Baldwin-Conecuh-Covington County AlArchives Biographies.....Mancill, Louis Clifford  November 2, 1924 - December 20, 2002
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sally Tudor tudor.sally@gmail.com August 2, 2013, 6:45 pm

Source: held by daughter, Sally Tudor
Author: Louis Clifford Mancill

LOUIS CLIFFORD MANCILL HISTORY

 
I WAS BORN IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA IN 1924 IN A HOSPITAL, THE ONLY CHILD OF A 
FAMILY OF EIGHT LIVING CHILDREN THAT WAS BORN IN A HOSPITAL ALL OTHER CHILDREN 
WERE BORN AT HOME. MOTHER'S FIRST BABY DIED AT CHILDBIRTH.
MY FATHER AT SEVENTEEN WAS A STORE KEEPER AT A COUNTRY STORE IN HERBERT ALABAMA 
WHERE HE KEPT THE CASH, THE BOOKS, CREDIT ACCOUNTS, AND DID ALL THE KEEPING OF 
STOCK, DID ALL THE MARKING UP OF ALL STOCK AND DID THE SELLING. HE WAS THE 
CLERK.
AFTER THAT HE WENT TO HIGHLAND HOME COLLEGE IN CHRENSHAW COUNTY, ALABAMA. HE 
BECAME A SCHOOLTEACHER.
BUT HE WAS RASED ON A FARM WITH HIS FATHER AND BROTHERS.  SO, HE WAS A FARMER IN 
ALABAMA BEFORE I WAS BORN, HE ALSO WAS A PREACHER IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. BUT 
HARD TIMES ON A FARM CAME, AND HE TOOK A JOB IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, AS AN 
INSURANCE SALESMAN. AFTER A TIME HE FOUND OUT THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT HE 
WORKED FOR WOULDN'T PAY A CLAIM ON A CHILD HE HAD WRITTEN INSURANCE ON, AND THE 
CHILD DIED.
SO, IN 1925 OR 1926 HE QUIT THE JOB AND MOVED TO SILVERHILL, ALABAMA TO A FARM 
CLOSE TO MY GRANDMOTHERS HOME. WE LIVED THERE FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. WHILE WE 
LIVED THERE. I REMEMBER DADDY HAD AN OLD MODEL-T FORD TRUCK. ONE DAY HE WAS 
COMING HOME AND I RAN TO OPEN THE GATE FOR HIM.I HAD TO CLIMB UP ON THE FENCE TO 
UNLOCK THE GATE. I SLIPPED AND CUT MY LEFT ARM VERY Badly, AND HE TOOK ME TO A 
DOCTOR TO GET IT SEWED UP. MY ARM STILL HAS A LONG SCAR OF ABOUT TWO INCHES ON 
IT.
WHILE WE LIVED THERE, I REMEMBER A LOT OF GOOD TIMES BEFORE WE LOST THE FARM TO 
A BANK IN 1927, AND MOVED TO SUMMERDALE, TO ANOTHER FARM. THE FARM IN SILVERHILL 
WAS AUCTIONED OFF. DADDY DIDN'T GET VERY MUCH MONEY FROM IT, JUST ENOUGH TO 
START OVER AND PUT MONEY DOWN ON ANOTHER FARM IN SUMMERDALE, ALABAMA WE MOVED 
INTO IT. WE ALL HAD TO WORK IN THE FIELDS TO HELP DADDY PLOW, PLANT AND GROW 
ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT OR SELL TO HELP US GET ALONG AND LIVE ON. WE HAD GOOD TIMES 
TOGETHER AND WE WERE HAPPY.
WE HAD A BIG BARN ON THE FARM AT SUMMERDALE AND WE RAISED PEANUTS AND HAD PART 
OF THE LOFT WITH PEANUTS STILL ON THE VINE IN IT. WE WOULD PULL THE NUTS OFF THE 
VINE BY HAND AND FEED THE VINE TO THE COWS AND MULES. WE WOULD SHELL THE PEANUTS 
AND MAKE BUTTER OUT OF THEM IN A HAND GRINDER. THE HOME MADE PEANUT BUTTER WAS 
SO GOOD AND MUCH BETTER TASTING THEN WHAT WE BUY TODAY.
 
I REMEMBER A SAWMILL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THE SUMMERDALE SCHOOL BUILDING 
WAS UP ON THE HILL AND THE PLAY GROUND WAS BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND THE SAWMILL. 
ALL OF THIS WAS BETWEEN OUR HOUSE AND TOWN; I CAN STILL HEAR THE OLD STEAM 
ENGINE AND THE SOUND OF IT RUNNING, AND THE SAW WHEN IT CUT THE BIG LOGS TO MAKE 
LUMBER. WE WOULD PLAY ON THE BIG PILE OF SAWDUST, ABOUT THIRTY FEET HIGH, 
ROLLING DOWN IT AND PLAYING KING OF THE HILL.
WHILE WE LIVED IN SUMMERDALE, THERE WAS A CREEK WHERE WE DID A LOT OF FISHING 
AND HUNTING AND IT HAD A GOOD SWIMMING HOLE, WHERE I LEARNED TO SWIM. MY 
BROTHERS WOULD THROW ME IN THE WATER WHERE IT WAS DEEP AND SAY SWIM---SWIM --- 
AND I DID AFTER A WHILE. I WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.
ONE OF THE FUNNIEST THINGS I REMEMBER WAS WHEN JOHN, MY OLDEST BROTHER, HAD ME 
RIDE THE MULE WHILE HE PLOWED BETWEEN THE CORN ROWS, TO LAY IT BY, SO IT WAS 
CALLED. THE CORN WAS ABOUT FOUR FOOT HIGH AND THE OLD MULE WAS SLOW WHEN GOING 
AWAY FROM THE BARN TO THE OTHER END OF THE FIELD. HE GAVE ME A CORN STALK AND 
SAID TO HIT THE MULE WITH IT WHEN HE TOLD ME TO.  SO WE GOT ALMOST TO THE END OF 
THE ROW WHEN HE SAID TO HIT THE MULE, AND I DID, RIGHT ACROSS THE EAR. THE MULE 
THREW ME OFF AND I HIT THE GROUND. WHEN I GOT UP I SAW THE MULE HEADED FOR THE 
BARN, AND JOHN WITH THE LINES STILL AROUND HIS SHOULDER AND UNDER HIS ARM, BEING 
DRAGGED BEHIND THE PLOW, AS THEY BOTH WENT ACROSS THE ROWS OF CORN, KNOCKING IT 
DOWN AS THEY WENT. JOHN GOT LOOSE AND CAME BACK TO ME AND ASKED ME WHY I HIT THE 
MULE ON THE EAR LIKE I DID AND I SAID YOU DIDN'T TELL ME WHERE TO HIT THE MULE. 
DADDY WAS SURE MAD ABOUT THE CORN BEING KNOCKED DOWN.
WE HAD A DOG THAT WOULD RUN AFTER CARS. ONE DAY HE RAN IN FRONT OF ONE AND GOT 
CAUGHT ON THE CRANK HANDLE IN FRONT OF IT AND WAS DRAGGED FOR A WAYS DOWN THE 
ROAD AND WAS HART BAD. DADDY DOCTORED HIM AND HE STAYED UNDER HOUSE AND WOULD 
NOT LET ANYONE COME CLOSE TO HIM. WE PUT FOOD AND WATER UNDER THERE AND HE GOT 
WELL AFTER A WHILE AND DID NOT RUN AFTER CARS ANY MORE.
I REMEMBER ONE TIME FLOYD GOT INTO TROUBLE WHEN DADDY CAME IN FROM THE FIELD FOR 
WATER, AND OVER HEARD FLOYD SAYING DAM-IT. DADDY GOT A SWITCH TO WHIP FLOYD WITH 
AND FLOYD RAN FROM DADDY. AFTER ABOUT TWO TIMES AROUND THE HOUSE DADDY GAVE UP 
AND WENT BACK TO WORK. EVENING TIME CAME AND WE HAD SUPER AND SAT AROUND TALKING 
TILL BED TIME AND WE ALL WENT TO BED. ALL OF THE CHILDREN WERE UP STAIRS WHERE 
THERE WERE FOUR BED ROOMS. WE ALL GOT QUILTS AND WE WERE ABOUT TO GO TO SLEEP, 
WHEN WE HEARD DADDY IN FLOYD'S ROOM AND HE GAVE FLOYD THE WHIPPING FOR SAYING 
DAM-IT, BUT MOST OF ALL FOR RUNNING FROM HIM. I THANK IT TAUGHT ALL OF US NEVER 
TO RUN FROM DADDY.
TIME PASSED AND A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENED, GOOD AND BAD. ONE TIME I FELL INTO THE 
TRASH PILE WHERE WE HAD BURNED ALL OUR LEAVES AND TRASH WHEN WE RAKED THE YARD. 
I GOT A BAD CUT IN THE PALM OF MY HAND FROM A GLASS JAR THAT WAS BROKEN AND I 
HAD FALLEN ON IT. I HAD TO HAVE STITCHES PUT IN IT. I STILL HAVE A PIECE OF 
GLASS ABOUT 1/2 INCHES LONG IN MY RIGHT PALM. I WAS ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE WHEN THIS 
HAPPENED. I WAS YOUNG AND I STARTED TO SCHOOL IN 1930 AT SUMMERDALE, IN A SMALL 
SCHOOL HOUSE WHERE ALL GRADES WERE IN ONE BUILDING. I WAS IN THE FIRST GRADE AND 
WAS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD. I THINK I GOT A PADDLING EVER DAY FROM THE TEACHER. I 
WAS NOT A BAD BOY BUT I JUST COULD NOT STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.
I REMEMBER THE BAD STORM OF 1927, WHEN IT BLEW A BIG TREE DOWN AND IT FELL 
ACROSS HOUSE AND KNOCKED OUT THE WINDOW IN THE ROOM WHERE MOTHER HAD ALL OF US. 
WE WERE IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM AND MOTHER HAD SOME OF US UNDER THE BED. DADDY 
WAS AT THE OTHER TWENTY ACRES WORKING IN THE FIELDS, WITH JOHN AND FLOYD, 
GETTING IN THE CORN BEFORE IT GOT WET. HE DIDN'T GET HOME TILL LATE THAT NIGHT, 
AND MOTHER WAS CRYING AND ALL DADDY SAID WAS THAT HE COULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING 
IF HE WAS HOME. MAMA GOT MAD, BUT SOON GOT OVER IT.
 
MOTHER AND DADDY LOVED EACH OTHER VERY MUCH AND WERE CLOSE AND THEY SHOWED IT. 
THEY LOVED THEIR CHILDREN AND WORKED HARD TO SEE THAT WE WERE FED AND HAD 
CLOTHES TO WEAR AND A PLACE TO SLEEP. THEY WOULD HOLD US WHEN WE CRIED OR GOT 
HURT, TEACH US TO DO RIGHT AND CORRECT US WHEN WE WERE WRONG. TAKE US TO CHURCH 
AND TEACH US TO LOVE EACH OTHER AS GOD LOVED US.
DADDY WAS DOING MOST OF THE PREACHING AT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE SMALL TOWN 
OF ROBERTSDALE, ALABAMA WHEN WE WERE YOUNG. THIS WAS WHERE OUR GRANDMOTHER AND 
MOST OF HER 14 CHILDREN WENT TO CHURCH. ONE OF OUR UNCLES LED THE SINGING FOR 
THE SERVICES AT THE CHURCH. WE USED NO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN THE SERVICES OF 
THE CHURCH. WE JUST SING ALONG WITH THEM AS WE GREW UP. I DON’T THINK ANYONE HAD 
ANY MUSIC OR SINGING LESSONS OTHER THEN WHAT WHEY LEARNED FROM THE SONG BOOK. 
DADDY COULD READ NOTES IN THE SONG BOOKS AND TRIED TO TEACH IT SOME TIMES TO US 
AT TIMES. I NEVER COULD LEARN ANY OF THIS, SO I COULD ONLY SING BY EAR.
WE WOULD HAVE AN ALL DAY SINGING WITH DINNER ON THE GROUND AT THE CHURCH AFTER 
SERVICES AND OTHER CHURCH GROUPS WOULD COME TO LISTEN AND JOIN IN THE SINGING. 
SOMETIMES THE SINGING WOULD BE AT SCHOOL BUILDINGS HERE AND THERE AND LAST INTO 
THE NIGHT. THEN AFTER THANKSGIVING DINNERS , SOME ONE WOULD START SINGING AND 
ALL THE FAMILIES WOULD START SINGING TOGETHER AND IT WOULD GO ON ALL EVENING. 
THIS WAS OUR ENTERTAINMENT BEFORE T.V. CHANGED THE WORLD.
A LOT OF TIMES AT HOME AFTER SUNDAY DINNER, DADDY WOULD GET US TOGETHER AND SING 
CHURCH SONGS. MY OLDEST BROTHER PLAYED THE GUITAR AND HE AND MY OLDEST SISTER 
WOULD PLAY AND SING TOGETHER A LOT. WHEN I LEARNED TO PLAY THR GUITAR, WE WOULD 
GO TO SOMEONE ELSE’S HOME THAT PLAYED AND PLAY FOR HOURS AND SING SONGS WE KNEW 
TOGETHER. IT WAS GOOD TO PLAY ALONG WITH SOMEONE THAT COULD PLAY BETTER THEN WE 
COULD, THEN WE COULD LEARN SONGS AND CHORDS ON THE GUITAR. THIS IS SOME OF THE 
WAYS WE GOT STARTED TO SING AND PLAY TOGETHER AND MAKE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.
I  REMEMBER DADDY HAD AN OLD CAR, THE MODEL NAME OF IT WAS A (WHIPPET), AND HE 
TOOK US TO CHURCH IN IT. ONE SUNDAY MORNING WE WERE LEAVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY 
THROUGH THE GATE AT HOME, IN SUMMERDALE, TO GO TO CHURCH AT ROBERTSDALE, AND I 
WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT BETWEEN DADDY AND MOTHER AND SOMEONE GOT OUT TO CLOSE THE 
GATE AND I HAD BEEN WATCHING DADDY SHIFT THE GEARS WITH THE LEVER, WHEN DADDY 
REACHED TO SHIFT THE GEARS, I BEAT HIM TO IT AND JERKED THE CAR IN GEAR, IT 
JUMPED AHEAD AND BEFORE DADDY COULD STOP WE WENT INTO THE DITCH ON THE OTHER 
SIDE OF THE ROAD. YOU CAN GUESS WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, I NEVER DID THAT AGAIN.
 
WHEN DADDY BOUGHT THE PLACE IN SUMMERDALE, THERE WERE TWENTY ACRES ON THE WEST 
SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY 98 ABOUT HALF WAY BETWEEN SUMMERDALE, AND ROBERTSDALE THAT 
WAS IN THE SAME DEAL. IT WAS ABOUT TWO & A HALF MILES EACH WAY.  WHILE WE LIVED 
AT SUMMERDALE HE FARMED BOTH PLACES AND DROVE THE TEAM OF MULES BACK AND FORTH. 
ONE NIGHT, AFTER DARK, HE WAS ON THE WAY HOME WITH THE WAGON, WITH NO LIGHTS ON 
IT, TIRED AND HALF ASLEEP, WITH THE MULES TAKING THERE OWN GOOD TIME WALKING 
WITH THE LINES LOOSE.  AN OLD MAN CAME ALONG IN A MODEL-T FORD CAR WITH NO 
LIGHTS ON IT EITHER; HE HIT THE BACK OF THE WAGON AND KNOCKED DADDY OFF THE 
SEAT, BACK INTO THE WAGON BOX. WHEN THEY LOOKED TO SEE WHAT DAMAGE WAS DONE, 
THEY FOUND THAT THE TAIL TUNG OF THE WAGON THAT STUCK OUT OF THE BACK TO ADJUST 
THE BACK WHEELS HAD STRUCK THROUGH THE RADIATOR OF THE CAR. THEY BOTH SAID THEY 
WERE WRONG AND WENT ON THERE WAY. DADDY WOULD LAUGH WHEN HE TOLD US ABOUT IT.
THERE WAS A HOUSE ON THE TWENTY ACRES, WITH TWO ROOMS OF ABOUT TWELVE BY TWELVE 
FEET EACH AND A FAMILY LIVED IN IT, BY THE NAME OF SUNDAY. IT WAS NOT MUCH OF A 
HOUSE FOR THE WOODEN FLOOR HAD CRACKS IN IT YOU COULD ROLL MARBLES THROUGH, AND 
THE ROOF WAS TIN. THE WIND WOULD BLOW THROUGH THE WALLS AND THE DOORS. IT HAD 
TWO WINDOWS, ONE IN EACH ROOM, WITH THE GLASS BROKEN OUT. THE DEPRESSION CAME, 
OR BAD TIMES, I DON'T KNOW WHICH, AND DADDY LOST THE FARM IN SUMMERDALE,
IN 1931 WE HAD TO MOVE INTO THE SMALL HOUSE ON THE HIGHWAY 98 BETWEEN SUMMERDALE 
& ROBERTSDALE, BUT BEFORE WE DID DADDY HAD TO GET THE LAW OUT THERE TO MAKE THE 
FAMILY THAT LIVED THERE MOVE OUT. THEY WERE RENTING THE HOUSE FROM DADDY OR HE 
WAS JUST LETTING THEM LIVE FOR NOTHING. THEY DID FINALLY AND WE MOVED INTO IT. 
THERE WERE TEN OF US AND WE COOKED AND ATE IN ONE ROOM AND SLEPT IN THE OTHER. 
IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, DADDY STARTED TO BUILD ONTO THE SMALL HOUSE WITH A TWO 
STORY BUILDING THAT BECAME OUR HOME. IT HAD THE KITCHEN IN THE SAME PART OF THE 
OLD HOUSE, AND THE DINING ROOM WHERE THE BED ROOM WAS, AND ADDED A LIVING ROOM, 
BED ROOM AND A ROOM THAT THE HEATER WAS IN. THE UPSTAIRS WAS ONE BIG OPEN ROOM 
WHERE ALL OF US KIDS SLEPT. HE WAS A GOOD CARPENTER AND COULD BUILD ANYTHING. I 
REMEMBER THIS HOME MORE THEN THE OTHERS. WE LIVED THERE TILL I WAS ABOUT 18 
YEARS OLD.
WE WERE IN THE ROBERTSDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I STARTED TO SCHOOL IN THE 
SECOND GRADE.  WE HAD TO WALK TO SCHOOL ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILES. THE ROAD WAS 
RED CLAY AND MUDDY WHEN IT RAINED. THEY DID PAVE THE ROAD AFTER ABOUT FIVE YEARS 
THEN THEY RAN A BUS TO THE LUCKY-2 GAS STATION THAT WAS A THOUSAND YARDS FROM 
OUR HOUSE.  I  REMEMBER SOME OF THE THINGS AND SOME OF THE GAMES WE PLAYED AT 
SCHOOL, MARBLES, BASEBALL, SOCCER, AND RING-AROUND -THE-ROSEY. THE TEACHERS AT 
SCHOOL AT SCHOOL WERE GOOD TO US AND DID THEIR JOB WELL. IF YOU GOT OUT OF LINE 
THEY KNEW HOW TO PUT YOU BACK ON TRACK QUICK.
I REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE PLAYED MARBLES WE WERE ON OUR KNEES ON THE GROUND AND 
OUR PANTS LEGS GOT HOLES IN THEM. MOTHER WOULD PATCH THEM AND WE GOT TEASED 
ABOUT THE HOLES AND PATCHES. BUT WE WORE THEM ANY WAY. WE CARRIED OUR LUNCH TO 
SCHOOL AND OTHER KIDS MADE FUN OF THE BISCUITS AND SWEET POTATOES WE BROUGHT TO 
EAT, BUT THEY WERE ALL WE HAD AND WERE GOOD.
I REMEMBER MY GRANDFATHER MANCILL COMING TO STAY WITH US AFTER THE ROAD WAS 
PAVED. HE WOULD SIT ON THE FRONT PORCH AND WATCH THE CARS GO BY. HE SAID HE DID 
NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CARS WENT BY LIKE THEY DID BECAUSE THEY WAS NOT GOING 
VERY FAR OR STAYING VERY LONG BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL COMING RIGHT BACK REAL SOON. 
HE LIKED TO PLAY THE GAME OF FOX AND GEESE. HE WAS GOOD AT IT BUT HE WOULD LOSE 
TO US AND SAY "OH I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THAT" AND LAUGH. I DON'T REMEMBER 
GRANDMOTHER MANCILL OR GRANDFATHER WILSON BECAUSE THEY DIED BEFORE I WAS BORN OR 
I WAS TO YOUNG AT THE TIME.
 
