JAPANESE INVADE DUTCH INDIES AT TWO POINTS; U. S. FLIERS JOIN DEFENSE, HIT A BATTLESHIP (1/12/42)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 1/12/42 | C. Brooks Peters, Daniel T. Brigham, Hanson W. Baldwin

[texanyankee]

"Do you know where he was inducted? My father must have been sworn in on April 9 or 10. I have a letter he wrote on April 11 that I plan to post, so watch for that.

I'm 9.9% positive he signed up in San Antonio. My Dad had attended Durham Business College in San Antonio & was working in San Antonio during that time. He was dating a lady who eventually became his wife & my Mom. BTW, he actually signed up with the Coast Guard - which of course, worked closely with the Navy. I have a lot of his "stuff" hidden away in boxes in our garage that I need to organize. I recall seeing his stuff on when he signed up. From San Antonio, he was sent to New Orleans and then to the west coast before being assigned to the Middleton. I really need to make it a priority to gather his papers, etc together. I got his dog tags, Pacific Service medal, papers, and some other things.

[texanyankee]

lol...that’s supposed to be:

“99.9% positive he joined up in San Antonio....”

[texanyankee]

" My father must have been sworn in on April 9 or 10. I have a letter he wrote on April 11 that I plan to post, so watch for that."

What branch of service did your dad join? Did he ever offer a reason why he waited until April to join?

I dont mean to insinuate that my Dad or your dad shoulda joined Dec 8th, 1941. But I sometimes wonder what triggered his joining date. Maybe he was gonna be drafted into the army & he figured he would rather choose his branch of military service, I just dont know.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

What branch of service did your dad join? Did he ever offer a reason why he waited until April to join?

Army. My aunt told me the story this way. My father and his friends all marched to the navy recruiting office after Pearl Harbor to sign up. My father was rejected because of his bad teeth. He found the army to be not so particular. Why the delay until April? I don't know. Maybe he had to get his classification changed after being found physically unfit by the navy or something.