How a World War Changed an Alabama Family, Part 10

by Glenn N. Holliman

 My father, Bishop Holliman, wrote in 1991 in his memoirs of the weeks after the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii:

"Thanks to the Japanese, boot camp was cut short, and we apprentice seamen were held to a 'waiting' game at the Norfolk, Virginia Navy base - pending a permanent assignment to a school or ship.  We had taken all sorts of tests to determine the fields most suited to our talents.  Throughout those few weeks of waiting, we were given KP duty and stood watch.

January 10, 1942 was my father's 58th birthday (Ulyss S. Holliman, 1884-1965), and on that day I was transferred to the Key West, Florida Navy Sound Operator school.  With trepidation, I boarded a troop train late at night and headed for this new adventure.  The only good thing to come from this was the enjoyable train ride on the way south.  We followed a circuitous route, not knowing where we going at first.  Another two sailors and I shared a compartment on the train, enabling us to be separated from the throngs of other service men who filled the cars." - Bishop Holliman



Attitudes within the nation were changing as the reality of war set in.  In the letter excerpt below, Bishop's sister, a sensitive Loudelle Holliman Ferrell, laments the fact that her son and daughter have been affected by the global conflict.  Her son, Charles Halford Ferrell, had received a toy gun for Christmas.  Carolyn Ferrell Tatum is the four year old sister of Hal.

Notice also Loudelle writes of a hasty wartime marriage, marriages which were occurring all over the country as men were called to the armed forces.  One such marriage also would occur that same month in the Holliman family.  Below in 1943, Charles 'Hal' Ferrell, while not in uniform, seems to have learned to salute the attention of the girls!

"Everything is a 'mean Jap' and he's mowing them down.  I didn't think Charles (The Rev. Charles T. Ferrell) would let Hal keep the gun, but Charles has enjoyed it more than Hal.  The other day I heard Carolyn (Carolyn Ferrell Tatum) tell Hal not to do whatever he was doing.  She informed him that that was the way the Germans did. 

By the way, Margaret Shamburger (a Ferrell relative)  ran away about a month ago and married an Army sergeant at Key Field in Meridian, Mississippi.   Her mother was in bed for a week afterwards and nearly had a nervous breakdown over it.  I think things are going to be all right.  He is already calling her 'Mother' and does not think he will have to leave for six months." - Loudelle Holliman Ferrell, January 1942

In late 1941, Life Magazine reported that the average subscriber (10 cents a copy) made $2,500 a year. Milk cost 14 cents a quart and eggs 47 cents a dozen.  Lamb was 32 cents a pound, coffee 26 cents, bread 9 cents a loaf, tomatoes 10 cents a can, pink salmon 20 cents a can, bananas 7 cents a pound, bacon 37 cents and chuck roast 27 cents a pound.  Toilet soap - 7 cents a bar.  Gas required 20 cents for a gallon.  Medical care for a family was $80 to $100 a year.  A movie - 35 cents.  Cigarettes were 15 cents a pack.

Inflation normally becomes a factor is a major war as production is moved from civilian to military materials.  Rationing of foods as well as automobiles and gasoline soon became an American reality.

Robert Daly, Sr. wrote his brother-in-law, Bishop Holliman, on January 4, 1942:

"It looks like we will be walking soon.   Only those that absolutely have to drive a car can get tires.  Mine are very thin.  I may have to put the old buggy up soon.  The Gov. has really put the screws on the banks (Robert was a bank manager) for loans to buy listed articles such as cars, radios, etc.  Regulations are plentiful. 

We do not know what Uncle Sam is doing to relieve the Philippines.  We don't get much dope the last few days.  It looks pretty bad for them." - Robert W. Daly, Sr., January 1942

It was very bad for the American and Filipino troops who were back pedaling from Manila to the Bataan peninsula (see right).  With the most of the U.S. Navy's battleships sunk or damaged at Pearl Harbor, there was little the U.S. military could do in early 1942 to come to the aide of this embattled army.  The worst defeat in U.S. Army history was unfolding.

And the U-Boat war off the East Coast was a growing reality.  The Navy wanted Bishop Holliman to join that part of the world battle with all deliberate speed, and his train was carrying him south to a new training base.

Next posting, more on the Holliman family of Irondale, Alabama going to war....

Have questions about Holliman family history? You are invited to join the Hollyman Email List at Hollyman-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com and the Hollyman Family Facebook Page located on Facebook at "Hollyman Family". Post your questions and perhaps one of the dozens Holyman cousins on the list will have an answer. For more information contact Tina Peddie at desabla1@yahoo.com, the list and Facebook manager for Hollyman (and all our various spellings!).

 Since early 2010, I have been publishing research and stories on the broad spectrum of Holliman (Holyman) family history at http://hollimanfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/ . For stories on my more immediate family since the early 20th Century, I have been posting articles since early 2011 at http://ulyssholliman.blogspot.com/ .  GNH