THE COLD WINTERS WERE BAD SOMETIMES AND WE HAD TO CUT STOVEWOOD TO COOK WITH AND 
PICK UP PINE KNOTS TO BURN IN THE HEATER TO KEEP WARM BY. WE WOULD GO TO THE 
WOODS, THAT WAS OPEN LAND, WITH THE MULES AND WAGON AND USE A CROSSCUT SAW WITH 
TWO OF US, ONE ON EACH END AND CUT THE PINE TREE DOWN AND SAW IT INTO LONG LOGS 
AND LOAD IT INTO THE WAGON AND WE WOULD HAUL LOAD AFTER LOAD OF PINE LOGS TO THE 
HOUSE, THEN SAW THEM INTO BLOCKS OF ABOUT 18 INCHES, AND SPLIT THEM UP TO FIT 
THE COOKING STOVE. WE USED PINE WOOD TO COOK ON SUMMER AND WINTER.
DADDY BOUGHT TEN ACRES RIGHT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM THE TWENTY ACRES ABOUT 
1933. SOME OF IT WAS NOT CLEARED WHEN HE BOUGHT IT BUT WE CLEARED IT A YEAR OR 
SO LATER. WE RAISED CORN, POTATOES, COTTON, HAY, BEANS, PEANUTS, AND SUGAR CANE 
TO MAKE SYRUP. IN THE WINTER WE WOULD STRIP THE LEAVES OFF OF IT, CUT IT DOWN 
AND HAUL IT TO THE CANE MILL, SOMEONE WOULD START ABOUT 4 AM WITH ONE OLD MULE 
HITCHED TO THE END OF A LOG THAT WAS BOLTED ACROSS THE TOP OF THE MILL, AND THE 
MULE WOULD GO AROUND AND AROUND TO TURN THE MILL, AND WE WOULD FEED THE MILL 
WITH STALKS OF CANE TO SQUEEZE THE JUICE OUT OF IT. THEN ABOUT SEVEN AM DADDY 
WOULD START THE FIRE UNDER A BIG PAN TO COOK THE JUICE TILL IT MADE SYRUP. THE 
COOL JUICE WAS GOOD TO DRINK TOO. DADDY WOULD MAKE THREE TO FIVE HUNDRED GALLONS 
EACH YEAR. ONE YEAR HE MADE SEVEN HUNDRED GALLONS. WE WOULD EAT IT, SELL IT OR 
TRADE IT FOR FOOD TO MR. HAMMOND'S STORE IN ROBERTSDALE.
SOMETIMES SYRUP AND CORN BREAD WAS ALL WE HAD TO EAT. WE WOULD PULL THE CORN AS 
SOON AS IT GOT DRY ENOUGH TO SHELL IN LATE SUMMER, THEN WE SHELLED IT AND PUT IT 
ON THE ROOF OF THE BARN ON A SHEET TO DRY ENOUGH TO TAKE TO THE GRINDING MILL IN 
ROBERTSDALE TO MAKE CORN MEAL OUT OF IT. SOMETIMES WHILE THE CORN WAS ON THE 
ROOF TO DRY IT WOULD LOOK LIKE RAIN AND WE WOULD RUN TO GET IT DOWN OFF THE ROOF 
BEFORE IT GOT WET. MOTHER COULD MAKE THE BEST CORN BREAD I EVER ATE. AT LEAST I 
THOUGHT SO.
WE ALSO RAISED CATTLE, HOGS, CHICKENS AND DUCKS. WE DID A LOT OF HUNTING FOR 
RABBIT AND SQUIRREL. THE WOODS WERE OPEN AND WE COULD HUNT ALMOST ANYWHERE. WE 
CAUGHT A LOT OF FISH FROM THE CREEKS THAT RUN CLEAR ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF FROM 
HOME.
IN THE SUMMER WE WOULD WORK IN THE HOT FIELDS AND DADDY WOULD LET US GO TO CREEK 
TO WASH OFF THE DIRT BEFORE DARK. THIS WAS A TREAT FOR US. OUR GOOD SWIMMING 
HOLE WAS ON A CREEK CALLED POLECAT CREEK. IT WAS DEEP IN PLACES BUT HAD LOTS OF 
SHALLOW SPOTS ALONG THE BANKS WITH BIG ROCKS YOU COULD PLAY ON OR GET OUT OF THE 
WATER ON. UP ALONG THE BANKS THERE WAS A LOT OF FLAT ROCKS TO LAY AROUND ON. WE 
HAD A ROPE SWING TO SWING OUT OVER THE WATER AND TURN LOOSE INTO THE WATER. WE 
FIXED A 1/4 INCH WIRE UP IN A TREE ABOUT FIFTY FEET HIGH AND STRUNG IT ACROSS 
AND DOWN THE CREEK TO THE BOTTOM OF  ANOTHER TREE. WE GOT A PIECE OF ONE INCH 
PIPE TWELVE INCHES LONG AND SPLIT IT OPEN SO IT WOULD GO OVER THE WIRE,THEN WE 
WOULD GRAB THE PIPE AND DOWN THE WIRE WE WOULD GO AND DROP OFF IN THE WATER. IT 
WAS FUN TILL DADDY SAW IT THEN HE MADE US TAKE IT DOWN.
WE WENT SWIMMING IN THE WINTER TOO. WE WOULD BUILD A BIG FIRE ON THE BANK TO 
WARM BY WHEN WE GOT OUT OF THE WATER. WE HAD LOTS OF FUN AND GOOD TIMES ALONG 
THIS CREEK. ABOUT TWO MILES DOWN STREAM FROM OUR SWIMMING HOLE THE CREEK RAN 
INTO A BIG RIVER CALLED, FISH RIVER. IT WAS DEEP AND ABOUT ONE HUNDRED YARDS 
WIDE.WE DID A LOT OF OVER NIGHT CAMPOUTS,CATFISHING AT NIGHT AND SLEPT ON THE 
GROUND, WE SAT AROUND A FIRE AND TALKED ABOUT THINGS IN OUR LIFE AND WHAT 
HAPPENED YESTERDAY. WE CAUGHT A LOT OF FISH AND WOULD COOK THEM ON AN OPEN 
FIRE.THEY WERE SURE GOOD.
 
THERE WASN'T A SQUIRREL’S NEST OR A GOOD FISHING OR SWIMMING HOLE WITHIN FIVE 
MILES OF OUR HOME THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT. WE WOULD RUN THE WOODS ALL THE TIME 
THAT DADDY WOULDN'T NEED US TO HELP HIM IN THE FIELDS. WE BROUGHT HOME A LOT 
GAME AND FISH. ANYTHING WE BROUGHT HOME, MOTHER KNEW HOW TO COOK IT JUST RIGHT 
AND IT WAS GOOD OLD COUNTRY COOKING.
WE WOULD FIND GOPHERS (IT IS A  LAND TORTOISE, LIKE A TURTLE) THAT  DIGS INTO 
THE GROUND AND MAKE A HOLE THAT IS FLAT ON THE BOTTOM AND ROUND ON TOP ABOUT TWO 
FEET DEEP AND SOMETIMES FIFTEEN FEET LONG. YOU CAN DIG THEM UP OR PUT A CAN THAT 
IS FIFTEEN INCHES ACROSS THE TOP AND PUT HOLES IN THE BOTTOM TO LET WATER OUT IF 
IT RAINS AND PUT STRAWS ACROSS THE TOP WITH NEW PAPER AND DIRT OVER IT AND DIG A 
HOLE IN FRONT OF THE GOPHERS HOLE LEVEL WITH THE BOTTOM. WHEN THE GOPHER COMES 
IN OR OUT HE WILL FALL INTO THE CAN AND CAN'T GET OUT. MY GRANDMOTHER AND MOTHER 
COULD MAKE THE BEST TURTLE SOUP.
ONE DAY WAS HUNTING AND FLOYD FOUND A GOPHER HOLE AND GOT DOWN TO SEE IF HE 
COULD TELL IF ONE WAS IN THE HOLE OR NOT. HE COULD PAT IN THE MOUTH OF THE HOLE 
AND HEAR THE GOPHER DIGGING TO GO DEEPER. HE CALLED US AND SAID THERE WAS ONE IN 
THE HOLE HE COULD HEAR HIM. WHEN HE LOOKED AGAIN HE COULD SEE A RATTLE SNAKE WAS 
COILED UP ABOUT TWELVE INCHES FROM WHERE HE WAS PATTING WITH HIS HAND. WE GOT A 
SHOVEL AND DUG IT UP. THE SNAKE WAS SIX FOOT LONG WITH TWENTY ONE RATTLERS ON 
THE TAIL. IT IS A WONDER FLOYD WASN'T BITTEN. AS MUCH AS WE ALL WERE IN THE 
WOODS AND SWAMPS FISH AND HUNTING AND KILLED SO MANY SNAKES, WE WERE LUCKY I 
GUESS.
ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS WHEN WE GOT HOME FROM CHURCH WE WOULD GO FLYING SQUIRREL 
HUNTING. WE WOULD FIND AN OLD DEAD STUMP OR TREE WITH WOODPECKER HOLES IN IT AND 
KNOCK ON IT TO RUN THE SQUIRRELS OUT. THEY WOULD COME OUT AND JUMP OFF OF THE 
STUMP AND SAIL TO THE BOTTOM OF ANOTHER TREE AND RUN UP THE TREE TO THE TOP. IF 
WE COULDN'T SHAKE THEM OFF THE TREE WE HAD TO CLIMB THE TREE TO RUN THEM OUT. 
THEY WOULD SAIL TO THE BOTTOM OF ANOTHER TREE. WE WOULD RUN AND IF WE GOT THERE 
IN TIME WE WOULD TRY TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THE TREE ABOVE THEM AND KNOCK THEM 
OFF ON THE GROUND TO CATCH THEM. THEY WOULD BITE YOU IF YOU DIDN'T HOLD THEM 
JUST RIGHT.
SOMETIMES WE WOULD FIND YOUNG ONES AND TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL IN OUR SHIRT POCKETS, 
THEY WOULD COME OUT OF THE POCKET AND SIT ON OUR SHOULDER AND EAT NUTS OUT OF 
OUR HAND. WE WOULD SELL THEM FOR TWENTY FIVE CENTS EACH. WE KEPT THE OLDER ONES 
IN CAGES AND RAISED LITTLE ONES. THEY BECAME PETS THEY WOULD RUN LOSE IN THE 
HOUSE. THEY WERE FUN TO WATCH.
WE MADE MOST OF OUR TOYS OURSELVES TO PLAY WITH LIKE BOATS MADE FROM BOARDS WITH 
NAILS ALL AROUND OUTSIDE AND STRING RUN FROM NAIL TO NAIL AND A STICK IN THE 
MIDDLE WITH PAPER ON IT FOR A SAIL. ANOTHER WAS WHIRL-A-JIG MADE BY CUTTING OFF 
A BROOM HANDLE ABOUT SIX INCHES LONG AND MAKING A PEG 1 1/2 INCHES LONG ON ONE 
END,1/4 INCHES ROUND. THEN GETTING A LARGE THREAD SPOOL AND DRIVING TWO SMALL 
NAILS ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER. THEN TAKING PRINCE ALBERT TOBACCO CAN AND MAKING A 
PROPELLER SIX INCHES LONG AND PUTTING TWO HOLES IN IT TO MATCH THE ONES ON THE 
SPOOL. THEN TAKE A STRING 24 INCHES LONG AND WRAP IT AROUND THE SPOOL AND PULL 
IT HARD TO SPEND THE PROPELLER OFF THE SPOOL AND UP INTO THE AIR. WE MADE LOTS 
OF OTHERS THINGS TO PLAY WITH AND HAD FUN DOING IT.
 
LIKE A LOT OF YOUNG CHILDREN, WE PLAYED A LOT OF GAMES TOGETHER AND MADE MOST OF 
OUR THINGS TO PLAY WITH. THERE WERE NEIGHBORS WITH CHILDREN AND WE WOULD PLAY 
BALL TOGETHER. WE PLAYED A GAME LIKE TAG EXCEPT WITH TIN CANS. WE WOULD STACK UP 
FOUR OR FIVE TIN CANS, THE ONE THAT WAS IT KNOCKED THEM DOWN AND EVERYONE HAD A 
STICK AND WHEN THE ONE THAT WAS IT FOUND SOMEONE, HE HAD TO BEAT THE ONE HE 
FOUND TO THE CANS,AND KNOCK THE CANS DOWN BEFORE HE DID. WHEN THE PEANUTS WERE 
ALMOST READY TO PULL UP AND STILL GREEN, WE WOULD PULL SOME AND BOIL THEM IN A 
GALLON BUCKET BY THE FIRE AND EAT THEM. WE WOULD COOK CORN ON THE COB AND NEW 
POTATOES TOO.
I REMEMBER THE BOY MY SAME AGE, JIMMY BARNHEART, THAT LIVED DOWN THE HILL AND 
ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM US. WE PLAYED A LOT TOGETHER. WHEN I WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS 
OLD WE WERE BACK IN THE WOODS ON A FORTY ACRES TRACK OF LAND THAT DADDY BOUGHT. 
IT WAS ACROSS THE ROAD FROM OUR TWENTY ACRES, CORNER TO CORNER, IN A HEAVY 
WOODED PLACE WITH PINE TREES. THE TREES WERE CLOSE TOGETHER ABOUT FORTY FEET 
TALL AND SMALL AT THE BOTTOM. THEY WERE LIMBER AND WE WERE IN THE TOP OF THEM 
SWINGING FROM ONE TO ANOTHER, LIKE TARZAN. I WAS IN ONE TREE ABOUT THIRTY FEET 
HIGH, AND I WAS HOLDING ONTO ANOTHER TREE LIMB. I HEARD A LIMB ON ONE SIDE OF ME 
CRACK AND I WENT TO THE WRONG TREE LIMB. DOWN I CAME TO THE GROUND AND BROKE 
BOTH WRISTS I THOUGHT.
DADDY TOOK ME TO OLD DOCTOR HALE IN ROBERTSDALE AND HE SAID THEY WERE ONLY 
SPRAINED, TO PUT VINEGAR AND CLAY ON THEM AND THEY WOULD BE OK. THEY HURT A LONG 
TIME. I REMEMBER MY SISTER EMMA LAURA WHO WAS JUST TWO YEARS OLDER THEN I WAS, 
SHE RAN ME OUT OF THE HOUSE WITH A BROOM. I GOT A HOLD OF THE BROOM HANDLE TO 
KEEP HER FROM HITTING ME WITH IT AND SHE WAS PULLING IT. MY WRISTS HURT BAD, BUT 
I WOULDN'T TURN LOOSE OF THE BROOM. ONE DAY ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS LATER I WENT TO 
DOCTOR JORDAN FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND HE SAID THEY WERE BROKEN. HE WANTED TO 
BREAK THEM AND SET THEM RIGHT BUT I WOULDN'T LET HIM. THEY DID BOTHER ME SOME 
THROUGH THE YEARS BUT NOT ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH THE HURT AGAIN.
ABOUT THIS SAME TIME IN MY LIFE, I GOT SCARED OUT OF MY SKIN. THE CHURCH IN 
ROBERTSDALE WAS HAVING MEETINGS AND SINGING EVERY NIGHT AND DADDY WOULD TAKE ALL 
OF US WITH HIM EVERY NIGHT TO THE MEETING IN THE WAGON. HE HAD A HAY FRAME ON 
THE WAGON WITH SOME HAY ON IT TO RIDE ON. ON THE WAY HOME ONE NIGHT I WENT TO 
SLEEP AND WHEN WE GOT HOME EVERY ONE WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE TO GO TO BED. DADDY 
TRIED TO WAKE ME UP BUT I DIDN'T GET UP I JUST WENT BACK TO SLEEP. EARLY IN THE 
MORNING I GOT COLD AND GOT UP TO GO IN THE HOUSE. WE HAD A COLLIE DOG THAT 
STAYED UNDER THE BACK PORCH MOST ALL THE TIME. SO I WENT TO THE FRONT DOOR AND 
WHEN I STEPPED ON THE FIRST STEP THE DOG CAME AFTER ME THROUGH THE STEPS AND I 
THINK I JUMPED OUT OF MY SKIN. DADDY CALLED THE DOG BEFORE HE COULD BITE ME AND 
I WENT TO THE BACK DOOR TO GET IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE I WAS ALMOST THERE ANYWAY.
 
