Posted: 3/16/05
Teen Talk ColumnA tribute to an 'American Patriot'
Hi I'm Hank Anderson and this is my story. I remember it as it were yesterday...
It was November of 1939, the sixth I believe. My best friend was shipping out to France. He had entered the war voluntarily.
America wasn't in the war yet see; volunteers could sign up to go and be soldiers to help fight the Germans in France or Britain. Ted was only 17 at the time, I was too. They let many underage kids join the army, some as young as 14 could go. Ted wasn't scared. Far from it actually. He was very patriotic. My friends and me weren't, at least not like him. "Ted don't go! You can still back down now," we said. "No. My country may not need me but somebody does." Bonnie, his fianc?e, said, "I'll be here when you get home."
And he left aboard a huge ship on his way to France, wearing the hat I gave him for his birthday.
The next few weeks were hard on everybody around without him. Bonnie, Dave, Lou, Betty, Mary and I hung out at the food parlor. We talked about Ted, the war, school and other things going on at the time.
"Bonnie have you heard from Ted yet?" "Ah he wrote me a letter. I got it this morning." "Well what did it say?"
Dear Bonnie and gang
I'm stationed in Paris right now. I've seen great many things. The "Eiffel Tower" was the best though. I've been in two battles so far. We greatly outnumbered them in both. None of us have died yet, luckily. Tomorrow we move closer to the German border. I'll write again soon. Bye.
Love,
"Wow two battles," said Dave, "That's unreal!" "Dave!" " Oh, sorry." "Hey did you guys hear, they think they saw some Japanese cruisers just outside of Wake Island?" asked Lou. "You don't think they'll attack us or something do you?" replied Betty. "Jeez I hope not, my uncle Alfred is in Pearl Harbor," said Bonnie. "Yeah my uncle Arnold is there, too," added Dave. "Wait, wait, wait, hold up. Lou how do you know they're not just fishing boats or something," I asked. "They're just patrolling I bet. They always do. Just protecting their country. If you didn't know we have them all around there too. And besides Pearl Harbor has a ton of people there, over 20 destroyers and aircraft carriers. There are four airports with fighters too. We've got about 10,000 troops there. That's why they're there, to protect us," I said. "Well I guess you're right,' they said hesitantly.
We did that routinely almost every day.
On the morning of December 7 I get up just as usual and sat down to eat breakfast. Then I tuned on the radio. Was listening to my favorite song when...
"This is a special report, Pearl Harbor has been bombed. I repeat, Pearl Harbor has been bombed! Japanese forces bombed the Pearl Harbor post! Japanese forces bombed the army post in Pearl Harbor! More than 1000 soldiers and 200 civilians are dead and counting! Thousands more are missing and injured! Most of the ships are sunk or sinking. The Japanese are retreating back to their waters! Washington has also declared that we are now an active combatant in World War Two! Here is President F. D. Roosevelt's report... "Hello, I'm here before you to say God help the people in Pearl Harbor! Japan has threatened our national security! We will retaliate this action! We are also officially fighting in this war! We will aid Hawaii, Britain, France, and/or other allies! So, God Protect our troops, God Bless America, and God help the people in Pearl Harbor! Thank you.
I shut off the radio. Nobody made a sound. Not Dad, Mom, not me, my little brother or even Red, the dog made a noise.
Then dad broke the silence, "Oh my God!" "Call the Johnsons, the Dickens, Grandma, Grandpa, every one!" ordered my Mom. That day we talked to everyone we knew or ever met.
A few days later the gang met at the parlor again.
"Dave have you heard if your uncle is... ah you know... dead?" "Yeah," trying not to cry, he said, "he is." "Bonnie what about you?" "He'll live. He has a couple of wounds but he'll pull through." "Good." "I got another letter from Ted."
