Uncle Lloyd
Biography
Brought the narrator Superman toys when he was little. On returning home wounded, gave him a bloodstained Japanese flag, old Japanese money, and U.S. Occupation Scrip money. The narrator's mother displayed a blue-star banner denoting her brother's service. Iris Lee's uncle, who came and went and brought her little gifts, including several sets of china dishes. Would appear for a day or two and disappear again during the period recalled after Carol's birth. Military service also recorded as “Fighting the Japanese in New Guinea.” (Iris's Chapter). Mom and Grandpa listened especially for news that might affect him.
Timeline
during the war
Uncle Lloyd serves in New Guinea and returns wounded
Signal Corps service followed by a wounded return home; he gave Bernard a bloodstained Japanese flag and Japanese and U.S. Occupation Scrip money.
Bernie's Chapterdate not given
Uncle Lloyd fighting in New Guinea
The family knew Uncle Lloyd was fighting the Japanese and listened for news that might affect him.
Iris's Chapter
Stories mentioning Uncle
- A Child's View of War News and Gifts from Uncle LloydBernard recalls not understanding the stakes of war while playing with metal military toys and imitating racist wartime caricatures. He secretly read Iris' censored letters from servicemen and listened to Gabriel Heater's radio reports with his worried family. Uncle Lloyd served in New Guinea and returned wounded with souvenirs for him; an unnamed sailor boyfriend of Iris also gave him cherished sailor's pants.
- Making Do with Ration Books and a Victory GardenThe family had ten Food Ration and three Gasoline Ration books, and Bernard remembers little hardship from rationing. Iris and his mother improvised stocking seams with makeup. The family's established vegetable garden became a source of Victory Garden pride, with John Reichenberg supplying advice and shared seed catalogs. His mother displayed a blue-star service banner, his father refused to surrender potentially useful junk to scrap drives, and Bernard participated in Boy Scout paper drives.
- Little Tea Sets and Dreams of a Welcoming HomeIris recalls being the first child and having her own room before Bobby and Bernie were born. Uncle Lloyd brought treasured china tea sets, which she carefully repacked in their original boxes after playing house. She imagined dressing beautifully, dancing, and serving tea. Looking back, she feels those dreams came true in a lovely home where she entertains friends, and expresses gratitude for God's help, her husband, and her loving siblings.
- Penny Candy, Hollyhock Dolls, and Front-Porch DaysIris recalls a small grocery store in a converted home's front room across from 1015 29th Street, where bread, milk, and penny candy were available. Living between the river and railroad tracks, the family received visits from hobos seeking food, and Mom shared despite the family's own limited supplies. Grandpa gathered dandelion greens for Mom to cook in bacon drippings. Iris remembers River Drive, Dad's beloved Model T Ford, a short-lived rabbit hutch, and making dolls from hollyhock blossoms beside the garage. One summer she badly hurt her knee falling from her bicycle on a black-cinder-covered street and spent long days recovering on the porch swing and cutting paper dolls. After Carol's birth, Mom was ill and weak for a long time; Iris tentatively recalls Grandpa being there part of the time and remembers Uncle Lloyd's brief visits. Grandpa Williams and Dad exchanged sharp words, while Saturday evenings also brought card games with Mom, Dad, and friends.
- Gathered Around the Radio: Music and Wartime NewsIris recalls the constantly playing radio and the Moline Daily Dispatch as the family's main news sources, including news that might affect Uncle Lloyd in New Guinea. The family mourned President Roosevelt around the radio, but also enjoyed singing and dancing to popular songs and big bands. She recounts Bill's description of overseas propaganda broadcasts mixing favorite music with frightening, specific military information; she attributes that information to spies within the U.S. government. She remembers divided reactions to the August 6, 1945 bombing of Hiroshima, her father's approval, and Harry Truman's presidency.
Referenced in
Family corrections
Notes sent in by the family and approved on review. They sit alongside the original record — the book's wording is never changed.
No corrections on file for this record yet.
Suggest a correction