Carolyn Saunders Fitzsimmons remembers her mother, Enola, telling about mailing a photo of Carolyn as a baby to Enola’s brother, James Vest, who was serving in Europe during World War II.
Carolyn was James’ first niece, and he had not yet seen her. Years later Uncle James returned the photo to Carolyn with muddy fingerprints on it. James said that when it was quiet in the foxhole, he would take the picture out of his pocket and look at it.
Becky Eads was a small child in Hinton during WWII. When listening to an adult conversation about the war, she remembers remarking, “All they have to do is send Gene Autry and Roy Rogers over there!”
Before he passed away, Kelly Basham told of going into a cellar in Germany during his time in WWII. What he didn’t know was that the rifles stacked in the corner were booby-trapped with explosives. The next thing Kelly remembered was waking up in a French hospital. The first thing he saw looking out the hospital window was a Frenchman plowing a field with his cow. At that moment, Basham said he felt so lonely — he was so far away from his people.
These are just some of the stories of World War II being gathered by the Summers County Historical Society. Those with stories to tell should call Ron K. Lilly at 304-466-5057 or Ben Vest at 304-546-8075. Written stories can be mailed to Jim Bowling at 2108 Lowell Rd, Pence Springs WV 24962 or emailed to gvestmountain@gmail.com
The Historical Society is looking for stories of veterans, of Rosie the Riveters, and of those fighting the war on the home front with rationing and recycling and going for months without hearing from their loved ones overseas. Photos can be returned to the owner. The material will be published into a book, “Memories of World War II in Summers County, West Virginia.”
