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S/S # 384-10-1793
Ancestry
English/Irish/French, My Story
By William E. Sherwood
About December 9, 1993 I was born in Fairview N.D. on May 28th. 1917. My Father was a Farmer and all
around woodsman, Mother was A very loving person, and had 13 offsprings. I sometimes
wonder how she ever managed, with so manyKids. I am the 5th in line of the 13, There
are seven seceased. I have 3 older sisters, and 3 Brothers.
From Fairview N.D> we moved to Montana. That where I started school. I was
about 5 years old then. It was a little country school, wood stove heat, with outdoor Johns.
I had been to the John, I walked in the back door. A younf lad was splitting wood. I was
struck in the head with a real dull ax. Thank God it wasn't sharp, or I may not be here now.
From Montanna we moved to Minnosota. My Dad and Uncle had been burning brush the day before. I got up the next day . The brush pile fire was out, so I thought. I
ran through the ashes bare footed. They carried me around on a pillow, for two weeks my
feet were really blistered. I could not step on them.
From Minnosota we came to Mich. to live where we still are. Here I started school again. At Mich Street School, until they closed school. From there I went to Coit School. There I helped the Janitor sweep the halls and class rooms. On Frydays, he
had to go to meetings so I was in charge if anything came up that needed attention. I
kept the coal hopper full and tended the boiler for heat. To me that was a Great Thrill. I
attended to the 6th grade there. From there I went to Central High School through the
Tenth Grade. My Father became ill so I left school and went to work. These were the
Depression days of W.P.A.. I didnt get much pay but it fed the family enough for us to exist.
After W.P.A. I was employed by the Recreation Dept. Worked as a Lifeguard at most city parks and Recreation Director. I was a fun job. Then came the 2nd World War.
I tried to inlist in the National Guard, but they would not take. I was 24 then, so I meet a
girl and got married. We had about a month and a half of Happily marrage, then I was drafted.
From Battle Creek I went to Jefferson Barric Mo. For Basic Training. What a
Hell Hole that wes. It wes so hot and humid saw hundred of men, pass out and fall. I was
thankfull to get out of there. Boarded a troop train and 3 days later landed in California. Down in the San Jacquen Valley. It was hot there to but not so much humidity. There
was so much Alkly in the water you couldn't drink it.
Was there about three weeks, Boarded a train the next day and landed in Tan
Foran California which was a race track and a Jap Prison camp. There I did my 1st Guard Duty Training. Wasn"t there maybe a month in all. All the officer and Master SGT. were
shipped out leaving the PFC and myself. I took the bit in my mouth, and took charge so to say. I would get the shipping orders and notify the men thet were leaving. This lasted
for about a month. On the road again I ended up in Portland Ore. The base was a P38
squadron right on the top of a mountain. They would Buzz by shaking the barricks. It was
quite a thrill. From there I landed in San Francisco for a short time. Then to Boise Idaho for a short time.
Finally I got assigned to the Air Force in Mountain Home Idaho to the 474 Service
S8. Got off the train there and ask where was the Air Base. See thiose dust clouds out there
That it. I thought to myself Boy this is going to be a Bummer. It was just under construction,
nothing there but a few barraics and a detatchment of engineers. This was an 80 mile wide
and 80 mile long right between mountain on all sides valley. Nothing there but sage brush
and Jack Rabbits. The Snake River was within walking distance to the South, some rattle
snakes and praire dogs.
Before long hanger were constructed, then came the B29 Bombers.
I was given the job as a mail clerk. I went to the carpenter shop and they
made letter slots, about 200 or so, I set them up and was ready for mail delivery. I had
a Jeep for picking up the mail in town at the railway station. Made the trip 2 times a day.
Once aq week i would have to go to Boise, to pick up special mail. It was a trip of 100
miles to Boise and back. I enjoyed it imensley. It was a great kob. Then I got a Dear John
letter from my wife followed by a letter from her lawyer.
I applied for a furlough and borrowed money from the Red Cross. Made the
trip home but she had a new boy friend and didn't care about me any more. This was in
1943.
I returned to the base and continued my job for about a year. Applied for a furlough to go home and got it. I met my present wife and we were married in July of 43.
She returned to the base with me. Housing wasn't very plentiful then. We
found a small 6 x 6 trailor. It had a small wood stove and a make shift bed, But we were
happy with what. They had a scales there and every night at supper time the would bring
in a load of sheep. Boy what an oder. There went my apatite. |