ONE TIME FLOYD AND GERALD WENT AFTER OUR COWS LATE IN THE EVENING BEFORE DARK, 
ACROSS THE CREEK THAT RAN THROUGH THIS SAME FORTY ACRES, THEY HAD TO WALK ACROSS 
A FOOTLOG TO GET TO WHERE THE COWS WERE. WHILE THEY WERE UP THE HILL AFTER COWS, 
JOHN CAME ALONG AND GOT UP IN A TREE RIGHT BY THE FOOTLOG THAT WAS ONLY WIDE 
ENOUGH FOR ONE BEHIND THE OTHER TO WALK ON. FLOYD AND GERALD CAME BACK WITH THE 
COWS AND DROVE THEM ACROSS THE FORD WHERE WAGONS WOULD CROSS THE CREEK. THEY 
STARTED ACROSS THE LOG AND WHEN THEY GOT TO WHERE JOHN WAS, HE JUMPED OUT OF THE 
TREE, MAKING SOUNDS LIKE A TIGER. FLOYD HAD A STICK AND GERALD HAD HIS POCKET 
KNIFE OPENED. THEY HAD SAID TO EACH OTHER BEFORE THEY GOT TO THE CROSSING, WHAT 
THEY WOULD DO IF SOMETHING GOT AFTER THEM.
FLOYD MUST HAVE JUMPED HIGH ENOUGH FOR GERALD TO GO UNDER HIM AND GERALD RAN UP 
THE HILL. FLOYD WAS STANDING THERE WITH THE STICK, SHAKING IT AT JOHN; JOHN 
FINALLY GOT FLOYD TO CALM DOWN ENOUGH TO SEE IT WAS HIM. THEY WENT TO SEE WHERE 
GERALD WAS, HE WAS STILL RUNNING UP THE HILL. THEY CALLED TO HIM AND HE CAME 
BACK TO THEM. THEY ASKED WHERE THE KNIFE WAS AND GERALD FOUND IT IN HIS POCKET, 
CLOSED UP. IT SCARED GERALD SO BAD HE DIDN'T GROW ANY FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS.
WE ALL GOT ALONG LIKE BROTHERS AND SISTERS DID. WE DID FIGHT SOMETIMES, LIKE 
CHILDREN DO. WE WORK AND PLAYED TOGETHER AND WE WERE HAPPY AND ENJOYED LIFE, 
GROWING UP IN A TIME WHEN THE WORLD AND IT, S WAYS WERE SLOW. EVERYONE KNEW 
THEIR NEIGHBOR AND HELPED EACH OTHER, AND WHEN A NICKEL WOULD BUY A LARGE CANDY 
BAR.
WE ALL GREW UP STRONG AND HEALTHY, WENT TO SCHOOL, CAME HOME TO WORK IN THE 
FIELDS OR DO OUR CHORES AROUND THE FARM AND HOUSE. WE ALL HAD OUR WAY OF GETTING 
INTO TROUBLE. DADDY COULD ALWAYS STRAIGHTEN IT OUT WHEN HE GOT HOME, OR WHERE 
EVER WE WERE. HE NEVER WAITED TILL WE GOT HOME. HE DID IT WITH KINDNESS OR THE 
BELT. IF WE GOT INTO TROUBLE AT SCHOOL, WE GOT THE SAME WHEN WE GOT HOME. BUT 
OVER ALL WE WERE GOOD KIDS MOST OF THE TIME.
JOHN AND FLOYD PLAYED FOOTBALL AT ROBERTSDALE HIGH SCHOOL AND GRADUATED, AND 
WENT TO COLLEGE. HE TAUGHT SCHOOL, AND GOT MARRIED. FLOYD JOINED THE NAVY AND 
GOT MARRIED. ANNIE LEE GRADUATED AND GOT MARRIED TOO. EMMA LAURA WAS WILD AND I 
DON'T KNOW IF SHE GRADUATED OR NOT. THE OTHER THREE BOYS GRADUATED TOO. I WENT 
THROUGH THE SIX GRADE AND HALF WAY THROUGH THE SEVENTH, AND WAS TAKEN OUT TO DO 
THE PLOWING AND PLANTING AND THE SAME IN THE EIGHT GRADE. I NEVER WAS ONE TO 
LEARN FROM A BOOK, IF I COULD SEE IT DONE I COULD DO IT. I FAILED TWO GRADES AND 
WAS IN THE SAME ROOM WITH GERALD. HE HELPED ME OR I WOULD HAVE NEVER GOT AS FAR 
AS I DID IN SCHOOL. WE SHARED THE SAME BOOKS AND THAT HELPED OUT WITH THE MONEY.
WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN OR FOURTEEN YEARS OLD, THE R.E.A. ELECTRIC CO RAN A POWER 
LINE ALONG THE HIGHWAY TO SERVICE FARM ALONG THE ROAD. A MAN THAT WORKED FOR 
THEM SAID IF WE COULD GET OUR HOUSE WIRED THEY WOULD GIVE US POWER I WENT TO 
ROBERTSDALE, TO A HARDWARE STORE. THE MAN THERE GAVE ME WHAT I NEEDED TO DO THE 
JOB AND SHOWED ME HOW TO DO IT.
I WIRED THE HOUSE UP AND THE MAN LOOKED AT IT AND IT WAS OK SO THEY TURNED ON 
THE POWER. THIS WAS SOCK A DIFFERENCE FROM KEROSENE AND CARBIDE LAMPS. WE HAD 
LIGHTS IN EVER ROOM AND ON THE FOUNT AND BACK PORCHES. THEN I RAN WIRE OUT TO 
THE BARN WHERE WE HAD LIGHTS TO MILK THE COWS BY. WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT WE HAD.
 
WE HAD A GOOD OLD MULE NAMED “BECK" SHE WAS A GOOD MULE. DADDY COULD LAY OUT 
ROWS TO PLANT THINGS IN WITH A GEORGIA STOCK PLOW, WHICH WAS STRAIGHT AS, AN 
ARROW. HE WOULD LAY THE LINES ON THE PLOW HANDLES AND JUST SAY GEE OR HAW TO HER 
TO MOVE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, ROW AFTER ROW. SHE COULD OPEN CORN CRIB DOORS IF 
IT WASN'T LOCKED RIGHT. SHE WAS BAD ABOUT OPENING THE GATE OF THE BARN YARD AT 
NIGHT AND LETTING THE COWS OUT. ONE NIGHT SHE OPENED THE GATE AND LET HERSELF 
AND TWO OTHER MULES OUT. WE LOOKED FOR THEM FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE WE FOUND THEM 
FOURTEEN MILES FROM HOME. THAT'S WHEN WE KNEW SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE
ONE EVENING I WIRED THE GATE LATCH WITH 110 VOLTS OF ELECTRICITY AND HID AROUND 
THE CORNER OF THE BARN AND WATCHED HER. IT WASN'T, T LONG TILL SHE CAME TO THE 
GATE AND GOT INTO THE POWER LINE ON THE GATE LATCH. WHEN SHE DID, SHE LET OUT A 
SQUEAL AND TURNED AROUND SHE DIDN'T STOP TILL SHE GOT TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE 
PASTURE. PS  SHE NEVER DID THAT AGAIN AND I  NEVER TOLD ANY ONE WHAT I DID .I 
REMEMBER OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED AFTER WE MOVED TO THE FARM ON THE HIGHWAY. 
THE FIRST WINTER WE WERE SICK WITH THE FLU, ALL OF US BUT ANNIE LEE. SHE TOOK 
CARE OF US AND DID THE COOKING AND HOUSE WORK. THE LADY NEXT DOOR WOULD FIX SOME 
FOOD AND BRING IT OVER AND PUT IT ON A FENCE POST CLOSE TO THE HOUSE AND ANNIE 
LEE WOULD BRING IT IN FOR US TO EAT. IT WAS A BAD AND HARD TWO WEEKS FOR US. IT 
TOOK SOME OF US LONGER TO GET OVER THE FLU. WE HAD NO GOOD DRUGS LIKE WE HAVE 
TODAY.
ONE TIME WE WERE WORKING ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE HOUSE PULLING CORN TO HARVEST 
AND PUT IN THE BARN. GLENN WAS UP ON THE GATE POST WHERE WE WENT TO CROSS THE 
ROAD. HE WOULD OPEN THE GATE WHEN WE CAME WITH A LOAD IN THE WAGON TO TAKE IT 
THE BARN. WHILE  HE WAS  WAITING FOR US TO COME HE GOT OFF THE POST TO RUN TO 
THE HOUSE FOR SOMETHING AND HE DIDN'T LOOK  FOR CARS AND THERE WAS ONE COMING. 
HE GOT ALMOST TO THE OTHER SIDE AND WHEN HE HEARD THE BRAKES AND TIRES SQUEAL HE 
TURN AROUND AND WENT BACK TO THE POST. THE MAN IN THE CAR WOULD HAVE MISSED HIM 
IF HE HAD WENT ON ACROSS THE ROAD BUT WHEN GLENN WENT BACK THE MAN HAD TO GO THE 
OTHER WAY AND WENT INTO THE DITCH AND TURN THE CAR OVER TWO TIMES BEFORE COMING 
TO A STOP. NO ONE WAS HURT BUT THE CAR WAS BENT UP SOME. WHEN WE LOOKED FOR 
GLENN HE WAS UP ON TOP OF THE POST AGAIN
ANOTHER STORY WAS ABOUT THE OLD TRUCK WE HAD TO RUN THE CANE MILL WITH. DADDY 
HAD THE TRANSMISSION FIXED BUT IT WOULDN'T RUN AND IT SAT IN THE YARD A LONG 
TIME. ONE DAY WHEN EVERYONE WAS GONE {BUT MY THREE YOUNGER BROTHERS} I WORKED ON 
IT AND GOT IT RUNNING. I BOUGHT SOME GAS AND WE WENT DOWN THE ROAD ALMOST TO 
SUMMERDALE AND THE FLOORBOARDS CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TRUCK DIDN'T HAVE ANY EXHAUST 
PIPES ON IT WE GOT IT OUT AND WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE.
THE TRUCK DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES AND WHEN I TURNED INTO THE DRIVEWAY I WAS GOING 
TOO FAST AND DIDN'T STRAIGHTEN OUT ENOUGH AND HIT THE CORNER GATE POST. IT WAS A 
BIG POST AND ALL I DID TO IT WAS BEND IT OVER SOME. THE TRUCK HOOD WAS BENT 
ALSO. THERE WAS A JUNK YARD ON THE ROAD THAT WENT BACK INTO HE WOODS TO THE 
SWIMMING HOLE AND I DROVE THE TRUCK TO THE JUNK YARD AND FOUND A HOOD THAT WOULD 
FIT AND REPLACED IT. WE WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE AND PARKED THE TRUCK IN THE SAME 
PLACE SO DADDY WOULDN'T KNOW IT HAD BEEN MOVED. I WENT OVER TO THE NEIGHBOR AND 
BORROWED A POST HOLE DIGGER AND RESET THE POST. WHEN I TOOK THE DIGGER BACK TO 
THE MAN HE ASKED ME WHAT I USED IT FOR AND I TOLD HIM TO SET A POST. HE SAID HE 
HAD SEEN ME DRIVING THE TRUCK AND WAS GOING TO TELL DADDY ABOUT IT.
WHEN DADDY CAME HOME HE CAME OVER AND THEY TALKED A LONG TIME AND I KNEW WHEN HE 
LEFT I WAS IN TROUBLE. DADDY NEVER DID SAY ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT IT. I STILL 
DON'T KNOW IF HE TOLD DADDY OR NOT BUT I WORRIED ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME.
 
SOMETIME ABOUT THIS SAME TIME, I HAD BOUGHT A BICYCLE THAT WAS A (WESTERN FLYER) 
AND IT WAS HEAVY DUTY WITH BIG SPOKES IN THE WHEELS AND BALLOON TIRES. I PUT A 
SEAT ON THE BACK, ONE BETWEEN THE SEAT AND HANDLEBARS ON THE FRAME AND ONE ON 
THE HANDLEBARS. MY THREE YOUNGER BROTHERS AND I WOULD RIDE TOGETHER AND GO 
EVERYWHERE. THERE WERE THREE OF US DOING THE PEDDLING AND THE ONE ON THE 
HANDLEBARS GOT A FREE RIDE. WE HAD THIS BICYCLE FOR A LONG TIME. I DON'T KNOW 
WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO IT. I MAY HAVE STILL HAD IT WHEN WE MOVED TO MOBILE AND USED 
IT ON MY PAPER ROUTE WHEN WE LIVED ON ARLINGTON STREET. WHEN WE WERE STILL ON 
THE FARM I REMEMBER ONE TIME I WAS RIDING IT BACK IN THE WOODS AT A CLAY PIT 
WHERE THEY DUG CLAY OUT TO BUILD ROADS THAT THERE WERE PILLS OF DIRT AND HILLS 
WHERE WE WOULD RIDE DOWN AND ONCE WHEN I CAME DOWN THE FOUNT TIRE HIT A PINECONE 
AND THE BIKE WENT ONE WAY AND I WENT THE OTHER AND I BROKE MY LITTLE FINGER ON 
MY LEFT HAND AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SHORTER THEN THE ONE ON MY RIGHT HAND
MOTHER WAS A WONDERFUL LADY AND MOTHER TO US AND LIKE DADDY SHE WAS STRONG AND 
STERN, BUT SHE WAS KIND AND SOFT WHEN SHE PUT HERS ARMS AROUND YOU. SHE LOVED 
HER CHILDREN AND TOOK CARE OF US. SHE WOULD TAKE US TO THE NEIGHBORS FIELDS AND 
PICK UP POTATOES FOR THREE CENTS A HAMPER TO MAKE MONEY TO HELP FEED AND BUY 
CLOTHES SO WE COULD GO TO SCHOOL. WE WOULD HELP HER WASH CLOTHES AND IRON THEM. 
SHE TOOK IN WASHING FROM THE NEIGHBORS AND DO OUR CLOTHES TOO. WE WOULD BUILD A 
FIRE UNDER A BIG IRON WASHPOT AND BOIL THEM IN WATER AND HOME MADE LIE SOAP. A 
SALESMAN CAME BY AND LEFT WISHING MACHINE TO TRY OUT BUT DADDY SAID HE COULD NOT 
AFFORD IT AND IT MADE TO MUCH NOISE. IT WAS POWERED A GASOLINE ENGINE.
MOTHER WAS THE OLDEST OF FIFTEEN LIVING CHILDREN. HER FATHER DIED WHEN HE WAS 
FIFTY YEARS OLD AND I NEVER KNEW HIM. HER MOTHER WAS THE ONLY GRANDMOTHER I KNEW 
AND SHE LOVED AND MADE YOU FEEL SO WONDERFUL WHEN SHE WAS AROUND. LIKE MOTHER, 
SHE ALWAYS WENT ON ABOUT HOW BIG YOU WERE AND HOW GOOD YOU COULD DO THINGS. I 
WOULD STAY OVERNIGHT WITH HER ANYTIME MOTHER WOULD LET ME. MY AUNTS AND UNCLES 
WERE ALL GOOD TO US. I REMEMBER UNCLE B.B. BROUGHT SOME FOOD AND FLOUR TO MOTHER 
WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO EAT, AND HOW MOTHER CRIED WHEN HE DID. ALL OF OUR 
FAMILY WERE LOVING PEOPLE.
 
