During my friendship with the Boyers family, I met Geralds sister Grace who was the oldest of three girls. The children that I knew at that time were Gerald, Grace, Robert, Frank, Mary, Denver, Vera, Earl. George was born the year (1934) after we graduated from high school.
During high school I delivered Jackson and Detroit papers to make some spending money. Also worked on Truck Garden Farms on Gregory Road for Mr England, Mr Haskins and others. On one farm they grew different things for the seed. It was a very cold, dirty job, but we could make a little money. I mostly worked for Mr England, as his farm was just over our back fence. I worked there for five cents and hour and also could have plenty of vegetables to take. We planted, cultivated, harvested, washed them and got them ready for Mr England to take in his truck to town and deliver.
After graduating, no jobs were to be had. I did get a job at the National Youth Administration office at Cassidy Lake for a while. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established to give young men a job and also help their families, as they had to send a portion of their pay home.
Gerald and I were a group that joined in Jackson. We went to
Camp Custer at Battle Creek for our shots, to get our clothes
that was army fatigues. I worked in Headquarters Division.
Gerald and the group went to Raco, Michigan, in the Upper
Peninsula, west of Sault Ste Marie. I stayed in Camp Custer
two months and then went to Raco to join the group. Gerald
worked out in the field as a truck driver. I worked in the ranger
station making maps, doing clerical work and helped the Rangers.
Went out on fire duty once during the night to give some of the
others a break.
I was selected to go to Fort Brady in Sault Ste Marie to work
in the hospital as a clerical worker. The duration of signup was
6 months and I signed up for a second time. At Christmas time,
one of the doctors was coming down for a visit in Lansing, and
I made arrangements to ride with him. My Dad drove to Lansing
to get me and I spent three days at home and then he drove me
back to Lansing. On my way back to Fort Brady, the doctor
asked me to drive some. I had never driven any long distance
but took over about Clare. Snow was blowing across the road
making it hard to see, no one to talk to as the doctor went to
sleep. I began to get drowsy and next thing I knew I had slipped
off the road and hit a bump. The doctor woke up and wanted to
know what happened. I don't remember what I told him but I
stayed awake and we finally arrived at the Straits of Mackinac.
Had to wait for the ferry for some time and when we got to
St Ignace, the doctor drove the rest of the way to Fort Brady.
We got there in time for morning roll call and to go to
