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| A photograph of my father "during a convalescent leave in Miami Beach and St. Petersburg, Florida from mid-June through September 1944." My mother had written this on the back of the portrait. |
Dad had been assigned to Miami,
Florida, following his initial furlough upon his return from England after
completing his required 25-combat missions with a B-17 Flying Fortress crew. He
spent the time with his family in the Big Bend community. Here is a brief account of his time in Florida as written in his military memoir, Okie Over
Europe.
Edmund had a “21-day delay in route.” This term meant that he was given a twenty-one-day furlough. He was scheduled to be in Miami Beach, Florida, on June 16, 1944. Edmund chose to stay in Oklahoma until June 17th. He wanted to be able to celebrate his father’s birthday on June 16th. This would be the first time in two years they would have a dual celebration of birthdays since Edmund’s birthday had been on June 15th. Edmund wistfully remembered that until 1935, Edmund, his father, and his younger brother, Fredrick, had celebrated their birthdays together. Fredrick had been born exactly on his father’s birthday, June 16th in 1921, and ironically, was struck by lightning and killed on his 16th birthday in 1935, just shortly after the family had enjoyed a dinner in honor of the three birthdays.
His family took him to Ponca City to leave on the train the following day, June 17th, conspicuously a day later than he should have departed. By this time, a pontoon bridge was in place on Highway 60 east of Ponca City on the Arkansas River instead of the ferryboat that Edmund had taken to return home. (A flood had taken out the bridge over the Arkansas River on Highway 60.)
Upon arriving at Miami Beach, Edmund’s captain reprimanded him for his late arrival. The captain also loudly threatened demotion. In Edmund’s mind, a blustery captain was nothing in comparison to fighting the Germans in the skies over Europe.
Edmund stayed in Miami Beach, Florida, at the Lord Tarleton Hotel on the twelfth floor for ten or twelve days. The hotel expense was covered by the military. Edmund was required to pay for his meals. Few soldiers were returning at that time from the war. He speculated that he was assigned to this furlough by the Air Force in an effort to assist him in working through the stress of combat. His time in Miami Beach was spent entirely in recreational activities. There were very few other military personnel in this location. Edmund spent much of his time on the beach swimming and riding the waves. Occasionally he splurged for a sixty-five-cent drink downtown.
Edmund was sent from Miami Beach to St. Petersburg, Florida. While at St. Petersburg, Edmund was injected in his arm with a substance that he referred to as “truth serum.” While under its influence, he was questioned by a doctor on topics ranging from family experiences to combat happenings. Some soldiers were discharged at this point. Edmund felt his mental, physical, and emotional health were being evaluated to ascertain if he was capable to continue serving in the Army Air Force. He cannot prove this supposition since all his military records were destroyed in a fire in the 1970s.
In his leisure time at St. Petersburg, Edmund met a civilian couple from Chicago. The friendly pair encouraged Edmund and three or four other soldiers to use their fishing tackle. He fished off the dock in the Gulf of Mexico daily.
Edmund lodged in a large building of perhaps four or five floors furnished by the military. This building, however, was not technically a hotel, even though Edmund has in his collection of memorabilia a card from Dorothy Rabo, his pilot’s wife, addressed to Don CeSar Hotel. This illustrious hotel on the beach was built in 1928 but had fallen into disrepair and was purchased by the United States Army for only its assessed value. It was converted into the convalescent center where Edmund stayed for around thirty days. This building has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and restored to its earlier grandeur. (Here is a link to the hotel as it is in 2017 - http://www.doncesar.com/ )
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| Photo of Don Cesar from its website. |
As I have reread his account and discussed with Mother, she recalled that he wistfully mentioned in his letters to her what a nice time a married couple would have in St. Petersburg. Even at 92, with her killer wit, she quipped, "I didn't take the hint." As a nineteen-year-old, she had made it plain to him - no marriage until the military was behind him.
Yet as I viewed the devastation as the result of
Hurricane Irma’s force, I kept recalling the warnings issued over a week ago.
The cautionary warnings, then encouragement to evacuate, and finally, the mandatory
evacuations were given repeatedly, but some did not heed.
Several Bible verses of warning passed through my mind.
"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak,
they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.
"For by your words you will be justified,
and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37
For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard,
so that we do not drift away from it. Hebrews 12:1
And He said, "See to it that you are not misled;
for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near '
Do not go after them.” Luke 21:8
Lord, may we never be unwise, refusing to take heed to your commands and warnings in our spiritual lives. Enable us to be bold and strong in obeying Your Word promptly and completely, so we can positively affect our family and friends.
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