When I first got the diary, I read it a little bit at a time. I always read a little before bed and that became my bedtime reading for several months. I would find myself chuckling over something she’d written or wondering what it was like for her, on her own like that. There were definitely some things that shocked me. Was she silly? Yes, sometimes, but other times she was just a hoot, learning how to live in a foreign land. And not so different from me, when I moved far away.
Then I decided to transcribe the diary. After all, it was 50+ years old and it couldn’t last forever, could it? I thought it would be nice for my brothers and me to have this documented account of a year in her life. So as I started to transcribe, that’s when I really read it. That was when I really felt like I started to know the woman my mother had been in her late 20’s. It made me wish I’d taken the time when she was still alive to get to know her better. After I transcribed the diary, I went back and tried to identify events and places she had mentioned, which helped me get a greater pulse on the time and place.
One of the things I always thought would be a great complement to the diary were Mother’s slides. Back in those days, I guess slides were the way to go. The way Polaroids were for a while and now digital pictures. I can remember, as I was growing up, we would get the slides out and the projector and watch them against a bare wall. Finally my brother George was able to scan them into a digital format. So my hope is that as I spend time sharing the diary, I’ll be able to add pictures that will help tell the story.
So come along with me on a trip to Europe in the early 50’s through the eyes and words of Marion Malone Hunter.
August 1953 – August 1954
Year spent in Europe
August 10, 1953
Left Charlotte New York Fort Hamilton [Ft. Hamilton is located at the east side of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in Brooklyn and is the only active military base in metropolitan New York City Ft. Hamilton – Adams [Did not find anything on Adams, but the temporary housing, where she likely stayed, is now referred to as Fort Hamilton Inn Annex, a refurbished barracks]. Did nothing but wait in line all day.
For lunch ordered bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich and got waffles – started off with a bang.
Tonight stood in line again for supplies at Dependent’s Mess, then went to Post Theater – “Fort Algiers” [In northwest Africa, a tribal leader tries to stir up a rebellion against the ruling powers. Stars included Yvonne DeCarlo (Lily Munster
August 11, 1953
Met Mother and Daddy at Taft [hotel in NYC?] – had lunch there in the grill. Went to see the movie “The Moon is Blue” [A young girl meets an architect on the observation deck of the Empire State Building
August 12, 1953
Had some more processing this morning. Went to see “The King and I” this afternoon. Ate dinner at The Pen and Pencil [a classic NYC steakhouse, now gone]. Very good but expensive. Went to see Wonderful Town tonight – excellent [about two sisters who travel from Columbus , OH
August 13, 1953
Sailed on the Gen. Hodges at 2:30. Boarded buses at Ft. Hamilton
Eat at second sitting – meals are pretty good. Went up on deck after supper – nice and cool. So pitiful to see the troops hanging on the fence around our area of the deck.
There are movies 3 times a day, a library, game room, and lounge where everyone congregates at night. Have coffee house every night at 10 o’clock in the lounge.
There is also a sun deck for us and deck chairs. The ship is very nice but still a transport.
We are on E deck – four in a room – no port hole.
Also have a laundry room, ships store, special services, newspaper, etc.
Have never seen so many stair wells. I spend my time going up and down the steps and eating. It’s like being in a maze. Sometimes we even end up in the troop’s quarters. I feel like the rats we used to run through the mazes in Psych. Lab.
The ship rolls constantly – our bunks are situated so that your head and feet go up and down. If they were the other way, it would be like a cradle.
Aunt Helen, etc. – sent some flowers to the ship – beautiful. Amelia Ann sent a telegram.
Very nice cabin mates.
Have certainly met some nice people so far.
The trip is supposed to take 10 days.
August 14, 1953
Same thing – nothing but ocean. Had coffee and sandwiches served in the lounge tonight.
Played bridge all morning.
Formed a small orchestra for the lounge tonight.
Our ship – USNS Gen. Hodges – 522’ long and 71’6” across the beams; 16,750 tons; 9,000 horsepower – cruising speed 17.25 knots (about 20 mph). Produces 40,000 gallons of water per day. 3 generators – 400 kilowatts. About 1,500 passengers – 1200 troops, 300 cabin passengers, 150 crew members.
The stewards clean up your cabin every day. Have a sanitary inspection every day.
August 15, 1953
The scuttlebutt is that we are running ahead of a hurricane so we are going faster than usual. Last night they said the sea got pretty rough in the night and pulled the sea weed loose. They started German classes this morning and will have them every day except Sunday.
It is certainly hot. They say that this is the hottest that it has been in a year.
This afternoon we went to see the movie “I’ll Never Forget You” [time travel fantasy starring Tyrone Power and Ann Blyth] but it was so hot we left. Then tonight we played bingo until coffee hour. Then everybody went to the lounge and sang. They let us stay up until 12 o’clock tonight instead of 11. Big doings for Saturday night.
It’s still rolling around.
Two of my cabinmates are from New York and one is from California so we have a hard time understanding each other sometimes but we manage [only my mother would have such difficulty understanding people who actually live in the same country she does!].
Bremerhaven is 3,666 miles from New York.
August 16, 1953
We lost one hour last night – 4 or 5 more to go. Went to church this morning. Boy was it hot.
This afternoon went out on the sun deck but couldn’t take it too long – very hot. We are still in the Gulf Stream . We haven’t gone north because of icebergs. They say even if we get to Bremerhaven
Tonight we played cards and danced in the lounge. Very enjoyable. They let us stay up until 12 again tonight.
August 17, 1953
This morning we had a man overboard drill for the crew. They threw over a life preserver and shot a flare. Then the ship went around in a big circle and stopped. The lowered a life boat and they went out and got the life preserver. They had a little trouble getting the life boat back up because the waves kept washing the boat up and it would come off of the hooks.
This afternoon we went on a tour of the bridge – saw how they steer the ship; the radar, map room; fire warning system, etc. Then we went in the flag locker and up on the flying bridge – very good view of the entire ship and the ocean.
There is a man in the brig. The first night he put on civilian clothes and came into the play pen area with us. (He is one of the troops.)
We get a newspaper every day. It has our position each day, things to do on board, and the latest world news.
Did you dream about her adventures when you read the diary before bed?
ReplyDeleteWonder what the "play pen" area is? And wonder why the man was in the brig?