My Family and World War II

 

Poppa

Poppa had an important role in the war effort. He was the air raid warden for our building. I felt very safe knowing he would lead us to safety if the bombs fell on our building. I’m not sure where that safety was, but I’m sure he knew. He was given a helmet and armband which he proudly wore. 

Momma

Momma’s role was to make sure the window shades kept any light from escaping into the night darkness. Any light would alert the German bombers where to drop the bombs.

Brother

My brother had the most important role. He was drafted and stationed in Kentucky. Fortunately, the only hot spot he encountered was the stove in the large army kitchen since was assigned the danger free role of army chef. He would be a prize after the war for any woman looking for a husband to take over the food preparation job in the marriage.  Of course, math (his weakness)  would be required since he would have to convert his army recipes from the mammoth army mess hall quantity to a family of four.

Me

My anxiety about the war was minimal. I felt safe at school since we frequently practiced getting on the floor under our desk. This measure would enable us to avoid falling ceilings and falling bombs. I knew the principal, assistant principal and teachers, all authority figures, would keep me safe. 

I kept a diary for three years back then in the forties and I still have the small books with their brittle, yellowing pages. I reread parts of them every so often and am amazed at how ordinary, mundane and prosaic my  entries were. I even rated them each day with a checking system; check, 

check+. check++ for their importance. A check ++ day might mean I got 100% in a math test or Howie Klein asked me to dance at the East Bronx Community YM-YWHA. I can’t believe there is not one entry that shows any introspection or any awareness of world events. There was a holocaust going on in Europe. My relatives are being sent in boxcars to their death, A boatload of Jewish refugees were turned back at our dock by an isolationist congress, knowing full well that they were sending them to their demise. No Diary of Anne Frank was my diary.

Sister

My sister’s role was to date every available soldier and sailor who was on 

leave in New York City. It can be said she played a major part in raising  the morale of our fighting forces.

Ethyl Haber