MY FIRRST WEDDING JULY 21, 1945

             MY FIRST WEDDING - JULY 21, 1945

This is a story about my marriage to your father.  We had both graduated from High School in 1941.  He took a summer course at the University and he found work at Janney Semple Hill.  December 7th the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  We knew that he would be drafted for military service but he wanted to serve in the Navy so he enlisted on October 28, 1942.  He was called to Active Duty on December 18th, 1942.  He was discharged from the Navy on the secondary of February, 1946.

Dave's first leave was when he finished Basic Training.  It was from May 18 to May 26 of 1943.  I came to Minneapolis to spend that time with him.  I stayed at Leota and Del's home and they invited me to stay on and get a job in Minneapolis, so I became a Minnesota girl.  Dave went to Rhode Island, was assigned to the SeaBees or the 92nd Construction Battalion.  He traveled to Port Hueneme in California and was sent overseas with duty in the South Pacific.

The following year, he was transferred to the V-12 program.  This was for Naval Officer Training.  He was sent to the University of Southern California.  Grandma Nora had friends living in Los Angeles near the college so she asked if I would like to take a trip to see Dave and we were invited to stay at the Sullivan's.  We had a great trip, you have seen pictures from that trip.

Dave had a twelve day leave in October.  He came home too and that trip conflicted with the dates of Harold and Martha's wedding.  I was to be a bridesmaid for Martha but I opted out of the wedding because it was in Superior and I would have to miss seeing Dave.  Dave gave me my diamond ring during that leave.  He went back to classes at Occidental College.

March of 1944 Dave was transferred to UCLA, and within the next few months he knew that the V-12 Program was closing.  He expected to get a leave in June and since he would no longer be under the rules of that program he would be free to get married. So I was making plans.  I went to see Father Cleary at St Thomas the Apostle Church and Father started the paperwork for our wedding.

At this time I was still at 3216 Hennepin.  Millie and Jim lived on Girard Ave., Leota and Dell had moved to Bremerton, WA where Del had found another Defense Plant job.  I was top keep the lower duplex so that Leota and Del would be able to return to it.  Lu (who was at the Franciscan Convent in La Crosse) had decided to leave and she was coming to Minneapolis to work.  I wasn't worried about a wedding feast or anything.  I remember thinking I could get some sweet rolls for anyone that came.  But I did put a white satin wedding dress on Lay By.

Then both Mom and I got letters from Dave saying that his leave would be cancelled.  Mom called Sullivans to see if they would put me up if I came to California.  She waned him to get the points that he would earn toward a discharge for having a bride.  I went to talk to Father Cleary.  He thought I should go to California but he advised me to FLY and not to take the train.  I had not flown before but I had the experience of the 1944 trip with Nora so I stuck with that.

Well, I bought the daisy wedding ring that I had seen advertised and I loved it.  I switched from the satin wedding dress for the green silk suit.  I borrowed $250.00 from my folks to be sure that I had enough money and I got the official papers for a church wedding from Father Cleary.  Dave said that he would be able to meet the train on Thursday.  I was able to get the time off from work so all seemed well.

I do not remember when I started but it was another troop train.  It was crowded and it was hot.  I think it went through Texas.  People were sitting on suitcases in the aisle.  I remember the gritty smoke on my face as we sat through the July heat.  But on Thursday we arrived and Lo and Behold! There was a handsome sailor waiting in Los Angeles as we arrived.

Dave had a place in mind where I could have a cheap and quickie exam that was required for a California marriage license.  So we did that and he took me to the Sullivans.  Fern was the daughter-in-law of Alice and Orin.  Her husband was in the service and she volunteered to be my Maid of Honor.  Mr Sullivan had a friend, a Catholic priest so he took us to see him.  Would you believe his name was Father Gallagher? And would you believe that the name of the church was St. Thomas the Apostle? Dave said that he could get Saturday off, but he would have to stand watch the night before and then he could leave at 8 AM on Saturday morning.

Saturday came bright and early.  We were up and waiting for Dave.  Mr. Sullivan looked out the window and said "Here comes Dave and he is running."  I am ready so we take off on the street car.  We had to get to the Courthouse in downtown LA before noon to get the license.  We arrived at twenty minutes to twelve.  We headed in and as the clerk asked for our ID, Dave pulled his out and I nearly died on the spot.  I had left Sullivans without my papers.  Dave said "Well, I will vouch for her."  The clerk stood looking at us and then said "I am going to give it to you."

So we had our license and Dave took me back to Sullivan's and he started looking for a clean Hotel room.  They were hard to find and Sullivans said we could stay there but thought we should try.  He called to tell me he found one.  At 7 PM we met at the church.  Hubie Lynn Wray was there with a red headed date.  We were there with the Sullivans and our Maid of Honor.  We said our vows and we were Mr. and Mrs. Hector.  We sent telegrams to Nora and to my parents.  The Sullivans took us to dinner and Dave ordered liver and Onions, so I did too.

We went to our little hotel room, walked to a church the next day for Mass, and we had 'til the wee small hours of Monday morning for our honeymoon.  Then Dave left for Base.  And I went to Sullivan's.  He came to visit me on Wednesday night and on Saturday I took the elevated train to visit the Benz's so I would be ready to go wherever Dave went.  I had no more than left when he called to tell me they were moving out and he was at the train station and I could come and wait with him.  Sadly I missed that!  He called again on Tuesday (he found a telephone; they were not supposed to notify anyone) and told me they were shipping out.  I had a good cry and left for Minneapolis.

Dave was on a ship when the war ended.  He went to Okinawa where the Japanese were still resisting.  He arrived back in Minneapolis on February 2, 1946.  I can still remember the cold morning that he came home and how it felt to be in his arms again.