DADDY WAS GOOD AT REPAIRING OR PUTTING IN NEW PUMPS OR DRIVING PIPE IN THE 
GROUND SOMETIMES AS DEEP AS NINETY FEET TO HIT GOOD SAND WITH GOOD WATER. WE 
WOULD START THE HOLE WITH A TWO INCH GROUND DRILL TO GET THROUGH THE CLAY TO 
SOFT SAND. WE WOULD DRILL SOMETIMES THIRTY FEET DEEP BEFORE WE COULD START 
DRIVING. WE WOULD MAKE A FRAME LIKE A TEE-PEE OUT OF THREE LOGS POLES ABOUT 
TWELVE FEET HIGH WITH A PULLEY AT THE TOP WITH A ROPE THROUGH THE PULLEY AND 
DOWN TO A DRIVER WE MADE OUT OF A BLACKGUM LOG TWELVE INCHES AROUND AND THREE  
FOOT LONG. WE PUT A ROD IN ONE END SIX FEET LONG TO GO INSIDE THE PIPE WE WERE 
DRIVING. BY PULLING THE ROPE TO LIFT THE DRIVER UP AND THEN DROPPING IT DOWN ON 
THE PIPE IT WOULD DRIVE THE PIPE FOR THE PUMP DOWN. THE FIRST FIVE FEET WAS THE 
POINT WITH SCREEN ON IT. WE WOULD PUT SOAP ON THE SCREEN POINT TO HELP IT GO 
THROUGH HARD CLAY OR STONE BEFORE HITTING SAND AND WATER. IT WAS TOO BAD WHEN 
THE PIPE BROKE OFF, THEN WE MOVED AND STARTED OVER. WE SOMETIMES PULLED OLD 
PUMPS AND REPLACED THE POINTS ON THEM BECAUSE THE SCREEN ON THE OLD ONES WOULD 
LET SAND THROUGH IT.  DADDY GOT A JOB IN MOBILE, ALABAMA AND DROVE THE CAR TO 
AND FROM MOBILE EACH DAY. I DON'T REMEMBER BUT THINK THE JOB WAS AT A SHIPYARD 
FIRST, THEN AT THE ANN STREET HOUSING PROJECT DOING CARPENTER WORK, BUILDING 
HOMES. I DID THE WORK AT THE FARM WHILE HE WORKED IN MOBILE. I KNOW WE WERE 
STILL AT THE FARM AFTER THE WAR STARTED BECAUSE FLOYD CAME ON LEAVE WITH HIS 
NAVY UNIFORM ON. A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENS AROUND THAT TIME AND I MAY GET ONE 
THING AHEAD OF THE OTHER. I WAS NOT EIGHTEEN YET BUT WENT TO WORK WITH DADDY 
WHILE WE WERE STILL ON THE FARM. I REMEMBER RIDING TO AND FROM MOBILE WITH HIM 
AND WORKING AS A CARPENTERS HELPER WITH HIM IN THE SAME HOUSING PROJECT WHERE HE 
WORKED. I WAS DRIVING NAILS IN SUB FLOORING. ANOTHER BOY AND I WOULD DRIVE A 50 
POUND KEG OF EIGHT PENNY NAILS A DAY. THE MAN WE WORKED FOR WAS IMPRESSED.
IN 1942 DADDY SOLD THE FARM AND WE MOVED TO MOBILE IN A HOUSE WE RENTED ON LEMON 
STREET, THEN TO ONE ON CAULDRON AND QUAIL AND THEN TO A HOUSE IN THE PROJECT 
WHERE WE HAD WORKED ON SOME OF THE HOUSES TOGETHER. THEN DADDY BOUGHT A HOUSE ON 
ARLINGTON STREET. WE WERE SAD WHEN LEFT THE FARM BECAUSE IT WAS A LIFE WE WOULD 
NEVER GO BACK TO IT AGAIN. IT WAS LIKE,  "GONE WITH THE WIND"
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE JOBS WHILE WE WERE IN MOBILE. DADDY GOT A JOB AT BROOKLEY 
FIELD AIR FORCE BASE DOING CARPENTER WORK. HE FOUND OUT ABOUT A SCHOOL FOR 
AIRCRAFT MECHANIC TO WORK ON ENGINES FOR AIRPLANES JUST OUTSIDE BROOKLEY FIELD 
AIR FORCE BASE IN MOBILE. AFTER I GRADUATED FROM THE SCHOOL I WENT TO WORK IN 
THE ENGINE SHOP INSIDE THE BASE, REBUILDING ENGINES. THEN OUT ON THE FLIGHT 
LINES TO WORK ON THE ONES IN AIRPLANES THAT THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH. WHILE I WAS 
THERE I KNOCKED SMALL BUMP OFF OF MY RIGHT THUMB AND GOT LEAD POISON IN IT FROM 
THE HIGH TEST GASOLINE. IT CAUSED KNOTS TO COME UP IN A VEIN ALL THE WAY UP MY 
ARM. THEY DOCTORED AND LANCED THE KNOTS AND PUT SULPHUR SALVE ON IT AND GAVE ME 
A LOT OF SHOTS TO STOP THE POISON. THEY FINALLY DID STOP IT BUT SAID IF THEY 
DIDN’T I MIGHT LOSE MY ARM. NOT LONG AFTER THAT THEY LAID ME OFF AND I WENT TO 
WORK ON THE FARM FOR MY SISTER AND HUSBAND. WHEN I TURN 18 YEARS OLD I DAD TO 
REGISTER FOR THE DRAFT AND SERVICE AND WAS DEFERRED BECAUSE I WAS WORKING ON THE 
FARM.
ANNIE LEE MY SISTER HAD MARRIED A MAN BY THE NAME OF HARLOW SHERRITTS. THEY 
LIVED ON A FARM ABOUT A HALF MILE FROM OUR FARM THAT WAS PARTLY OWNED BY HARLOW 
AND HIS FATHER AND THEY NEEDED SOMEONE TO WORK AND DRIVE A TRACTOR FOR THEM. I 
WENT TO WORK FOR THEM FOR 20 DOLLARS A WEEK WITH ROOM AND BOARD. I ENJOYED GOING 
BACK TO THE FARM BECAUSE I WAS BACK AROUND NEIGHBORS AND THE AREA I GREW UP IN 
AND GOING BACK TO THE OLD SWIMMING HOLE. I LEARNED TO PLAY THE GUITAR WHILE I 
WAS THERE WITH AN ERNEST TUBB SONG BOOK. MY OLDER BROTHER JOHN WAS DRAFTED INTO 
THE SERVICE AND WHEN HE WAS GONE HE LEFT HIS GUITAR WITH ME AND I USED IT TO 
LEARN TO PLAY FROM A ERNEST TUB SONG BOOK. I WOULD LESSON TO THE GRAND-OLD-OPERA 
ON RADIO TO LEARN THE SONGS AND HOW THE MUSIC WENT AND SOON I WAS PLAYING THEM 
MYSELF.
 
I WORKED THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER OF 1944 AND QUIT AND WAS CALLED UP TO 
THE ARMY. I WENT TO CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA, FOR BASIC TRAINING. WHILE I WAS 
THERE, MOTHER AND DADDY CAME TO SEE ME AND BROUGHT SOME FRIED CHICKEN. THEY 
STAYED FOR THE WEEKEND IT WAS HARD TO SEE THEM GO BACK HOME .I WAS SO HOMESICK. 
AFTER TRAINING FOR SIX WEEKS I WAS SENT HOME FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN INTO THE 
WAR IN GERMANY IN EARLY SPRING OF 1945. IT WAS COLD AND REMEMBERS TRYING TO STAY 
WARM WITH THE WOOL CLOTHING WE HAD. WE WASHED IT WITH GAS IN OUR STEEL HELMETS. 
YOU COULDN'T USE WATER BECAUSE THEY WOULD FREEZE BEFORE THEY WOULD DRY. I 
REMEMBER TRYING TO TAKE A BATH IN A SMALL CREEK AND YOUR LEGS WERE BLUE WHEN YOU 
GOT OUT. FRANCE AND GERMANY WERE SURE BLOWN APART, AND TREES WITH NO LIMBS ON 
THEM. HOUSES AND BUILDINGS YOU COULD SEE THROUGH WITH NOT MUCH LEFT. I WAS 
ASSIGNED TO THE 13TH ARMORED DIVISION AND IT WAS UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL 
PATTON WHO WAS COMMANDER OVER ALL ARMORED DIVISION. I WAS IN A ARMORED COMPANY 
AS A   RIFLEMAN WITH SNIPER RIFLE WITH A SCOPE ON IT. WE DID A LOT OF PATROLLING 
AND THE WAR WITH GERMANY ENDED IN THE SPRING OF 1945 AND I WAS SHIPPED BACK TO 
THE STATES AND HOME ON A THIRTY DAY LEAVE AND THEN OUT TO CAMP COOK CAL. FOR 
TRAINING FOR THE LANDING ON JAPAN. I FOUND OUT IT WAS SET FOR THE 2 OF NOV. 
WHICH WAS MY BIRTHDAY. WE WERE WAITING TO BE SHIPPED OUT WHEN THE WAR WITH JAPAN 
ENDED. I THANK GOD.
WHILE I WAS AT CAMP COOK I MET A GIRL NAMED ROZELLA ZIMPRICH, WHICH WAS ON A BUS 
WITH ME GOING BACK TO THE BASE. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOME AND OUR FAMILY. SHE 
WAS A NURSE AT THE HOSPITAL ON THE BASE. SHE WAS A LIEUTENANT IN THE ARMY. WE 
STARTED DATING AND SPENDING A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER WHEN WE WERE OFF DUTY, MOST 
OF IT ON THE BASE. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER WE MET I WAS SENT TO FORT HOOD, TEXAS. WE 
WROTE LETTERS TO EACH OTHER, SHE WAS DISCHARGED AND WENT HOME. SHE LIVED IN 
SHARON, NORTH DAKOTA WITH HER FATHER AND MOTHER. THEY OWNED A FARM ABOUT FIVE 
MILES FROM SHARON. SHE WAS THE OLDEST OF SIX CHILDREN, TWO BOYS AND FOUR GIRLS.
IN 1945, WHILE I WAS AT FORT HOOD, THERE WAS AN OPENING FOR A COOK, SO I WAS 
SENT TO FORT BAKER, CALIFORNIA AT SAN FRANCISCO, TO COOK AND BAKER SCHOOL FOR 
TWO MONTHS. THEN I WENT BACK TO FORT HOOD TEXAS TO JOIN MY OUTFIT AND I COOKED 
FOR MY COMPANY. WHAT A WAY TO LIVE WHILE IN THE ARMY. NO MORE FOX HOLES TO DIG, 
NO DIRT TO EAT AND NO MORE 20 MILES TO MARCH AND BEST OF ALL I GOT ALL I COULD 
EAT.
I WAS THERE ANOTHER EIGHT MONTHS THEN I WAS DISCHARGED. I WENT HOME TO MOBILE ON 
ARLINGTON STREET FOR A MONTH, THEN I WENT TO NORTH DAKOTA TO SEE THE GIRL AND 
STAYED WITH HER MOTHER AND FATHER.  WHILE I WAS THERE I WORKED FOR THEM ON THEIR 
FARM. THEY PUT ME TO WORK HELPING TO HARVEST WHEAT, RICE, CORN AND CUT MILO TO 
PUT IN THE SILO.TO FEED TO THEIR COWS IN THE WINTER. THEY GAVE ME TWENTY DOLLARS 
A WEEK AND ROOM AND BOARD. THEY HAD A BARN THAT NEEDED A CEDAR SHINGLE ROOF PUT 
ON. IT WAS TWO STORIES HIGH AND ONE SIDE HAD 150 ROWS ON IT AND THE OTHER HAD 
100 ROWS. THEY WERE EIGHTY FEET LONG. WE PUT THE SHINGLES IN A POND OVER NIGHT 
AND TOOK THEM UP A LADDER TO THE ROOF AND NAILED THEM ON. DID MOST OF THE WORK 
MYSELF.
ROZELLA AND I WERE TOGETHER A LOT.  SHE WORKED IN SHARON AT THE HOSPITAL AND 
ROOMED THERE TILL THE WEEK END. HER FATHER LET ME DRIVE HIS MODEL-A FORD COUPE 
TO SHARON SOME NIGHTS TO SEE HER. SHE CAME HOME ON WEEK ENDS AND WE WOULD GO TO 
CHURCH TOGETHER. WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD TIMES TOGETHER AND WENT TO THE SHOWS IN 
FANGO. I WAS THERE ABOUT THREE MONTHS THROUGH THE WINTER OF 1947 AND THEN WE 
CAME TO MOBILE TOGETHER ON A TRAIN ABOUT FEBRUARY OF 1948
DADDY HAD BOUGHT A PLACE ABOUT 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF DOG RIVER AND JUST OFF DOG 
RIVER ROAD ON THE MOBILE BAY WHILE I WAS IN THE ARMY. IT WAS 300 FEET WIDE ON 
THE BAY FRONT AND 1000 FEET DEEP. IT HAD A HOUSE 100 FEET FROM THE WATER AND IT 
NEEDED REPAIR BEFORE MOVING INTO IT. WHILE I WAS IN NORTH DAKOTA. HE HAD WORKED 
ON IT AND HAD IT FIXED UP NICE WHEN ROZELLA AND I GOT HOME. I GOT A JOB AT THE 
CHICKASAW SHIPYARD WORKING AS AN ELECTRICIAN. REBUILDING LIBERTY SHIPS THAT WERE 
USED IN THE WAR.
WE TALKED ABOUT GETTING MARRIED, BUT WE BOTH COULD SEE IT WOULD NOT WORK OUT 
BECAUSE OF THE CHURCH DIFFERENCE. WE TRIED TO SEE EACH OTHERS SIDE. I WOULD HAVE 
TO SIGN OVER ANY CHILDREN TO THE CHURCH WITH NO SAY ABOUT HOW THEY WERE TAUGHT 
OR RAISED.
SHE WAS WITH US FOR TWO MONTHS AND SHE WENT BACK HOME. WE WROTE TO EACH OTHER 
FOR A MONTH AND SHE WROTE ME  A DEAR JOHN LETTER SHE SAYING SHE WAS GETTING 
MARRIED. I GUESS I KNEW IT WAS COMING BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP ANY. I WAS HURT, 
HEART BROKEN AND LONESOME. OUR LOVE WAS STRONG AND DEEP FOR EACH OTHER AND I 
MISSED HER VERY MUCH. I WAS LOST BUT I KNEW I HAD TO GO ON WITH MY LIFE. I 
WORKED HARD AT MY JOB IN THE SHIPYARD WITH ALL THE OVER TIME I COULD GET. ONLY 
TIME COULD SLOW THE FEELING AND HURT.
 
MY THREE YOUNGER BROTHERS, GERALD, BILL, GLENN AND I WORKED TO FILL IN THE BAD 
ROAD GOING INTO DADDY'S PLACE ON THE BAY WITH ANYTHING WE COULD HAUL IN. WE GOT 
BALLAST BLOCKS FROM THE SHIPYARD WERE I WORKED WITH A U-RENT TRUCK. SAND AND 
DIRT AND OLD CEMENT. WE DID GET IT FILLED UP SO WE WOULD NOT GET STUCK COMING 
INTO WHERE HOUSE AND YARD WAS. I DID ANYTHING TO KEEP ME BUSY AND MY MIND OFF MY 
TROUBLES. I PLAYED MY GUITAR AND THAT HELPED SOME.
JOHN AND I PUT A BAND TOGETHER AND BOOKED SCHOOLS FOR SHOWS AND MUSIC WE PUT ON. 
WE WERE ON THE RADIO STATION W.M.O.B. MOBILE FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS. IT DIDN'T WORK 
OUT BECAUSE OF THE UNION. WE JOINED IT, BUT DIDN'T HAVE A SPONSOR. WE BROKE UP 
AND TWO OTHER BOYS AND I WENT TO HOUSTON, TEXAS AND THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT EITHER. 
WE PLAYED IN BARS AND DANCE HALLS BUT DIDN'T MAKE ENOUGH TO PAY OUR OWN WAY. WE 
HEADED BACK TO MOBILE AFTER SIX WEEKS, BROKE AND HUNGRY. WE HAD 15 FLATS ON THE 
WAY. I NEVER FIXED SO MANY FLATS AND PUMPED THEM UP WITH A HAND PUMP ,IN MY 
LIFE. WE BROKE UP WHEN WE GOT BACK TO MOBILE. I FOUND ANOTHER JOB FOR A WHILE, 
BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I WAS DOING.
I STARTED GOING TO CHURCH WITH MOTHER AND DADDY AND MET MYRTLE ELDER AT THE 
CHURCH. SHE WAS A GOOD FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN AND WE STARTED DATING AFTER CHURCH AND 
WOULD GO TO THE SHOWS TOGETHER. SHE WAS TEN YEARS OLDER THAN I BUT THAT DIDN'T 
BOTHER ME. ROZELLA WAS ALSO TEN YEARS OLDER. MYRTLE AND HER MOTHER OWNED AND 
LIVED IN A SMALL THREE ROOM HOUSE ON HOUSTON AVE. IN MOBILE. IT HAD A LIVING 
ROOM, BED ROOM AND A SMALL KITCHEN BETWEEN THEM. HER MOTHER WORKED DOWN TOWN IN 
A DEPARTMENT STORE AND MYRTLE WORKED IN A BEAUTY SHOP ON HOUSTON AVE. EIGHT 
BLOCKS FROM HER HOUSE.
WE MADE PLANS TO GET MARRIED AND I STARTED TO BUILD A LARGER HOUSE RIGHT IN 
FRONT OF THE SMALL ONE ON THE SAME LOT. DADDY HELPED ME AND WE SOON HAD IT 
FRAMED AND CLOSED IN ON THE OUTSIDE.  I LOST MY JOB SO I WORKED ON THE HOUSE 
MOST OF THE TIME. I HAD IT SEALED ALMOST INSIDE WITH SHEETROCK AND IN 1948 
MYRTLE AND I WERE MARRIED AND MOVED INTO THE NEW HOUSE. I WAS 24 YEARS OLD WHEN 
I GOT MARRIED. I SOON FOUND OUT IT WHAT A MISTAKE IT WAS.
I GUESS I THOUGHT I COULD HELP MYRTLE AND HER MOTHER BY BUILDING THE HOUSE. I 
WAS WRONG IN BOTH WAYS AND IT DIDN'T' TAKE LONG TO FIND THIS OUT. I WAS DIGGING 
A WHOLE FOR A SEPTIC TANK TO GIVE US A BATH ROOM INSIDE WHEN HER MOTHER TOLD ME 
I NEEDED TO MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE THERE WASN'T ROOM FOR BOTH OF US. UP TO THAT 
TIME WE ALL GOT ALONG GOOD TOGETHER. THAT HIT ME HARD SO I MOVED OUT.
CARLES SUBBLES FATHER OWNED A FARM ACROSS THE ROAD AND 1/4 MILE DOWN FROM ANNIE 
LEE AND HARLOWS. CARLES HAD TWO BROTHERS AND ONE SISTER. HARLOW’S FATHER DIED 
AND HE SOLD HIS PART OF THE FARM TO CARLES. THEY GAVE ME A JOB, ROOM AND BOARD 
AND PAID ME 20 DOLLARS A WEEK. I ROOMED IN THE SAME LITTLE HOUSE AS BEFORE WHEN 
I WORKED FOR HARLOW. I SLEPT ON SACKS THAT WE PUT POTATOES IN WHEN WE HARVEST 
THEM. THEY ALSO GAVE ME AN ACRE OF POTATOES AND I GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE 
DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL BILL WHEN CARL LOUIS WAS BORN OUR FIRST CHILD. MYRTLE STILL 
STAYED WITH HER MOTHER IN MOBILE AND CARL WAS BORN IN THE HOSPITAL IN MOBILE.
 
