Last Postcard - Arrived December 1945
June 1945 - Just received your Xmas 44 card. Always hoping. Keep alive. We will make up for these lost years. My best to everyone. Eat and smoke and take care of yourself for me. Go easy on smoking. Love. MF Wildish
Myron and Janet's Story
After reuniting with his parents, Myron was sent to Madigan Hospital near Tacoma, Washington to recover from a variety of illnesses including Beri beri, Amoebic dysentery and Malaria (although he had no attacks in the previous year). He and Janet were reunited in a busy Chicago train station on the evening of December 7, 1945. Janet, not sure of Myron's condition had prepared herself for the worst and was surprised to see a robust Myron bound off the train. They married on November 15, 1946 in Seattle, Washington, where they lived out the rest of their lives. Myron (now called Fred) never did buy a farm, but with a small home on almost an acre of property in Normandy Park, WA, he had lots of opportunities to dig and to plant, and was known throughout the neighborhood for being able to grow anything.
Fred and Connie's Story
After the war Fred and Connie had fourteen more happy years together. Fred retired from the work at the Hanford Nuclear Plant in 1951, after which he and Connie moved to La Mesa California. In 1957 they became grandparents to Myron and Janet's daughter Betsy. In 1959 Fred suffered his second heart attack. When the news came to Myron, he was able to leave Seattle immediately. Myron was at his side when Fred died on May 24, 1959. Connie lived until 1987 - long enough to hold Myron's granddaughter Caitlin in her arms.
Betsy's Story
My intent in creating this website was to honor those who wait at home for news of loved ones during a time of war and to give others a chance to read about the history my family lived through.
When Grandfather Wildish died in 1959, I wasn't really old enough to know him. I hesitated to post some of his diary entries references to "Japs" and other comments. I only post his comments and the related newspaper clippings to tell his story and reflect the feelings of the time.
MY Dad (Myron)always wanted the generations that followed him not to carry forward any animosity. Growing up, he taught me to count to ten in Japanese, called our slippers by the Japanese term "go aheads," and never seemed bitter about his war experiences, saying always "these things happen in war." I never heard him utter a disrespectful word towards the Japanese and their culture. How I wish he knew that my daughter Caitlin and her college friend Miya, whose grandfather fought against him on the Japanese side, are still friends - just like he had hoped.
When Grandfather Wildish died in 1959, I wasn't really old enough to know him. I hesitated to post some of his diary entries references to "Japs" and other comments. I only post his comments and the related newspaper clippings to tell his story and reflect the feelings of the time.
MY Dad (Myron)always wanted the generations that followed him not to carry forward any animosity. Growing up, he taught me to count to ten in Japanese, called our slippers by the Japanese term "go aheads," and never seemed bitter about his war experiences, saying always "these things happen in war." I never heard him utter a disrespectful word towards the Japanese and their culture. How I wish he knew that my daughter Caitlin and her college friend Miya, whose grandfather fought against him on the Japanese side, are still friends - just like he had hoped.
Myron's Words
"I came out of the war not necessarily more patriotic but more concerned. I think the United States would be in terrible shape if we were 50 separate states. I think we've got to keep this country strong, yet we mustn't fight the idea of all working together. We've got to keep united.
It's hard to develop one philosophy that works, where the bad get punished and the good survive. It doesn't quite work out that way. The reason I'm alive, I'm lucky."
It's hard to develop one philosophy that works, where the bad get punished and the good survive. It doesn't quite work out that way. The reason I'm alive, I'm lucky."
In memory of my parents and with love to
Conn, Caitlin and Alec
More on Allied POWs in Japan: www.Mansell.com
Conn, Caitlin and Alec
More on Allied POWs in Japan: www.Mansell.com