Great Lakes, Chicago Illinois
In spring of 1944 the Japanese were showing their strength. The Germans were trying to take over Europe and I was entering the fight to help in any way I could.
The training was rugged and challenging at times, but as I look back on those times, the first thing that comes to my mind is the one day of liberty in Chicago. Three of us were in the big city of Chicago with limited change in our pockets and looking for a place to spend it. There was a group that had made a recording that was selling like hot cakes. It was called “Straighten up and Fly Right” and they were performing at a small club within our reach, physically and financially. ha.
We made our way there and as we entered the emcee was saying “Ladies and gentlemen, the King Cole Trio.”
The young fellow singing and playing the piano was none other than Nat King Cole who later became one of the world’s greatest entertainers with his beautiful voice and engaging personality. Nat King Cole. ha ha.
BOOT CAMP? Well, the war had been going on for a couple of years and I was doing my part. I was excited , yet a little apprehensive. I wasn’t surprised to find that the training camps were segregated. Being from Ohio, I was well acquainted with racial separation and some outright segregation. I was sure that this situation in the military would be resolved by the war’s end and would be a number one issue in the country in the post-war days.
Physical protesting was not my nature. I chose to try to lead by example. More power to those who were willing to offer their lives in protest. It takes strong action on all fronts.
Navy boot camp training was interesting, gratifying in some ways, and compelling at times. My college and graduate school training in health and physical education were an advantage. After a few weeks, I was assisting in some of the training procedures, and at the same time getting a good workout myself. ha.
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