When my brother asked if I remembered if we ever lived in El Paso, I searched through some old journals of my fathers and found one that I had never read before. In answer to my brothers questions I found entries that specifically told where we lived between 1949 when we left Europe and 1953 when we moved back to Hyde Park while my father was stationed in Korea. All of the italicized parts I just filled in. The bold are the exact journal entries.



28 October, 1949
Happy days – got word that we leave today at 3:30 p.m. Getting baggage packed and children ready. Had steak dinner with Col Coney to which I treated. He got Mardean a souvenir and said goodbye. Reported to overseas briefing room at 1:00 p.m. for flight A-144 Constellation 8609. Headed for Rhein-main airport and booked in and attended to money exchange and customs regulations. At 4;35 p.m. big plane ready for take off. We were the first ones called for boarding plane. We got front four seats in front of compartment. Harris's were with us. Followed route as indicated on attached chart

(Summing up….We landed in Westover Field and went to Springfield, Mass. And then to Bridgeport where they visited friends. Then we went to Washington, DC after picking up car on Staten Island. Saw the sights of Manhattan, empire State ; Radio City, New United Nations building and the Paramount theatre. Then went back to Bridgeport, Conn until leaving for Washington D.C. and visited with the Myron Seamons family . Left there for Pittsburg, Pennsylvannia and then on to Galesburg, Ill to see Connie and Fran and Esther and Lester and kids. Left Galesburg on Nov 12, 1949 .
Stopped along the way to see Ruth at the Maxwell Millionaire Home in Bataric wherever that is. Arrived in Cache Valley on 18th of Nov.
Visited the family both in Salt Lake and Hyde Park

26th and 27th Nov 1949
Left Logan at 7:00 a.m. for S.L.C. and there to El Paso Texas for my new Station assignment. Stopped and called on Bro and Sis Milton Widdison, a former chaplain in Hawaii, now a mail carrier and in the Bishopric of the Rose Crest Ward. I was invited to stay with them over Sunday. I attended church with them both morning and evening….then on to .
My first impression of Texas was terrible, my first assignment to a combat organization since 1929. I don’t like this camp or anything connected with it. Homesick for wife and kiddios

At Christmas time Dad got leave of absence to travel to Hyde Park to spend Christmas and pack and move family to Fort Bliss, Texas. We arrived back in Texas on December 30th at 6:30 p.m.

Today is final day of 1949 and I must say we ended up this day and this year feeling very discouraged. We had spent the entire day looking for a place to live and at last found nothing. To me 1949 brought me much disappointment and sorrow. Yet much of this was due to my own careless living and an abundance of bad habits and bodily weaknesses. Some resolutions towards better living and closer communication with God will certainly improve my earthly status. I hope I can close out 1950 with a greater epitaph than this one. Trusting in the Lord I’m certain of a brighter future.

We must have gotten our first dog while on leave to Logan in June 1950. His name was” Scoopie”

2nd to 16th July 1950
Bon is in final training cycle before moving from a Bliss to our permanent station (Fort Devens, Mass) In view of the war in Korea it is not certain which we will ever get to the East Coast. We had to furnish 25 men and three officers for immediate overseas shipment to the Far East. And expect to do much more in that way. The war in Korea is taking on signs and symbols of an ever growing monster of world conflict. Under estimations of the enemy and over estimation of our own preparedness has resulted into a catastrophe of confusion and now a draft of US reserve power looks imminent. These are the days when there shall be no peace on Earth. Men shall betray themselves and country to satisfy their personal ambitions. The outcome can only result in mass annihilations of civilizations. When will peace and security come to this Earth again! Possibly not during my life-time.
Yesterday after the Battalion came into camp from the field (15July 50) Lt Col Virag our commander was relieved from command and assigned to the staff of Hqs 39th brigade. This means we will have a new commander for our trip to the East Coast. We are hoping that Major Sheirite will remain in command. We are also hoping that the morale and espri de Corp will assume normal heights again and that our AWOL list will vanish.
20th to 31st – Got final word on movement to Ft. Devens, Mass. Records being prepared for conclusion. Korean War is not improving.

Left Texas 24th August 1950 to Logan, Utah; visited until 31st and then left for the East by way of Yellowstone Park and the Black Hills traveled 3420 miles from El Paso to Ayer, Mass.

Arrived at their quarters 61 Willard Devencrest, Ayer Army controlled quarters. Small but cozy. Our furniture arrived but lots of damage was done. My Sgt Major went nuts and hit nut ward at Army Hospital. Later transferred to Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington DC. Payday arrived so we’ve started on to our new budget. Lindy has started nursery school and apparently likes it. Kids still have colds. Went to Boston and paid our account and transferred account from El Paso, Texas.

Made appointment at Army Hospital for Lindy Jr. to have tonsils taken out. On the 19th the major will check him. (but did you have your tonsils out?)

12th 17th Received papers on title of car from the Cordts of S.W. National bank El Paso, Texas. Buick is mine at last.
Got an Emmerson Television set for $239.00 (and here I thought we got our first television set in Salt Lake city when we lived on the avenues)

18th to 31 Dec 1950 – Met Conrad at Worcester and made plans for his Christmas. Christmas has come and gone. Angela and Lindy Jr. got most of everything. Got orders to move to Ft Totten, NY. Advance party

28th Dec. Have not cleared Devens. We all drove down to NY. Stopping at Gayla’s in Bridgeport. Have rented a place in Bayside (67-79 B 224th St) a five room apartment 20 miles from Camp Tilden, N.Y. where Bw is now assigned. Have made arrangements to go back and clear out. Cannot say much for 1950 Lost Horizons and etc. Health good, spending more than income. Will try better during 1951, at least spiritually—

28th March – appointment has been granted for an operation for “Lindy”on 9 April 1951. We are hoping everything goes well. His tonsils are very diseased. After he is out I think I should go in for a spell to get cured. ?
Prepared Lindy for tonsil operation on 4th which was his birthday – while at Ft Hamilton Hospital they took his weight 31 # and blood count 11.5 79% which was disqualifying for any operation at this time. Dr. Wates gave us iron medicine for Lindy to take. Mardean was visibly disappointed. Gave her $140.00 to spend during month for food and clothing. Ruth sails from N.Y. on 8th of June Swedish lines Gripsholm

Later on in the month they take Lindy back to hospital again but he had a cold sore so they would not take him.
Middle of May they got call from hospital that they could not take Lindy since the doctor who operated had his wife die and the summer came and they ceased operating. Mardean is selling silverware. Hope she succeeds.

20 May -31 May Most significant happening is regarding little Lindy and angie. Got call from Station Hospital Fort Hamilton to have Lindy in for tonsil operation on Tuesday morning. We got him there(five previous attempts failed) ok and he passed in fine shape. We left him there- they operated Tuesday afternoon and we got him out 30 May at 11:45 a.m. He said now can I go to the beach? After getting them home both Lindy and Angie break out with “chicken Pox” and what a mess they are. We are feeding Lindy a Sulfa formula. Mumps and chicken Pox almost over.

1-31 august 1951….Upon returning from Utah Dad found out that a transfer had been affected pending a suitable replacement to Fort Totten.

September 1st to 10th After waiting five years “Lindy” is ready to start school. He is skipping kindergarten and will begin 1st grade. He seems thrilled and so far everything seems ok. He is attending public school #41 Bayside, NY. School Bus operated by Fort Totten renders excellent services. Got Lindy a puppy His name Skippy and seems to be a very gentle dog. (What happened to Scooter?)

January 22, 1953 left Fort Totten 1345 hrs for trip to Logan, Utah.