As quick as a wink arrangements were underway

It took some fancy maneuvering and a few heads were left spinning as a result of all the speed with which the thing was done but it was worth it. Yep, we mean that surprise birthday party that was given at the USO Friday night for Pvt. Jack E. Malmquist of Floral Park Long Island, N.Y., stationed at ORD. Seems as how there is a Mrs. Leroy Reynertson, a good friend of Jack's mother who does USO work in Hollywood (Yes, California.) and she happened to know the date of Jack's birthday. So, realizing how much a little attention means to someone on his birthday, Mrs. Reynertson wrote to the Greensboro USO and enclosed money enough for a birthday cake and all the trimmings. As quick as a wink arrangements were underway and several of our worthy USOh-ers started making preparation. Eight of his buddies at camp were contacted and invited to attended the celebration... eight GSO girls were selected to share the fun and Dottie Inabinet was elected to see that Jack got to the party (sans knowledge of what was going on.) Everyone seemed to do his part well because when our hero walked into the WACs lounge, the setting for the event, well all we can say is bouquets to Mrs. Reynertson and to any others that played part because we bet there was no happier GI anywhere Friday night than was Pvt. Jack Malmquist of Floral PArk.

USO ladies honored

date, occasion and location unknown

BTW, You can click on any photo to get a better look.

Miss Wilson Made Valentine Queen

date and source unknown

"Against a Valentine background of immense red hearts on paper lace, the formal USO sweetheart ball was held Wednesday night in the USO ballroom, with about 500 soldiers and 154 GSO volunteers present. A half moon of white crepe paper with "Be My Valentine" lettered in red satin set off Sgt. Frederick Lambert's eight-piece ORD orchestra which furnished the music, and two entwined hearts high above the curtain repeated the Valentine motif.

Mrs. Miriam Wilson, 2419 Walker Ave, a student at Women's college, was chosen queen by the assembled GIs who dropped their votes into an old-fashioned Valentine box. To determine the queen's escort, the soldiers drew hearts. Bursting through a huge valentine placed on one side of the stage, the queen took her place, with her escort, on a throne, where a spotlight played on the red satin-crowned couple. Erie Stapleton, director of the USO, crowned the queen. After crowning, the GSO board and the GSO dance committee came through the stage valentine, forming a large "V" in front to the music of "Sweethearts."

All decorations were planned out and carried out by the GSO new dance committee as its initial feature which proved to be praiseworthy. Included in the committee are the Misses Dorothy Inabinet, Zell Craven, Betty Van, Tonnie Covington, Myrtle McCormick, and Virginia Stoffer. The GSO board included Misses Lorena Holden, president; Dorothy Sherwin, vice president; Mary Martin Lindsay, secretary; and Sue Hall, editor of "Rebel Yell" the monthly GSO paper. Zone chairmen are Misses Margaret Adams, Charline Hall, Lena Mae Smith, Clara Painter and Frances Irving."

So Mrs. Miriam Wilson lived at 2419 Walker Ave. That kind of information would never be printed in a newspaper article like that today. Times have changed indeed. 

Fine entertainment & Grand times

"Dear Laura:

Knew this note would delight you so am sending it on to you - It is nice to be thought of so many months after you have been apart - lots of the boys send you greetings and write of you - Gordon Sbarboro, among those recently. I have sent him your address, so expect a letter - will also put down your address in the NUSO, which doesn't always reach the ones who most desire it -

Know things are getting along fine there, often Bernie came in to report. 

    

               Love and luck, Connie."

Wow, I get the feeling that Connie struggles on the typewriter a little bit. She finally finds the period at the very end of the letter. 

And the letter she forwarded?

Check it out right here - 

6th January

Philippines

Dear Madam

I would greatly appreciate it if you could supply me with the present address  of Miss Laura Elizabeth Owens, former Senior Hostess at the Rockingham USO. I understand she was transferred elsewhere shortly after the A/B Division left the states. 

I can safely sat there are a great many of us here in the Division who still remember the fine entertainment & grand times we had at your USO. They are indeed pleasant memories on dark nights in the jungles here.-

Sincerely, 

Cpl. Wm. Proctor

457th Btry. B

APO 468 % Pm Frisco

Unknown Soldiers

This photo was found loose in the front of Laura's scrapbook with no writing on the back to indicate who these soldiers are.

