Pearl Harbor Day - December 7, 1941

The following was posted in May, but worth reposting on this date, December 7, Pearl Harbor Day.

Mother Ferry sent this letter to Mary Alice and Frank on December 13, 1941, during WWII, just six days after the Pearl Harbor attack. She mentions Ann (4 yrs old) several times and that Bill was stationed near Fort Ord, which is now Cal State Monterey Bay CSUMB.

Photo of Mother Ferry dated 1945.

Here is a typed version of her letter:

Glendale, Cal

Dec 13, 1941

Dear Mary Alice Frank,
Just a line to say it is Saturday already and I haven't written to let you know about us, we are all fine. Ann has been very good and seems to be enjoying herself. I took Ann, Peter, Tom and Pat to town today and they had a great time. When Ann got up to Santa she told him she didn't know what she wanted; she said I will have to look around and see. Bill phoned Tuesday to say he had been moved ten miles from Fort Ord and expected to be moved again but didn't know where.
How did Vince make out?
The war has surely taken the Christmas spirit away, but I guess we have to go right on, there aren't so many people shopping as one would think.
We had a blackout on Tuesday it was awful, but I am better prepared for the next one as I bought some black lining. You would laugh to hear Ann talking about the black out. Everyone here went to bed and I had a candle to see by as I wanted to read the war news. I still write to Bill at Fort Ord 7th Division Headquarters Ordance Section, so if you write I guess he would be glad to hear. I sent him three pound of candy and a carton of cigarettes. I forgot to tell you when I was up Catherine Gridley died was operated on for a tumor.
Well I will close and be sure and write as we feel kind of lonely.

Love, Mother

Ann was 4 years old when Mother Ferry's letter was written. This is her reaction to the letter:

IT WAS SUCH A SHOCK FOR ME TO EVEN KNOW SUCH A LETTER EXISTED. IT’S VERY EMOTIONAL. IT WAS JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER PEARL HARBOR.

IT WAS AS THOUGH THIS LETTER WAS MAILED DIRECTLY TO ME FROM HEAVEN AND PROVED TO AWAKE MANY EMOTIONS.

ON THE LIGHT SIDE, I DO HAVE ONE MEMORY OF THIS VISIT.  MY UNCLE AND COUSINS ASKED IF I STILL BELIEVED IN SANTA CLAUS.  EVEN AT AGE 4, I KNEW THIS QUESTION COULD ONLY MEAN ONE THING.  AND AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED, IT WAS NOT GOOD.

WHEN I READ THS LETTER I WONDER WHY I’M 200 MILES AWAY FROM MY ENTIRE FAMILY.  WITH FOUR SIBLINGS AT THE TIME, COULDN’T AT LEAST ONE OF THEM HAVE GONE WITH ME? 

THE DATE DECEMBER 7, 1941, IS A DATE THAT RIVALS 9/11 IN MEMORIES OF MY GENERATION.  THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN 6 DAYS LATER.  SHE MENTIONS BILL, WHO  WAS IN THE US ARMY AT THE TIME.  OF COURSE HE WOULDN’T BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.  I DO REMEMBER MOTHER FERRY MISSING HIM OTHER CHRISTMASES AS THE WAR WENT ON FOR OVER 3 MORE YEARS. 

I DON’T REMEMBER THIS EXACT BLACKOUT BUT I DO REMEMBER BLACKOUTS AS WE CONTINUED TO TAKE TRIPS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.  NOT ONE BIT OF LIGHT COULD BE VISIBE FROM THE WINDOWS. THEY WERE FRIGHTENING BUT KIND OF EXCITING.

I LOVE HER COMMENT, “I GUESS WE HAVE TO GO ON.”  THIS IS SAID BY SOMEONE WHO HAS LOST A 4 YEAR OLD, A 17 YEAR OLD, AND HER HUSBAND.  EVEN WITH HER WORLD SO SCARY AND  HER FEELING LONELY, SHE KNEW ONE MUST KEEP LIVING.  I REMEMBER HER ALWAYS EXUDING HAPPINESS, LOVE, AND PATIENCE.

THANK YOU FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY VISIT WITH SOMEONE VERY SPECIAL AND MUCH LOVED BY ME.

ANN