JAMES HAYS sent me the following email and the cute photo of him and Grider in their "uniforms" his mother made for them during WWII. JAMES always wanted to be a "soldier", and it must have started with the uniform he wore in 1942! He has told us previously about his own time in the National Guard.
"I just finished reading your latest missive. Thanks for your help keeping us in touch. Since this Communist Chinese plague has calmed down considerably, I think we should be thinking about our cancelled reunion for early this fall. Lots of things need to be done in planning, etc. Go or no go, setting a date with or without consideration of a homecoming ballgame. I bumped into the lawyer and the Ballinger gun show is set for November 13/14, so the barrister is safe from meeting with Peggy! 'Class joke.' (Maybe some of you understand this. I don't.) My Saturdays for planning a trip are about half open, but is anybody still gainfully employed? Weekdays are generally open. I am still active with the Runnels County Historical Commission, The pay doesn’t complicate my tax return at all. "We made a quick trip to Arlington last week for Kay’s/our great-grandson’s second birthday. Two weeks ago we also went to the old home place so I could promote my nephew Lance Jorgenson to Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer-4 at the same place where my picture was taken in February 1942, also in uniform that my mother made for me. It takes a senior officer to promote an officer, active or retired. The biggest surprise was that I could still get into my dress uniform.
"When Dad tried to enlist in the army Dec 13, 1941, they refused to let him in with four small kids, sheep, cattle, and farming cotton, wheat, and other crops. He was mad as hell and joined the newly created Texas State Defense Force, soon to become the State Guard. My mother made these uniforms for Grider and me and we had a Kodak moment. At two years and eight months old, I remember getting this picture taken very well.
"My dad, Marion Hays, was in an Army pre-OCS school in 1918; war ended. 1918 graduate of Ballinger High School. Had Maryatt Smith in math. I spent 51/2-years in the Texas State Guard after 20-years in the National Guard.
"I am no longer the Brown County Medical Authority since December, but I hung in there until Vaccine became available and still show up occasionally on a volunteer basis. On that note, let me recommend one of the vaccines to everybody. Our aged arteries are still open season to that virus and the shots are very, very rarely hazardous. I have lost a couple of friends to it so far."...JAMES HAYS
Who knew Maryatt Smith was teaching school at BHS in 1918?
I had to do a little research on Miss Smith and came up with this old newspaper article. I had her for Algebra II, Plane Geometry, and Latin I and II. She made me angry by giving me a "0" in my daily work for talking. I walked out of her class and straight to Joe Forester. I insisted he put me in another math class. Good ole Joe talked me into staying. And I didn't regret it!
I had to do a little research on Miss Smith and came up with this old newspaper article. I had her for Algebra II, Plane Geometry, and Latin I and II. She made me angry by giving me a "0" in my daily work for talking. I walked out of her class and straight to Joe Forester. I insisted he put me in another math class. Good ole Joe talked me into staying. And I didn't regret it!
"The Ballinger Ledger (Ballinger, Texas)
May 19, 1966"
"Miss Maryatt Smith Will Close
Teaching Career on May 24, 1966"
If any of you want to comment or send your own stories, just use the comment link at the bottom of this post or email me. If you wish to work with or have suggestions for JAMES, you may email him directly. His email is in the back of your class directory...or I can send it to you.
May all your days be full of the "good stuff".
Peace and Love,
Marilyn