The Italians are nostalgic

Source and date unknown

Mentioned in the article, August Baldino, Joseph Peritone, Eddie Johns, and Mrs. M.J. Florio 

An engaging bit of baggage

source unknown, date unknown

Oh how I wish they printed the full name of Jeanie, wouldn't it be fun to

google your name and find an article like this. 

USO ladies serving lunch

Date unknown, ladies unknown and the event is unknown

I do love the dress style that most of the ladies are wearing but I am wondering why none of them are really smiling. Did folks back then have teeth that were that bad? or maybe smiling on these occasions was frowned upon?  

An Angel Cake makes the news

source unknown, date unknown

Thank you PFC Arnold Larson and Mrs. Ruben Larson of Red Wing, Minn. I'm sure that cake was delicious! 

With soldiers outside of a church

This photo is unlabeled with nothing written on the back.

I'll have confirm this with my mom but I do believe that is my Aunt Laura in the hat, next to her on the right appears to be her father, Rev. Owens. Most likely this is outside of the Holy Comforter Church in Charlotte, NC

Bob Crane and Larry Thurston, a couple of bad boys

To Laura
With love from
a couple of her bad
Boys.
Bob Crane
Larry Thurston

USO ladies lunch - date unknown

Women of the war effort article

Source and date unknown

Letter from P.F.C. Frank Anderson

Envelope reads:

P.F.C. Frank Anderson 39415023
ECC 53 FAS
Ft. Sill, Oklahoma 

Postmark from Lawton, OK Jul 3 9:30am 1944

Dear Laura,

I was lying here on my bunk and I started to think about you and Rockingham so I got up and here I am.

Saturday night, payday was yesterday and I'm not in town. I was beginning to think that my old age was getting the best of me.

I was thinking about the times I came into "Rock" on Saturday nights, talked with you and perhaps a dance or two. The Saturday afternoon we walked to the lake and all those little things we know. Memories are swell especially the pleasant ones. I guess I miss you quite a bit Laura. I kept thinking of the time I saw you at that formal dance when  you wore your dark formal, you were sure beautiful that night.

I'll close now Laura, got it off my chest. I hope you are doing great. I'll always be pulling for you.

Love,

Frank

Miss Owens Resigns Post With USO Club

Date and source of both articles unknown

Celebrating VJ DAY in Houston, TX

I found this letter loose in the front of her scrapbook. 

It reads - 

Aug Fri Nite

Dear Laura,

things is still in a muddle but I hope it won't be long till this program here gets underway. 

Well I started to write you tues at work but the tension was so great all day I couldn't turn and wheel no how. took to celebrate early tues with such vim and vigor I didn't even get drunk. Gad!! I've never seen a town go so completely berserk. It was just wonderful.

(unknown) hotel is slightly off the beaten path (I like the seclusion) so I took myself down to the throbbing times square of this burg which is the intersection of Main & Texas. there my pal has his diggins in the Rice Hotel which is right smack dab at the cross roads from which spot everything  to see can be seen and what a sight. Never never will I forget the happy throng. Quite a lot of lickker flowed freely but no one was disgustingly drunk. Wonderful opportunity to study mob psychology but I wasn't that interested. Can't start to describe what all went on but I'll never forget.

I guess this will punch a big hole in the N.O. deal or is the USO still to go on? I hope so till I see you any way.

Unsigned. 

My Aunt Laura writes on the bottom of the note:

Ole describes VJ Day in Houston Texas

My Great Aunt Laura, her backstory

It may seem odd to start with her obituary and epitaph but here we go -

I found this loose in the front of her scrapbook. 

Mentioned in this article, Mrs. Ruby Owens, my grandmother.

(from the Charlotte Observer date unknown)

 I found this article loose in the beginning of her scrapbook.

Mentioned in this article, Rev. Bruce Owens, my great grandfather. 

My great aunt Laura was a public school teacher and is credited with starting the Charlotte Children's Nature Museum. Interesting that both articles fail to mention her service in the USO which will be the focus of this blog. I wish I knew her better but we lived far apart and rarely had the chance for interaction. I'm going to enjoy getting to know her through this scrapbook though,  and I hope you will too.