Grandma Wessman's Letter Page 5

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World War II changed the World. Values, relationships, systems have all been changed in the ensuing years. The patterns of war upset the balance in life and destroys and kills not only people but their value systems, their securities like family, economics, government, homes, ideals. It is an ugly monster. It did affect my life in so many ways. Yet I did not suffer directly as my country was not invaded past Hawaii — I had 2 dear friends killed! I did not finish college. My husband was gone two years. Recovery was slow, many people suffered. War affects everyone, I learned!

John & I met through his friendship with my grandmother Green and her daughter May, who were neighbors to John. He took them, on Christmas Day, to visit relatives — I was one of the ones he saw and met. After 9 months went by he ran out of girl friends and called me up for a date. We went dancing at the Rainbow Rendevous — a popular, really nice dance hall. We were both good dancers and had a great time together, even met a couple that have been our best friends for all our married life, Maxine Morgan whom John and I both knew and her fiancé Wallace Tanner. Little did we dream that each of our eldest children would one day marry. We didn’t even know we would marry — that was our first date! This is what makes friendshipping so fun. That was Sept 10, 1943. I was a traditional June bride. He went in the army in November — then the 2 years in army and finally we settled down after the surrender of Germany May 1945, Japan Aug 1945 — and John’s service in Germany for a year helping displaced people get home again. He returned Nov. 1946. While he was gone I went back home to live with my parents. Your mother Ann, was born in 1945. Basic training Texas then John’s officer school in Georgia, then Camp Roberts, Calif. None was conducive for me to be with him — I tried Camp Roberts but he had orders to go overseas 2 days after I arrived with Ann then his orders were canceled. Finally in Nov. he got new orders to go overseas — and no dependants! Released Nov. 1946