Along 66. July 2020: Ted Drewes Closes (Temporarily), The Mill Closes and David Leong Dies

JULY 17--  The Ted Drewes locations in St. Louis closed temporarily after a worker got COVID-19 virus.  Oh no.  No Concretes!!!  Well, at least for a short time.

JULY 18--  The Mill Museum in Lincoln, Illinois, is closing down for the rest of 2020.  The reasons are the impact of the virus and needed repairs.  The Lincoln City Council will decide if they will put $15,000 from the hotel taxes toward the Mill.

It opened in 1929 and in 2006 efforts really began to restore it.  The first time we saw it was in 2002 and it was looking pretty bad.

Sadly, the place in the downtown square which used to serve the schnitzel the Mill was famous for has closed as well.  Now let's hope some restaurant starts serving it.

JULY 24--  The inventor of Springfield cashew chicken has died at age 99.  David Leong fled China in 1938 when the Japanese took over and immigrated to the United States and joined the U.S. Army.  He stormed ashore in Normandy on D-Day.

This is the first I have ever heard of Springfield cashew chicken but will certainly be on the list of places to eat at the next time we go there.

--RoadChicken

In Honor of Veterans Day: The National World War II Museum in New Orleans

On Nov. 10 and 11,  I wrote about five places you should visit to commemorate Veterans Day in my Not So Forgotten:  War of 1812 blog.  This is one of them.

From Wikipedia.

Formerly known as the National D-Day Museum, it was founded in 2000, but later designated by Congress as our National WW II museum.  The museum opened on the 56th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 2000.

New Orleans' D-Day legacy came from the fact that this is where those Higgins boats were made.  They were those small boats loaded with Allied soldiers coming ashore on that day.

This place is definitely on my list of places to visit, but sadly, that won't happen for awhile because I am boycotting one of my favorite cities in the world because of what they did to those Confederate statues.  But at some point I will get over it and will be there.

Looking Forward to That Time.  --RoadDog

It's a Spring Grove 4th of July

Well I missed the parade.  Spring Grove closes off all roads up to six or seven miles from the parade route 30 minutes before the parade.  This is ridiculous to close all roads that and that far in advance.  I took a nap and woke up at 11:30 am.

Spent the day doing bush trimming and flower bed weeding and cutting down spent daisies.  Then went to Sunnyside and enjoyed sloppy joes and we had a real good time with the juke box.  Who needs no stinkin' karaoke?    Lots of singing.

Came home and just sat outside FP  (Front Porch) where I had my breakfast and lunch today while reading the Chicago Tribune.  Few things better in my mind than doing that.  One of my real fun things to do.

Sitting out there watching neighborhood fireworks and booms as well as big booms all over the place must have been a little like what the men at D-Day heard.  Wearing my U.S. eagle shirt and getting lots of compliments all day.  Also my USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) cap in honor of Mark's father who served on the ship during WW II.

Happy 4th of July.  --RoadDog

14 Facts About D-Day That Most People Don't Know-- Part 2

There is more information and pictures in the Newsweek article.

8.  Omaha Beach could have been worse.  (Very interesting article here.)

9.   The theater of battle was fifty miles wide.

10.  A dress rehearsal for D-Day was a complete disaster.

11.  Ike was frequently overcome with emotion when speaking about D-Day.

12.  Atrocities were widespread on both sides on D-Day.

13.  D-Day was followed by a two-month stalemate.

14.  "Star Trek's" original "Scotty" was wounded that day.   Canadian James Doohan.

Interesting reading as well.

14 Facts About D-Day That Most People Don't Know-- Part 1

From the New York Daily News

1.  The Allies were greatly helped by Hitler sleeping in.

2.  The weather forecast played a decisive role in D-Day's success.

3.  Overall German commander Irvin Rommel was at home in Germany celebrating his wife's birthday.

4.  Secret code words from the invasion mysteriously appeared in a crossword puzzle in advance of the invasion.

5.  Ted Roosevelt, Jr. was the only general in the initial wave.  (Son of former President Roosevelt)

6.  Two medics risked their lives to heroically provide care.

7.  Faced with the impossible, Rangers at Pointe-Du-Hoc were the first to complete their mission on D-Day.

75 Years Ago, D-Day: A Turning Point in the War

15.  THE D-DAY INVASION MARKED A TURNING POINT OF THE WAR.

The total Allied losses at Normandy were estimated to be at least 4,413, and total Allied deaths  in the Battle of Normandy,  which dragged on until August , topped 226,000.