I WORKED FOR CARLES THE SUMMER OF 1948 AND ALL OF THE SAME GROUP OF BOYS IN THE 
NEIGHBORHOOD WERE TOGETHER A LOT. ONE OF THE TRACTORS THAT CARLES AND HIS DAD 
HAD WAS A FARMALL-H TRACTOR AND IT WOULD RUN ABOUT TWENTY MILES PER HOUR. WE 
WENT TO THE SWIMMING HOLE ON IT AND GLENN WAS WITH US. I WAS DRIVING AND WE WERE 
GOING DOWN HILL ON THE DIRT ROAD ON THE WAY HOME, WHEN WE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD 
AND GLENN FELL OFF IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE BIG WHEELS. I PUT ON BRAKES AND LOCKED 
THE WHEELS BUT WAS SLIDING ON THE ROAD. GLENN WAS SLIDING TOO. THE TRACTOR AND 
GLENN STOPPED AT THE SAME TIME. WE WERE LUCKY THAT HE WAS ONLY SCRATCHED ON HIS 
ARM AND LEG. WE WERE ALL LUCKY NOT TO GET HURT MORE THEN WE DID WITH ALL THE 
THINGS WE DID. WE WOULD TRY ANYTHING.
AFTER THE SUMMER WAS OVER CARLES DIDN'T NEED ME ANY MORE SO I GOT A JOB ON THE 
KENNEDY FARM IN SUMMERDALE DRIVING A TRACTOR FOR FIFTY CENTS AN HOUR WITH A 
HOUSE TO LIVE IN. HIS FARM WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD FROM OUR OLD FARM. MR. 
KENNEDY HAD BOUGHT THE OLD PLACE AND THE HOUSE WAS GONE. THE HOUSE HE GAVE ME TO 
LIVE IN WAS IN TOWN, JUST ACROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS FROM HIS PACKING SHED, 
RIGHT BY THE TRACKS. I THINK I WORKED FOR HIM AT THE PACKING SHED BEFORE I 
WORKED ON HIS FARM, SACKING POTATOES WHEN THEY CAME OFF OF THE GRADER. WHEN I 
GOT THE JOB AND THE HOUSE IN SUMMERDALE MYRTLE AND CARL CAME AND WE LIVED 
TOGETHER THERE. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN 1949.
I REMEMBER THE TRAIN ENGINE BECAUSE EVERY NIGHT THEY WOULD PARK IT RIGHT IN 
FRONT OF MY HOUSE ABOUT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. WHILE IT WAS THERE, THE 
WATER PUMP ON IT WOULD START UP EVERY FOUR OR FIVE MINUTES AND KEEP ME AWAKE 
SOMETIME FOR HOURS. I ASKED THEM TO PARK IT DOWN THE TRACK SOME BUT THEY 
WOULDN'T DO IT AND I GOT USE TO IT AFTER A WHILE.
THE HOUSE THERE WAS TWO STORY WITH LIVING ROOM, KITCHEN AND A BED ROOM DOWN 
STAIRS AND ONE BED ROOM UPSTAIRS. THE PROPANE WAS FURNISHED TO COOK AND HEAT THE 
HOUSE WITH. THERE WAS NO A/C JUST A FAN I PUT IN THE WINDOW.
I BOUGHT A 1947 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE AND THAT WAS THE WAY WE GOT AROUND. I 
WOULD SIT CARL IN A CARDBOARD BOX BETWEEN MY LEGS ON THE GAS TANK AND AWAY WE 
WOULD GO TO CHURCH AT FAIRHOPE FOURTEEN MILES AWAY AND TO MOBILE FOR MYRTLE TO 
SEE HER MOTHER, AND I WENT TO SEE MY MOTHER. I STAYED AWAY FROM HERS.
GERALD WAS GOING TO COLLEGE AT AUBURN, ALABAMA, AND HE NEEDED TO GET HIS BOOKS 
AND CAR HOME FOR THE SUMMER. THE CAR HAD A FLAT CRANKSHAFT ON ONE OF THE RODS 
AND IT KNOCKED BAD. WE WENT THERE ON MY 1947 MOTORCYCLE AND WHILE GERALD LOADED 
THE CAR WITH HIS THINGS I WORKED ON THE CAR TO FIX THE BEARING BY FILING THE ROD 
DOWN SO IT WOULD BE TIGHT ON THE SHAFT. THIS WOULD ONLY FIX IT TEMPORARILY TILL 
WE GOT IT HOME, MAYBE. WE ALSO TIED THE MOTORCYCLE ON THE BACK OF THE CAR. WE 
SURE HAD A LOAD ON IT. THE FRONT WHEELS WERE ALMOST OFF THE GROUND. SO WE 
STARTED HOME AND I WAS DRIVING ABOUT FORTY MILES AN HOUR.  WE GOT TO THE OLD 
SPANISH FORT,[ABOUT THIRTY MILES FROM MOTHERS] AND I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE OFF TO 
GO ON TO SUMMERDALE AND HOME. GERALD STARTED ON TO MOTHERS AND HE SAID,[LATER] 
THAT THE CAR SOUNDED GOOD AND IT WAS LATE SO HE WAS GOING DOWN THE LONG HILL 
JUST AFTER HE LEFT ME AND HE LET THE CAR GO FASTER. ALL AT ONCE THE ROD CAME 
LOOSE AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. HE HAD TO CALL DADDY TO COME TOW HIM HOME. I 
DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT TILL THE NEXT DAY.
 
ONE TIME GERALD AND I WERE AT JOHNS, WHEN HE LIVED ON ALBA BEACH, JUST ON THE 
NORTH SIDE OF DOG RIVER ,DUCK HUNTING. WE WERE ON THE BEACH ABOUT A 1/4 MILE 
FROM JOHNS. GERALD AND I WERE ABOUT ONE HUNDRED YARDS APART. GERALD WAS STANDING 
ON A LARGE LOG WITH THE GUN BUTT ON HIS RIGHT FOOT AND THE TOP OF THE BARREL OF 
THE GUN IN THE PALM OF HIS RIGHT HAND. THE GUN WAS AN OLD SINGLE BARREL WITH THE 
HAMMER ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE GUN. THE GUN SLIPPED OFF HIS FOOT AND DOWN THE SIDE 
OF THE LOG AND HUNG THE HAMMER ON THE LOG AND WENT OFF. IT TOOK OFF HIS RIGHT 
THUMB AND TWENTY FIVE OF THE BEE-BEES IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS HEAD. I HEARD HIM 
SCREAM AND I CAME RUNNING TO WHERE HE WAS AND SAW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I SHOULD 
NOT HAVE LEFT HIM BUT I THOUGHT THE RIGHT THING TO DO WAS GO GET THE CAR AND 
COME GET HIM. I RAN TO JOHNS AFTER THE CAR AND HAD TO GO AROUND AND COME IN A 
ROAD TO WHERE HE WAS. WHEN I GOT THERE HE WAS GONE. I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE STAYED 
WITH HIM AND CARRY HIM OUT. I GOT THE CAR STUCK IN THE SAND TRYING TO FIND HIM 
SO I LEFT THE CAR AND WENT TO JOHNS AND THE NEIGHBOR HAD TAKEN HIM TO THE 
HOSPITAL. I BLAMED MYSELF FOR THE WHOLE THING AND WISH I HAD NOT ASKED HIM TO GO 
HUNTING THAT DAY. THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS IN LIFE WE WISH WE COULD DO OVER OR 
CHANGE IF NOT FOR OURSELF BUT TO SAVE OTHERS.
ANOTHER TIME FLOYD AND I WERE IN A BOAT AND HAD GONE FISHING UP DOG RIVER. WHEN 
WE CAME BACK TO MOTHERS, I WAS SITTING UP ON THE BOW OF THE BOAT AND FLOYD WAS 
RUNNING THE MOTOR IN THE BACK AND I WAS FACING THE BACK END OF THE BOAT DAY 
DREAMING I GUESS AND WE HAD A POST DROVE IN THE GROUND ABOUT TWENTY YARDS FROM 
THE PIER OF THE NEIGHBORS AND IT WAS THREE HUNDRED YARDS LONG FROM THE BEACH. 
THE POST STUCK UP A FOOT ABOVE THE WATER AND IT WAS ABOUT FOUR FOOT DEEP AT THE 
POST. FLOYD RAN RIGHT ONTO THE POST WITH THE BOAT AND THE BOAT STOPPED BUT I 
DIDN'T. I DID A FLIP OVER THE END OF THE POST AND UNDER THE WATER I WENT. WHEN I 
CAME UP FLOYD WAS ALREADY ON THE PIER AND I WAS AFTER HIM. BY THE TIME I GOT ON 
THE PIER HE WAS AT THE HOUSE, WITH MOTHER, LAUGHING AT ME.
ONE TIME GERALD AND I (WE CALLED HIM WINFORD  THEN)  ANYWAY WE WERE IN THE SAME 
BOAT AND WE WENT OVER TO SOME ISLANDS ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF FROM MOTHERS WHERE 
THEY HAD DREDGED A CHANNEL TO THE AMMUNITION DUMP. WHEN WE GOT TO THE ISLANDS WE 
PULLED THE BOAT UP ON THE BEACH AND WENT ACROSS TO THE SIDE OF THE INLAND TO SEE 
IF THERE WERE SOME DUCKS THERE.
WE WERE NOT GONE LONG BUT WHEN WE WENT BACK TO THE BOAT THE WIND AND WAVES HAD 
WASHED THE BOAT OFF THE BEACH. IT WAS ABOUT FIFTY FEET OFF THE SHORE SO I WENT 
AFTER IT. I COULD SWIM GOOD BUT I NEVER CAUGHT THE BOAT. IT WAS MOVING THE SAME 
SPEED I WAS. WHEN I SAW I WAS NOT GETTING ANY CLOSER TO IT AND I TURNED AROUND 
TO GO BACK TO THE BEACH WHERE GERALD WAS. THE WIND AND WAVES WERE AGAINST ME AND 
I WASN'T MOVING VERY FAST. I SAW A STICK AHEAD OF ME AND I WENT TO IT BUT WHEN I 
REACH FOR IT, IT WASN'T IN THE GROUND BUT JUST FLOATING. WHILE ALL THIS WAS 
GOING ON GERALD GOT A LOG OFF THE BANK AND WAS PUSHING IT OUT TO ME. WHEN HE GOT 
TO ME WITH IT I WAS JUST ABLE TO STAY AFLOAT. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DROWN.
WE GOT TO THE BEACH AND HEADED TO THE MAIN LAND THAT WAS OVER TWO SMALL ISLANDS 
AND THE WATER WASN'T TOO DEEP. WE KNEW A NEIGHBOR THAT LIVED UP THE BEACH SO WE 
WENT TO HIS HOUSE AND GOT HIS BOAT TO GO AFTER OUR BOAT. WHEN WE FOUND OUR BOAT 
IT WAS ALMOST ACROSS MOBILE BAY, ABOUT FIVE MILES FROM WHERE WE LOST IT AND 
STILL GOING.
I JOINED THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD AT FOLEY, ALABAMA IN 1949 WHILE I WORKED FOR 
CARLES SUBBLE. THERE WERE A GROUP OF BOYS I KNEW THAT WERE IN IT AND WE HAD SOME 
GOOD TIMES TOGETHER ON FIELD TRIPS. THE ARMY GAVE ME MY RANK OF BUCK SERGEANT 
BACK AND ADDED THE YEARS BETWEEN MY LAST TIME IN THE ARMY AT FORT HOOD TO MY 
RETIREMENT IF I STAYED IN FOR TWENTY YEARS.
I WORKED AT THE KENNEDY FARM THROUGH 1949 AND GLENN HAD GONE TO HOUSTON AND GOT 
A JOB WITH THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD AS A CAR CHECKER. HE ASKED HIS BOSS IF 
THEY WOULD GIVE HIS BROTHER A JOB. HE SAID YES SO IN MARCH 1950 I WENT TO 
HOUSTON AND GOT THE JOB AS A SWITCHMAN. I WAS STAYING WITH GLENN AND MARIE IN AN 
APARTMENT OFF WASHINGTON AVE. GLENN WENT TO MOBILE AND RODE MY MOTORCYCLE BACK 
AND IT HELPED TO HAVE IT TO GET AROUND ON AND NOT HAVE TO RIDE THE BUS. I WORKED 
AWHILE AND SENT FOR MYRTLE TO COME TO HOUSTON AND  SHE DID AND WE GOT AN 
APARTMENT ON AVE. H JUST OFF WAYSIDE FOR A MONTH AND THEN I BOUGHT THE HOUSE ON 
CHESTON DR. THROUGH A VETERANS LOAN. I PAID ONE DOLLAR FOR CLOSING COST TO MOVE 
IN AND FORTY NINE DOLLARS A MONTH. I WONDERED HOW I COULD MAKE THE NOTES. I WAS 
MAKING $14.OO A DAY. GLENN AND MARIE MOVED IN WITH US AND WE STILL HAD ROOM 
ENOUGH FOR ALL.
 
GLENN AND I  WORKED IN THE SAME RAIL YARD AND WE RODE THE MOTORCYCLE TO WORK. 
ONE DAY WE WERE WORKING AND I GOT OFF BEFORE HE DID AND WENT TO GET THE 
MOTORCYCLE AND IT WAS GONE. SOME ONE HAD STOLEN IT. WE NEVER FOUND IT.
IN 1950, THE WAR IN KOREA STARTED AND THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD WAS CALLED UP 
FOR SERVICE, AND I HAD TO GO BACK TO FOLEY TO JOIN THEM. THE RAILROAD PUT MY JOB 
ON HOLD TILL I CAME BACK, AND GLENN STAYED IN THE HOUSE AND PAID THE NOTES.
WHILE WE WAITED FOR EVERY ONE TO REPORT WE DID DRILLS AND MARCHED AROUND FOLEY. 
WE WERE DOING HAND TO HAND COMBAT WITH EACH OTHER AND WHEN I PICKED UP THE MAN I 
WAS WITH TO THROW HIM. I SPUN AROUND ON MY RIGHT LEG AND MY KNEE JOINT CAME OUT 
OF SOCKET. THEY TOOK ME TO A DOCTOR AT FOLEY AND HE PUT IT BACK IN AND PUT MY 
LEG IN A CAST. I WENT TO SOUTH CAROLINA THAT WAY AND IT STILL BOTHERS ME. I HAVE 
LARGE PICTURE OF THE TROOPS TRAIN IN FOLEY WHEN WE WERE LEAVING TO GO THE CAMP. 
DADDY, MOTHER, AND MYRTLE WITH CARL OUTSIDE THE TRAIN AND I WAS HANGING OUT THE 
WINDOW. IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR ALL OF US FOR ME TO BE LEAVING AGAIN FOR WAR. MY 
MOTHER TOOK IT THE HARDEST OF ALL.
 
I WAS THE COOK MESS SERGEANT FOR THE COMPANY AND I DID SOME COOKING BUT MY MAIN 
JOB WAS TO SEE THAT THINGS WERE DONE RIGHT AND MAKE OUT THE MENU FOR EACH MEAL 
AND MAKE SURE THE KITCHEN WAS KEPT CLEAN AT ALL TIMES. WHILE I WAS THERE MYRTLE 
CAME AND WE HAD AN APARTMENT IN TOWN. SHE STAYED ABOUT A MONTH BUT WE RAN OUT OF 
MONEY, THE THING ALL SERVICE MEN NEVER HAD ENOUGH OF UNLESS YOU LIVED ON THE 
BASE. I HAD AN OLD CAR AND I TOOK HER BACK HOME TO MOBILE TO HER MOTHER.
IN 1951, ROBERT WAS BORN IN FEB. IN THE BROOKLEY FIELD HOSPITAL AND I GOT A WEEK 
END PASS AND WENT HOME TO SEE HIM. ON THE WAY BACK THE OLD CAR BROKE DOWN ABOUT 
SEVENTY MILES FROM THE BASE AND I HAD TO LEAVE IT AT A STATION TO HAVE IT FIXED 
AND CATCH A BUS ON TO THE BASE. I WAS LATE GETTING BACK ON TIME WAS IN TROUBLE 
AND WAS RESTRICTED FOR TWO WEEKS TO THE BARRACKS. I HAD MY GUITAR AND ALMOST 
EVERY NIGHT WE GOT A GROUP TOGETHER AND PLAYED FOR HOURS AND HOURS. I HAD 
CARRIED IT THROUGH GERMANY WHEN I WAS OVER THERE. SOMEONE WOULD ASK ME TO PLAY 
FOR THEM AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO TWIST MY ARM MUCH FOR I LIKED TO PLAY AND I 
KNEW A LOT OF SONGS. WHEN I STARTED TO PLAY SOMEONE ELSE WOULD GO GET THEIRS AND 
SOON WE WOULD HAVE A BAND GOING. I HAD FUN PLAYING.
I WENT BACK AND GOT THE CAR AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED AND DROVE IT BACK TO THE BASE 
SOME WEEKS LATER AND USED IT AROUND THE BASE AND TO GO HOME ON A WEEK END PASS. 
THE COMPANY COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING ABOUT MARCH OR APRIL OF 1952 AND GROUPS OF 
FIFTEEN OR TWENTY MEN AT A TIME WERE SHIPPED OUT TO KOREA. I WAS SHIPPED WITH 
THE FIRST GROUP. WE WENT HOME ON A TEN DAY LEAVE IN ROUTE TO SAN FRANCISCO AND 
ON TO KOREA. WE WERE AT SEA FOR FOURTEEN DAYS BEFORE WE DOCKED AT SOUL KOREA.
WE HAD TO ANCHOR OFF SHORE AND UNLOAD INTO SMALLER BOATS TO GET TO LAND BECAUSE 
THE TIDE WENT UP AND DOWN FIFTEEN FEET AND WOULD LEAVE THE SHIP ON THE BOTTOM AT 
LOW TIDE IF THE WATER WASN'T DEEP ENOUGH.
BILL HAD JOINED THE AIR FORCE IN 1948 AND WAS IN IT WHEN THE WAR STARTED WITH 
KOREA. HE WAS STATIONED AT SEOUL WHEN I GOT THERE AND HE MET ME THERE. WE RODE 
UP TO MY OUTFIT [WHERE I WOULD BE STATIONED] ON A TRUCK TOGETHER. I WAS ASSIGNED 
TO THE HEADQUARTERS COMPANY OF THE THIRD ARMY DIVISION AS MESS SERGEANT.

THEY GAVE US A COT IN THE OFFICERS TENT AND IT WAS NIGHT WHEN WE GOT TO MY 
COMPANY AND BILL AND I WERE SITTING ON OUR COTS TALKING ABOUT HOME AND OLD TIMES 
WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. WE BOTH HIT THE GROUND BY OUR COTS AND KNOCKED THE 
CANDLE OUT. WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WAS THAT DOWN THE HILL ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE 
WAS A BATTERY OF 1055 GUNS AND THEY WERE SHOOTING RIGHT UP THROUGH THE PASS OVER 
OUR HEADS WHERE WE WERE BUT WE THOUGHT THEY WERE INCOMING FIRE FROM THE FRONT 
LINES. WE GOT THE CANDLE LIT AGAIN AND WENT ON WITH OUR TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD 
TIMES TOGETHER WHEN WE WERE HOME. WE WERE ABOUT FIVE MILES OF THE 38TH PARALLEL.
THE NEXT DAY BILL WENT BACK TO HIS OUTFIT, AND I WAS ASSIGNED TO MY JOB IN THE 
KITCHEN. I WAS THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE OTHER MESS SERGEANT. HE SHOWED ME AROUND 
AND HOW THINGS WERE DONE AND IN ABOUT A WEEK HE WENT HOME. I MOVED INTO HIS 
LITTLE SIX BY EIGHT TENT AND HAD A COT TO SLEEP ON.
 
