How a World War Changed an Alabama Family, Part 17

by Glenn N. Holliman

Battles in the Pacific and an Irondale Blackout....

During the first months of 1942, Japanese military advanced virtually unhampered through Southeast Asia.  With much of the American fleet resting on the sea floor of Hawaii, the Japanese Navy dominated the South Pacific.  That began to change in May 1942 with the Battle of the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia.

In May 1942 the Japanese Navy was advancing on Port Moseby, the front door to Australia.  The U.S. Aircraft carriers, Yorktown and Lexington, engaged in the first ever exclusive air dual between opposing ships. Both nations lost a carrier, but the advance of Nipponese fleet was effectively thwarted and Australia was safe from invasion. Below the crew of the valiant Lexington abandon ship.

Nerves on the home front were jittery.  May 20, 1942, Irondale, Alabama experienced a practice blackout.  In a letter to my father, H. Bishop Holliman, my grandmother, Pearl Caine Holliman (1887-1955), expressed her excited feelings to her only son then in the service during World War II.   At this time, Bishop was training to be a pilot in the U.S. Navy Air Corps.  His family at home was worried.

 "Dear Bishop - 10 o'clock we have just had a blackout.  We did not know we were going to have it, so we did not where the bombs were coming or not til after it.  Was all over and then they said it was a trial blackout.  One or two in Irondale did not turn all lights out til the last minute.  All these air raid wardens had a time.  I don't what we would have done if the planes had begun to fly over."

 Right, Robert W. Daly, Sr. (1901-1959) in his air raid warden hat standing beside his father-in-law, Ulyss S. Holliman (1884-1965) at 2300 3rd Avenue North, Irondale, Alabama.


By the middle 1930s, Pearl and her husband, Ulyss, had left the Methodist Church in Irondale due to theological differences to attend worship services at the Tabernacle, an emotional, evangelical, Bible-based congregation in Birmingham.  The pastor was one Glenn Tingley, one of the first radio preachers in the South. 



My grandmother's letters often reflected her earnest religious feelings.  During the spring and summer of 1942, her son, Bishop, was stationed in a city not known for conventional Protestant values - New Orleans, Louisiana!  Pearl was not only worried about her son's physical safety; she was worried about the temptations of the French Quarter!

"I will always wonder what you did Saturday night and Sunday.  May you always remember you are a Christian and not go any place you would not take Christ with you.  Now that is all I have to say."

On one occasion that summer of 1942, Bishop was able to visit home on a quick leave and fly back to New Orleans from Birmingham.  Commercial flying was still in its infancy in 1942 and considered a dangerous adventure.  His Mother wrote him of her worries and faith.
 
"We were so anxious to hear how you enjoyed our ride (flight).  I do believe Dad got a bigger thrill than you did.  I tell you (he) was really going.  I do believe I would take a ride in one now if I had the price.  I was not worried about you at all...we went to the Tabernacle.  Dad went to the men's prayer meeting and I went in the women's so they all prayed for you, and I knew you would be okay.  We went to hear Dr. Ham, and I want to tell you. He says we have one thing to do and only one and 'that be ready to meet Jesus.'  Wish ever one of you children could have heard him.  I mean 'heard' him!"

Left, Bishop Holliman  with a sailor friend and several girls in New Orleans on a Sunday afternoon spring 1941.  My father, far right in the photograph, is in his spiffy uniform and looks straight into the camera.  The girl looks a bit coy and is holding hands with the other sailor.  

As with millions of others during the War, Bishop met persons of many different faiths or no faith traditions, some with high ethical values, others with few.  Higher education and travel were changing the views of an Alabama family.

 Right, his brother, Melton and sister-in-law Ida Holliman visited Bishop while he was stationed in New Orleans that spring and summer.  A pharmacutical salesman living in Mobile, Alabama, Melton would be drafted into the Army in August 1943 at the age of 35.

Another son of Pearl and Ulyss's, Ralph Holliman, would join the Army in March of 1943.  Pearl wrote of his last days of high school in a letter to Bishop, reflecting how proud she was of both sons.   "Ralph has been busy with his test paper.  He is to be toastmaster at the Irondale banquet, the same one you was last year."  

 
Above, Ralph's 1942 graduation announcement from Shades Cahaba High School in Homewood, Alabama.  He received the Spanish American Legion Award and the a Jerusalem pen for work done on the school newspaper. In a few months, he would see his name posted in the Irondale Selective Service office.

Next posting, more letters from home....

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