This is part two of a four-part series about Pearl Harbor and the impact the bombing had on the lives of some of my family members and other residents of Lincoln, Kansas, my home town. This blog was first published on December 8, 2013. I’ve added a couple of photos of my great aunt, Ila Armsbury, who was a nurse in the U. S. Army from 1940 – 1946.

An Excerpt from Ila’s War

Ila Armsbury in front of her family’s restaurant, Ira’s Lunch, in Lincoln, Kansas, prior to December 7, 1941.

Later photo of Ila Armsbury in her dress uniform.

I [had been working as charge nurse in the OB-GYN unit at Fort Leavenworth] for almost six months without a single leave, so exhausted many nights that I couldn’t fall asleep. By the early part of December, 1941 I was ready for some time off, so I invited Margie [Coffman . . . from Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis] to come up to Kansas City] for the week-end of December 5, 6, and 7. We had big plans — sleep late, enjoy leisurely shopping and dining in some of Kansas City’s swankiest stores and restaurants and see the sights including the Christmas light display on the Plaza. Margie brought along one of her nursing friends, [also] from Jefferson Barracks. We each got three day passes and as soon as they picked me up at the front gate of Fort Leavenworth, we were off and running. By Sunday late-morning we were tired and winding down from our three days of play. We decided to go for one more spin around Kansas City before Margie and her friend dropped me off back at the front gate of Fort Leavenworth and headed back to Jefferson Barracks.

Sunday Serenade

One of us, I can’t remember who, decided to turn on the radio so we could listen to NBC Red and the Sammy Kaye Sunday Serenade. http://www.centuryoldsounds.com/PHNBCRed/01PHRed.mp3 (click here to listen to the Sammy Kaye Sunday Serenade which was on from 2 – 2:30 p.m. eastern standard time.)

The program was almost over — Sammy and his orchestra had just finished playing “Kaye’s Melody” and the announcer had closed the program with, “This is the National Broadcasting Company.” We heard the unforgettable three-tone chime we all associate with NBC, dead air . . . for about 30 seconds, then this:

The Announcement

“From the NBC Newsroom in New York. President Roosevelt said in a statement today

that the Japanese have attacked . . .”

http://www.centuryoldsounds.com/PHNBCRed/02PHRed.mp3 (Click hear to listen to the announcement.)

*****

Everything changed the minute they heard that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. Margie dropped Ila off at the home of the Hermans, family friends, then she and her other friend headed back to Jeff. Barracks. Ila spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening with the Hermans then returned to Fort Leavenworth where she probably spent a sleepless night worrying about her folks.

Ila’s parents had differing views about her decision to join the Army. Her mother, Florence, had been adamantly opposed while her father, Ira, was supportive and proud. He’d been unable to enlist for WWI because he was already married with three children. Perhaps he thought that Ila’s enlistment redeemed the family name.

Ila’s Pearl Harbor Letter

Sometime on December 8 or 9, 1941, Ila decided she needed to write her folks. I call that letter “The Pearl Harbor Letter.” It’s one of the most moving and troubling I’ve ever read. Moving because Ila tried to prepare her folks for the possibility that she might be sent over seas and that she might die. And troubling because she needed her folks, especially her mother, to be supportive.

You’ll see the first page of her letter below, but because it’s hard to read I’ve re-typed it as well.  You’ll notice that the letter is undated, but the content of the letter implies that it was written one or two days after the bombing. Additionally the envelope has a postmark of 5PM December 9, 1941. I’m guessing that Ila wrote the letter the evening of December 8, 1941, after she got off work, and mailed it sometime during the day on December 9th, hence the postmark.

When you read the letter you may think it sounds like the dialogue from an old war movie. I did the first time I read it. But I finally concluded that the dialogue from old WWII movies was an example of art imitating life, not vice versa. I hope that you find the letter as moving as I do. It’s one of my favorites.

My Dearest Mother and Daddy: —

 

I feel that I must write some words of condolence, but I hardly know what to write. I must be cautious, and many things I cannot write.

 

It looks as though that trip next summer is ‘gone with the wind.’ Undoubtedly I shall be far away by then, but we cannot plan always as we would like.

 

I hope it isn’t too much of a shock. I know that surely, in your hearts you knew and felt it was coming, but facing the reality of the thing is much different.

 

I can find no words to describe my mental reaction when the news broke. Margie had driven up for the week-end and we were cruising around K.C, The girl whom [sic] road with her, became hysterical, and of course they left immediately for Jeff. Barracks. I went out to the Hermans, ate dinner, and had a lovely evening with them. I felt intermittent waves of nausea, and couldn’t seem to put my mind at ease. It’s no use asking for a leave now. It’s too late. I suggest your coming down if possible, as soon as you can. It may be unnecessary, but since people are leaving with 6 hrs notice – you couldn’t possibly make it if that should happen to me. I don’t want to scare you, nor do I want to leave without seeing you. You aren’t allowed to come on the post now, so I would have to meet you in Leavenworth.

 

Oh! It’s all so uncertain, I don’t know what to tell you. You and Daddy talk it over, and do what you feel in your hearts. I can’t think that God would take me without my seeing you first, however, we can’t see ahead.

 

In facing the situation, I feel quite calm, and pray that I shall always have the courage to do my duty to God and my country. I’m so sure that I’m safe wherever I go, that, I can’t seem to be afraid. I’m so sure I’ll come back, (as all bad pennies do) and I guess I’m the only one who feels that way. The rest say “Well, I won’t come back – if I go, I know I won’t.” But – not me – I’m going with my chin up, and a smile, and when I come back I’ll be the same old crazy kid.

 

Seems funny doesn’t it? I mean, well, here it is – I can’t believe it yet. Of course, they need nurses here, and I have just as much chance of staying as I do going, so I see no use of worrying. If I could feel that all was well in the hearts and minds of my family, especially you and Daddy, if you can see this as I do, and not say “Why must you go?” – or “can’t you get out of it?” or “I don’t want you to go” – or anything else on that order, then I can go and have much more courage, and faith. You and Daddy mean more to me than I can say, and I love you dearly. More than anything else in the world. You are the finest parents a girl ever had, and I know you’ll always help me. And in this hour of need, I do want help. Just a lot of letters, and not just from you, but from all of you – Eloise, Metta, and Wava.+

 

Everybody keep their fingers crossed, and maybe — It’s a 50 – 50 bet anyway. ha

 

Tell everyone hello, kiss them all for me, and now, lets all laugh good — It’s a swell world anyway.–

 

All my love to you

Ila

 

End Notes

+ Ila’s three sisters

Next: Lincoln County Dead at Pearl Harbor and a Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient