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Archiver > ARIZARD > 2001-12 > 1008632096


From: "Bernie Moore-Knowles" <>
Subject: Re: [ARIZARD-L] WWII - Rick
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 16:34:56 -0700
References: <107.9f86529.294f98cf@cs.com>


Rick

I do design work, which is nowhere near the knowledge that you have on
military history. But, my undergraduate was in History and I always love to
hear the stories.

Last week I was helping a friend who has a boutique here, during the
Christmas rush. Just helping on the sales floor and I struck up a
conversation with a gentleman, while his wife was shopping. Seems that he
was from Oklahoma, too AND had served in the War in Germany.

During the conversation I told of how in the early 1950s that everything
that my father had brought back from Japan, Okinawa, the Luzon, etc had been
stolen from their home in North Tulsa. Seems the things were in a trunk and
someone broke in and not finding anything much of value, decided that the
locked trunk in the basement MUST have something valuable in it. So, they
took the trunk, unopened and was gone in a flash.

Anyway, this gentleman in the store tells me that he is eighty-six years
old. Made me want to make an appointment for a face-lift, I'm telling you.
He had the most wonderful skin. As I said, he had served in Germany and was
telling me all the things that he still had that he had brought back
stateside. He even had a Nazi flag at one time, until his son wanted a flag
to put on the outside on his new car in the 1960s........and they cut the
flag up!

He and I had a chuckle about that and I am sure that you are grinding your
teeth!

My uncle; Earl Roberts had been a POW in Germany and I have always wanted to
trace his military career. Seems he and a British soldier escaped from the
Camp, by overpowering two guards and made their escape and into allied
territories somewhere. Sounded like such a heroric episode.........just one
of many from many folks, I am sure.

Yes, it was John Bello. He was a kind man, never obnoxious and always
seemed fair and knowledgable. I'm sorry to hear of his death. You
know.......I still have his business card. The last that I spoke with him,
I had inherited a sword from the Spanish American War.......or should say,
that my husband had. He saw it in my living room and began to tell me all
about it. I was real impressed.

Well, I will keep you in mind, should I ever find any treasures here in
Phoenix. The sub that I live in borders Sun Lakes, where all the retirees
live. The man in the store that I just told you about lives in Sun Lakes.

What I have are newspapers. But, there are some great articles in them.
I'm still reading them, as a matter of fact.

Bernie Moore-Knowles
Phoenix, Arizona

"I have Indian blood in me. I have just enough White blood for you to
question my honesty." ........Will Rogers
----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2001 11:51 AM
Subject: Re: [ARIZARD-L] WWII - Rick


> The guy you probably sold things to was John Bello, who passed away
earlier
> this year with Lou Gehrig's Disease. He and I use to be "partners" for
lack
> of a better term. I never really bought a lot of it as cops don't make
enuff
> money to use for such things. LOL Every once in awhile I would, like if
it
> was a World War I MarineCorps uniform and the price was liveable, then I
> would. And the occasional estate sale of course. It amazes me how the
kids
> could care less about mom & dad's WWII service and momentoes. They just
cast
> them aside like yesterdays trash. I'm too much of a history nut.
>
> Most of my collection has been given to me by vet's or their families. I
> have a few German things but not a lot. A widow gave me a rusty German
helmet
> last month along with what was left of her husband's uniform (moths got
it).
> There is also some photos of some Japanese soldiers and bayonet that an
old
> brother MArine gave me along w/ a Jap rifle he brought back. Mostly I
> collect uniforms. I have about 30 of them and display them from time to
time
> at schools, libraries and such. I'm constantly looking for more but their
> starting to get harder to find. Tenatively, I am scheduled to put up a
> display at the Floral Haven Cemetery Community Building for next Memorial
> Day. Floral Haven really honors the vet's on that weekend. Last year
they
> had the Tulsa Pearl Harbor survivors LAST MAN"S CLUB there with displays
and
> the vet's meeting the public and telling their stories. A Jeffery cousin,
> Robert Jeffery, Son of "Bulger" Jeffery & grandson of Jahoida and Nannie
> Jeffery (my great grandparents) is in that club (but wasn't there).
>
> I also have a collection of autographed photos of WWII Medal of Honor
> recipients. I have not figured out a real good (and inexpensive) way to
> display them yet. I wish I had been smart enough to have got one from
Audie
> Murphy when he was alive!!!
>
> I want to expand the German collection I have. But, I'll take anything I
can
> get. Beggers CANNOT be choosers! LOL
>
> Rick Lawrence - Tulsa
>
>
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