World War II

by Frank M. Roberts

October 2015

It's a sure bet - every newspaper in the U. S. of A. had the same headline on that day -- Dec. 8, 1941. 'WAR DECLARED'. I have one of those periodicals in front of me - the St. Louis Star Times. I don't know where or how I got the paper, but I 're-found' it while rummaging through boxes of 'stuff' from my dear, dead past.

Teevee, of course, was virtually non-existent so, it was up to newspapers and radio stations to pass the news along. When I went to high school, in uptown NYC, it was a 90-minute ride - one way - and I always had a newspaper with me. I read the New York Times when I wanted my fellow subway-ites to think I was one helluva intelligent kid but, usually, I was going through one of the easier to read tabloids - the Daily News or the Daily Mirror.

I've never been to St. Louis (I'd love to see the arch) but I looked through the Star-Times for history and memories. I was 13 at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, never imagining my life would revolve around a major newspaper - the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot.

Getting back to the St. Loo publication of Dec. 8, the sub-headline read, "3,000 casualties in Jap attack on Hawaii." The stories came from the long defunct United Press (the Associated Press was the 'biggie' in those days). Another story noted, "Congress Acts in 33 Minutes. One House member voted 'no'. That was Republican, Jeannette Rankin. Gotta look up that lady one of these days.

An accompanying story was headlined, "Nearly 1,500 Feared Dead." The front page picture showed President Franklin D. Roosevelt in front of the microphone as he declared war on Japan, closing with, "we will triumph -- so help us God." All of that is history. Japan is one of our best pals these days and -- er -- I drive a Nissan.

Smaller stories kept the area reporters busy, finding out about area servicemen who died, or were injured during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Incidentally, I doubt the paper is still in business. The Post-Dispatch is the Missouri city's biggie. I noted earlier that the other outlet for news was radio, and KXOK had an ad headlined, "Japan Has Struck," then made note, of course, that folks can turn to 630 for constant updates.

An inside story noted, "Troops And Police Guarding Vital Defense Plants Here," and showed Pvt. Ray Steekler on guard. The ads, of course, were already in place. One of them noted that Decca Records for children were going at $1.05 for a three record set.

Christmas was en-route so there were plenty of ads about gift buying. A store called Stix, Baer " Fuller had a full page Merry Christmas ad which included a 1942 Philco radio-phonograph for $169.95. Getting away from the ads for a moment, there were several columns about the war, including one by Ralph Ingersoll, who wrote, "I would not be surprised by a German raid on the Atlantic Coast within the month." Sheesh! In the same edition, there was this headline: "Nazis Give Up Efforts To Take Moscow Till Spring." As we know, of course, spring started their downfall. They couldn't handle those Red winters.

Here is something - thankfully - you won't see today, a 3/4 page ad for Chesterfield which included an endorsement by orchestra leader Fred Waring who, years later, I interviewed on KWWL-TV in Waterloo, Iowa. A more interesting ciggie ad came from Phillip Morris admitting that inhaling smoke was bad for your health - but doctors noted that throat irritation was less with their product. Other cigarettes were more irritating - as were the ads.

This was interesting - a picture of about 50 St. Louis men 'answering the call' - only one African-American. Today, thankfully, it's a different story. When I was in basic training in Ft. Dix, N. J., President Truman had erased the color line, and officers and non-coms were instructed to talk about it. My 1st sergeant came up with this: "It takes black and white keys to play, "The Star Spangled Banner." He paused, then said, "they told me to say that."

There was a 'lovelorn' column by a man who advised against divorce. The rest of the paper, like others across the nation, concentrated on movies and comics - films such as Jeantte MacDonald's, "Smilin' Through," Ann Sheridan's, "Navy Blues," and the 'thrill filler chiller' "Swamp Water." A column supplied by MGM included this gem, "some of the boys count Hedy (LaMarr) at night instead of sheep." Can't believe that came from a high-priced writer.

There was a complete listing of radio programs which included many 15-minute slots featuring the great big bands of the day. Next door - the funnies. I remember Moon Mullins, Little Annie Rooney, Red Ryder, Wash Tubbs, Abbie an' Slats and, of course, the ever popular, Dick Tracy.

And, there were those little 'medical' ads. You can get rid of ugly Tetter. Whatinell is Tetter? Another ad promised they would wake up liver bile, another recommended lemon juice to check rheumatic pain quickly, and Dr. C. M. Cob promised he would heal your piles without using a knife. He cured all rectal ailments. That's good 'hiney' news. He would send you a free book -- inaplainwrapper.

Before I sign off, I have to tell you about my favorite headline. Honest! It's on page 15, if you don't believe me. Here 'tis verbatim: "Man Dies Of Auto Injuries Believed Slight." Them's the best kind, I guess.

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In a recent column I wrote about having been dead for about five minutes. It happened while I was about to be discharged from Norfolk General Hospital. The docs said I was ready to go home. Ha! The locale was ideal, I was returned to earth. Anyway, allied with that, I learned that the famed artist, Pablo Picasso was stillborn until his uncle revived him by blowing cigar smoke in his face. I should have been an unhealthy kid. My father was a chain smoker - a cigar chain smoker. Rough, because our apartment was small. MMmm I'd love to have those days again. I had a great childhood.

Expounding a bit. I have three kids, five grandkids, two greats - none of them are interested in city life. Shoot, I lived on the subways but, they were born and raised in the small town of Hertford, N. C. and wanna stay on. Well, as the song said - 'to each his own'.

Speaking of childhood - at the age of six my cousin, Bigbad, was abandoned by an orphanage and raised by wolves. And, speaking of childhood, my nephew doesn't have to learn how to speak. He gets everything he wants by screaming. Oh - you know one of those? Finally, and this is a city story. Man asks, "How old are you, little girl?" She said, "when I'm home, I'm eight, but when I'm on the bus, I'm five." Time to ride outta here.