IT WAS COLD THAT WINTER IN KOREA AND I MADE A LITTLE HEATER (FOR MY TENT) OUT OF 
A FIVE GALLON COOKING OIL CAN. I PUT ROCK IN THE BOTTOM OF IT AND MADE THE VENT 
PIPE OUT OF TEN CANS PUT TOGETHER. THE BURNER WAS MADE FROM A PIECE OF BRAKE 
LINE OFF OF A TRUCK, AND SOME RUBBER HOSE WITH A LITTLE VALVE TO CONTROL THE 
AMOUNT OF FUEL TO THE BURNER. I USED GASOLINE FOR FUEL AND IT WORKED GOOD AND 
KEPT ME WARM. I NEVER LEFT IT ON WHEN I WAS ASLEEP AT NIGHT. AFTER I LEFT THIS 
JOB TO COOK FOR ANOTHER UNIT, I LEFT EVERYTHING WITH THE NEW MAN, TENT,STOVE AND 
A COT AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER, SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND THE STOVE SET FIRE TO THE 
TENT AND BURNED EVERYTHING UP THE MAN HAD AND ALL THE FOOD THAT IN THE TENT. HE 
MUST HAVE LEFT IT ON WHILE HE WAS AT THE KITCHEN.
WE MOVED AROUND A LOT AND I DID ABOUT THE SAME THINGS I DID WHEN I WAS AT SOUTH 
CAROLINA. WE TOOK FOOD UP TO THE FRONT LINES, ONE HOT MEAL A DAY AND THAT WAS AN 
ORDER OF EVERY DAY. WE LOST TWO COOKS AND THE TRUCK THAT THEY WERE IN FROM 
MORTAR FIRE WHEN THEY WENT TO TAKE FOOD TO THE MEN ON THE FRONT LINES.
SOMETIMES I WENT WITH THEM AND I GOT INTO TROUBLE WHEN THE COMPANY COMMANDER 
FOUND OUT ABOUT IT. HE SAID MY JOB WAS AT THE KITCHEN AND NOT TO FORGET IT. I 
WENT TO THE SUPPLY DEPOT FOR OUR FOOD SUPPLY TWO TIMES A WEEK. WE HAD A GOOD 
COOK THAT WAS A GOOD BAKER AND HE COULD MAKE GOOD PIES AND CAKES. OUR STOVES 
USED WHITE GAS AND DID A GOOD JOB COOKING MOST ANYTHING. ALL OF OUR VEGETABLES 
AND POTATOES CAME IN A CAN, NOTHING FRESH. ALL OF THE MEAT, CHICKEN AND FISH 
WERE FROZEN BUT IT WAS TOP GRADE FOOD. WE HAD A LOT OF EGGS, FLOUR AND SUGAR AND 
MOST ALL OF THE SPICES TOO. OUR SUPPLIES WERE ALWAYS MORE THEN ENOUGH BUT IT 
NEVER WENT TO WASTE, WE GAVE THE MEN SECONDS IF THEY WANTED IT. THE WAR STOPPED 
AND THEY WERE TRYING TO SIGN A PEACE TREATY BETWEEN COUNTRIES THAT WENT ON AND 
ON FOR SOME TIME.
I WROTE A LOT OF LETTERS HOME TO MYRTLE AND MOTHER AND DADDY AND THEY WERE GOOD 
ABOUT WRITING TOO AND THAT HELPED PASS AWAY A LOT OF LONELY TIMES. I MISSED HOME 
AND THE ONES I LOVED VERY MUCH. I KNOW I LOVED MYRTLE BUT NOT AS MUCH AS I 
SHOULD HAVE. I FELT SHE WAS MY WIFE AND THE MOTHER OF OUR CHILDREN BUT OUR 
MARRIAGE WAS NOT WHAT I HAD THOUGHT IT WOULD BE,BUT I WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE IT 
BE AS MUCH OF A MARRIAGE AS I COULD.
I WORKED AT THE ASSIGNMENT,AS MESS SERGEANT FOR EIGHT MONTHS AND THEY STARTED A 
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT GROUP OF ABOUT THIRTY MEN AND FOUR OFFICERS TO RUN SPECIAL 
RECONNAISSANCE INTO NORTH KOREA. THEY ASSIGNED ME TO DO ALL THE COOKING FOR 
THEM. I HAD FOUR KOREAN CIVILIAN MEN FOR K.P.TO DO ALL THE CLEANING OF POTS AND 
PANS. I WAS UP EARLY AND WORKED LATE EVERY DAY WITH SOME TIME OFF BETWEEN MEALS. 
THEY SPOKE SOME ENGLISH AND I SPOKE A FEW WORDS OF KOREAN AND WE GOT ALONG OK AS 
TO WHAT HAD TO BE DONE.
THEN I SAW A NOTICE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD THAT SPECIAL SERVICE WAS STARTING A 
GROUP TO PUT ON SHOWS FOR THE MEN OF ALL COMPANIES IN THE DIVISION. I WENT TO 
TRY OUT AND MADE THE SHOW. I WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO SPECIAL SERVICE . THERE 
WERE ABOUT TEN OR TWELVE MEN IN THE SHOW. WE HAD A LEAD GUITAR MAN,A BASS MAN,AN 
ACCORDION AND PIANO MAN,A TRUMPET AND A TAP DANCER,AND TWO OTHER MEN THAT SANG 
VERY GOOD AND I DID COUNTRY SONGS AND PLAYED THE GUITAR AND BASS SOME. THERE 
WERE OTHERS THAT TOLD JOKES AND DID TRICKS.
 
I ENJOYED MY LAST MONTHS IN SPECIAL SERVICES. EVERYONE HAD TO SERVE A YEAR 
OVERSEAS BEFORE THEY CAME BACK HOME. I FOUND OUT THAT OUT OF THE GROUP OF MEN 
THAT I WENT OVER WITH ONLY ONE OTHER MAN AND I WERE THE ONLY ONES TO COME HOME. 
THE OTHERS WERE KILLED. HIS NAME WAS MAURICE SUBBLE, ONE OF CARLES SUBBLE 
BROTHERS WHO I WORKED FOR ON HIS FARM. HIS NERVES WERE BAD AND HE DRANK A LOT 
AND HAD A HARD TIME GETTING OVER WHAT HE WENT THROUGH IN KOREA. I WENT TO SEE 
HIM A FEW TIMES AND WE TALKED A LOT BUT IT WAS HARD TO FIND HIM NOT DRUNK,SO I 
STOPPED GOING TO SEE HIM.I WAS AT MOTHERS FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS,THEN MYRTLE AND 
THE TWO BOYS WENT BACK TO TEXAS WITH ME. THE RAILROAD GAVE ME MY JOB BACK.
WE MOVED BACK INTO THE HOUSE WITH GLENN AND MARIE AND AFTER ABOUT A MONTH THEY 
MOVED INTO A HOUSE THEY RENTED FOR A WHILE. THEN THEY BOUGHT A HOUSE AT 1710 
CHESTON DR IN JACINTO CITY. MY HOUSE WAS 1718 CHESTON DR.JUST TWO DOORS SOUTH. 
WE BOTH STILL WORKED FOR THE RAILROAD. WE WORKED THE NIGHT SHIFT [12:01 AM TO 
8:01 AM. THERE WAS A MAN THAT LIVED DOWN THE STREET FROM US THAT WAS SELLING 
ATTIC FANS AND NEEDED SOMEONE TO INSTALL THEM WHEN HE SOLD THEM AND ASKED US IF 
WE WOULD DO THAT KIND OF WORK. SO WE STARTED INSTALLING THEM IN THE DAYTIME AND 
WORKED AT THE RAILROAD AT NIGHT. BACK THEN ANYTHING EXTRA HELPED US PAY THE 
BILLS. SOMETIMES WE ONLY WORKED THREE OR FOUR HOURS IN THE MORNING.AND SLEEP 
AFTER WE GOT THE EXTRA JOBS DONE.
WE ALSO DID CARPENTER WORK ON SOME HOUSES IN DEER PARK PUTTING OVERHANGS CORNICE 
AND ROOFS ON TOO. IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE HE SOLD A CENTRAL HEATER AND HE SHOWED 
US HOW TO INSTALL IT. THEN HE SOLD A HEATER WITH CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING AND 
SHOWED US HOW THAT WAS DONE AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO MAKING A GOOD CAREER FOR 
BOTH OF US. IT WAS HARD WORK AND LONG HOURS AND A LOT OF HOT PLACES. THE ATTICS 
WERE HOT IN THE SUMMER AND NOT SO BAD IN THE WINTERTIME.
THERE WAS A MAN BY THE NAME OF BILL KINDRED THAT STARTED AN AIR/CONDITIONING 
COMPANY AND GLENN AND I STARTED WORKING FOR HIM, INSTALLING UNITS. I WAS WORKING 
FOR HIM FULL TIME AND THE RAILROAD PART TIME. GLENN WORKED WITH ME SOME BUT NOT 
ALL THE TIME. I LEARNED TO REPAIR THE UNITS AND MADE A GOOD SERVICE MAN.
GLENN AND I BUILT A 14 FT.BOAT AND PUT A 60 H-P WILLIS CAR ENGINE IN IT 
(INBOARD) AND WE WOULD SKI UP AND DOWN THE SAN JACINTO RIVER FROM THE I-10 RIVER 
BRIDGE TO MAGNOLIA GARDENS AND BACK. WE RAN ALL OVER THAT RIVER WITH IT AND WENT 
DUCK HUNTING IN IT.
ONE DAY I HAD MY MOTHER, MYRTLE, ROBERT, CARL AND I IN IT AND WAS COMING FROM 
MAGNOLIA GARDENS WHEN WE HIT A IRON ROD THAT WAS JUST UNDER THE WATER AND IT 
KNOCKED A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT ABOUT THREE INCHES AROUND AND WATER 
STARTED COMING IN.I KILLED THE MOTOR WITCH WAS WRONG TO DO FOR WE HAD NO LIFE 
JACKETS. WE WERE FILLING UP WITH WATER FAST. NO ONE COULD SWIM BUT ME AND I KNEW 
WE WERE LOST IF I STAYED THERE SO I CRANKED THE MOTOR AND IT WOULD NOT START AND 
I CRANKED IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED. I TURNED IT AND WENT TO THE BANK AS FAST AS 
IT WOULD RUN. IT WENT UP ON THE SAND BAR AND WHEN IT STOPPED WE WERE IN ABOUT A 
FOOT ON WATER AND WERE SAFE. I FOUND SOME PLYWOOD AND CUT SOME OF MY SHIRT AND 
NAILED IT OVER THE HOLE IN THE BOAT AND GOT THE WATER OUT OF IT. WE GOT BACK IN 
IT AND CAME BACK TO THE DOCK WHERE THE CAR AND TRAILER WAS AND CAME HOME. WE 
WERE LUCKY EVERYTHING CAME OUT ALRIGHT.
 
SOME TIME LATER GLENN AND I WERE SKIING OUT IN LAKE HOUSTON AND WERE ON OUR WAY 
BACK FROM AWAY UP AT THE TOP END OF THE LAKE WHEN I WAS PULLING GLENN ON THE 
SKIS AND I HIT THE BUTT END OF A TREE THAT THE TOP END WAS SUNK AND THE BUTT END 
WAS JUST AT THE TOP OF THE WATER AND KNOCKED ANOTHER HOLE ABOUT TEN INCHES IN 
THE BOAT AND IT SANK SO FAST THAT ALL WE SAVED WAS TWO SKI-BELTS AND OUR SKIS. 
WE WERE ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF FROM THE DOCK AND A MILE OFF SHORE. THE WIND WAS 
BLOWING AND HELPED US TO GET TO LAND. IT WAS LATE IN THE EVENING AND ABOUT DARK 
WHEN WE GOT TO LAND. WE CAME DOWN THE BANK THROUGH UNDER BRUSH AND ACROSS CREEKS 
IN THE DARK WITH NOTHING BUT A SWIMMING SUITS ON. IT WAS LATE WHEN WE GOT HOME 
AND WE WERE ALL SCRATCHED UP EVERYWHERE. WE DID HAVE SOME INSURANCE ON THE BOAT 
BUT NOT ENOUGH TO REPLACE IT. WE DID FIND OUT THAT THE WATER WAS ABOUT FIFTY 
FOOT WHERE IT WENT DOWN. WE DIDN'T TRY TO FIND IT AND KNEW WE HAD NO WAY TO GET 
IT OUT IF WE DID SO WE LEFT IT ALONE AND I GUESS IT IS STILL THERE ON THE BOTTOM 
OF THE LAKE AND THE FISH HAVE A GOOD HOME TO LIVE IN.
MYRTLE AND I WERE NOT GETTING ALONG VERY WELL. I KNOW IT WAS MY FAULT WE WERE 
NOT TOGETHER VERY MUCH,YET IN A WAY THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO MATTER. WHEN WE WERE 
TOGETHER SHE DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING LIKE GOING TO A MOVIE OR TO THE BEACH 
OR GO VISIT SOMEONE OR PLAY CARDS TOGETHER. ALL SHE WANTED TO DO WAS GO TO 
CHURCH. I WENT WITH HER A LOT AND TOOK HER AND THE BOYS WHEN I WASN'T WORKING.
I KNOW I WAS AT FAULT TOO WITH THE WAY I FELT AND THE THINGS I DID WHEN I 
MARRIED HER. I TRIED GET OVER THE OTHER GIRL AND FORGET HER BUT I KNOW SHE WAS 
ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND. I FOUGHT WITH MYSELF MANY TIMES WHEN I WAS ALONE 
ABOUT THE GIRL I SAID I WOULD STICK IT OUT AND MAKE THE MARRIAGE WORK NO MATTER 
WHAT IT TOOK BUT WE GOT FURTHER APART.
WHEN I WAS IN KOREA,I MISSED HOME AND EVERYTHING BUT MY FEELINGS ABOUT MYRTLE 
DIDN'T SEEM TO BE RIGHT. I FELT THAT WHEN I GOT HOME I WOULD MAKE IT RIGHT AND 
WE WOULD MAKE THINGS WORK OUT FOR US,BUT THEY DIDN'T.
MYRTLE WAS GOOD TO THE CHILDREN AND TOOK CARE OF THEM AND KEPT OUR CLOTHES CLEAN 
AND COOKED FAIR AND KEPT THE HOUSE WORK DONE AND STRAIGHT. SHE WAS GOOD IN LOTS 
OF WAYS AND I KNOW SHE LOVED US VERY MUCH IN HER OWN WAY,YET THINGS GOT WORSE 
AND WE SEEMED TO BE GOING DOWN HILL FAST.
I STARTED PLAYING MUSIC AGAIN AND HAD A GOOD BAND TOGETHER AND WE PLAYED DANCES 
ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS. I PLAYED THE ESQUIRE BALLROOM FOR A WHILE AND 
OTHER LARGE DANCE HALLS. ANOTHER ONE WAS IN HIGHLANDS JUST OFF HIGHWAY I-10 ON 
THE RIVER. I STILL WORKED TWO JOBS THROUGH THE WEEK. MYRTLE NEVER WANTED TO GO 
HEAR ME PLAY OR BE WITH ME WHEN I DID.
IN 1955,I FOUND A LETTER FROM MYRTLE'S MOTHER THAT SAID SHE WAS COMING TO 
HOUSTON TO STAY WITH US FOR A WHILE AND THERE WERE OTHER THINGS ABOUT ME IN THE 
LETTER ALSO. THE LETTER WAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS OLD AND MYRTLE HADN'T SAID ANYTHING 
TO ME. THAT MADE ME MAD AND I HAD  ENOUGH. I ASKED MYRTLE ABOUT IT AND SHE SAID 
SHE WASN'T GOING TO TELL ME UNTIL HER MOTHER GOT TO HOUSTON,THEN I WAS VERY MAD.
 
