By Kent Brooks

Thinking again about the meaning of Memorial day this afternoon.  So many have risked their lives so that we could live the lives we do.

And before you tell me I posted this incorrectly. I do understand Memorial Day is a time to pay tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedoms, while Veterans Day is an opportunity to thank all who have served in the armed forces. 

As we approach the end of May, communities across the nation prepare to honor the memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. This solemn observance, known today as Memorial Day, has deep roots that stretch back to the aftermath of the Civil War, evolving over time from its original incarnation as Decoration Day.

The genesis of Memorial Day lies in the post-Civil War era, a time when the nation was grappling with the immense loss of life and the profound impact of the war. Decoration Day, as it was initially called, emerged as a grassroots effort to honor fallen soldiers. It was a time for families and communities to come together to decorate the graves of their loved ones with flowers, flags, and other tokens of remembrance.

In 1868, General John Logan, commander of the Union veterans group Grand Army of the Republic, issued General Orders No. 11, or the Memorial Day Act. It is thought that May 30 was originally chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

We have once again reached that time of year and a couple days ago I posted and asked others to post about your family members who have served.   Today I’ll post a bit about my dad, Charles Brooks, who served in the US Navy in WWII as a way to keep pushing (albeit slowly) my letters from a navy boy forward.

One observation is that many of our dads and granddads didn’t talk too much about their wartime experiences.  My dad didn’t say much.  He has been gone for 35 years, but a couple of years ago I was in a conversation with my uncle and cousin when they said something about shrapnel in my dads back.  They proceeded to tell me a story about his being wounded while serving in the South Pacific on the USS Relief and that it was  likely he carried bits of shrapnel the rest of his life.  Not once had I ever heard that or a complaint from him.  Another thing my mother always told me was that my dad would always pick up a crying baby to try and calm them as he couldnt  stand it from his experience on the hospital ship where there were many wounded men crying and screaming.   He was always willing to demonstrate how to use the signal flags and always proud of his service to his country.

His letters back to my grandparents  in Vilas CO were what I intended to be my first book project.  I guess I got sidetracked as I started scanning and compiling back in 2014.  Ten years later…no book on this topic.  Not sure whether to consider that a failure or the start of something since I have completed all the other books including the “Old Boston” book. 

Here is another letter for example  that I did transcribe from  November 11, 1942.  most of the language from the letter is original.  I changed a couple items to make it more readable, but again  it is mostly original.  I think you will find a few mentions of people you know, know of, or are related to…at least if you’re from Baca County Colorado.  Here you go:

Dearest Mother Dady and all:

Here goes to write you a few lines in answer to your letter, was more than glad to hear from you again. How does this fine all of you?  I am up and around and back to duty and feel fine. Hope all of you are the same. Has Ray got all of his corn taken care of by this time sure hope so.  I had a letter from June and Louie yesterday send me some pictures of Vance Lee, looks like quite a boy,  He is really laughing in two of them. Is Burt and Homer still there with you?  I had a letter from Sis Utt the other day.   She wrote me a nice letter, tells me lots of news. Yes I have got me a letter from Cecil sence he got back from leave. I’ll bet that was rather exciting when the horse ran away with Sonny on the wagon. I guess it was lucky that it never threw him off. So Junior, Mary, Ethel Fay,  Vernon all went on their honeymoon. Is Vernon and Ethel  still living with her folks. I wrote about all I know, so will close for this time answer real soon.

Love Charles

When he references corn in the first part of the letter he is referencing Broomcorn.  Ray is my uncle Ray Brooks.  Vance Lee is my cousin Vance Alfrey.  June and Louie were my aunt and uncle June and Louie Alfrey.  Bert (Aldine) and Homer were a couple of hired hands.   Sonny is my Uncle Harold Brooks and the horses were Lucky and Brownie, pulling a Broomcorn wagon.  Uncle H. tells me that they never figured out what spooked the horses, but Granddad Walter yelled at him to jump off but instead he hunkered down and stayed on the wagon until they quit running.  Junior and Mary are Junior and Mary (Homsher) Doyle while Vernon and Ethel Fay are  Vernon and Ethel Fay Amrine.

The “In God We Trust. Save America for Liberty” hung in my grandma Brooks’ window while he was away during the war.

He was also in Tokyo Bay for the surrender ceremony.   The photos of the surrender ceremony are ones which I have the originals.    The other letter (above) in this post is addressed  from Tokyo Bay 1945.  I obviously haven’t transcribed this one.  I guess you’ll have to revert back to your cursive writing skills on this one.

Finally for this post the with the 4 gentlemen would have been Jan 1942 south of Vilas on the farm currently occupied by Brian Brooks.  L-R My Granddad Walter Brooks, Uncle Ray Brooks, my dad Charles Brooks(in the suit), and my Uncle Harold Brooks.  My dad was leaving for navy bootcamp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station outside of Chicago and would spend the next 3.5 years in the south Pacific.  This was likely a common scene for many other Baca County boys who were heading to Europe or the Pacific.

That’s all for now.  Would love to hear more of your stories to honor those who sacrificed everything for this country.