WWII Memories - The Ring

The next series of blog postings will be about my mom and dad and their courtship during WWII.  Found some old love letters my dad wrote to my mom and these are the basis of these postings. You know, it almost felt like I was doing something wrong - reading these private letters. But they are both gone now and I love the family history; my family history, and the stories they tell. I put them into date order and will share them with you.

So I will start with the letter as written, then tell a little more...

THE RING

5-26-45

Tyler, Texas 

Dearest Dottie;

Well, I finally got the ring ready to send. I've been looking all over town for 2 months, and finally found one that I like. I hope you like it as well as I do, and will put the love into it that I do.

I've got the other one, too. Just as soon as I get my furlough. Can't write a very long letter, but please answer soon.

If the ring doesn't fit, take it to a jeweler and have it sized. I got the size that I thought was right, but I may be wrong.

All My Love, Bob 

 My mom and dad met in Cedar City, Utah where she lived; and dad's family lived in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He enlisted in the army at 19 years old on February 27, 1945 and reported to Fort Douglas, Utah.

Fort Douglas was the home of the elite 7th Bombardment Group (B-17's) and the 9th Service Command Headquarters, which had been moved there from the Presidio in San Fransico for protection after the attack on Pearl Harbor. My dad entered as a heavy equipment operator as he had drove big rigs for his father since he was about 10 years old.  His dad had made a special set of wooden blocks that attached to the pedals so he could operate those big trucks before his legs could reach!

Claude R. Herrin (Bob) cir. 1945 - Outside family house in Las Vegas, NV

Mom was working at POW processing center in Ogden, Utah. It was one of the first such camps designated by the Department of Defense in the United States and handled Italian and German prisoners. She kept a few treasures made by the men from those days: An Indian Head nickle re-tapped and etched into a hobo with a beard, bowler hat and cigarette and a carved peach pit.

Bob Herrin and Dorothy Goddard cir. Winter 1944 - In the snow on Mt. Charleston, NV

Love this picture of two young kids in love having a good time in the snow.

The Ring - Black Hills Gold in original box

This is the ring that dad spent two months searching for and hoped she liked and knew the love it represented!  Black Hills gold forms the signature leaves and a heart on either side of the setting.  The original box is a fancy satin lined celluloid now yellowed to an soft ivory. The ring nestles in dark blue velvet.

Copy of the original letter written on USO stationary 

The letter had been written on USO red, white and blue stationary, provided free to all the servicemen.

As mom's mental facilities softened, she was certain that her wedding rings were lost!  She hadn't seen them for years...But after she had moved to Montana, I was looking on a shelf in her kitchen. In a dirty little crystal cream pitcher, jumbled in with old keys, screws, and other debris, I found them! I knew the ring box was in her cedar chest so I wiped them down and returned them to the blue velvet slot. Back where they had started! They were eventually returned to her, but I don't know if she recognized what they were anymore...

They were passed on to me after she died and I treasure them so! The symbol of their love and devotion for 60 years! The shank on the ring is thin from many years on my mom's finger, I now wear it every day on the index finger of my left hand...and I remember them both.