I HAD FOUGHT OFF THE IDEA ABOUT A DIVORCE BECAUSE OF THE CHURCH AND THE 
CHILDREN,AND THAT IT WAS WRONG AND AGAINST EVERYTHING I HAD BEEN TAUGHT IN MY 
LIFE. WE TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING AND I TOLD HER THE WAY I FELT ABOUT THE OTHER 
GIRL WHEN I MARRIED HER,HOW I THOUGHT I COULD HELP HER AND HER MOTHER WITH THE 
HOUSE AND THOUGHT I COULD FORGET THE OTHER GIRL IN TIME. WE AGREED THAT A 
DIVORCE WAS THE BEST THING TO DO,SO WE BOTH WENT TO A LAWYER AND SIGNED THE 
PAPERS WITH NO CONTEST OVER ANYTHING. I KEPT THE HOUSE AND LIVED IN IT. MYRTLE 
WENT HOME TO HER MOTHERS WITH THE CHILDREN. AFTER SHE LEFT I WENT TO THE LAWYER 
AND DELAYED THE DIVORCE FOR A WHILE THINKING THINGS MIGHT BECOME BETTER IF WE 
WAITED A WHILE BUT THEY DIDN'T. I WENT HOME TO MOTHERS AND CALLED MYRTLE AND WE 
TALKED SOME MORE ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS. I TALKED TO MOTHER FOR A LONG TIME WITH NO 
ANSWERS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. I CAME BACK TO HOUSTON AND CALLED THE LAWYER WENT 
ON WITH THE DIVORCE AND IT WAS FINAL SOME TIME IN 1956. I WENT ON WITH MY JOB AT 
THE RAILROAD AND A/C WORK WITH NORTHSHORE A/C COMPANY AS A FULL TIME SERVICE 
MAN.
I STOPPED PLAYING MUSIC FOR A WHILE,(JUST SAT IN WITH A BAND SOMETIMES AT 
DIFFERENT PLACES). ONE NIGHT ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE RAILROAD I STOPPED AT THE 
PRINCESS DRIVE IN ON WAYSIDE AND MET MILDRED BARTLEY. SHE WAS A CAR-HOP WORKING 
AT THE DRIVE IN. EVERY NIGHT ON THE WAY HOME I STOPPED BY AND WE WOULD TALK. I 
HAD BOUGHT A NEW 1956 F-L-H HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE SO ONE DAY I PICKED HER 
UP AND WE WENT TO GALENA PARK,AND I MET HER MOTHER AND FATHER WHO HAD ADOPTED 
HER WHEN SHE WAS SMALL. THEY WERE FROM TYLER TEXAS. MILDRED HAD BEEN MARRIED AND 
HAD A FOUR YEAR OLD BOY BY THE NAME OF BILLY CARL THOMAS. SHE WAS DIVORCED AND 
WAS STAYING WITH HER MOTHER AND FATHER. MILDRED WAS A LOT OF FUN TO BE WITH. 
ABOUT A MONTH WENT BY AND WE TALKED ABOUT GETTING MARRIED.I WAS NOT IN ANY RUSH 
TO MAKE ANOTHER MISTAKE LIKE I DID WITH MYRTLE AND I KEPT PUTTING IT OFF. IT WAS 
ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER AND ONE DAY WE WENT TO LIBERTY TEXAS AND GOT MARRIED. 
THINGS WERE WONDERFUL AND FULL OF FUN. WE WENT TO MOBILE TO MOTHERS AND THEY MET 
MILDRED. THIS WAS IN 1956 WHEN WE GOT MARRIED.
WE PICKED UP MY TWO BOYS FROM MYRTLE AND WE WENT OUT TO EAT. WE TALKED AND THE 
BOYS SEEMED TO LIKE MILDRED AND ACCEPT HER AND THAT WE WERE MARRIED. THEY WERE 
YOUNG AND I KNOW THEY DID NOT REALIZE WHAT HAD HAPPENED WITH THEIR MOTHER AND I 
OR WHY. (HOW DO YOU TELL CHILDREN WHY YOU CAN NOT LIVE WITH THEIR MOTHER ANY 
MORE?) I DID TRY BUT I FAILED. I KNOW THEY WERE HURT AND I WAS TOO. YOU SAY TO 
YOURSELF YOU WILL MAKE IT UP TO THEM,BUT YOU CAN'T. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO,IT 
JUST IS NOT ENOUGH.
MILDRED AND I WERE HAPPY TOGETHER AND WE LOVED EACH OTHER. WE WENT TO TYLER TO 
MEET MILDRED'S MOTHER. HER NAME WAS DOLLY. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE LAST NAME 
WAS. THEY LIVED IN A HOUSE THAT NEEDED A LOT OF REPAIR AND IT WAS NOT VERY 
CLEAN. WE LEFT BILLY CARL WITH HER MOTHER, MILDRED WANTED TO GO OUT TO THE OLD 
PLACES AND BARS WHERE SHE USED TO GO. SHE HAD A LOT OF MEMORIES OF HER EX-
HUSBAND HOW SHE LOVED HIM.
MILDRED WAS HIGH-STRUNG AND WAS QUICK TO GET MAD. I FOUND THIS OUT VERY SOON 
AFTER WE WERE MARRIED AND WHEN SHE DID I WAS ALWAYS THE ONE SHE BLAMED FOR WHAT 
WENT WRONG. THERE WERE TIMES I KNEW I HAD MADE ANOTHER MISTAKE IN THE MARRIAGE. 
SHE WAS JUST THE OPPOSITE FROM MYRTLE. SHE WAS FUN TO BE WITH AND TO GO OUT IN A 
CROWD WITH,BUT WHEN WE GOT HOME I SEEMED TO BE THE ONE THAT HAD DONE SOMETHING 
WRONG.
 
WE STAYED TOGETHER SOME HOW THROUGH THE YEARS AND THERE WAS A LOT OF HAPPINESS 
THAT OUT WEIGHED THE BAD. IN 1961 MICHAEL WAYNE WAS BORN TO US AND THAT SEEMED 
TO HELP US BE CLOSER TOGETHER. WE WENT TO MOBILE A LOT AT FIRST AND SHE LIKED TO 
BE AROUND MY FAMILY. THEN SHE BECAME JEALOUS OF THEM AND WE STAYED AWAY FROM 
THEM AND MOBILE FOR A LONG TIME. SHE BECAME JEALOUS OF GLENN AND MARIE AND 
DIDN'T WANT ME TO WORK WITH GLENN,BUT I DID ANYWAY AND SHE GOT MAD EVERY TIME 
AND WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT WHEN I GOT HOME. I KNEW SHE WAS THAT 
WAY AND WE STILL GOT ALONG OK.
I HAD FUN WITH THE BOYS AND WE PLAYED TOGETHER A LOT. MILDRED AND I WENT TO THE 
BEACH WITH THE BOYS AND ENJOYED DOING THINGS TOGETHER. WE ALL LIKED GOING 
FISHING AT TURTLE BAYOU CLOSE TO ANAHUAC. WE WENT CAMPING SOME ON THE SAN 
JACINTO RIVER WEST OF HI-WAY 59. WE DID HAVE GOOD TIMES TOGETHER,BUT THINGS DID 
NOT LAST. MILDRED WENT TO WORK FROM TIME TO TIME AS A WAITRESS IN A CAFE AND 
BARS. SHE ALWAYS DRANK SOME AND IT GOT WORSE. SHE HAD BAD HEADACHES AND SHE 
NEVER GOT OVER HER FIRST HUSBAND. SHE HAD SHOCK TREATMENTS,AND THAT DID NOT DO 
MUCH GOOD BECAUSE SHE STILL HAD HEADACHES AND MEMORIES OF THE PAST THAT BOTHERED 
HER.
MILDRED WAS VERY PROTECTIVE OF BILLY CARL AND MIKE,YET SHE WAS OVERBEARING WITH 
THEM HERSELF. SHE WOULD TELL ME TO CORRECT THEM AND WHEN I DID SHE GOT MAD AT ME 
FOR DOING IT.
WE HAD GOOD NEIGHBORS AROUND US AND THEY LIKED MILDRED AND THAT  HELPED US A 
LOT.WE WOULD GO TO THEIR HOMES AND THEY CAME TO OURS. THE JONES LIVED DOWN THE 
STREET ON THE EAST SIDE ABOUT TWO HOUSES SOUTH OF OURS AND THEY WOULD KEEP BILLY 
AND MIKE WHEN MILDRED WORKED. THE FREDERICK'S ACROSS THE STREET AND THEIR 
CHILDREN PLAYED IN OUR POOL IN THE BACK YARD WITH BILLY AND MIKE. I HAD NOT MET 
THEM AT FIRST, BUT DID WHEN WE WERE INVITED TO A PARTY IN THEIR BACKYARD TO PLAY 
AND SING FOR THEM. THE JOHNSON'S CAME AND THE CAMPFIELD'S AND THE CHRISTS AND 
SOON I KNEW ALL THE NEIGHBORS AROUND US. THE MEEKS' AND THE CUMMING'S ON CHAZON 
AND OTHERS. SALLY FREDERICK WOULD BABY SIT WITH BILLY AND MIKE A LOT AND SHE WAS 
ABOUT TWELVE YEARS OLD THEN AND SHE SAID SHE LIKED TO BABY SIT THERE BECAUSE WE 
HAD GOOD THINGS TO EAT. WE LIKED SALLY BECAUSE SHE KEPT THE HOUSE CLEAN.
I NEVER WENT TO SCHOOL FOR A/C AND HEATING BUT LEARNED THE TRADE IN THE FIELD BY 
DOING THE JOB. THE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AND DISTRIBUTORS WOULD HOLD CLASSES 
ON THEIR EQUIPMENT TO SHOW THE SERVICE MEN HOW IT WORKS AND HOW TO INSTALL AND 
SERVICE IT. MOST OF THE UNITS WORKED A LOT LIKE OTHER UNITS WITH SOME CHANGES IN 
CONTROLS AND OPERATION. ONE OF THE BEST PART OF SHOWS AND CLASSES WAS THEY 
ALWAYS GAVE US ALL WE COULD EAT WHEN IT WAS OVER. WE ALWAYS GOT A LOT OF BOOKS 
AND INSTRUCTIONS SHEETS OF THE EQUIPMENT. I ENJOYED GOING TO THEM AND WOULD 
LEARN A LOT FROM THEM.
NORTHSHORE A/C PUT IN A SHEET METAL SHOP TO MAKE DUCT WORK FOR JOBS WE INSTALLED 
AND HIRED A MAN TO MAKE IT. I SOON LEARNED HOW TO BUILD THE PARTS FOR THE JOBS 
WE PUT IN. WE STARTED TO INSTALL BIGGER UNIT IN CHURCHES,SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS. 
WHEN THE HOSPITAL ON THE I-10 FREEWAY AT WESTMONT WAS BUILT,IT WAS ROCKGLEN 
HOSPITAL AND I INSTALLED THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT IN IT. IT WAS A 250 TON 
CARRIER UNIT THAT USED FREON 11 AND RUNS IN A VACUUM OF AROUND 18 INCHES BELOW 
ZERO PRESSURE.
I SOON FOUND OUT WHEN I  FIRST STARTED IN A/C WORK THAT YOU HAD TO KNOW MORE 
THEN JUST ONE TRADE. YOU HAD TO BE A CARPENTER, PLUMBER, ELECTRICIAN, 
WELDER,DUCTWORK MAN AND KNOW  HOW TO DO REFRIGERATION WORK AND KNOW ABOUT AIR 
FLOW AND TEMPERATUERE DROP AND HEAT GAIN. EVEN AFTER FORTY TWO YEARS I STILL 
DON'T KNOW IT ALL.
 
NORTH SHORE A/C STARTED GETTING CONTRACTS ON SCHOOLS. THE NORTH SHORE HIGH 
SCHOOL WAS THE FIRST ONE WITH A 250 TON UNIT. I WAS PUT IN CHARGE OF THE JOB AS 
SUPERINTENDENT. THEN WE GOT OTHER SCHOOLS IN BAYTOWN AND PASADENA, IN ALL. A 
SCHOOL IN ALGIN,ANOTHER IN FRIENDSWOOD AND ONE IN STAFFORD. THERE WAS ONE SCHOOL 
ON FONDREN STREET THAT WAS A 400 TON UNIT AND IT WAS THE LARGEST UNIT THAT WE 
PUT IN. THERE WERE ELEVEN SCHOOLS IN ALL.
ABOUT 1967 MILDRED AND I WERE HAVING MORE TROUBLE AND SHE WAS DRINKING MORE AND 
STAYING OUT LATE AT NIGHT AFTER SHE GOT OFF WORK. SHE HAD NEVER LIKED THE HOUSE 
ON CHESTON DR SO WE SOLD IT AND RENTED A BIG HOUSE IN CHANNELVIEW ON NORTH 
BRENTWOOD. IT HAD A BIG YARD AND A LOT OF BIG TREES ON IT.
IN 1968 THINGS WERE NOT ANY BETTER AT BRENTWOOD THEN THEY WERE ON CHESTON,WE 
JUST COULDN'T GET ALONG ANYMORE AND SO ONE NIGHT I CAME HOME AND FOUND MORE 
THINGS WRONG AND I REALIZED THINGS WERE OVER BETWEEN US. I DID LOVE MILDRED BUT 
WE COULD NOT LIVE TOGETHER SO WE FILED FOR A DIVORCE. I MOVED INTO THE SHOP AT 
NORTHSHORE A/C AND STAYED THERE FOR AWHILE.
WE WERE TO MEET AT THE JACINTO CITY PARK ON MARKET ST.FOR MIKES BIRTHDAY  I 
WAITED AND ON ONE CAME. WAS TOLD LATER,AFTER NO ONE CAME,THAT SHE HAD LEFT WITH 
HER EX-HUSBAND FOR CALIFORNIA WITH THE BOY IN HIS 18 WHEELER TRUCK .
I WAS GLAD FOR HER AND HOPED SHE COULD FIND HAPPINESS AND THAT THINGS WOULD WORK 
OUT FOR HER AND SHE COULD BE HAPPY.
SOON AFTER THIS , I  FOUND OUT THAT JEAN AND LEROY HAD ALSO SEPARATED AND WERE 
GETTING A DIVORCE TOO. THEY WERE BOTH GOOD FRIENDS WITH MILDRED, AND I WHEN WE 
LIVED ON CHESTON. WE ALL HAD GOOD TIMES TOGETHER AT PARTIES AT OUR HOMES AND AT 
DANCES WHEN WE ALL WENT TO TOGETHER. JEAN AND I HAD TALKED ABOUT OUR TROUBLES AT 
HOME WE TRIED TO HELP EACH OTHER GET ALONG BETTER. JEAN TALKED TO MILDRED AND I 
TALKED TO LEROY. IT HELPED TO HAVE FRIENDS TO TALK TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS 
WRONG WITH OUR WORLDS.
AFTER MY  DIVORCE  I  WENT BACK CHESTON DR AND TALK TO OUR FRIENDS AND    SEE 
WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT WAS NEVER THE SAME ANYMORE. I REMEMBER GOING TO A SHOW 
OVER AT THE ALABAMA AND JEAN AND NITA WAS THERE AND WHEN I WALKED IN NITA’S  
POPCORN WENT STRIGHT UP. THERE WAS  POPCORN EVERY WHERE  SHE DID NOT KNOW 
ANYTHING ABOUT US .
JEAN AND I WERE BOTH DIVORCED AND LOST,MIXED UP,IN A WORLD WITH NO WHERE TO TURN 
TO AND WE WERE GOOD FRIENDS. WE LIKED TO BE AROUND EACH OTHER AND ENJOYED THE 
SAME THINGS. I HAD EVEN THOUGHT OF GOING BACK TO MOBILE BUT THAT WOULDN'T WORK 
EITHER. JEAN AND I FOUND OURSELVES TOGETHER MORE AND MORE AND ON DEC.5,1968 WE 
WERE MARRIED AND OUR FRIENDSHIP BECAME STRONG AND WE FOUND WE LOVED EACH OTHER. 
TO ME IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE BUT IT NEVER WAS 
COMPLETE. WE WERE HAPPY TOGETHER AND LIFE HAS BEEN GOOD TO US. JEAN HELPED ME DO 
THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD DO. WE TOOK LOTS OF TRIPS TO PLACES I NEVER 
THOUGHT I WOULD SEE.
AFTER WE WERE MARRIED WE MOVED IN WITH JEAN'S SISTER,YVONNE. I STILL WORKED AT 
THE RAILROAD AND AT NORTHSHORE A/C. WE WENT TO MOBILE,TO MY MOTHERS ON A WEEK 
END TO SEE EVERYONE. WHAT A GOOD FEELING IT WAS TO BE ABLE TO BE AROUND THEM. 
THEY LIKED JEAN AND WE  FELT LIKE WE WERE HOME. WE WENT TO MOBILE OFTEN. THE 
HOUSE WAS CLOSE TO THE BAY AND WE ENJOYED SITTING ON THE WHARF AND WATCHING THE 
WATER.
 
IN 1969,THE NEXT YEAR,I QUIT THE RAILROAD AND WAS WORKING FULL TIME AT 
NORTHSHORE A/C RUNNING SERVICE AND PUTTING IN A/C AND HEAT IN SCHOOLS. IN JUNE 
1969, I WAS WORKING ON AN A/C UNIT,ON THE ROOF AT NORTHLINE SHOPPING CENTER,WHEN 
I CAME UP THE LADDER WITH FREON IN ONE HAND AND CATCHING THE LADDER BAR WITH THE 
OTHER MY HAND SLIPED OFF THE BAR, I FELL 30 FEET FROM A ROOF HATCH AND  BROKE MY 
LEFT ARM AND CRUSHED MY LEFT HEAL AND FOOT. I WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR FOR OVER TWO 
MONTHS AND OFF WORK. WE HAD JUST MADE A CONTRACT ON A NEW HOME WE NOW LIVE IN. 
IT WAS NOT FINISHED AND THE CONTRACTOR SAID HE WOULD DELAY THE BUILDING OF IT 
UNTIL I WENT BACK TO WORK AND HE DID.
ONE OF THE TRIPS I REMEMBER WELL IS WHEN CAMILE HIT THE GULF COAST IN AUGUST 
1969 AND IT WRECKED  MOTHER AND DADDYS HOUSE ON THE BAY BEYOND REPAIR. F.E.M.A 
GAVE DADDY A NEW TRAILER HOME AND DADDY PUT IT OUT ON THE HILL AWAY FROM THE 
BAY. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN GALENA PARK PUT TOGETHER A TRAILER LOAD OF CLOTHES 
AND ASKED IF I COULD TAKE IT TO MOBILE WHILE I WAS OFF AND I DID. I COULD STILL 
DRIVE AND JEAN HELPED ME WITH THE WHEELCHAIR. WE HAD TO BYPASS THE COAST ON THE 
WAY TO MOBILE BUT CAME BACK ON THE COAST ROAD AND SAW ALL THE DEVASTATION OF 
EVERYTHING ALONG THE GULF COAST.
I THINK,WE WENT THERE SIX TIMES IN THE FIRST YEAR. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE GOING 
ON A TRIP WHEN THERE IS SOME ONE WITH YOU THAT ENJOYS THINGS LIKE YOU DO. "AS 
THIS DOCUMENT WILL SHOW AS I WRITE ABOUT THE MANY TRIPS WE TOOK TOGETHER.
WE BOTH TRIED TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN CLOSE TO US AND SHOW THEM WE LOVED THEM AS 
MUCH AS EVER.I NEVER TRIED TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THEIR FATHER IN ANY WAY,I JUST 
WANTED THEM TO KNOW I LOVED THEM AND WOULD BE THERE ANY TIME THEY NEEDED ME AND 
TO HELP IF I COULD.
I SOON WAS ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK AND THE CONTRACTOR FINISHED THE HOUSE AND WE 
MOVED IN,ALTHOUGH I WAS ON CRUTCHES WITH A FOOT BRACE ON MY LEFT FOOT. WE DID 
NOT HAVE MUCH TO START WITH BUT WE HAD EACH OTHER. I REMEMBER BUILDING A FIRE IN 
THE FIREPLACE AND RUNNING THE A/C AT THE SAME TIME JUST TO SEE IF IT WORKED OK. 
IT DID NOT TAKE LONG TO PUT MORE THINGS IN THE HOUSE. WE ENJOYED OUR NEW HOME. 
OUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES GAVE US A LOT OF THINGS TO HELP US TO FURNISH THE 
INSIDE AND WE THANK THEM FOR IT.
RIGHT AFTER WE WERE MARRIED,WE BOUGHT A LOT,ON THE LAKE, IN SAM HOUSTON LAKE 
ESTATES. WE PITCHED I SMALL TENT ON IT AND WENT THERE ON WEEK ENDS. THE FISHING 
WAS GOOD AND WE BUILT BON FIRES AND COOKED WIENERS AND MARSHMALLOWS AND HAD GOOD 
TIMES THERE. THE TENT DID NOT LAST LONG BECAUSE IT WAS LATE DECEMBER AND ONE 
NIGHT WE GOT THERE AFTER IT HAD RAINED AND IT TURN COLD. WE WERE IN SLEEPING 
BAGS,ON COTS,BUT THE GROUND WAS WET AND WE WERE ALMOST FROZEN BY MORNING. THE 
NEXT WEEK END WE STARTED THE FLOOR FOR A 16 BY 16 FOOT,ONE ROOM CABIN TO STAY IN 
AND KEEP WARM WHEN WE WERE THERE. WE SOON HAD THE LUXURIES OF HOME. AN OUTDOOR 
PRIVY,AND A DOUBLE SINK IN THE YARD,MOUNTED ON A TREE WITH RUNNING WATER TO IT 
AND IN THE SUMMER  WE COULD TAKE A BATH AT NIGHT IN IT FOR ONE SIDE WAS DEEP 
ENOUGH TO SIT IN.
 
