Bill & Sarah

Dad was born July 7 1924 and mom June 12 1923. At this time I have many more pictures of dad, I think because they were a little better off and had cameras around. This is the earliest picture of dad and at least for me he never explained if there was a story behind it.

This is the earlist picture of mom that I have currently. Probably late high school.

A couple undated pictures of dad from I would assume high school years.

Dad and Grandpa Smith

Sometime there was some kind of formal event (maybe a high school graduation or something like that) that had some picture taking at the Smith house. As a side note I do like the tapestry above the couch.

Grandma Grandpa and Dad.

Dad doing some solo posing.

And then Mom and Dad

Dad from around the same time but I don’t believe the same day.

From a 1939 gathering. Dad graduated in 1942 so this would have been when he was a sophomore.

Dads oldest brother that I never met, Grandpa, Dad, Ray the second oldest, and Fred Miller, dad’s brother in law. Dad and Fred remained close friends until Freds’ death a couple years before dad.

Another from the same day.

A picture noted as Nov. 1941, senior year of  high school.

Grandpa Smith was apparently determined that dad would go to college and not go to war so dad started Purdue in the fall of 1942. After either a semester or a year , not sure witch, he joined the army. The next pictures are from he was home on furlough at the end of January 1944.

Here with his brother Ray.

With Ray’s wife Peg.

With Mom who I assume took the other pictures.

 

Dad was sent over seas later in 1944 and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge in December 44 January 45. After that they moved into Germany and in April of 45 was wounded in the left arm/shoulder somewhere in Germany. He also did something to be awarded a Bronze Star. The local paper would publish letters home and one of dads was published. This would have been written a week or two before he was wounded.

He recovered in a hospital in Scotland and got home in August 1945.

Shortly after mom and dad got married.

Thanksgiving 1949 was held at Grandpa Smiths. This was three weeks after I was born and the last Thanksgiving before Grandpa died.

I appear to be enjoying the event.

Sometime in probably 1950 or 1951 a picture of mom and dad doing work.

During the summer of 1953 there was a visit and pictures. Polly would have been about 5 months old.

More to come as I get it.