The Rene Herndon Interview

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001

Introduction

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Background information
She begins discussing WWII and her husband's position in the army

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024

Early married life
She discusses living in Missouri while her husband was in training.

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053

Traveling on a troop train
She discussed conditions on the train.

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082

Her husband sent overseas
She came home to Henry County, Alabama to live with her mother.

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100

Her husband in Japan
He was stationed in Okinawa for 3 years.

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128

Corresponding
She usually wrote letters every day. For 3 years, their only means of communication was letters.

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148

Homecoming
She discussed when her husband and brothers came home from the war.

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163

Brothers
She discussed her 3 brothers and the roles they played in the war.

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180

Her mother
She discussed how her mother coped with having 3 sons and a son-in-law serving in the war at the same time.

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188

How they kept up with the war news
She said that they didn't let you know too much. Information would be shared with friends and neighbors.

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How she spent her days
She discussed living at her mother's during the war and performing farm work.

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211

Rationing
She distinctly remembers the ration stamps for sugar.

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228

Living in the country at her mother's
She discusses taking care of the animals at her mother's. One of her sisters was also still living at home.

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253

Brothers
She discussed where her brothers were stationed.

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265

When the war started
She remembers where she was when WWII started.

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280

Marrying young
She talked about being married at 18. She discussed the ways in which men were drafted at that time.

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296

Birth of her first child
Her husband was away when the baby was born. He was excited to see the baby for the first time.

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303

Having baby at home
They did not go to hospitals to have babies at this time. The doctor came to her mother's house.

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313

Reflecting on riding the troop train:
She was nervous when she boarded the troop train with a 2 month old baby.

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War bonds
She did buy war bonds.

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What they did for fun
On her mother's farm in the country, there was not time for anything but work.

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Same situation for many
Most families had loved ones serving in the war. Some families had several members who were serving simultaneously.

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390

Henry County
She discussed how rural Henry County was during this time.

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396

Abbeville
She reflects on how busy Abbeville was during the war years.

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Families shared information
Friends and family would share information they learned or received about the "boys" fighting overseas.

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Casualties
Thankfully, she did not know of many families who lost loved ones during the war.

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Notice of casualties
She said that a notice was mailed to a family if their loved one had been killed in the war.

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Church Services
She said that they had special prayer time at Church for the troops.

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How war changed her life
The war made her appreciate everything so much more. It humbled people.

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Age of most of the troops
Most of the men serving in the war were young. Her husband was only 19 when he went overseas.

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Sad days
She discussed how much she missed her husband while he was gone.

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Being drafted
Men that were of age and physically able were drafted and immediately reported for duty.

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060

Husband in Japan
Her husband faced some miserable situations in Japan.

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072

War Brides
She did not know of any who got married during the war.

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081

Shortages
It was hard to get many things. They raised most of their own food including meat.

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095

Black Market
She did not know anything about it.

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Victory Gardens
These were mostly planted by city folks.

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Support for troops
Unlike now, most people supported the troops then.

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Worries about wars of today
She knows that the U.S. has always been on top, but this may not last.

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The war is over
She was so happy and ready for her husband to come home!!

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Postwar life
When her husband returned to Henry County, they moved to Abbeville and operated several retail businesses.

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New home
They built a new home in 1948 and shortly after, had their second child.

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Did not miss war
After returning home, her husband did not miss the war.

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156

Way war changed her life
It made you appreciate everything so much more, especially the time you spend with your family.

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Wars now do not affect everybody
The wars of today do not seem to affect everyone like WWII did.

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Ending the interview
She will not ever forget the war anxiety and the "not knowing."

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191

Receiving letters from her husband
Her mailman would drive up blowing the horn when he had a letter to deliver from her husband.

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202

Depression days
Ways were tight during this time.

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214

President Roosevelt
What does she remember most about President Roosevelt? Jobs!

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235

Not affected by shortages
The shortages occurring because of the war did not really affect them that much-they were used to not having much because of the Depression.

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245

Thankful for what she has now
From her experiences growing up and during the war, she really appreciates what she has now.

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261

A Different World Today
She is proud that today's generation will not have to experience some of the things that she did.

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269

An article she just read
She talks about an article she just read about a lady who had experienced many things in life too.

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Reflects on her life
She recalls growing up in Screamer and having it "hard".

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Thanks for the interview