We Were So Young

By Rachel Gramann

...The record here will verify that those sea stories, that now I am forbidden to tell, because that was a long time ago, are those stories that have been repeated many times to family and friends. I can now verify all events in this record and say, "I told you that I won the war single handed."...

In his memoirs, Howard Graves describes the circumstances leading to his early adoption, childhood memories, growing up during the Great Depression, through his service in the US Navy in the Pacific during WWII.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Gramann
• Release date: Dec 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781501417511

Book preview

Preface

These recordings were an important four years of my life.  All events written were not total recollections.  At age 78 there are many events it seems just happened, and others are fading.

Thanks to Stan Gladstein for the discipline needed to continue writing each day for the two years on the Sage to help me relive some of those events.

The record here will verify that those sea stories, that now I am forbidden to tell, because that was a long time ago, are those stories that have been repeated many times to family and friends.  I can now verify all events in this record and say, I told you that I won the war single handed.

The object for writing this was not to make anyone great or a hero.  There were many heroes.  Most did not return home to their family and loved ones, a marked grave is their testimony.

This was a trying time in world history and with the dedication of millions, Hitler and Japan were defeated.  I was privileged to be a part of it.

I asked the Captain of the Sage how old he was when he was in command.  He was 28, the old man.

The rest of us! ————-—WE WERE SO YOUNG

Chapter 1 - Childhood

JEREMIAH 1:5 BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN THE WOMB, I KNEW YOU, BEFORE YOU WERE BORN I SET YOU APART

I guess this is a good place to start, if you need to explain how Howard Rudolph Graves got into this picture.

June 9, 1924, at St. Mary's hospital, South Milwaukee WI. Birth was given to Joseph and Mary Eiter. A ten pound baby boy. Adding to the family number four. Dorothy, Lawrence, Leona and now Rudolph. I was to learn latter that there was an Uncle Ruddy.

On June 15, 1924 Mary Eiter died of pneumonia leaving husband Joseph, and four children, Dorothy 6, Lawrence 4, Leona 2 and Rudolph 6 days old.

Shortly after the funeral at the Mosinee cemetery it became necessary to send the two girls to Grandma Eiter on the farm in Kronewetter(Mosinee) WI. Employment was

sought in the Fisher body plant with brother Henry Eiter. Joseph and Lawrence went to Pontiac MI. (Baby) Rudolph stayed in South Milwaukee due to illness in spite of 10 lb. of weight at birth.

(Letter sent.)

June 19th, 1924

Dear Friend

Just a few lines of sad news that I am left in this old world alone with the children for my wife died Sunday June 15th at 1:10 o'clock A.M. It is hard to think of it and I don't know what I will do yet but the saddest time was when I seen her

go down to her last resting place Wednesday, June 18th but the worst is yet to come that is when I go home back to South Milwaukee to go there without her and to live and never see her again. It is not the baby case that she died of but she had Lung fever and that was to much for her she was sick one week, had her in the Hospital and had a private Nurse for her did everything that could be done for her but could not save her.   I have the children with my Mother now and will stay herefor a few day's than I will go back to South Milwaukee but what I am