MAYBE I'M DEAD by Joe Klass

In honor of Memorial Day.

Dell 1st edition 1958. Publication copyright 1955.




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In January 1945 the Russian offensive had reached within seven miles of the somber prison camp at Sagan.  The prisoners' dreams were agonizingly close to being realized.  Then, with only four hours notice, they were ordered to march west, away from freedom into more months of captivity.


Out into the night, therefore, the long, winding column began the march.  Some men proved to be heroes; in some the moral fiber snapped.  Under the unbearable ordeal some sank down by the road and died.  Some few rose to the heights of sacrifice.  To all of them as they huddled in the icy winds, memories returned at intervals, heartbreaking memories of days when they were free and proud and owned the sky.

How more than ten-thousand freezing men survived and nearly three-thousand fell by the wayside to be shot or frozen to death is an agonizing tale by one who was actually there and personally experienced the horror and lived to write this unforgettable portrait of what actually happened to these unsung heroes of World War II. 



Maybe I'm Dead is an epic account of what young men in history's greatest human conflict suffered so all of us may enjoy the prize they won for us--unfettered, unabashed freedom. (SOURCE: Joe Klass)  

A current edition of this book is available at Amazon. Sadly I cannot make out the name of the illustrator of this vintage cover. If I do I'll post what information I find.

TO MONTEZ with love in 1945

Think of this post as a continuation of Valentine's Day.

This is a letter from an old scrapbook my friend Bert gave me. It dates from February 24, 1945. A fellow, Van, far away in the Pacific, writes to a woman, Montez Lawton, a schoolteacher, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It would be close to 6 months before the war in the Pacific was over.

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To read a little about this Japanese/Phillippines currency click here.

To see other posts from a different scrapbook created by Montez click on her name in the labels below.

A FIGHTER PILOT and Coca-Cola in 1940

This vintage Coca-Cola magazine ad is from a 1940 Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus Magazine and Daily Review. I find it fascinating that it uses a military theme before the war.


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(SOURCE: Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus Magazine and Daily Review, 1940) 

To see other vintage Coca-Cola ads click on "Coca-Cola ads" or "Coca-Cola" below in the labels.

JACOBS AIRCRAFT ENGINES in 1943

This ad starts off by referencing the work their planes did in helping to build the Alcan Highway (the road that connects the lower 48 to Alaska through Canada). The last part of the ad is where the reference the war demands and the part they are contributing.

As to what became of the company, well there's not much to find:

The Jacobs Aircraft Engine Company was formed in 1929 in Philadelphia. Later the company moved to Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

An early product was the Jacobs L-3, a small 55 hp 3 cylinder engine of 1929 (4.125x4.75=190cuin). By 1933, Jacobs had developed its most famous engine, the L-4 seven-cylinder radial; it was better known as by its military designation, the R-755.

Later developments included the 285 hp L-5 or R-830 (5.5x5=831.54/13.627L), and 330 hp L-6 or R-915 (5.5x5.5=914.696/14.989L)

Jacobs engines were fitted to many US-built aircraft of the inter-wars period, including several Waco models.

After World War II, Jacobs became a division of Republic Industries (not Republic Aircraft). (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

I really like the illustration which unfortunately has no artist signature.

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Again, another image from the November 1943 National Geographic.

PULLMAN SLEEPERS, a Soap Opera, and a Moral

Another vintage World War II ad from the November 1943 National Geographic. This one, for Pullman Sleeper train cars, sells you a soap opera and a moral to the story. Like many other ads, the company was not just selling their product, but also the idea of the country uniting in the war effort. Also, be polite...except of course to the enemy. Racism front and center.

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GOT MILK in World War II?

Look at Private Peterson. Look at Private Peterson milk Lulu. Milk Lulu, milk. Private Peterson loves Lulu. Lulu loves Private Peterson.

And so this fellow became the pin-up poster for dairy cows across the country in the 1940s. There wasn't a milking barn that didn't have this photo tacked to the wall to keep the cows dreamy eyed and contented while they were milked.

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The National Dairy Corporations ad in the 1943 National Geographic proving they too were part of the war effort.

Seriously, I haven't a clue what cows used to relax in the 1940s.