But, thanks in part  to the massive influx of troops and equipment, D-Day marked a decisive turning point  in the war.  Less than a year later, on May 7, 1945, Germany signed an unconditional surrender.

You can read all fifteen facts in this blog and my June 6-8 Civil War and Civil War Navy blogs.

75 Years Ago, D-Day: 156,000 Stormed the Beaches

11.  MORE THAN 156,000 ALLIED GROUND TROOPS STORMED THE BEACHES.

In wave after wave of  thousands of landing ships, more than 156,00 Allied  infantrymen stormed five beaches.  Facing them were 50,000 Germans.  Stormy seas made the landings incredibly difficult, with many regiments coming ashore far from their target destinations.

At Omaha Beach, only two of  the amphibious tanks even made it to land on their own power (three were later transported to the beach).  At Utah Beach, the American troops included 14 Comanche "Code-talkers" who relayed critical tactical messages  in their Native American tongue.

75 Years Ago, D-Day: The Early Paratrooper Attack

10.  PARATROOPERS LAUNCHED THE OPERATION BEFORE DAWN.

The D-Day invasion began in the pre-dawn hours of June 6, when thousands of paratroopers began landing inland from Utah and Sword beaches in an attempt to cut off exits and destroy bridges to delay German reinforcements.

American paratroopers suffered high casualties at the Utah beach sites, some drowning from their heavy equipment in flooded marshland.  Others were killed on their way down.  The British and Canadian paratroopers met less resistance at Sword beach and quickly took two bridges.

75 Years Ago, D-Day: Weather Was a Key Factor

9.  BAD WEATHER DELAYED THE INVASION.

Troops and supplies were in place by May, but bad weather delayed the launch date of the invasion.  On June 5, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander in charge of Operation Overlord, decided that the invasion would take place the next day, in part because the  weather was still rough and the German planes were grounded.

That same day, British bombers dropped 5,000 tons of bombs on German defenses along the Normandy coast to cripple their defenses before the invasion.

75 Years Ago: D-Day, Operation Overlord

I will be writing about this event in all my blogs over the next three posts.

From the History site:"D-Day:  Facts on the epic 1944 invasion that changed the course of WW II" by Dave Roos.

2.  THE D-DAY INVASION TOOK YEARS OF PLANNING.

Allied leaders Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill knew from the start of the war that a massive invasion of mainland Europe would be critical to relieve pressure on the Soviet Army fighting the Germans on the Eastern Front.

It was initially called "Operation Sledgehammer" called for an Allied invasion of ports in northwest France as early as 1943, but Roosevelt and Churchill decided to invade North Africa first and then invade Europe through Italy.

Seventy-Second Anniversary of D-Day Today

Another day that I mark every year.  I have my flags out to honor those brave men who charged ashore at Normandy and changed the course of the war.

The "D" in D-Day actually just stands for the word "Day."  Every amphibious assault during the war, including North Africa and the Pacific had their own "D-Day.

A Pleasure to Honor the Greatest Generation.

In Honor of the Veterans: Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Ill.-- Part 2

"The Big red One", so-called for the red numeral that has adorned its shoulder patch since 1918-- was the first permanent division in the regular army and often the first unit to deploy and engage the enemy.

A highlight of the museum is the interactive Omaha Beach display which has a "you are there" quality that combines the element of surprise with the telling of this important World War II battle, leaving viewers hushed and moved.  Omaha Beach was part of D-Day.

Outside the museum is the Tank Park, the area's most complete collection of tanks and artillery pieces dating back to World War I to desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Visitors can touch, climb on and learn about the eleven tanks on display.  Tank Park also includes an armored personnel carrier and four artillery pieces.

The park is open year round from 9 a.m. to sundown.  Museum hours currently are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday until Dec. 31.  It is closed all of January.  Admission to the museum is free, but parking is $5.

Thanks Veterans.  --RoadDog

D-Day Was 70 Years Ago Today

Continuing with this article from today's Chicago Tribune.  I am posting in everyone of my seven blogs today.

