Viewing page 237 of 266

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

270

En route Erie to Washington.
Sunday, Dec. 13, 1942.

Busied myself around the place today on accounts, ashes, shoveling walk, etc.  [[underlined]] Winter is in Erie [[/underlined]] incidentally and apparently has been for some time.  There was a blizzard again this afternoon and just before packing, Willie and I took a walk down to the bay in the wind and snow.  In places you couldn't see across to the Peninsula.  And the [[underlined]] ore boats are still [[/underlined]] working the lakes!  Exactly at the stroke of noon, there was an [[underlined]] air raid alert [[/underlined]] which everyone thought was the noon whistles.  Rog and I continued to shovel the walk until a youngster came along with a circular defense arm band and informed us to get inside - he had passed twice before and said nothing.  [[underlined]] Rog said they have air [[/underlined]] raid alerts at funny times "just to see what the people will do."

The war came home to me again at the station tonight where I saw in uniform the colored bouncer and the miniature bartender of the City Club.  The war also came home yesterday and today when the [[underlined]] 3 gallon a week gas ration made it impossible, or at least unwise, [[/underlined]] for Willie to meet me and take me to the station - I used cabs.

Tonight in my berth [[underlined]] I drafted up my letter of resignation from WPB. [[/underlined]] My two main reasons:

1.) I am needed in vital defense work at Erie and GE has been relying on my return.
2.) I feel that, even on the federal payroll, a former "company man" would probably be on the spot.

I am absolutely sincere in the above - I owe an obligation to the Company I must fulfil [[underlined]] unless they direct me to go to Washington [[/underlined]] - and I doubt they will do that.

Transcription Notes:
Reviewed