Sun, Jun 25, 1944

"Stanley & I have been doing the chores the past week, I let Stanley do most of the water and milk carring, I pump most of the water and milk 3 cows to his 2, he sure is a lot of help.  I imagine we will have some combining to do this week  I think the rye will do soon and the wheat the last week or first of next week....

"Stanley and I went to the pastures and I counted the cattle and left salt in each one, Stanley picked out his and yours, he got to see his calf at least we supposed it was his as it was sucking his cow."

-- Letter from my grandfather, Bloomington, Kans., to my father, Notre Dame, Ind., Sunday, June 25, 1944.

Thu, Jun 22, 1944: operation

"Stanley intended to write to you last night but when he got around to it he decided he was too tired. He has had quite a bit of responsibility since Daddy had his operation.  He and Kenneth managed everything pretty well for boys their size.  Although Daddy has been home a week he has not been able to do much of anything.  Last night he decided he could help a little with the milking so Kenneth didn't come."

-- Letter from my grandmother, Jessie Maybelle (Berger) Brown, Bloomington, Kans., to my father, Sidney DeVere Brown, Notre Dame, Ind., Thursday, June 22, 1944.

Mon, Jun 19, 1944: personable

“Personable friendly man with a good smile.  Would be anxious for sea duty if his eyes are found to be satisfactory.  (Listed 17/20 here when he reported)  Has done extensive work in extra curricular activities.  Socially well adjusted.  Good supply corps candidate although not a business administration major.  Good test scores.”

--Endorsement summary of my father by E. N. Brains, Lieutenant, U. S. Navy, Monday, June 19, 1944.

Wed, Jun 14, 1944

"One doesn't have a chance to forget that this is a Catholic institution, as we encounter black robed professors scurrying to and from classes at all times....

"Jack certainly must have had a close call in Italy.  I hope he recovers quickly, but not to get back into action, for he has certainly had his share after two months on that Anzio Beachhead."

-- Letter from my father, Notre Dame, Ind., to my grandfather, Bloomington, Kans., Wednesday, June 14, 1944.

Tue, Jun 13, 1944: the hospital

"There is a colored lad, 23 yrs old, working here at the hospital, he came from Lyberia and has just been in this country about 9 or 10 days, he comes in the room and I visit and ask him questions about himself & his country said his father is a fisherman, they dry the fish to preserve them have no canneries or modern equipment  he has never seen natural frozen ice or or seen such machinery as a combine or binder work, he said one day the first of this week it was kinda cool here and he said it was cold to him.  He said his folks lived right by the ocean said they dip water of the ocean sometimes to boil the salt out of it to get salt, he is going to Friends University this winter plans to make a doctor out of himself, he talks pretty good English, the missionaries taught him English.”

--Letter from my grandfather, Leonard Reeves Brown, recuperating from knee surgery in Wichita, Kans., to my father, Sidney DeVere Brown, Notre Dame, Ind., Tuesday, June 13, 1944.  

Sat, Jun 10, 1944: cranberry merchant

"Dearest DeVere:- Well I suppose you are as busy as a cranberry merchant right now.  We were glad to receive your two cards and your letter.  You are very fortunate to run into so many acquaintances and you surely must have had a fine time visiting Cape Girardeau....

“P.S. Homer and Ruby hear through Betty Watt that Jack had been wounded by a German machine bullet and is in a hospital in Italy. He said he would be confined there about a month and would be fighting again.  He received a purple heart."

-- Letter from my grandmother, Bloomington, Kans., to my father, Notre Dame, Ind., Saturday, June 10, 1944.  My father had just started to midshipmen’s school at Notre Dame University.

Tue, Jun 6, 1944

"We're now getting settled for the long midshipmen's school grind.  This morning the boys came in from Asbury Park, so I think classes will begin about next Thursday."

-- Letter from my father, Notre Dame, Ind., to his family, Bloomington, Kans., Tues, June 6, 1944.  My father had just arrived at Midshipmen’s School at Notre Dame after having a leave at home with his family.  This letter was written on D-Day, the day that allied forces crossed the English Channel to attack German-occupied Normandy, although my father makes no mention of it.