MARTIN AIRCRAFT At War In 1943

It was easy for a manufacturer of airplanes to run an ad during World War II. They were obviously part of the war effort. This ad is from the November 1943 National Geographic.

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I will give you some ads this week that didn't have it as easy as Martin Aircraft. In fact I'd say one company was nearly pulling at loose threads in order to show they were doing their part. But more of that tomorrow.

MILWAUKEE RAILROAD During World War II

Is this ad corporate propaganda? I think we can figure out what's going on here without reading the text, but the text does add more color. Try to imagine a large corporation running an ad like this today? The idea that through their efforts the enemy is being killed. I don't recall seeing any defense contractors going to the general public with this message today. They don't need our approval. They've got representatives bought and paid for. I think they'd rather we not know how they are profiting from the wars.

The nation was different in World War II. The citizens were united in one effort. Not today. From today's perspective I find this ad unnerving. Perhaps in 1943 I'd have felt different. I don't know. I have a hard time demonizing a group of people instead of just individuals.

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To read a brief history about the now defunct Milwaukee Road click here.

BELL AND HOWELL During World War II

Keeping with the theme from yesterday about companies advertising their products during World War II, even if they weren't available to the general public due to rationing, I give you Bell and Howell. The copy is pretty interesting. Try to imagine a company saying this to customers today.

From the November 1943 National Geographic.

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To read an interesting bit of history about the use of Bell and Howell cameras during WWII go to The World at War.

When GLAMOUR AND TIRES MET

Yesterday I found a November 1943 National Geographic at the flea market. The country was at war and the advertisers were on board. Corporations were often pulled into production for the war with few of their products available to the general public. Were people making blood money from the war? Sure they were, but it wasn't as blatant as what we have today. I'll say no more.

The illustration in this ad is stunning. What an interesting way to sell something as mundane as tires. A glamourous girl and, might I say, a truly stunning looking tire! Sadly there is no signature by the illustrator. I'd love to know who did this. If anyone has information about the illustrator please let me know so I can credit them.

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UPDATE: Leif Peng, from Today's Inspiration, a wonderful site about 20th century illustrators, has sent me some links and verified the artist to be Dal Holcomb. To see more General Tire ads by Dan Holcomb click here, here, and here. And click here to go to Leif Peng's Flickr account to see thousands of wonderful vintage illustrations.

As to who was Dal Holcomb? I found the following biographical information at wilnitsky.com.

AMERICA'S NAVY in 1942

This little book was purchased while on vacation in Oregon many years ago. Found at an antique store where my only other purchase were two old photos.

I was first drawn to the trim size, 4" x 5.5", palm size. I can easily imagine a child clutching this book, enamored of the images. After all, it was published in 1942 so military images were part of every day life.

Perhaps the child had a relative or friend serving in some far away land. Their visit home always an exciting occasion. The child's thoughts of war were filled with glory unless reality came to their door.

America's Navy published by Rand McNally & Company in 1942.

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I have found nothing about the cover illustrator Herbert Rudeen other than a few other samples of his work (here and here).

The interior illustrations, which are quite wonderful, were done by George Moll, or so the title page says. Dig a little deeper online about Moll and you discover he was the head of an ad agency called the George Moll Advertising Agency. The art director was Charles H. Steinbache. If you look up Steinbache's name you'll find a lot of artwork that looks similar to what you see here in this book (here, here, here, and here). I simply don't know who really did the work. Possibly just someone in the art department who never got credit. The agency apparently did a lot of work on non-sport trading cards.

To see photos and read more about "Ace" Lieutenant Edward H. O'Hare who appears on the final page of the book click here, here, and here. O'Hare Airport in Chicago was renamed for Lieutenant O'Hare in 1949. He was shot down in 1943 and listed as missing in action.

UPDATE: Thanks to an anonymous commenter we now have a link to see more illustrations featured at the Northeastern University College of Engineering.

WORLD WAR II PILOTS

If I'm lucky, every other month I get to attend a luncheon with World War II pilots, of which my father is one. There used to be almost two hundred members including survivors of prisoner of war camps, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, even a Luftwaffe pilot. The numbers are dwindling; it's sad to see history disappearing right before my eyes.

