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03/10/10

Chapter 18 - Pearl Harbor

While waiting for a summons from the Army, I settled in comfortably with the Savetier family. I was happy with my new room with this nice family and I liked the neighborhood. I ate in new restaurants, rotating among them, searching for a good meal at the right price. My three favorite places were Pucci's, Ma Hall's and Smith's grill. After eating three years in the UCLA coffee shop, is it any

wonder that this rotation was stimulating my taste buds?

I didn't think I would be bowling again but I did with my co-workers in the Receiving Dept. The Lockheed league bowled on Friday nights at the Hollywood Lanes. Finding the lane approach too slippery, I had to buy bowling shoes to hold back my sliding. After four weeks my average was 165 but I wasn't expecting much more after a 2½ year absence from league bowling.

During the first week at the Savetier residence, my tonsillitis flared up again. My throat was sore but it got better after Mrs. Savetier gave me aspirin and had me gargle with warm salt water. During the second week I was really surprised when Mickey and Martha came to see me. Mrs. Fernding gave them my address. They had left Bedford and were happy to return home to California

The next day, October 6^th, my 28^th birthday, I went to Pucci's Italian restaurant for a nice Italian dinner. Two days later I returned to Pucci's with Mickey. Having a lot to say, we kept talking until midnight about FDR, Churchill, Hitler, Russia, his Martha and my former classmate Joanne.

I spent $3.50 for a Big Ben chime alarm to ensure that I woke up on time. I had been late to work more than once. I also began a daily and Sunday subscription to the Los Angeles Times. Getting it delivered was more convenient than hitchhiking to a library to save a nickel. Besides, I wanted to keep up with the news and to follow the war in Europe on a daily basis.

Listening to the war news on October 23^rd, I heard this message from Gabriel Heather: "THERE'S GOOD NEWS TONITE -- MOSCOW STILL HOLDING OUT".

I improved my bowling average to 177 by mid-November. My highest games, so far, were 253, 209, 172, for a 634 series. Even though I practiced more and entered several Singles tournaments, I just couldn't control my ball. It hooked too much on the unpolished "slow lanes". However, after three years, it was fun to be bowling again.

On November 12^th I received a retroactive paycheck for $110.13. This was for an increase in the hourly rate to 75 cents that took effect on August 1^st. With my next weekly paycheck, I made a $150 deposit in my savings account. Even though my weekly paycheck, with overtime, averaged $37.50 I was able to bank $20 or $25 weekly. Getting ahead financially gave me a good feeling.

On Thanksgiving Day Mrs. Savetier invited me for dinner with her family. We had a gorgeous turkey with all the trimmings. This was the second time that she had invited me to dinner. Millie and Louie, their two girls, Mrs. Doermann and Elsie Schroeder all made me feel "at home".

Here are two diary entries:

November 24^th -- British troops marched into Libya.

Sunday December 7^th -- JAPENESE PLANES BOMB PEARL HARBOR AND MANILA -- AT LONG LAST, IT'S WAR.

Hearing this alarming news at 8:00 AM, I ran downstairs to see Millie and Louie. Elsie and Mrs. Doermann soon joined us. Mickey came over. We were stunned. It was hard to believe that it could happen to us.

The next day I heard the President's speech to Congress asking for a declaration of war on Japan. The vote was 400 to 1. England also declared war on Japan.

On December 9^th I listened to the Presidents "chat" to the nation. I spent the evening speculating with the family downstairs about our country and the war. California had its first BLACKOUT. It lasted 3 ½ hours.

On December 11^th my diary entry read: "GERMANY AND ITALY DECLARED WAR ON THE UNITED STATES. WE DID THE SAME TO THEM." The die was cast. The Second World War had begun –- the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis against the rest of the world. We stayed up late talking about the war. The next night, after bowling, I talked with Miss Schroeder till midnight.

During the following week, on Sunday, Mickey, Martha and I went to the Hawaii Theater to see that magnificent film "Citizen Kane". Orson Welles was awesome. As writer, director, and producer, he broke new ground in all aspects of cinematography. My thoughts went back to those two lectures in Royce Hall. I was impressed then but more so now after seeing his first film. Did "Kane" surpass "Zola"? Technically, I think it did, but not in overall content.

On Monday December 22^nd I cleaned out my savings account so that I could mail a check for $531.27 to Vito and Frances. I inserted the check in Vito's Christmas card with a letter summing up his loans to me.

Before leaving home on August 2, 1938 I already owed Frances $100 and Vito $225. This large debt had accumulated during my seven "lost years" (1931-1938), mostly due to my penchant for gambling. From then on, however, the loans from Vito went to a better purpose.

