This past Saturday, Dec. 20th, I was riding home from the Colodner party given to honor the engagement of Ken and his future bride. Meeting all of my sister’s children , their spouses and offspring made me realize that we go back five  generations since my parents embarked on the ships that brought them into the USA.  This feeling was amplified when I gave Ellen the photo of my parents with Jack, Bill and Regina ( 3 yrs of age).  We figured that the photo was taken in 1916, previous to my birth, which was 1917.

Reflecting on these family meetings, I mentioned to Shirley that we always read about the Kennedy family meeting together during Summer breaks.  And I remarked that we also had our summer breaks, not as elaborate as theirs, but we too enjoyed the family togetherness at Kaufman’s Bungalow Colony.  This period of family meetings plus the annual Seders, created a wonderful bond within our family structure.

It occurred to me that I go back almost 5 generations.  My parents and Shirley’s emigrated to the U.S. during the 1890’s.  The U.S. was expanding westward and needed all types of laborers.  This allowed the disadvantaged in Europe to move to the U.S. to seek better opportunity and get free from restrictions that they endured in their countries of origin.  My parents came from Mielitz, So. Poland(Austrian Province} and Shirley’s parents came from No. Poland.

While we were growing up, our families lived close to one another.  So, we had close ties.  Cousins, uncles and aunts knew one another.  But as we grew older and married and moved further apart, we lost contact. Take my family.  Jack moved to New Jersey, Bill  to Long Island , Nat  to Lakewood , Blanche to California and England

We went from a horse and buggy age into the mobile age of auto and air travel. This caused a division of close family ties and the thoght of losing the closeness that I feel when I visit the Maltzes, worries me.  The Seders that started in 1937-by Pop and Mom, and carried on by Reggie and then Barbara, will fade away.  How can we extend this gathering  in the future?  I’m open to suggestions.

Our planned honeymoon was to go to Florida.  This was very special for us, as we were not world travelers as  current youngsters are.  For us, this was very special.  We had tried to register in the Roney Plaza but there were no rooms available  The best we could do is get a room at the Grand Hotel which was across the street.  We later learned that the hotel catered to the gamblers who frequented the race tracks.

Our location was good. It was on Collins Avenue,  the main shopping area and quite busy.  The best part of this location was the South Park  directly in front of our entrance and the beach where we enjoyed the sun and swimming in the wavy warm water.  For me it was a wonderful setting for photography.  I spent lots of time getting shots of SW on palm trees, posing her sexy figure and admiring her beauty.

But prior to our arrival in Florida, we experienced annoying problems.  We had been advised to send our luggage ahead by rail to our destination.  We did this two days prior to our date of boarding the train.  We got on board in the morning after our night spent in our hotel across the street.  We had no seat reservations,which we knew nothing about.  So, by the time we got there, I found a single seat at one end of the car and Shirley a seat at the other end.  The trains were really crowded.  Those were the days when train travel was more popular than air. So, we were separated for the entire trip.  You can imagine how miserable we felt.

When we arrived in Miami, after this long and miserable ride, we went looking for our luggage.  We had noticed that many of the travelers had taken their suitcases with them.  We were so smug, seeing them shlepping the luggage. When we arrived at the pickup area to get our pre-shipped luggage, we were advised that they had not arrived.  “here is our phone number, check for its arrival”.  We spent two miserable days in our winter clothes, until they arrived.

But nothing could destroy our joy, our togetherness.  We spent the time sightseeing and on boat trips and when the luggage arrived, we were able to enjoy the beach and even sneak some sunbathing on Roney’s beach chairs.

It has been 6 weeks since my last post.  I really must apologize to all of my diligent readers, but I am frustrated by my inability to keep up with the quick changes in our current technology.  I have spent all of this time sorting photos of our honeymoon and pics of 46th Street, for the purpose of scanning and inserting them into a slide show.  I thought that I knew how to do it.  But suddenly I get  a notice of a disconnect between my scanner and the computer.

The more I try to keep up with the new technology, the more obsolete I feel. The changes in tech is so rapid, that by the time I learn to cope with something new, an upgrade  is brought out.  I have Windows 2000 in my computer.  4 changes were introduced by Microsoft.  Now we have the introduction of Windows 7.  It’s being promoted now and I believe that it has caused my computer to break down my connection for scanning photos into my computer.  Is this a planned action to force me to buy the new program? I’ve got enough trouble keeping up with cell-phone use and other  tech changes like texting.  This alone has changed the communication system.  Nobody writes anymore.  Scripting is unknown to our kids.  Vocabulary will change to text-words.  Letters from family and friends are a thing of the past.  Emails are quicker and now we have Facebook and Twitter and cloud programs.  Who can keep up with all of this?  Not me, at this age of my life.  I am really obsolete.