This image is a reminder of those we are losing and have lost. Our fathers, uncles, and grandfathers. The history will soon be only books. Remember to ask your questions now.


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Note that this card was mailed before we had entered the war. December 7th was still to come.

To visit the World War 2 Pilots Association click here. I can't help but feel sad when I see some of the faces of those who are gone when I watch the video.

Coca-Cola DURING THE WAR

This vintage Coca-Cola ad dates from the August 18, 1945 Saturday Evening Post back cover. Of course the war in the Pacific was over on August 15, 1945 with the signing of the Japanese surrender document occurring on September 2, 1945.

Even if I no longer like the product I still appreciate the illustrations in the old advertisements.

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There is a lot of information about Coca-Cola during World War II, not all of it a shining example of a positive war effort. The ads were how the corporation sold its product manipulating the public for a positive corporate image. And indeed, they did do their part for the soldiers:

Coca-Cola was involved in the Second World War.

Robert Woodruff made a point of supporting US troops so metal cans were introduced to meet their needs.

In 1941, when the United States entered the war, Woodruff decided that Coca-Cola's place was near the front line.

He sent an order to:

"See that ever man in uniform gets a bottle of Coca Cola for 5 cents wherever he is and whatever the cost to the company".

In 1939 Coca Cola only had 5 overseas bottling plants. By 1945, they had 64. What made it so popular? Because the water was disgusting. The army kept it clean by adding chlorine-so the water tasted like your local swimming pool, or worse.

On the 29th June 1943 General Dwight D Eisenhower ordered three million bottles of Coca- Cola to be sent to the allies in North Africa.

Plant and machinery for down town bottling plants were also sent so another three million bottles could be sent to the troops every six months.

By the end of the hostilities five billion bottles or cans of Coca-Cola had been drunk.

Coca-Cola had not only lifted the spirits of the US Armed Forces, it had also introduced itself to new markets. When the war ended the bottling plants and a little bit of America stayed too. (SOURCE: Digger History)

So while Coca-Cola was supporting the troops they were also still manufacturing their product, or trying to, in Nazi Germany. Since I'm not finding a definitive brief article I'll just give you links:

Coca-Cola Goes to War

For God, Country and Coca-Cola: The Definitive History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It by Mark Pendergrast

Wikipedia

Digger History

And a page with some images of the creator of Coke and the pharmacy where he sold it can be seen on this page.

To see more vintage Coca-Cola ads from World War II click here.

Dreams of being a WASP

Let's hear it for the women who came before us who opened the doors even if they were shut again for decades.

It was so wonderful to see the women of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II finally get recognition this week. Of course it took far too long to acknowledge them with so many having passed on already.

The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), and the predecessor groups the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) and the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) (from September 10, 1942) were pioneering organizations of civilian female pilots employed to fly military aircraft under the direction of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. The female pilots would end up numbering a little over thousand, each freeing a male pilot for combat service and duties. The WFTD and WAFS were combined on August 5, 1943 to create the para-military WASP organization. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

Today approximately 300 are still alive. Three of them met this week with President Obama to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. What took so long? Well, history wasn't kind to them.

All records of the WASP were classified and sealed for 35 years, so their contributions to the war effort were little known and inaccessible to historians. In 1975, under the leadership of Col. Bruce Arnold, son of General Hap Arnold, the WASPs fought the "Battle of Congress" in Washington, D.C., to belatedly obtain recognition as veterans of World War II. They organized as a group again and tried to gain public support for their official recognition. Finally, in 1977, the records were unsealed after an Air Force press release erroneously stated the Air Force was training the first women to fly military aircraft for the U.S. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

So I ask you, why was the government twiddling their thumbs when in 1943 Merrill Publishing Company issued this beautiful paper doll set to honor these women?

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38 WASP were killed during the war.

To read more about these amazing women click on any of the links below:

National WASP World War II Museum

Women Airforce Service Pilots at Wikipedia

Wings Across America

Female WWII Pilots: The Original Fly Girls at NPR

Fly Girls at PBS

And yes, this is my personal mint set.