Jean Roney and Sharon Roney

00:05 My name is Sharon Roney. I am 57 years old and today's date is Sunday, July 7th 2019. We are in Columbus, Ohio and I am speaking with my mom. So I am her daughter.

00:27 My name is Jean Roney. I'm 84.

00:33 This is Sunday, July 7th 2019 in Columbus, Ohio, and I'm her mom.

00:45 Okay, so I wanted to talk to you today about all the stories that you tell when you were talking about when Grandpa was in the Army and you were traveling around with him. So I just thought I'd start asking you. So how old were you when you found out that Grandpa was going to go into the army. I was at when I was in grade school. Last grades in based off. Okay. Remember what grade off hand sixth sixth grade? Okay, so you are really you were pretty young.

01:21 And I'm so was was he in private practice at that time? Was he s so he hadn't had a practice. Was it his Dermatology practice? Okay, and where did he practice?

01:38 Well, they Massillon and Canton and his offices in Massillon in the house or was it the house is office. Okay.

01:53 So what sorts of things did you guys do to prepare when he found out he was going to be in the Army. What did you and what did Grandma do and what a grandpa do? Well we might stay with Grandma and Grandpa for a while until or till he got settled and then he called us out and we went out and started moving around with with him. Was there anything else that did you have to close up the house or do anything like that in Ethan's house? Okay.

02:33 Okay.

02:35 So so then you went and joined him was grandma with him already at that point. So you all wet.

02:47 Fort Smith, Arkansas, what do you remember about that place? I love that place. That was the only place I really liked we have without a home air & Wesson just do apartment thing for officers, but we had a home there and we stay there for a while until he had to change places people eyes.

03:12 So what else do you remember about that location? I think that's where I first started school out there again. I didn't like that.

03:23 It was hard to get friends and then all of a sudden you're gone. I mean you just make her friend and then you were going or not in any one place long enough to get to know anybody. So ever since I was the hardest part for us, I think

03:44 And he would he would have to go in and get a different place. Did you know that he was ordered to and then we have to get an apartment in that area. So Grandma, I enjoyed myself could live there close to where news stations. So was the school on the base gas?

04:06 How many kids did you go to school with a guy? I don't remember she that was just it was just so uprooting that and trying to get into two other kids. It was hard and you just get really started to like someplace and then we have to move so I never got really having best friend. Just put it that way so I didn't like that.

04:36 So was that like basic training or was he just tell him he's now if he wasn't feeling okay, wherever he went. That's what he did.

04:56 So, where did you go? Do you remember what the next place was that she went to after fort Fort Smith, Needles, California?

05:10 I don't even know if there's any house anymore. It was horrible this remember V horrible. What was the place like that you stayed in an apartment? I think it was on the third floor and they didn't have it here and I didn't have any hair to do. No less you were now you see I guess.

05:39 What?

05:42 Did you go to school there? No, I only went to school and what time of year was it that you were out there?

05:52 And I know it was it was in the summertime like that. I mean to do what you just home all the time or we're going to ask that was the hardest part. So is he home every evening that now know, sometimes on the weekends I do.

06:30 Antoinette animals came into the house and left her in Arkansas that are you have to tell us that whole story houses. So nice and everything, but they had in the bedroom or in Sheboygan. I slept with a double bag and they had a fan above the bed. Well one night. We were sleeping in the bedroom and Grandma was in the kitchen doing something and all of a sudden I felt something like fall on the bed and I do with Matthias in it was awesome.

07:08 Turn right out of the fan called Grandma and Grandpa's seeing and she look at it. She ran back out in the kitchen and got up on a chair Grandpa at his work station. And he said where is it? And she's so you should know how come home if I can get off. I'll come home when she did go by that time. It was up on Drew Brees were fastened on top of it was raining up there was he didn't see it when you came in the bedroom. I need some in here.

07:52 And she she she show up on the chair to help me or she will not get off at 3 or I would have found it and spaced it out of the kitchen. I remember that just like it was yesterday cuz your answer is slept through the whole thing while it was in the room and she went right back to sleep or she was four years younger than me. So sure about that. She didn't really remember she remembered that though after I brought that up. Okay, but other places she's never been

08:38 Fantastic, I'm so so I guess we're back in Needles. So that was there were not were there any kind of events for like the wives or where this place was really out in the middle of nowhere then and it got time. They had a lot of health problems out there that were contagious.

