A Glimpse of My Grandmother's Thoughts about the 40 Years Between 1913 and 1953

My maternal grandmother wrote fiction and nonfiction in the mid-20th century and tried to get it published in magazines (there were lots of places to sell short pieces back then... imagine!). She wasn't successful, and reading her work, I can see why. Her nonfiction seems florid, while her fiction is clearly an unsuccessful emulation of Roald Dahl or Shirley Jackson.

But this highly autobiographical fiction piece, written in the early 1950s, while not perfect, has more resonance than almost all of her other work, in my opinion. It ends ambiguously—I'm not entirely sure I have the ending—but I think it's intentional, given the title.

Et cetera

"See here what it says, wife! WAR! War with Germany. We, the United States, declare war on Germany. That damned fool down there in Washington, that little pipsqueak of a college professor, who does he think he is, the Good God Almighty?" Across the gas-lit room the woman pulled the last bastings from the hem of a blue serge suit.

"Hush, Conrad, you don't mean that."

"Don't mean it, hey? Why, the disgrace of it. Daring to defy Germany, the greatest country in the world. The home of scientists, doctors, musicians."

"But Conrad, this is your country now."

"Aw, shut up. You're like the rest of the Micks."

"Amelia, here's your skirt, all finished. Hurry now, you'll be late for the basketball game."

Hurry, Amelia, hurry, hurry.

WAR. Three letters strung together and placed in large type for the breakfast fare of the nation. The Germans, the Belgians, the French, English, Scots, Irish, Americans, Amelia. I am an American. I am Amelia Rosemary Krupp. I am Amelia Rosemary Krupp. I am Amelia, fourteen years old. I am an American. I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands. One nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

They say the Kaiser is going to send his U-boats to bomb New York. "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier." They say the Germans are going to blow up our reservoirs. "Keep the home fires burning, while your hearts are yearning." "Becker is not a German name." "We are Dutch."

I am an American, a great nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Amelia is a dirty kraut, kraut, kraut. But dearie, we call it liberty cabbage now. Liberty, liberty, and liberty bonds today?

They say German spies are everywhere. "Goodbye Broadway, hello France." They say the Kaiser thinks he can lick the world. "Over there, over there, shout the word, shout the word." Whispers, snickers, voices into eternity. Mother, am I a German Jew? My child, you are an American. My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty. Mother, what is the Ku Klux Klan? Men, my child, citizens of our country. Sheet-wrapped men going haunting.

Sorry, Amelia, but you can't come to my party. My father says no stinking Germans allowed. They say, they say. Amelia, are you a Jew? I am an American.

Whistles, bells, shouts, songs, tears, parades; roll out America, the war is over. We showed them. Hurry, Amelia. In the parade, everybody. Hurry, hurry.

---

Mr. Wilson says the League of Nations will achieve international piece and security. To hell with that. Let those foreigners keep their own backyards clean. Why should we fight their battles? Peace, prosperity, flappers, gangsters, bathtub gin, home-brew, speakeasies, Main Street, Flaming Youth, Babbitt, Green Hat, Michael Arlen, Sinclair Lewis, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Harding. Merry-go-round, go round, go round. America I Love Thee, Better Than Tongue Can Tell.

___

And then I heard him say... We interrupt this program to bring you a special bulletin from the wires of the Associated Press. Christ! The Japs have bombed Pearl Harbor. President Roosevelt says "again and again." They say all our fleet was destroyed. They say what are we going to do about all these Japs running around loose?

Any bonds today? Registration... name, address, age. They say all the women are to be registered. My dear, can you imagine me working in a factory? Make it do, do without. Loose talk may take lives. "Anchors Aweigh, My Lads, Anchors Aweigh." "We did it before and we can do it again." Guam, Wake. We regret to inform you that your son. Ration books, coupons, black markets. Turn off those lights, lady, this is an air raid test. Hey you, don't you know there's a war on? Dimouts, grimlins, Kilroy. Mother, will I go to war? Hush, my son. Fourteen-year-old boys don't go to war.

"Amelia, you're shaking." "Dad, did you fight in the last war?" "Yes, Edward." "What did they call that war, Dad?" "The war to end all wars, my son."

Roosevelt says "I hate war." Churchill says "blood, sweat and tears." Hitler says. Allies, lend-lease, Nazis, merchant marines, pictures, v mail, Corregidor, "I Shall Return," Bataan, death marches. "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition." Private John Jones c/o Postmaster, New York. Seaman Dick Jones c/o Fleetmaster, San Francisco. Midway, Guadacanal, strange names ping-ponging all over the globe. Remember Pearl Harbor. They say if you know a certain butcher and slip him five dollars...

"Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder." They say his cellar is crammed with sugar. "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Stop pushing, no, this is a nylon line. The Battle of the Bulge. Missing in action. They say the Jones boy is home on furlough. They say his hands shake all the time. They say. "Dear Mom, here I am in [censored]. Tomorrow we leave for [censored]." "Telegram, Mrs Jones, from the War Department." Jap plane suicides onto deck of U.S. destroyer. Blood sweat tears. K rations, plasma, canteens, Carole Lombard. Medals. Any medals today? Medals to replace sons, give five to the Sullivans, send one to Colin Kelly's house, medals, medals.

Eisenhower, Patton, Montgomery, Marshall, beachheads, D Day. We interrupt this program to bring you a special bulletin from the wires of the Associated Press... President Roosevelt died this afternoon at 3:35. Tears, grief, confusion. Hey what about this guy Truman? Crosses grow row on row. V E Day. Where's Hitler? Button, button, who's got the button? They say what's Russian going to do? Here she comes, good old Russia, hurrah for Uncle Joe.

"Gee whiz, Mom, don't cry. The war's most over. Remember four years ago when you told me I was too young? Well, Hirohito, here I come."...

"Come, Amelia, he's gone. Donnie and Jim will be waiting for us."

Tears, casualties, v mail, the A bomb. They say we can destroy Japan. Iwo Jima. That was my boy, see? Okinawa. General MacArthur says the war is over. Shouting, singing, dancing, prayers. They say the churches were filled.

___

Normalcy on parade. The G.I. Bill. New houses, college careers, books, wood, concrete, steel, the United Nations. Words.

___

We interrupt this program to bring you a special bulletin from the wires of the Associated Press... The North Koreans have just invaded South Korea. The United Nations acts. President Truman says. Congress says. American troops, the hell you say, United Nations troops, the hell you say. Army recruiting offices now open. Enlist in the Navy, in the Air Force, enlist. Greetings from the President of the United States, you have been selected by a group of your friends and neighbors... Korea. Numbered hills, casualties, tears, corruption, despair, Korea. Gabriel Heater says. Frostbite.

"No, Mom, you are not going with me. Make her understand, Dad."

"Come, Amelia, smile for your son and let him go as he wishes, alone."

Alone, alone, the hills of Korea are steep and cold for one alone. Take care, Donnie, take good care.

"Bedtime, Jimmy."

"But Mom, it's only ten-thirty."

"I know, Jim, but growing boys need their sleep so they can..."