World War II Woman

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Charlie grew up in Rye, New York. He was still in high school during the war years, and remembers the older fellows going off to war. By the time he was a senior, veterans were coming back to high school to complete their education. Most of these fellows had not been in battle, but had assisted in the final stages of the war.

Charlie remembers rationing, stamps, and the various inconveniences of those times. As for the gas rationing, Charlie relates that he and some of his buddies would wander around at night to several gas stations in the area and take the hoses off their hooks to see if there was any gasoline remaining in the line. If they were lucky, they could coax out of the hoses possibly a quart of gasoline. He recalls doing a lot of walking.

Charlie took part in both football and basketball. He recalls the synthetic rubber used for sneakers and the black streaks which they left on the gym floor. Naturally, I asked about girls’ interscholastic sports. There was none in his area. On special Field Days, girls might participate in a soccer game, but basically cheerleading was the extent of girls’ sports. I realize once again that Pennsylvania back in those days was ahead of many of our neighboring states.

Charlie went on to Boston University, where he was the only non-veteran in his class. He was just a kid compared to most of the battle-scarred men returning from war and making use of the GI Bill. He felt as though he had many older brothers, who treated him very kindly. He says of them, “They were so, so good to me. I was lucky to have had those experiences.”

Many of these men went on to become high school coaches, principals, and athletes in their own right, even participating in the Olympics.

More of Charlie’s story tomorrow.

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