Roger that.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
My Father was born in 1921, in Paradise, WV - far from Paradise (if you know what I mean). He grew up, went to school through the 9th grade, quit and went to work in the coal mine with my Grandfather to help support the family. In '41 the war broke out and he joined the Navy. A Boswain that piloted the landing craft delivering soldiers to the beaches. One tour down he reinlisted.
Upon his separation from the Navy he completed his education, went to Marshall in Charleston during the day and drove a cab at night. After graduation he became a school teacher for the next 30+ years.
He loved to talk about 'the old days' and would spend hours on end telling about growing up, the war stories and anything else anyone would be interested in listening to. Not once did I hear him say how great it was.
We didn't have much, but we had a LOT more than he did growing up. He signed up for another stint during the war because it was the best job he ever had and worked his butt off nights and summers so none of us would ever have to do what he did. He was the finest man I've ever known.
I have a vintage Clover Brand razor with $2.50 printed on the box. I'm sure he would say that would have been a week's pay in those days. I have my Grandfather's Larkin razor that most of you know was a 'gift' for buying catalog items - and was probably the best razor he owned until at least the late 40's, when Dad sent him something better from the Navy stores - ironic that we're all going back now isn't it?
It's great to never forget 'the old days', but none of us should ever wish to go back. For most people it was a hand to mouth existance and there was nothing 'great' about it.