He sent me $30 for tuition in Sept. 1938 and another $30 in Feb. 1939, and he gave me $15 when I was home for the ABC in April, making the grand total $300. During my six weeks at home he gave me $45 altogether to hitchhike to New York and Maine and to make my return trip to UCLA. When he again sent $30 for tuition, the total went up to $375. On my last trip home he gave me $25 so that I could pay back what I had borrowed from Frank and Art Damicone. The total now came to $400. He gave me another $10 so that I could hitchhike back to California and he paid $4.32 to send my baggage and paid $17.05 for my long distance phone calls, making his total $431.37. When I told Vito that someday I would pay him in full at one time, I was looking for the "easy way" (gambling) to do it. Now, thanks to my job, I did it the right way.

Christmas Eve, after working four hours, I cashed my check in Burbank and later had dinner with the family. We had a swell time eating and drinking and especially dancing under the mistletoe. Christmas day I again stayed home with the Savetier's. Although I had to work on New Year's Eve and New Years Day, I enjoyed both evenings at home with the Savetier's. Mrs. Doermann joined us for the turkey dinner that evening.

Headline news on January 2^nd -- MANILLA FALLS. In the first few weeks after Pearl Harbor I seriously considered enlisting in the Navy but now that I was broke I had to work a few more months. I wanted to replenish my savings and then have my tonsils removed.

On Sunday January 17^th Mickey, Martha and I went to see Frank who was now in a tank destroyer division at Camp Roberts. There was no hitchhiking on this trip. As a coffee salesman Mickey had use of the company car. The 230-mile drive took about five hours. We spent four hours with Frank, taking some snapshots with Mickey's camera. It was a nice reunion. At 6:00 PM Mickey started our drive back to Hollywood.

Our Lockheed team was scheduled to bowl in the Los Angeles City Tournament at the Sunset Center Lanes in Hollywood. We were entered in class "C'. On the next evening my partner and I were in Class "B" for doubles and singles. On those two evenings I had the most bizarre bowling experience -- from the sublime to the ridiculous. Let me explain how and why it happened.

The bowlers were allowed a "practice" ball on each lane. When my first practice ball failed to hook and slid towards the gutter, I sensed that the lanes were "fast". Slowing my approach and speed of delivery, my second practice ball did hook in towards the head pin. With a little more adjustment I found the range. As my ball began to grab the shellac it hooked sharply into the strike zone. My first game, 255, was an eye-opener. I was ecstatic. A 186 in the second game calmed me down a bit. But then I roared back with nine consecutive strikes. There was a $400 cash prize for the first bowler to roll a 300 game on the new 56-lanes at the Warner Brother's Sunset Center. As I got ready for my last frame there must have been 500 spectators rooting for me to get another strike. Instead, I got 5 pins, made my spare and then got another strike for a sensational 275. Getting a 300 game would have put me on "cloud nine". Still, I was very happy to bowl a fantastic 716 series.

Previously, I bowled ten series over 700 but they were all accomplished during the 1930-1931 bowling season. Then, at 18, I really aspired to be the world's best bowler but the dream faded soon after. To have another 700 series now was beyond belief.

The next evening, obviously, I was looking for more high scores in the doubles and singles. Two 600 series would give me a good shot at capturing the all-events title. With the Savetier Family sitting in the stands behind me I was ready for a big evening but it didn't happen. Instead, I fell flat on my face with a 526 in Doubles and an awful 484 in Singles.

I was embarrassed and dumbfounded. I sought an explanation for my sudden collapse after the 716 series. The manager said they were in the midst of getting their 56 lanes sanctioned by the American Bowling Congress but only a few lanes had been done. My 716 series was rolled on two lanes that had been resurfaced with shellac. My doubles and singles scores, however, were rolled on lanes that had not yet been renovated. It was just impossible for me to control my sharp hook on "slow" (dirty) lanes. The 716 series, however, was confirmation that I had a terrific ball and could control it on the "fast" (clean) lanes.

A week earlier I went to my draft board in Sawtelle. They said I had about six weeks before I would get the Army induction notice. The next day, I went to the Navy recruiting station in Los Angeles. They reiterated that I was eligible for enlistment after my tonsil surgery but they warned me that the Navy Oath had to be taken prior to my receiving the Army's induction notice.

I had already made arrangements to quit my job. On February 28^th, I trained a new employee to take my place in Stationary. On Monday, instead of going to work I went to the California Lutheran Hospital in Los Angeles to arrange for the surgery. I met Dr. Maginn. After an examination, Doctor Maginn scheduled my tonsil surgery for the next day at 9:00 AM. That evening, in writing to my family I expressed the thought that I would like to come home for a few days before enlisting in the Navy.

Tuesday, March 3^rd Mr. Savetier drove me to the hospital. As soon as Dr. Maginn cut my tonsil I sensed something went wrong. As I lay bleeding and gagging, he called for another doctor. Hovering over me for 25 minutes they finally stopped the flow of blood. After I was able to sit up again, Dr Maginn asked me to return in two weeks. I inquired, "What for"? He said, "To remove the other tonsil". I asked, "Can't you do it now"? He explained that I lost too much blood. Inadvertently, he cut an artery that wasn't supposed to be where it was. My throat had to heal completely before removing the other tonsil. With a very sore throat I could only swallow liquids, mostly soup and ice cream. It was six days before I could enjoy a good meal.