Richard Duchossois, 92, was a young Army officer from Chicago's Southwest Side who is now chairman of Arlington International Racecourse, said he has also noticed an uptick in attention given to World War II veterans.

"That's in the past, and I try to live in the future--but yeah, you think about it.  In the past year or so, maybe because Normandy has gotten so much attention, I was dumbfounded with how many people say, 'Thank you for your service.'"  I know my mother is in the DAR and they all say that to any veteran they encounter.

Duchossois lives in Barrington and is part of an American delegation organized by the National World War II Museum that is returning to Normandy for this year's D-Day anniversary.  Though he didn't fight at D-Day, he did land on those beaches several weeks afterwards and served in Normandy.

The French government will present him with the Legion of Honor, the country's highest award, during his visit.

A day We Shall Not Forget.  I'm Flying My Flags.

Wayne Pumps World War II Connection-- Part 2

Then, there was a big picture of a military camp with many barracks, soldiers milling around and in the forefront, a pre 1941 convertible car with two white stars on a red field decal in the left front window and a man saluting a sentry.  There were soldiers standing near the barracks conversing with civilians.

(I would like to tell you where you can see this ad, but couldn't find one other than in the book.  It was an interesting ad from several viewpoints, the first about getting accurate prices, which evidently was a problem before World War II and then, there was this war connection.  And, I am figuring this ad was from before the war started.)

On this picture, the ad line said "See YOUR Soldier!   Visit His Camp..By Car." (definitely not something you'd expect to see after the war commenced for the United States).

"Your soldier boy will be mighty glad to see faces from home...and you'll be happy to see for yourself how well he's looking, too.  So plan to go soon for at least a quick visit with him, and a look at the new defenses he's helping to build for America.  And make the trip by car!

"All the way, you'll find modern service stations waiting like familiar friends to meet every motoring need...to provide efficient, speedy service, maps, road information, clean rest rooms...everything they can offer to make your journey easy and pleasant."

A real slice of history here.  I'm figuring the ad to probably be between 1937 and 1941.  Most people today do not know about the U.S. buildup before December 7, 1941.

By All Means, Go Visit Your GI Joe.  --RoadDog

Wayne Pumps World War II Connection-- Part 1

The ad had a giant picture of a red Model 70-C pump showing 5 and 7/10 gallons sold for $1.00 at 17 and 1/2 cents per gallon.

WAYNE PUMP: The Watchdog of your Gasoline Dollar.  The Wayne Pump Company, Fort Wayne, Indiana.  World's Largest Manufacturer of Gasoline Pumps...Est. 1891.

There was also a picture of a German shepherd dog and the Wayne "Honest Measure" seal.

But, then, there is the World War II connection.

--RoadDog

Wayne Pumps Measure Gas By the Penny's Worth-- Part 2: Eliminating "Eye Measure"

"Wayne's can't make a mistake...can't overcharge you.  With unfailing accuracy, Wayne's patented precision meter tallies each fraction of a gallon as it goes into your tank.  And automatically, with split-penny accuracy, Wayne's amazing mechanical brain totals the cost, cent by cent, before your eyes.  (Yep, just try to read those cents as they fly by on the pump today.)

Wherever you see them, Wayne Pumps mark dealers who put your interests first.  Waynes can't be started until the dials are set to zero.  They are accurate at full flow or trickle.  They can fill your tank to the top without spilling a drop.

"So look for the Wayne name and 'Honest Measure' seal...your guarantee of accuracy."

Since no mention was made of gas rationing, I am thinking this ad to be from before the war started.

--GreGen

Wayne Pumps Measure Gas By the Penny's Worth-- Part 1: Eliminating Price Figuring

From the Americana: Roadside Memories" page 132.

An interesting ad for Wayne Pump Company of Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Unfortunately, there wasn't a date given for the ad.

"WAYNE PUMPS MEASURE GAS BY THE PENNY'S WORTH.... TO GUARANTEE FULL VALUE FOR EVERY CENT YOU PAY."  (Right there of interest, who counts pennies in the cost of gas anymore?  The next line is even better.)

"If you needed gasoline, how many gallons could you order if you had just 80 cents to spend?  No need to figure...just say '80 cents worth, please' and a modern Wayne Pump will fill your order to the last full penny's worth."  (I had to laugh about that one in today's economy.  Exactly how many gallons could you get for 80 cents today?)