I intended to write about our honeymoon, but I  had to send this apology.  It is off my chest.  I will get into the good old days and write our life’s history soon. When I get connected, I will make slide shows of post-war photos.

Trying to recall the past, which was 64 yrs. ago, is quite difficult.  Especially when one is 92 years old and having difficulty recalling names of acquaintances.  My three years  absence from 820-46th Street did not cause a change in the area.  The same sycamore trees were still lined up on both sides of the street and the same buildings with its small front gardens added a suburban touch.  After 3 years of  living in bombed- out areas, sleeping in pup-tents and often on grassy hills, my walk up to my home  seemed like heaven, so peaceful and neat.  Nothing had changed

The changes that occurred were human.  Those who remained at home, who worried about loved ones in service  also helped in the war effort, selling US bonds, factory labor in munitions and aircraft, and USO shows.

Changes occurred in the normal lives we live.  Such as the Roth family and descendants. When I returned I encountered the following  :  Our house was now occupied by only 3  members of the family.  Pop died in 1954 and the store was sold prior to his death.  Mom displayed a sign “  Clothing Alterations” Expert seamstress.  Mom needed income to pay for expenses, etc.  Living with her were Blanche and Bill.  Nat was married in 1945 to Harriet and living in their house on the same street.  Bill returned from  the Pacific a few months later and set up his food business, storing goods in the basement.  Reggie, living in an apartment 759-46th St.  gave birth to Barbara in 1943. And I was preparing for my wedding with Shirley.  On December 25, 1945 we were married.  We went to Florida for our honeymoon and I moved out of 820-46th Street.  Thus began a new chapter in my life.

I had difficulty sleeping that night.  My thoughts were tumbling around in my head, while my body was tumbling around in my army cot.  And as to remembering how I managed to leave from Camp Shanks, I have no image.  I’m assuming that I spoke with my officer in charge , that I could get home on my own.  “Could I be released now?. I can get home via train and subway to my home in Brooklyn”  He okayed it.

I’m trying to recall my day when I left the camp.  I remember going to the PX, to look for a gift for Shirley and that I purchased a bracelet that was designed in Greenwich Village. My next vision is waiting for her to appear in Penn Station and seeing her walk off the escalator to meet me.

I was asked by a family member.”How can you remember all those details of your 3 yrs in the army?”. Well,I must confess.  It was not memory but it was all of the saved letters to Shirley, Blanche, Reggie, et al, and the photos I took from Spokane and thru the war.  I’m glad that I have all of these records.  Because, now I see that it’s easy to forget complete details and personal feelings  of important moments in one’s life.

My next vision is seeing Shirley walking towards me.  My heart thumped double time and we hurried towards each other and embraced.  After a long kiss and a pause for breath, we decided to go to the Hotel McAlpin for supper and dance.  In those days all hotels had swing bands and this one may have been Guy Lombardo.  We practically had the floor to ourselves and we were in heaven gliding along to the music and holding each other tightly.

If I were writing a movie script of this scene, I would have Irv go up to the band leader and ask him to play a particular song for us.  To honor my return after three Years in the army and this is our first meeting. He agrees.” What’s the song?”  I then explain to him that ” While she was writing a letter to me, she was listening to the Andrew Sisters singing ” I’ll never smile again, until I smile at you”.  I was reading this letter while sailing to No. Africa, 3 years ago”.  You can announce this and I want to see her smile.  I wish I had thought of this.  It would have been appropriate.

I asked Shirley if she remembers how we left and when to go home and she has no vision of it. I’m assuming that I rode home with her on the subway line and then I left to go home to see my family.  But I really have no vision of it.

We continued past Shirley’s apartment house and I thought we would debark in Fort Hamilton about 3 miles north of her.  That’s where we boarded  the ship that transported our Engineering outfit to North Africa, 3 yrs ago.  I imagined that I would leave camp and surprise her.  But to my dismay, the ship passed the Fort and continued it’s upward journey.

As I recall the day, we had come on deck after having breakfast and the fleet of ships was splitting apart.  Some went towards New Jersey and others to Camp Kilmer and Staten Island  Our deck was jammed with GIs, all excited as we were being tug-boated through the entrance to the New York Ports.

Although several other  GI returnees lived in and around New York City, the majority never visited it.  So,as I was loudly pointing out the sites a large group formed around to hear me exclaim ” There’s the bike path     we , Shirley and I rode on”    “,there’s the Belt Parkway”     ,” we are now passing the 69th St. Ferry pier that goes to Staten Island”.    We then approached  Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  This created a mob scene of GIs crowding towards the left side of the ship. It was a great sight to see and even I got a thrill at the sight of it. 