After working five more days at Lockheed I quit on March 16^th. On the next day I went to the hospital but I was quite apprehensive about cutting that second tonsil.

This time, fortunately, the tonsil was removed without cutting into an artery. With no profuse bleeding, I felt a keen sense of relief. For precaution, however, I stayed in the hospital overnight.

Looking ahead, I prepared to leave California, visit my family and then visit Rudy at the Naval Station in Newport, Rhode Island. Since my brother enlisted in the Navy during my first semester at UCLA, we hadn't seen each other for over three and half years. I would see him first, before enlisting myself.

I tarried awhile in order to wind up my affairs. After buying a suitcase, I began to pack my belongings and sort through the "stuff" that had to be discarded. I also bought a ticket to Cleveland on the Greyhound Bus. I said my goodbyes at Lockheed, at UCLA, and I visited Mrs. Fernding. I had dinner with Mickey and Martha in Alhambra and then visited Tony and Serena. I sent a telegram home and one to Mel Lertzman who was now in the army at Oklahoma City.

The next morning on March 25^th, I left the Savetier residence. Millie gave me a box of candy and kissed me goodbye. My bus left at 11:00 AM. I got off the bus at Riverside to see Patricia, my classmate at UCLA and also Frank (Sergeant) Nyerges who was now stationed at March Field. I got back on another bus in San Bernardino.

Riding the bus continuously made me groggy and tired. The designated stops for meals and the rest room were most welcome especially since they were too short and too far apart. At the stop in Albuquerque I phoned Angelo Rich who was at work but his wife Mary came to see me. Arriving in Oklahoma City at 10:15 AM, I was met by Mel Lertzman. After a shave and shower at the YMCA I was refreshed and reinvigorated. Mel and I talked a blue streak before and after a nice dinner. I waved goodbye to Mel as I got back on another bus at 9:00 PM. It stopped in St Louis at noon and at Hammond, Indiana at 10:30 PM. On Sunday, March 29, I arrived in Cleveland. The Greyhound Bus brought me home in four days and nights. However, I made a silent vow to never again travel across country on a bus.

I phoned home and then got on the Bedford bus for the last 12 miles. At 11:00 AM I was in Mother's arms. Since I had been absent for a year and eight months and would depart again in a few days this homecoming was especially happy. I got to visit all my relatives and some of my buddies who had not yet been drafted.

Two days after Easter, on Tuesday, April 7^th, I left for my rendezvous with Rudy and the U. S. Navy. I took the street car to Cleveland and then another street car to East Cleveland. As I began to hitchhike, it started to rain. My first ride took me to Painesville. Two truck rides got me to Buffalo. It was 9:00 PM and still raining. That was enough hitchhiking for me. At 10:00 PM I rode the train to Albany and a Greyhound bus to Springfield MA. The rain had stopped. After a good breakfast I began hitchhiking again. Making good time, I was in Newport at 1:00 PM. I went directly to the Naval Training Station and met Rudy. We talked for a good while but he was "on duty" and had to return to work.

I took a room at the YMCA and waited for Rudy to join me after he quit work. We had so much to say we just couldn't stop talking. It was 1:00 AM when he left. I was surprised to learn that the Naval Recruiting Station was in Boston and not at the Training Station in Newport.

The next morning, April 9^th, after writing a letter home and hitchhiking to Boston, I went directly to the Navy Recruiting Station on the ninth floor of the main post office building. After the physical test I was told that I failed the examination and was rejected. I was surprised and stunned and for a moment speechless. When I asked why I was rejected they said my blood pressure was too low. It was 90 instead of the minimum 110, and my pulse was 50 instead of the required 72.

As I walked out of the room, my first thought was a sudden fear of being drafted into the Army. Reentering the recruiting room, I looked for someone to help me. The petty officer that I accosted turned out to be a Pharmacist Mate. He listened quietly as I blurted out my story. I told him about the tonsil surgery in California, how I lost a lot of blood, and that I came across the country to see Rudy and to enlist at the Newport Station. He asked me to try again tomorrow, but, most important, he was explicit in what I had to do. Not knowing what might happen tomorrow. I felt suspended in limbo.

In the morning, following his instructions, I drank two cups of coffee before entering the building. Ignoring the elevator, I ran up nine flights of stairs to the Recruiting Office. I was nervous, excited and breathing hard. When he checked my blood pressure it rose just barely over 110. Consequently, I passed my physical.

This sudden turn of events reminded me of my rejection and then acceptance at UCLA. Here, the Navy rejected me one day and then accepted me the next day. Thanks to the sympathetic Pharmacist Mate I began my rendezvous with the U.S. Navy.

Hugo P. Cipriani
November 18, 2004
hpcip@pacbell.net