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My name is Gene, born in Iowa on a farm on the
Missouri boarder, half way between Nebraska &
Illinois. Naturally it was a corn farm. My
fathers father was also a farmer, my mothers
father was a school teacher. In those days the
mothers work was taking good care of the children
and very few worked outside the home. My
grandparents and parents were quite successful.
When the crash came I was five years old (oops,
now my age is out) my father lost everything but
the farm. He moved us to the nearest city (Pop.
5000). Pop got a job at hard labor for the
railroad. Pop lived to be 76yo & never again put
money in a bank. If he bought a new car and at
least once that I know of a new house, he paid
cash. Three years after leaving the farm he
returned and opened a coal mine which became
quite successful. Without a doubt my parents were
among the finest, devoted to their children, four
boys and one girl, I was the youngest. I was
permitted to go anywhere I wanted as long as I
didn't neglect my school and other duties. At age
12 I went hitch hiking to Chicago, 350 miles away
to visit my 17yo brother. Today, what caring
parent could permit that? I was a regular boy and
was only spanked twice, but they were severe. I
think the trip stirred a wanderlust in me. Since
then, I have visited all 50 states of the good
old US of A, many countries on five continents as
well as many islands including Japan and my
favorite, the Philippines. I started my foreign
travels with four months in England in '44,
followed by one and a half years in Europe
starting with D-Day at Omaha beach.
LET'S GET MOOVIN
NOTE: Most of the pictures on this site were
taken from old, faded and washed out 8mm movie
film. I have done my best to restore the color
to them but they are far from perfect.
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