     As we contimued up river , I thought we would debark on the N.Y. Piers in the 50’s, but this did not happen.  I wondered “Where are we going?”.  I surmised to my audience.  By this time, we settled down to a slow cruise up river towards the Bronx and further North. We also passed Washington Heights, where my brother and family lived.  After we sailed under the G.W. Bridge, I ran out of sights and shut down my sight-seeing dialogue.

     We sailed slowly upstream.  The Hudson River and the surrounding mountains on both sides were really beautiful to see.  But we were all weary from the long voyage and anxious to set foot on firm ground.  Finally we stopped and prepared to land.  I learned that it was in Camp Shanks, a newly built facility for the purpose of handling troop movements to Europe and for our return.  ( If you are interested, Google Camp Shanks).  We arrived in time to settle in barracks, shower and have dinner.  I got off and inquired about making a phone call and how to travel to New York City from Orangeburg, this town we docked in.

Just recalling it now, the entire scene is making my heart  flutter.  I dialed Long distance and recalled the phone number ESplanade 2 2604.  I called collect and  Shirley accepted the call.  So I knew we were okay.  She was expecting a call.  She had read about my arrival in the newspaper.  We made a date for the next day, to meet in Manhattan at Penn Station.

Well, the war was finally over.  We were ready to de-mobilize.  It took two months for my name to be placed on a notice for my transfer to a group to be sent to the port of debarkation somewhere in the Netherlands.  My final discharge papers dated Nov.11,1945, were  given to me at separation center, Ft.Dix, N.J.

One month was spent in Frankfurt airport and the balance of time in the campsight located on the North Sea. We could see the ships moving in and out and wondered when we would be called up for the voyage home. We were housed in Pyramidal tents that were set up on level grounds close to the seaport. I have very little memory of this period.  There was constant movement of GIs arriving and leaving.  I have no memory of packing and boarding the ship home.  Reflecting on this period, I can see how difficult it was for our military to move a million personnel from Europe back to the States.

Fortunately for me, Shirley, my fiancee, who waited for 3 years for my return, had saved the announcement of my return on board the ship,  Sheepshead Bay Victory.  The headline was “10 Troopships Bringing 15,522 GIs Home.”  Can you imagine the logistics involved in this maneuver?  It was a good policy to list the names and addresses of the soldiers.  It prepared our families and friends and raised our spirits.

Our fleet of 10 ships plus some naval escorts had a smooth voyage.  I can’t recall any sea-sickness at all.  I’m not sure of the voyage time, but I guess it may have been a week.  When we approached the area of Coney Island and the mouth of the Hudson River, we became excited.  Our ships were flying victory flags and as my ship passed by Bay Parkway, I pointed out to some friends the apartment house that Shirley lived in.  My heart was skipping madly. ” Home at last”, I yelled.

Let us go back 64 years and recapture my days in Germany where I was waiting for my discharge papers, and the trip home.  Pres. Truman, who became President after FDR died, made the important decision to use the Atom Bomb.  He had warned the Japanese Military, but they did not believe his threat  and refused to surrender, so he bombed Hiroshima on  Aug. 6th  The result was horrendous and frightening and still the Japanese would not surrender.  They intended to fight on all islands.  To avoid the deaths of an estimated 200,000 American he told the Japs, “Surrender or we strike again”. On Aug. 9th we blasted Nagasaki.  Japan relented and asked to halt all attacks until arrangements can be agreed upon for complete surrender, which was finally completed on Sept, 2nd.

Prior to this final decision, we, the photo unit, now stationed in Frankfurt, were concerned that we would be transferred to the airforce heading for the ASia Continent to aid in fighting Japan. We were now attached to the 13th Photo Intell. Unit part ot the Air Force.  Whle statined in Franfurt, our main job was to clean up the mess caused by bombing.  We used the Nazi prisoners to help us and I was in charge of a fifteen or twenty group.  I was not armed.  I carried a stick which was useless and unnecessary.  The prisoners were happy to be in American hands.  As I reflect back to those days, I had no inkling regerding the treatment of Jews and the death camps. The newspapers we read did not report or know about these atrocities.

While cleaning out an office building, a box of slides was presented to me . I opened the box and these slides had the imprint Fotoshop, 42nd St,  Made in USA.  They were slides of American Aircraft.  I assumed they were used for identfication.  Whether for American use or GErman, I had no idea.  But the impact of meeting up with this, presented me with a sign  (simmen).  I will be heading home, soon.  And maybe go to work in the Fotoshop.  Which really happened.