AFTER WE GOT THE  ROOM BUILT WE MOVED THE SINK INSIDE AND MOUNTED IT ON A 2 BY 4 
FRAME AND RUN COOL WATER TO IT. WE HAD NO HOT WATER HEATER YET. WE HEATED WATER 
ON THE STOVE. JEAN'S FATHER GAVE US A REFRIGERATOR THAT WOULD SQUEAL EVERY TIME 
IT CUT OFF BUT WOULD MAKE ICE AND KEEP THINGS COLD. WE USED IT TILL WE WERE 
FLOODED OUT IN 1988 AND WATER GOT TO IT. WE HAD SOME OLD MATTRESSES GIVEN TO 
US,THAT WE WOULD SLEEP ON AND PILE THEM UP IN THE MORNING. ONE NIGHT WE HAD 
ELEVEN CHILDREN SLEEPING WITH US IN THIS ROOM. WE ENJOYED THE GROUPS TO COME 
SHARE WHAT WE HAD. NOT LONG AFTER THAT I ADDED A PORCH TO THE SIDE NEXT TO THE 
LAKE THAT WAS 12 BY 16 AND SCREENED ON 3 SIDES WITH A FLAT ROOF.
IN 1976 WE ADDED TO THE ROOM A 14 BY 28 STORY AND A HALF WITH ONE BIG ROOM UP 
STAIRS AND TWO ROOMS DOWNSTAIRS,ONE 18 BY 14 AND THE OTHER ONE 10 BY 14 FEET. 
THE PRIVY WAS STILL OUTSIDE. BUT I SOON BUILT A BATH ROOM  IN THE CORNER OF THE 
TWO BUILDINGS,WITH THE DOOR INTO THE LIVING ROOM,WITH FULL BATH AND 
SHOWER,COMMODE AND WASHBASIN 'ALSO A HOT WATER HEATER. NOW WE HAVE A PLACE AWAY 
FROM HOME,WITH TV,PHONE AND CARPET,WITH EVERYTHING TO ENJOY WITH A PLACE FOR 
EVERYONE TO COME AND BE WITH US WHEN THEY WANT TO. WE DID A TOT OF FISHING AND 
CAUGHT SOME GOOD BASS AND WHITE PERCH AND HAD SOME GOOD FISH FRYS. WE WOULD 
BUILD BOND FIRES AT NIGHT  AND ROAST WIENERS AND MARSHMALLOWS WE PLAYED GAMES 
AND SING SONGS
THE FIRST PART OF MAY 1970 I WAS WORKING AS SUPERINTENDENT ON FONDREN SCHOOL. 
ONE OF THE MEN WORKING WITH ME ON THE JOB,WAS BILL KINDRED'S BROTHER AND ONE WAS 
HIS SON. THEY DID NOT WANT TO WORK,JUST PLAY. WHAT THEY DID WORK ON WAS NOT DONE 
RIGHT AND HAD TO BE DONE OVER. I SENT WORD BACK TO THE SHOP AND THE NEXT WEEK, I 
WAS FIRED BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET THE JOB DONE.  THE MEN SAID THAT THEY WORKED 
HARD AND DID NOT PLAY ON THE JOB. I WAS FIRED ANYWAY.
THAT WAS ON THURSDAY NIGHT. ONE OF THE SALESMAN IN THE OFFICE SAID HE KNEW WHERE 
I COULD GET A JOB. HE CALLED MR.THOMPSON AT THE LEE THOMPSON CO. I WENT TO THE 
OFFICE FRIDAY MORNING AND TALKED TO MR. THOMPSON. THAT AFTERNOON HE PUT ME TO 
WORK. MONDAY MORNING I HAD A NEW TRUCK WITH EVERYTHING I NEEDED EXCEPT TOOLS,AND 
I HAD MY OWN TOOLS. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A MAN MAKES,TO WORK FOR SOMEONE LIKE 
MR.THOMPSON WAS,IT WAS A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR. HE WAS LIKE A SECOND FATHER. HE 
TREATED THE MEN WHO WORKED FOR HIM LIKE WE WERE PART OF HIS FAMILY. HE ALWAYS 
SAID"THANK YOU",OR"A JOB WELL DONE"WHEN WE COMPLETED A JOB. HE GAVE COMPANY 
PARTIES FOR THE MEN AND THEIR WIVES AT HIS HOME OR OTHER PLACES. THE OTHER MEN 
WERE GOOD TO WORK WITH TOO. I ENJOYED MY TWENTY YEARS WITH THE COMPANY AND 
BECAME ONE OF THE TOP SERVICEMEN IN THE COMPANY. IF SOMEONE HAD TROUBLE ON A JOB 
AND COULDN'T FIX IT THEY WOULD CALL ME TO GO FIND THE TROUBLE AND FIX IT. I 
RETIRED FROM THERE AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE IN JANUARY 1990. I HAD GOTTEN OUT 
OF BED AND STEPPED ON MY RIGHT FOOT WRONG AND BROOK THE BONE TO MY LITTLE TOE UP 
IN THE FOOT AND HAD IT IN A CAST FOR THREE WEEKS SO THE BOSS SAID I SHOULD 
RETIRE SO I DID. I RETIRED BUT I NEVER QUIT WORK THERE HAS BEEN SOMETHING TO DO 
OR WORK ON EVER SEANCE FOR I ALWAYS FIND THINGS THAT NEEDS FIXING I WAS 65 YEARS 
OLD NOVEMBER 2 1990 THE ONE THING I ENJOYED ABOUT THE JOB  MOST WAS ,I WAS 
ALWAYS ON THE GO FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER AND NOT IN ONE SHOP ALL THE TIME  I 
MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS. AFTER I RETIRED THE COMPANY 
CALLED ME BACK FROM TIME TO TIME TO HELP SOME ONE OUT ON A JOB HE WAS HAVING 
TROUBLE ON AND COULD NOT FIND THE TROUBLE WITH IT. I ALSO WORKED FOR RICHARD 
FALLIN ON HOUSES DOING A/C , ELECTRICAL,CARPENTER,AND PLUMBING REPAIR.  HE HAS 
ABOUT 100 HOUSES .HE GETS THEM WHEN THEY ARE IN BAD NEED OF REPAIR AND FIXES 
THEM UP TO RENT OUT OR RESELL.

 
IN AUGUST 1970,JEAN AND I TOOK A TRIP,WITH SALLY,KARL AND REBECCA  TO 
DUBUQUE,IOWA FOR AUNT GLADY'S BIRTHDAY ON AUGUST 17TH. WHEN WE GOT TO AUNT 
GLADY'S, DAD,(JEAN'S FATHER),WAS THERE. HE HAD FLOWN TO DUBUQUE AND HE BEAT US 
THERE. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. IT WAS IN THE FALL OF THE YEAR AND THE LEAVES 
WERE TURNING TO DIFFERENCE  COLORS AND FALLING AND BLOWING IN THE WIND. AS WE 
WERE DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH ,JEAN WOULD SAY "STOP THE CAR, STOP THE 
CAR, I SEE THAT ROCK I WANT" AND I WOULD STOP, TURN AROUND GO  BACK AND GET ROCK 
(IF I COULD LIFT IT) LOAD IT IN THE CAR AND BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME I WOULD HAVE 
A TRUNK FULL OF ROCK.  ON ONE OF OUR TRIPS WE WENT TO COLORADO  AND WENT UP MT. 
EVENS . THAT IS THE HIGHTEST AUTO BOND THAT YOU CAN DRIVE A CAR UP AND ABOUT 
HALF WAY UP WE STOPED TO LOOK AT THE SNOW AND JESN SAW ONE THOES ROCKS SHE 
WANTED AND SO I STARTED TO LOAD IT AND I ALMOST DID NOT GET IT IN THE CAR . IT 
WAS GRANIT AND THE AIR WAS SO THIN AND I WAS OUT OF BREATH BUT I DID LOAD IT 
UNDER HER FEET. WHEN WE STARTED DOWN  THE ROAD WAS NARROW  AND  JEAN WOULD NOT 
LOOK OUT HER WINDOW BECOUSE  IT WAS STRIGHT DOWN AND SHE CAN NOT STAND HIGHTS. 
SHE LAYED DOWN ON TOP OF THE ROCK TILL WE  GOT TO LEVEL GROUND. BUT I MADE GOOD 
USE OF THEM.  I NOW HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FOUNTAIN IN THE BACK YARD WITH A ROCK FROM 
ALMOST EVERY STATE. IT IS NICE TO SAT AND LISTEN TO THE WATER FALLING OVER THE 
ROCKS.
WHEN I BUILT THE FOUNTAIN THE BIG ROOM WAS NOT ADDED TO THE BACK OF THE  HOUSE 
AND IN 1976 WHEN I GOT THE ROOM BUILT, A 16 BY 16 FT, THEN THE FOUNTAIN WAS ONLY 
18 INCHES FROM THE ROOM. IT WAS SOME TIME LATER THAT JEAN SAID " I WISH THE 
FOUNTAIN WAS MOVED OUT IN THE YARD AWAY FROM THE HOUSE"  I MADE THE MISTAKE OF 
SAYING IT COULD BE MOVED. SHE TOOK ME UP ON IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE  MIKE AND I 
STARTED ON IT. I WAS LUCKY THE ROCKS WERE NOT CEMENTED TO THE BASIN. THE BASIN 
WAS 6 FT ON THE FRONT 7 FT ON THE BACK AND 8 FT ON THE SIDES WITH 12 “ BY 6” 
WALLS AND 4 “ BOTTOM AND IT WOULD WEIGH ABOUT 4,000 LBS. WITH AN A-FRAME AND A 
CHAIN-FALL AND COME-ALONGS FROM THE SHOP WHERE I WORKED AND PIPES,TIMBERS AND 
BOARDS AND MOST OF ALL WITH MIKES HELP WE MOVED IT TO WHERE IT IS NOW. THEN I 
BUILT THE SIDES AND BACK  UP LIKE IT IS NOW AND CEMENTED THE ROCKS AND PUT THE 
PIPES IN FOR THE WATER FALL.IT MUST NOW WEIGH 10,000 LBS. JEAN SAID SHE WANTED A 
JUNGLE IN THE YARD AND THAT'S WHAT SHE HAS NOW. IT WAS WORK BUT I ENJOYED DOING 
IT.
DEC. /15 / 2OO1.
I HAVE NOT BEEN WRITING ON THIS STORY FOR SOME TIME NOW FOR I GOT BUSY ON OTHER 
THINGS  AND TIME GOES ON AND GETS AWAY FROM YOU QUICK.  IT HAS BEEN ABOUT THREE 
YEARS NOW  AND I WANT TRY TO GET BACK TO WRITING THIS AGAIN.

I WILL START WRITING ABOUT THE TRIPS WE HAVE BEEN ON.

My Dad passed away on 20 December 2002 at home with his family surrounding him. 
He had Congestive Heart Failure. His mother also had heart problems. He had 
fought the good fight for years. He and mother married on 5 December 1968 at the 
Harmony Wedding Chapel, Houston, Texas. The doctors had given him at the most 
six more months to live, and we had hospice come out for him. We did not expect 
him to leave us so soon, but he left us at 6:31am that next morning. Hospice had 
just started coming out that day before. 
WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT A MAN WHO WAS SUCH A LOVING EXAMPLE OF CHRIST'S LOVE?  
THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU, I THANK GOD THAT YOU WERE A PART OF OUR LIVES. I KNOW 
THAT I WAS BLESSED THROUGH HIS LIFE, AND HE PASSED WITH HIS LOVING WIFE, JEAN 
MANCILL; AND HIS CHILDREN BESIDE HIM.  PHYLLIS HYDEN, MIKE MANCILL, SALLY BROWN, 
AND SARAH MOORE, STAYED ALL NIGHT WITH HIM. WE TALKED MOTHER INTO LAYING DOWN TO 
REST, THEN ME AND SARAH FELL ASLEEP ABOUT 4 am. PHYLLIS AND MIKE STAYED WITH HIM 
ALL NIGHT, TRYING TO COMFORT HIM AS HE PASSED ON TO MEET JESUS. I NEVER DREAMED 
THAT JESUS WOULD TAKE HIM SO SOON. THE DOCTORS THE NIGHT BEFORE AT THE HOSPITAL, 
HAD TOLD US THAT HE MIGHT HAVE 6 MONTHS LEFT. WE DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE THAT HE 
WOULD LEAVE US SO SOON, BUT I KNOW THAT IS WHAT HE WANTED--TO DIE WITH DIGNITY--
IN HIS OWN HOME SURROUNDED BY THE PEOPLE WHO LOVED HIM. LOU HAS BEEN GONE ALMOST 
2 YEARS NOW, AND IT STILL MAKES ME CRY TO WRITE THIS. YET, I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT 
I HAVE MY MOTHER STILL HERE TO BE WITH US.--:(
LOU OR AS THE GRANDCHILDREN CALL HIM, "HONEY" HAS BEEN LIKE A FATHER TO ME AND 
MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS. HE HAS BEEN NOT ONLY GOOD TO MY MOTHER, BUT ALSO TO ALL 
OF HIS STEP-CHILDREN. THE MOST SPECIAL THING "LOU" EVER TOLD ME WHEN I WAS ABOUT 
SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE.  I WAS WORRYING ABOUT MY LOOKS AS USUAL. I WAS GETTING 
READY FOR A DATE, AND I COULDN'T MAKE UP MY MIND WHETHER I WAS GOING TO WEAR ANY 
MAKE-UP OR NOT. LOU TOLD ME THAT I WAS SO BEAUTIFUL THAT I DIDN'T NEED TO WEAR 
ANY MAKE-UP, AND THAT I LOOKED BEAUTIFUL WITHOUT IT. HE PROBABLY NEVER KNEW JUST 
HOW MUCH THAT ONE SENTENCE MEANT TO ME. I HAD NEVER HAD ANY MAN, OR BOY TELL ME 
THAT I WAS BEAUTIFUL!  AND, COME TO THINK OF IT, I HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE TELL ME 
SINCE THEN EITHER. I LOVE YOU LOU AND YOU ARE SPECIAL!   LOVE, SALLY MARCH 19, 
1995.
LOUIS AND HIS FAMILY MOVED TO MOBILE, ALABAMA IN 1943.  HE WENT TO WORK FOR THE 
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD IN 1950'S, IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. HE SERVED IN THE U.S. 
ARMY IN WORLD WAR II HIS TROOP MARCHED ALONG THE AUSTRIAN GERMAN BORDER TO 
FRANCE.  HE ALSO SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY IN THE KOREAN WAR IN SEOUL, KOREA. 
LOUIS CLIFFORD MANCILL WAS RAISED ON A FARM BETWEEN ROBERTSDALE & SUMMERSDALE, 
ALABAMA UNTIL ABOUT 1943 WHEN THE MANCILL FAMILY MOVED TO MOBILE, ALABAMA. LOUIS 
WROTE HIS MEMOIRS. I PRINTED A COPY OF THEM AND GAVE THEM TO MY STEP BROTHER, 
MIKE MANCILL, UPON MY DAD'S PASSING. I HOPE THAT HE SHARES IT WITH HIS 
DECENDANTS ALSO. MY DAD ASKED ME MORE THAN ONCE, WHY I DO ALL THIS WORK ON OUR 
GENEALOGY, THAT NO ONE WOULD EVER READ IT. SO SAD, THAT HE THOUGHT NO ONE WOULD 
CARE TO READ HIS HISTORY, BUT HE WAS A HUMBLE MAN. I TOLD HIM THAT I WOULD READ 
IT, AND THERE WOULD BE "SOMEONE" OUT THERE WHO WILL WANT TO KNOW. BESIDES THAT, 
I TOLD HIM, I ENJOY LEARNING ABOUT OUR FAMILY HISTORY. LOU LEFT OFF ON HIS 
HISTORY IN THE 1970'S, WHEN WE TOOK A TRIP TO IOWA TO VISIT THE LINDERMAN HOME 
PLACE WITH MOTHER. HE HAD TOO MUCH TROUBLE BREATHING IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO 
FINISH. I PLAN TO FINISH IT FOR HIM. MOTHER DOESN'T LIKE TO WRITE, BUT SHE LOVES 
TO TALK.--:)
LOUIS' FATHER, ELLIOTT MANCILL, WROTE A BOOK ABOUT HIS LIFE, WITH HIS BROTHER, 
GLENN MANCILL AND DEBORAH MANCILL HENDRIX, EDITING AND PRINTING IT. WE RECEIVED 
A COPY OF IT.


Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/baldwin/photos/bios/mancill1083gbs.jpg

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/baldwin/bios/mancill1083gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/

File size: 90.9 Kb