1945-1953 Between WWII and The Korean War

I was nine years old when WWII ended and the Cubs played in the World Series.

Logan School was K-6. So, for 7th and 8th grades I went to Howard School and then to New Trier High School. My Brother, Bob, was two years ahead of me and my sister Ginny had graduated, attended Lake Forest College and got married, before I went to New Trier.

While in High School, I worked for Jack and Jim's Spudnut Shop in downtown Wilmette. Bob worked there for a couple of years. I enjoyed my job making and selling donuts and being treated as an adult by the owners. I gradually became more of a "go-to guy" and was given more responsibilities. I'd come in early and start making the dough and warming up the fryer as well as making new frosting and the first batch of donuts for the day. Jack and Jim had started a coffee delivery business and were leaving it up to me to get the Spudnut shop ready for the morning trade. They'd also have a standing order for their coffee route - coffee and donuts to several local businesses. I served the first crush of customers until Jack or Jim came in. Then, I go home and get ready for school.

At New Trier, I was an indifferent scholar and graduated with a "Gentlemanly C" average. In fact, I needed an extra semester in summer school to make up for flunking English. I graduated in August 1953.

I attended The University of Illinois at Navy Pier for one semester. I came in on probation. My poor study habits continued and missing some classes did me in and I flunked out after one semester. I had spent more time playing Pinochle than being diligent about going to class. So, a D in Economics was all it took to do me in. I worked at Wiebolt's Department store in Evanston for the summer and then joined the Army.

The 3 year enlistment enabled my to get into the Army Security Agency, the military version of the NSA. I went through basic training at Camp Chafee, near Fort Smith, Arkansas. I enlisted on Sept 15, 1953. So the first couple of weeks of basic training was HOT and humid. One hundred degrees was a regular daytime temp with high humidity and we sweated it out. Near the end of my eight weeks training, it was Autumn and the temps at night were below freezing. On overnight bivouacs, we often awoke to find ice in out canteens.

We all received a two-week furlough before going to our new posts. I came home in mid-November and was able to spend Thanksgiving with my family and friends. A group of friend invited me to go rabbit hunting one morning. What a mistake - it was just like a day on bivouac in the Army. Not my cup of tea. I never hunted again.

After my leave, I was ordered to Fort Devon in Massachusetts to prepare for Language training.