09:02 And you know, I like musicals moms all that stuff and that was going rampant through small little thing and we can go any place out of there because there wasn't anything to go to were you there very long.

09:28 Probably about a month. Okay, so not a long long time and the girl that lives downstairs from us in the apartment. She got told Grandma went to A to Z you do nothing.

09:56 So that was sort of scary, but we got through it. All right.

10:02 Do you remember anything else about her? I mean did the never saw are probably still there living in a building?

10:25 Tommy wishing I were home at home. I mean did you you obviously had taken things with you. So you had some maybe some toys and then I retired still rag, there are a lot. Okay, and I still do not know but that's about all there was nothing to do but for that weekend, if you can shut off now we've helped. Did you have a car or anything like that? So how did you do shopping and things either order it and that was around the base. So I mean, that's okay.

11:10 Anything else about needles no, no needles. Listen to me.

11:21 Not be there anymore. So where did you go next? Then after we stayed there the places we like so much we didn't stay very long. That was a problem except the one in Arkansas, but that stay there for quite a while.

11:44 Probably about two or three months, which is quite a while for us being somewhere. Okay. So what kind of a remember what kind of place you lived out there?

11:55 I think I'm just an apartment with no she had Apartments. Okay, that's why I like the one in Arkansas so much was a house. Yeah.

12:05 What else is there anything else about San Antonio? That sticks out in your mind?

12:10 Well, they didn't have a Riverwalk. I know that we did go to see the

12:19 I want to play Avenue the Alamo Riverwalk an airplane, right? Yeah, we've been back there several times now.

12:39 So, let's see. So you didn't go to school there. That was pretty much now just a short such a short. Of time. Did they have a school to think?

12:51 I don't I don't remember them having the school and most places. I mean some places that if there were more homes and apartment, you know, if they were there station for me a year ShopRite Grandpa service station in one place too long because with the medical field he had to keep moving. Do you know why he was moving so much. He didn't come home and say we're moving and everything. That's why I don't like to move devices. What was that? Like having to pack everything up? How did you how did you do that? It was horrible and I remember every single point where she just leave. It packed in the 60s.

13:45 Did they have things in the apartment like cookware and things like that. Did she have to do you have to breathe in there? But none of the other things were so whatever you need to do to get yourself.

14:07 So I know Aunt Julia didn't go to school. So that was one of my questions. And do you remember having any friends that even though you were there such a short time where there any kids that were around we never were in a place long enough where you get to know somebody and then you move and so I think everybody was sort of just staying on their own and we're going to move again. We just get settled and have a wife and so we had to move as yet so

14:44 We used to go out to be a very some time out for a grandpa worked may have some sometimes they have their families out there and they have like a supper or something. Okay, every once in awhile, they did that. So what about movies do they ever show any movies or anything like that?

15:04 Not that we should go tell me the time for I think Grandpa of the manager has to stay there. So right so where was after San Antonio then sounds like he moved around a lot.

15:20 Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas

15:25 That was a house. I remember that that was how ok wire somehow. Okay, and remember that it was just I don't know. It was dark just seem dark for like this. Okay, was it in town or how I was right outside of town? Okay, never live right in the outskirts somewhere close to the base sometimes. Yeah.

16:04 Anything about Brownsville that stands out in your mind besides the dark house. I remember they had to bring I send from the fridge. Oh that was different for everybody. And I don't know what was just just got to a point where it was like normal just to be going somewhere in starting over again and you just get settled grandpa will come home and say we're moving.

16:50 Sarasota

16:54 That's why I said I should say that's why I like to stay in one place that's makes perfect sense to me. Never never understand why we like to stay in the same house with another house movie. Hey Mitchell, she likes to move.

17:20 So Brownsville and then where were you in Las Vegas? The Strip Las Vegas was like back then did you get to see if I can go out when you go in the lobby and and have such bad shows and they have him sometime in the lounge and with his only see them so and it was all free because if for service marrying their families I could get in free. So is that a lot? How long were you there?

18:06 Probably about six or eight months. That sounds like it was fun. But I like that anybody that you saw Yes, and I can see him now, but I can't think of his name.

18:22 Tell me something your wife and Tony Bennett. I remember Tony Bennett.

18:29 Tony something

18:32 I wish I can have to pay for anything and we live close to the strip. So, you know, we could walk if you want her to be nice warm you that there was a in a jeep. That wasn't fun bouncing.

