start the room addition. He says they can get it done in time.”

Doris nodded and sniffed, and a few tears streamed down her cheeks.

“What did Doc say about the clinic?’

“He’s thrilled to have me help a few days a week once mother is here and able to watch the children. I admit, it will feel good to be part of the effort. Helping in the way I was trained.”

“I’m sure it will.” He held her hand, and looked deep into her eyes .

“I love you. You’re a strong, capable woman. You can handle this.”

She nodded again and more tears fell.

“Also, I want you to fill up the car with gas and the gas cans tomorrow. And go ahead and buy all the supplies you can for cooking and cleaning. It’s best to be prepared.”

“I’ll help,” offered Amos.

“I know you will, son. You listen to your mother, and help around the house.”

Amos was fighting back tears. Bert pulled him close and gave him another hug.

“Time to load up and get to the train station.”

A sizeable crowd of women and children were assembled on the platform near the train. Men who had already boarded were hanging out the train windows talking to loved ones. One young woman had stacked some of the luggage waiting to be taken by train attendants, and stood on them to reach her beau’s window and give him one last kiss. The train whistle blew, and the call for “all aboard” was given.

Doris was pushing the baby carriage with Dorothy, and Amos was holding on to Bert’s hand while they navigated through the crowd. They pressed their way through, and Bert turned for quick good-byes before running up to the train and jumping on the first step. He turned again to wave just as the train began to move.

Doris and Amos stood there and watched the train as it left the station. They stayed until the caboose pulled past and was down the line almost out of sight. The crowd had thinned, but they remained.

“Momma, shouldn’t we go now? Everyone else is leaving.”

“Yes, Son, I suppose we should,” she replied, wiping her tears away.

Amos held up a dollar, handing it to his mother.

“Where did you get this?”

“I am under strict orders to give you the dollar and convince you to go get ice cream cones,” Amos replied in a serious tone, having obviously memorized the little speech as his father had coached him.

“Your father!” Doris said with a laugh. “Alright. Ice cream it is! Let’s go.”

Bert sat on the train surrounded by younger men talking of “getting’ back at the Japs,” and how they would miss their mama’s cooking. He pulled his cigar case from his pocket and paused to look at the picture of his little family. His heart ached. He took a cigar out and lit it, then closed his eyes and leaned back against the seat. Thoughts of Doris caring for injured soldiers, Amos playing soldiers with his friends, and little Dorothy growing up filled his mind.

The train swayed side to side as it picked up speed. The men began to settle down and games of cards were begun. It would be a few hours before they reached their destination. Bert stared out the window at the scenery speedily passing by. Everything was changing, life was moving at a fast pace just like the train. He took a deep breath and whispered a prayer, asking for strength and wisdom and protection for all the men he had joined on this journey. They had a long road ahead of them.