Big thanks to Aunt Joyce for sharing documents, photos, and stories with me last week! Here are some of the things she shared...
MEMORIES OF CURT AND MARY
Sister Mary was ten years older than I was. So when Mary started to date Curt, they roller skated at White Rose Roller Rink on East Market Street in York. They took me along with them. It was wonderful to skate with Curt. He was a happy person with a great personality.
Curt's family lived on a farm in New Freedom, PA. Curt had four sisters; Ruth, Martha, Mildred and Margaret. I remember going to visit them and eating with them at their long dining room table filled with all kinds of meats, vegetables pies and cakes.
I do not know how long they dated, but then Curt was drafted into the U.S. Army and was sent to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Mary went to Arkansas where they were married. Curt's Mother went along. After being assigned to other Camps, Curt was assigned to the war in Europe.
I had a map of Europe and followed his Armored Division by what we heard in the news. We also wrote letters back and forth, but Curt could not let us know where he was because all letters were censored. During this time Mary worked at Black and Decker in Baltimore, Maryland.
In March of 1945 we received a post card from the Government that Curt was injured and had "loss of eyes." We did not believe this at first, and "yes" it was correct. We were in shock because we loved Curt so much.
When he arrived in the U.S., he was sent to the Veteran's Hospital in Phoenixville, PA, near Valley Forge, PA for the start of his recovery from his wounds.
Mary would drive back and forth and Mother would really worry about her. I always remember what Mary said that when you drive "you just go with the flow." She also picked up service men who were asking for a ride. Not a good thing, but thank God that she never had any problems.
When I visited Curt in the Hospital and saw all the servicemen with all their injuries, it made me cry. I thought to myself, if everyone could see this, there would never be another war. I do not know how long Curt was in the Hospital. He went through many surgeries to rebuild his face. Mary would travel back and forth and sometimes bring Curt back with her.
After Curt was discharged, they moved into a new home at Rockburn Street, in York where they raised their family of four lovely children. The family of Frank and Emma Dietz is very close. We worked together during this period of time and had 60 family reunions.
I do know that not too many women would have done what Mary did. Many of the wounded servicemen received "Dear John" letters.
Curt and Mary were very good to me. I learned to drive with their car. They took me to see Roy when he was in the National Guard. I dearly loved both of them.
I know that Curt and Mary are in Heaven and now he can see. I hope to be with them someday.
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