19:10 So did they have since that was a place to have a lot of entertainment did Grandma and Grandpa get to go to shows? I mean even without did they go to a lot of things to get to be together more there because we had a girl that would come in and stay with us in if they wanted to know that.

19:31 Go to the strip and stay in there for a while do whatever.

19:43 And so even though you were there six months or so you weren't in school there either that seems like such a long time.

19:52 I didn't go back to school until.

19:56 Junior High when I'm going back home. Okay, so long as all right.

20:08 Okay, that's why I asked you so many questions.

20:14 She's so smart and everywhere not knowing where I was and what I was doing then young girls doing it that way then older after I was in high school with my friend right did kids that age 10 to go travel to remember there were older kids there as early as younger.

20:50 Anything else about Las Vegas that you can remember? I just remember my life. I think I just remember I liked all the lights. I like that just going to see people I like the music from your phone in there different places. Just listen to the music and dance.

21:13 Yeah, that was fun. Okay. Okay. Well Las Vegas, I can't imagine anything beating that so where where were you next El Paso? That might have been a let down.

21:30 We weren't there too long and then Grandpa. That's what I was going to ask you about next. What was that was a bad? Well Grandma and myself and another woman who drove from the air back to home after Grandpa left me girls are cross-country with okay, then we went back and we got a little house.

22:14 Rented it until you know, we knew what was going to happen, but we spent most of our time with Grandma and Grandpa Grandma my grandma. So did you know where he was going when he first left? No, and he didn't either okay, but then, you know then call back and

22:47 When he had to move to another place, he and Grandma had a cold but if he says something in the letter she knew who this moving.

22:59 But you didn't know where but you knew we was moving. Okay, so so you didn't know anything about where he was at that time.

23:10 You know, I had a lot of patience and a lot of things he saw that he never got over I finished already adding and

23:24 How about did you know that although that whether he was in the Pacific or the European first knew when you first started all dressed but funny actually move.

23:46 So you went back to school at that point then when you were home, okay, a lot of kids without their fathers around.

23:59 So did you did you hear from him regularly was it was it really, you know, you didn't forget me when I was in the mailbox every morning.

24:23 Those those little kind of thin little sheets of paper that they used to remember seeing some of those.

24:33 So did he get to come home on leave it all over he was gone.

24:38 So the whole time he was away. He was away first you're so how long was that? I don't even remember.

24:59 It was a long time. I don't know that so whole set of holidays and not worrying about.

25:09 I remember when Pearl Harbor came though, and we were all at Grandma and Grandpa's he was there too. I've been called and he said I know I'm going now so soon after that was after he'd already been called up video showing that happened to the ones I have to go. I would probably want a whole lot of doctors available now.

25:43 So what was it like at home? Then after he was gone. I mean, what what did you do? I mean, I know they were rationing and tell me about tell me a little bit about that and everybody was just worried happening where you thought he was and then he worried if he's going to get home and have a sister kind of stunt worries all the time. So I don't remember having a lot of fun at that point. I like going to Grandma and Grandpa Hassan doing that but grandma was a wreck, but she couldn't do much of anything. She was worried Valentine. Wish I can't blame her.

26:34 Did she do any any kind of War work or anything like that. She don't want to do that and grandma said you were going to do that. She when she was she was just sitting at home doing nothing, right?

27:04 So, you know she get down and then everybody would get down and

27:16 So like I said, that was what grandma did I know you said there was a code. Do you remember anything about you know, like I know there were ration coupons and put things that were hard to get a lot of food stuff and I don't know how her asking how you got them.

27:54 But you had friends and what about Uncle Bob was he in? No, he never never was at all.

28:03 I don't know how I was wasn't but you wasn't no Republic. Right? Was that really big thing going on with trying to keep the production going at the at the Mills? There is one with a big steel town. So a lot of strikes and when they had Strokes nothing nothing happened.

28:33 Back then, you know just all the sudden people got

28:42 I'll check tired of the whole thing and they weren't getting paid enough and

28:48 So like now I guess.

28:53 So I was just going to ask you what the holidays you know, what was it? Like when he was gone. Did you know did you what did you do over like Christmas and whatever else you went to Mars?

29:08 It just wasn't the same as well and everything decorated her, but just wanted to say

29:23 So what do you remember then about? When you knew he was coming home? Did you know before you knew he was coming home? Probably about a week before okay and just came in in the middle of the night on a train in Canton Ohio. I remember that and that was just so was that after Hiroshima and all the discharge after all everything came came to an end with that after it was everything was signed.