"Modern Wayne, the Watchdogs of your Gasoline Dollar, measures gasoline by the penny's worth as well as the gallon...eliminate price figuring, 'eye measure' and other sources of error...guarantee you Honest Measure...and let you order by the gallon, tankful or dollar's worth, whichever you prefer."

Well, It Was definitely a Different Time.  --RoadDog

In Case You're Wondering About the World War II Posts

Tomorrow will mark the 70th anniversary of June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, probably one of the biggest military undertakings in American history.  World War II is the subject today and tomorrow as well.

Yesterday, I talked about a motorist aspect of the war, the appearance of female gas attendants to replace all the male ones who were now off fighting the war.  Until I read about the one in yesterday's post, I had never heard of women gas jockeys.  Of course, I knew about gas rationing.

Today, I will post about a gas pump advertisement and its connection.

Tomorrow, I'll write about that day.

--GreGen

Women Filling Gas Tanks During World War II

From American: Roadside Memories--  Gas Stations.

Picture on page 125.  You always hear about women working in the factories while the men were in the military, but evidently that also applied to the men who used to fill your tank, check your oil and tire pressure at teh gas stations.

"CAN I FILL YOUR TANK, MISTER?

Lillian Larsen was one of Standard's most able station attendants during 1942.  Serving the road as an important asset of the war effort, female pump operators like her became a familiar sight at the American service station.

"While husbands, brothers, fathers, and cousins were battling it out for our freedom (to drive when and where we wanted), wartime gasoline stations continued to operate with as much normalcy as they could."

Something You Don't Think About."  --RoadDog

WW II Deaths: Patrick Ryan and Richard Brandes

PATRICK J. RYAN 1925-2007

Army stint led entrepreneur to electronics

Patrick J. Ryan died Oct. 22nd in Palatine at age 82.

He grew up in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, but never attended high school as he was helping his family during the Great Depression. He lied about his age and joined the Army at age 16.

He commanded a light tank in the 3rd Armored Division in North Africa and landed at Omaha Beach during D-Day. The landing craft carrying his tank stopped too far out. His daughter said, "He lost his first tank there in about 28 feet of water." Only nine of the 35 tanks in his group made it to the beach. Later, he helped liberate concentration camps.

He founded Ryan & Associates representing electronics companies. He had two other companies in the late 50s and 60s. After retirement in 1990, he became a volunteer at Jane Addams School in Palatine for 14 years. He helped in many ways, but especially talked with the students every Veterans Day.

Nov. 1st Chicago Tribune. by Graydon Megan


RICHARD H. BRANDES 1922-2007

Exec locked Elgin watch factory on its last day

Richard H. "Dick" Brandes died Oct. 26th at age 84.

Mr. Brandes was born and raised in Elgin, Illinois, and began working at the famous Elgin National Watch Company's assembly line upon graduation from high school in 1941. The next year, he married Shirley, his wife of 45 years.

During WWII he served in the Army Air Force as bombardier aboard B-24s and B-29s and rose to the rank of second lieutenant.

After the war, he returned home and resumed working for the watch company, but continued in the Air Force Reserve until 1955.

He was stricken by polio at age 27 and took a leave of absence from work. After a year of intense physical therapy he was back at work as a plant manager at the company's factory in Lincoln, Nebraska. He remained there for three years and returned to Elgin where he became a vice president.

In 1966 Mr. Brandes helped close the 102-year-old Elgin Watch factory and had the honor of being the "Last Man Out." His daughter said, "He locked everything up the day the Elgin watch factory closed its doors."

Elgin watches were known for their high quality, but people began buying cheaper ones.

He remained another three years shutting down various other divisions of the company.

During the late 60s and 70s, he worked as a plant manager for Automatic Electric in Genoa and then as a part-time real estate broker. For the last five years he battle Alzheimer's.

As the obituary noted, Mr. Brandes was definitely a man of perserverance.

Nov. 1st Chicago Tribune by Joan Giangrasse Kates.


Both these men are great examples of the "Greatest Generation", the one that lived through the Great Depression and World War II. Unfortunately, we are fast losing them. These men represent the best that America has to offer.