FRIENDSHIP 1944-2007

ELLIS' 1944 SKARPS

CHRISTMAS CARD FRIENDSHIP

Pearl Skarp and I met in Medford. Oregon when our husbands were stationed at Camp White in 1943 during World War II. Pea rl had
traveled there from Virginia, MN to be with her husband Bob and I had taken a train from Champaign, Illinois and arrived in Medford on New Year's Eve 1943 to be with Dale.

I had left home with only $100 and paid $66 for my train ticket. On that train trip, with such a small amount of money in my pocket, I was fortunate that a group of young Sailors (just finishing boot camp) got on the train in Minneapolis. During the war, at every train stop USO served sandwiches, fruit, desserts and drinks. The young Sailors would hop off the train, pick up food and they always brought back some for me. On that 4 day and 3 night trip, I only ate in the Diner a couple of times.

There were many Army and Navy wives, going West to be with their husbands. Many had babies and small children. It was much more tiring for them as we did not have Pullman and sat up the whole time. It seemed a very long journey, but we were all young and anxious to be with our loved ones.

Once I arrived in Medford Dale met me and we were fortunate to be able to stay on the Army Base for 3 nights. We checked the newspapers for rooms to rent. Finding one we felt we could afford, we took a cab and
when we arrived at the house another couple arrived at the same time, so we ran to the door....and got the room. It was $30 a month. There was no heat in the room and Oregon is very chilly and damp during winter months,
so many times we slept in sweaters....Dale could eat at the Army base and
during the week I ate at the Rolling Pin Doughnut Shop. We both ate there on weekends and a full Sunday meal was 55 cents.

I got a job in the Camp White laundry. I worked there about a month, then
got on at Montgomery Ward in the paint department. In April the 96th Division was being transferred to San Luis Obispo, California. Pearl and I decided we needed to get to San Luis Obispo early, before the Division
arrived so we could get housing and a job. I was fortunate and since I had been with Montgomery Ward in Medford, was hired and was lucky to be put in the Catalog Order Department.

The Division had orders to be shipped to the Pacific about the middle of June 1944. They were saving all seats on trains for the soldiers so they could make one last furlough home before shipping out.

That is when Pearl and I decided to take a Greyhound back home. It was great we had met and didn't have to travel alone. We would be traveling together as far as St. Louis, MO. We would arrive home a couple of days before our husbands arrived. We boarded the Greyhound with suitcases filled to the brim with what few clothes we had, and any items we wanted
to bring back home with us. This was on a Monday morning. That night we stayed in Los Angeles......our last good night's sleep for many days.
On Tuesday morning we waved goodbye to LA and were on our way.

In 1944 the buses were quite nice, but there was no bathroom or air conditioning. Pearl was 5 months pregnant. It seemed a long way between rest stops.....more so for her I'm sure. We had bus stops for meals and rest stops about every two hours. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday went by. We stopped at the Painted Desert and some historical sights along the route. We were getting very tired and during the day the smell of diesel from the exhaust was beginning to get to us. I
remember we stopped in Kansas City, MO. It was a bit longer stop than
most and we got out and sat on the curb in the hot sun. By then we were
so weary. Saturday about noon we arrived at the Greyhound Bus Station
in St. Louis.

We were very tired from the long trip across the country. Pearl's feet were so swollen she had to kick off her shoes and go barefoot in the bus station... We were sorry to have to part and say goodbye to one another. Pearl was headed for Virginia, MN and my bus was to Champaign, IL. I remember arriving in Champaign about noon on Saturday.....and I know it was several hours later that Pearl arrived in Virginia, MN. Our husbands
arrived home a few days later and we had about 10 days then they boarded the train to go back to San Luis Obispo and in a few days were shipped to
the South Pacific.

Pearl had Judy four months after arriving home. I went back to work at
the University of Illinois. In early 1946 our husbands arrived home from
the War. We were so fortunate they both survived the Pacific battles and returned to us.

Dale and I had 3 sons, 8 grandsons, one granddaughter, and 3 living great grand children. One grandson passed away when he was 1 1/2. Bob and Pearl had the one daughter, 3 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

The amazing part of this story.......Pearl and I have not seen one another
since that day in 1944 when we hugged one another and parted in the St. Louis Greyhound Bus Station. We have never missed one Christmas without sending each other a Christmas Card with a note and sometimes pictures. We call it our Wonderful Christmas Card Friendship.

Here it is the year 2008 and we are no longer the young wives heading West to see our Soldier husbands....We are both in our eighties. Bob and Dale have passed away. They were wonderful husbands and Fathers. Christmas 2007 was 63 years of keeping in touch with Christmas Cards. We are looking forward to our 64th Christmas card in 2008.

2007