30:02 But he was in the Pacific at that point.

30:07 Set home.

30:09 What did he tell you anything about what where he'd been do you know now is a few things but he didn't go into detail except you could tell.

30:24 Did he was certainly different?

30:30 In what way?

30:33 What is very quiet when you know, you just didn't seem like she just thinking all the time probably remembering out of this might and then when you started practicing again, she got over that I think how long was it before he's back into was it?

30:55 So with him not practicing you weren't did you move back into the to the house a big house? So you moved when when he came back he moved in there. Okay, cuz that's where I walked from the Arts at Longfellow. Okay?

31:14 That was why you were in junior high does free new dad. Right? I thought he was at a different school. I met him in when I was in kindergarten. I didn't know that. So did you see him at all during the tight this time frame and he would have been even think I just met him at what time?

31:49 Family got together because she went on a blind date and the rest is just so when Grandpa came back so he didn't start working right away, but then he started the practice up just a little bit in that now.

32:23 Well hypnosis, you know, you got a lot of that she was doing that even back then interested in it.

32:37 So what was it? Like I mean, how is everything changed, you know those drawers?

32:49 Do you know what it was all for everything planned at that point?

32:55 We knew we were going on our vacation. We knew when we were going to do just we knew we were going to everything had to be.

33:07 It couldn't be spontaneous. She didn't like that at all. I don't know what she got scared when she wanted to be sure everybody with the other then so.

33:21 Okay, I don't have anything any other questions that I had already prepared for you. Is there anything that you can think of around from that time frame that I haven't asked you about that you'd like to talk about.

33:36 I just remember her like I said when he came home on the train, I remember I if it was yesterday just like I was yesterday that sticks out in my mind soul. And then I remembered him not talking very much for a while or I mean for a couple weeks or so. I remember him being real quiet and then you started to email you this shall I guess and when you started treating people having patience Nadia Ali better.

34:10 But she wasn't when he first came back. He didn't you just want to sit and stare like a nice remembering things 20 probably was starting his practice backup a sort of therapeutic.

34:26 I like to see a change then he was more interested in everything. We're as before if you feel less.

34:36 Eurasian trade or just not talk so we didn't bother him because you knew he was

34:46 Providence RI living I don't know I suppose possibly so did their social life grandma and grandpa is kind of just pick back up in your friends and we had got your friend is and so they go out a lot and then they traveled quite a bit of snow and went to Hawaii and because Grandpa wanted to show Grandma station for a while. So he was out in Pearl Harbor and you didn't know that.

35:17 So that's why they took their first trip out there that lived there when he was stationed there and they were still living there. So when he and Grandma was always get together with them and so they are not that's why they want so often to Hawaii has it with anybody else that he had him he had served with

35:41 Yes.

35:44 But I forget where it was. I think they going to their place and I think it was the same.

35:49 I thought it was in New York all the time and praying for time so they didn't go away too often and he was satisfied to sit at home.

36:11 It was diarrhea moving around and no so try to be home early and went East. Yes.

36:21 You never was injured you never was in 08 did see a lot of it, but he never was injured himself.

36:32 So he was treated was he treating people close to the front or was he ever leave? He was always do you know anything about that has a lot of people from the front and they weren't really sit and I'll get half of this person, you know, and don't you can't see this one because she's not in the same area. They didn't do that whenever what however badly hurt.

37:03 That would depend on where they were busy and we're Grandpa get so if there were no hope for him. He wouldn't be put in there which kills them.

37:18 Now he's going to fix everything. He never did that kind of medicine. He didn't do any kind of emergency medicine when he came back, you know right into something that the life-saving earth now, I think he's just had enough of that so I can't blame him and then you got to like what do you still want you so often?

37:44 Jean and I are friends.

37:49 God that's why I know you know why I didn't remove the Barbara. Do you think that was really in a really affected you a lot?

38:14 Well, well, I don't have anything else that I wanted to ask you about. I'm I'm so glad that that we were able to talk about this and and have it all recorded So that we won't forget and have you no mames.

38:34 Nobody ever said you were weird mom. There's a reason why you know people what happens in your life affects how you living with forget it, but you don't you never forget. It's obviously you didn't you just remember alive or just like it was yesterday.

38:57 Well Company remember the possum. Thanks for thinking back on all of these things while you're welcome glad we got to do this you have to tell Jeff how we are never