Dear Gang
I'm no longer a volunteer, I'm a soldier. We had to leave France; the Germans are too strong. We are on a Battleship now. I've been in many battles. A few of my comrades have died. I've been promoted to a captain. I lead 20 troops currently in my platoon. More reinforcements have come. I've made a few friends out here, Sergeant Frank Parker and Private George Truman. I think we are going to raid Germany soon. I’ve got to go. I’ll write again soon. Love P.S. I heard about Pearl Harbor. Sorry Bonnie and Dave. “Well at least he’s O.K., I’ve heard there have been some bad battles over there,” said Lou. We went back to the routine for a couple for weeks. When one day at the parlor we heard the most hated words since Pearl Harbor. “This is a special report. U.S. Forces are invading Germany. They are attacking Normandy Beach as we speak. Thousands of troops are advancing. Tons of battleships are laying fire upon them. Troops are going on by foot. Hundreds of soldiers are in harms way. Many are already calling this day D-Day. D for Death. They say as they get out of the boats they die. We are advancing slowly though. This is the highest number killed since Pearl Harbor... “Oh my God, Teddy,” screamed Bonnie and ran into the bathroom. “@#%*,” swore Dave and Lou. Betty and Mary ran after Bonnie. I remained still and silent; I couldn’t say a thing. About half an hour later the girls came out, Bonnie still crying. Praying “Ted be alive, don’t die God save him, don’t let him die.” She said that constantly for the next few days. We all checked our mailboxes for letters everyday. This lasted about a week or so till I found one in there one day. I just looked at it. The envelope was dirty, oily and a little bloody. Didn’t even check whom it was from, I knew. I rushed and called over everyone as quickly as possible. When they got here we opened it all at the same time. Dear Everybody; Bonnie, Betty, Mary, Lou, Dave and Hank I’m alive. I just survived the greatest battle yet. It was the scariest day of my life. D-day, thousands died. All but Frank, George and me died in my platoon. The ground glistened with bullet shells. It sounded like a volcano eruption. We hold many German hostages. We control the beach and a few miles out, yet we’re still advancing. I think there will be another large-scale attack soon, many new troops arrive each day and the dead ones leave. Berlin is a target, I know, but any others I don’t. The ground still smokes, and my ears are still ringing. Love P.S. Write back if you can. “Wow,” we all said. For the next months we wrote back and forth to Ted. Almost every two weeks we got a letter from him. This went on for four and a half years. Till we bombed. One A-bomb, then another. Japan dropped arms just as President Roosevelt had said. Once Hitler died the Nazi reign ended. Germany surrendered, as did the rest of the Axis forces. The war had ended. Roosevelt gave a speech that day... “I’m before you to say that the war is over. Our troops our coming home. Japan has surrendered, as has Germany. I’m also here to honor our troops that died. May we have a moment of silence...? “From the shores of Hawaii to the golden bullets that lay on the ground of Normandy Beach this has been a difficult war but we have met our goal. So thank you God for the help and God Bless America. Goodnight.” That was it, Ted was coming home. One more letter came from Ted. Dear guys, It’s over. I’m coming home. I ship back tomorrow. I figure it should take four days when I get back. Many people I know have been killed but I was not one of them. I’ll see you in four days. Bye. Sincerely Major Theodore James Andrews Just as he said, four days later he came into port. We waited for him. When they let the men off they ran, crutched, limped, or were carried out as fast as they could. We looked and looked and looked for about an hour when I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. It wasn’t a face or a name tag it was a hat. I looked up and yelled, “Teddy!” It was the first time we had seen him in six years. The girls hugged him and we shook his hand. There was someone with him. “Hi you guys.” “Hi Ted. Who’s this?” “This is Sergeant Parker. I told you about him.” “Hello Sergeant.” “Bonnie have you taken off your ring?” “No. Why do you ask?” “Mister Parker here is also a minister.” “You mean?” “Yep.” So they got married right there on the spot. That was a great day for all of us. Teddy and Bonnie grew old and had kids. But Teddy died of a heart attack at 87. We all came and blessed him but it didn’t help. The only thing that did was the minister (Parker actually). He called Teddy an “American Patriot.” Dave married Betty and also had kids. But I haven’t heard from them. They moved out to Montana. I think Lou eventually met someone. If he had kids I don’t know. Forest Lake Times
Teddy
"They say they are big and have 20 to 30 planes on them," he said.
"...If you're just tuning, in Japan has attacked Pearl Harbor! 1000 soldiers...".
Teddy
I’ve started a journal, I’m writing everything in it. I hope and pray that I come back alive, soon.
Teddy
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605