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Tid-Bit Tales from the Forties

© Virginia Marin

It was during the days of World War II when Les Brown and His Orchestra and singing star, Doris Day made "Sentimental Journey" into a classic that expressed the yearning of Americans to renew old memories and to set our hearts at ease during those days of turmoil. Counting every mile of railroad track was the song's familiar refrain--which served not only as comic relief but reminded us of the romance of train travel which was the way most of us traveled in the forties, if we traveled at all. The rail was also a means of communicating, as was the newspaper, word of mouth and the radio. Ah, the Forties. I remember them well...

The amusing story is told, that after President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted Daylight Savings Time, a dear little lady wrote to a Washington newspaper expressing her thanks and comprehension of the president's action:

"Sir, I am in favor of Daylight Savings Time. I have planted Victory-Gardens and vegetable gardens for many years and I am happy to inform you that they do much better with that extra hour of sunlight every day that you have given to us! Thank you, Mr. President, for your help in this time of war."

Well, whether all citizens of the United States spent their time gardening in that extra hour of sunlight is not known, but some folks found that after dark escapades had something to say for smartness:

During World War II, German U Boats were known to ply the Eastern Coast of North America. In light of this, soldiers routinely patrolled the beaches of South Carolina, as they did all along the Eastern Seaboard.

One rainy night, on Edisto Beach, when the full moon lay hidden behind a dark cloud, a series of rifle shots were carried on the wind to a couple who occupied a cottage close to the shoreline. Although their windows were covered by thick black-out curtains, they turned off all of the light, thinking Germans had come ashore.

As they huddled in a corner, a knock sounded at the door. They remained silent until they heard their names called, at which time they opened the door to two young American soldiers whom they knew. They offered them hot coffee and stoked the fire for drying warmth. The husband asked if they had heard the shooting. Each looked very embarassed. Then they burst out laughing, as one of the young men reportedly said:

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