We were on our way after our farewell procedure and moved out via truck.  We crossed over into Germany over re-constructed bridges and as we moved northward saw the damaged terrain, buildings and tanks.  Our relentless Air Force bombings of German factories and cities destroyed the Nazis.  WWII really destroyed all of Europe.  I can understand now, why the U.S. had to initiate the Marshall Plan, lending money to our Allies and to liberated German countries.

We camped out on the mountain top that overlooked the University of Heidelberg.  After we unloaded and set up for a night in the campsite.  It was about noon, so I and two GI friends headed for the PX, which was on top of the mountain overlooking the ravine where the University was situated.  We were  amazed when we looked down the valley below to see the University of Heidelberg.  The buildings were untouched by any war action.  At that time, I knew nothing about these stately architectural  buildings of advanced studies. This complex was founded in 1386 and modeled after the French and British style.  I was in awe, seeing this complex of buildings spread out on the mountainsides, surrounding a flat terrain where I saw a stage and chairs being set up to accommodate an audience.  I remarked to my friends, “Looks like a ceremony, grad. day maybe”. I then moved away and headed for the PX, for a look-see, ready to spend part of my bonus.

The PX was uphill to our left, in a building that overlooked the university.  I walked towards the entrance, when I saw Jack Benny emerging.  I stopped in my tracks, amazed and excited. He continued walking towards me and I extended my hand with a greeting.  “Hi, Mr. Benny”.  We shook hands and he was very genial, asked me where I was from, etc.  I was nervous and jittery.  He mentioned that he will be performing a USO show in the evening and to come with friends to see it.  Also, he asked me to wait with him for a few minutes.  “A screen star is coming out of the PX soon.I’ll introduce her to you”.

And within seconds, she emerged from the PX escorted by two Lt. Officers, one on each side.  Jack Benny turned to her and introduced her to me.” “Ingrid,    This is Irv Roth from Brooklyn.  He has been overseas for 3 yrs”. And this memory of meeting her has been my pride and joy.  I was overwhelmed.  And to this day, I can kick myself for not using my camera, which I had on my shoulders.

I went to the show and enjoyed it.  But really what I remember mostly about the show is the performance by Larry Adler playing a Rachmaninoff concerto piece that sounded like a complete orchestra.  I was amazed by his rendition.

We packed early the next morning and went on to  Frankfurt.

Finally, we got some action from the Army Staff.  Our 2nd Photo Tech Unit was ordered to move into Frankfurt Air Base and join up with the 13th Photo Intel Det.  We were moving North into Germany to replace those GIs who were moving into the port of embarkation and homeward bound.

Upon receipt of these orders to abandon our current quarters (we had to be out within 5 days), the officer in charge called me into in his office.  “Roth,  I need your help.  We need to pack up and move north into Germany. Our unit is moving to Frankfurt to be part of the 13th Photo Intel Unit.  We are replacing the GIs who have had combat duties and are being sent home.”

”   Wow, Great, does that mean we go next.? “

” Not so fast, Roth.  We first have to move out and dispose of  many items in the recreation room.  The items that were in place when we moved here remain, such as the piano, the furniture  and ping- pong table belong to the French army.  We added the phonograph, radio and recordings., plus any other items you can verify that we brought in. Can you sell these off and recoup our outlay.  I would like to give the funds that was spent to  our GIs”

“  Yes sir .  I will talk with the kitchen helpers “.  We should be able to sell off the music players and records”. Mission was accomplished in one day. They came with a horse and buggy and carted off the stuff.

On the morning of our departure, our officer had an early  roll  call.  We had orders to pack our Duffle bags for a 2 or 3 day trip thru mountainous roads.  First stop in Heidelberg for a night encampment and then into Frankfurt Air Base .

Upon completion of the roll call our Officer addressed the unit.  “I will take this opportunity to wish you-all a fond farewell.  We worked hard and achieved our goal.  I will not be leaving with you.  I need to finish off these premises and work with the French Army, which will be arriving in a few days.  M/Sgt. Bean will be in charge .

Sgt Bean will call your name.  Please answer “here” and walk towards me, so that I can shake your hand and wish you “Bon Voyage”.  Then go towards my left , where Cpl Roth is seated at a table, for a shot of schnaps and the Bonus of  $20.00.  We sold off the Rec Hall music department and sharing it all with you.  It will useful for you at the PX in Heidelberg and also in Frankfurt.

I also wish to express my thanks to Cpl Roth for his usefulness as a translator and for adding unprecedented events into our routine army life.  The Bonus and especially the Potato Latkes, which I relished. ” Thank You ” and best of luck to all of you.