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Along Life’s Way
The Lieutenant
Who Never Forgot
By Lois E. Wilson
In the forties, we lived in Dayton, Ohio, in what was called a
Dutch-Colonial 2-story frame house. I’ve studied some architecture, and
it was neither Dutch nor Colonial. It had three upstairs bedrooms. The
one bathroom, which had a tub and no shower, was across from my bedroom.
During World War II, my Dad was designated 4-F for health reasons. He
was a teacher, and selective service was trying not to reach too deeply
into that category of employment. He did what he could and became a
certified Air Raid Warden. I was quite young and don’t know if it was
an ad, a government solicitation or word of mouth that brought a roomer
to our home. I believe my folks wanted to help the war effort in any
way they could.
Our roomer was a young, Army 2nd Lieutenant, Lt. Shull from Findlay,
Ohio. His bedroom was small with only a bed, a chest of drawers, a
nightstand, and a blanket chest. I don’t believe it had space for a
chair.
He was the perfect roomer. He didn’t smoke or drink; he came and went
without disrupting the household. I never bumped into him going into or
out of the bathroom that everyone shared. I don’t remember that he ate
with us which suited my Mother as she was teaching full-time.
I never felt uncomfortable around Lt. Shull. He’d ask about my
schoolwork, what I liked to do, and seemed truly interested in this
little girl—me. I didn’t have any siblings, so I began to wishfully
think of him as my older brother.
I don’t remember how long he was with us. After the war and throughout
the years, he and my parents exchanged Christmas cards and maybe an
occasional phone call. He had gone back to Findlay and let them know
when he married and had children. They informed him of my activities,
marriage, and their grandchildren when each arrived.
Because of his job, Jim and I, and our two sons had moved to Eaton,
Ohio. His parents lived on a small farm nearby. One day my Mother
informed us that Lt. Shull had called and wanted to give our two sons a
mare and her colt. He delivered them to Grandpa Wilson’s farm. The boys
named the mare Sparkle and the colt Skyrocket.
When he was young, my husband had a pony and later a quarter horse. Jim
still had his old wooden horse cart which we hitched up to the mare.
Our boys had days of fun with their horses.
It is remarkable that Lieutenant Shull remembered his time living with
us and was generous enough to give my sons his wonderful gift. Since
then, I’ve pondered over the event and wondered— those years ago, could
he have thought of me as his little sister? I hope so.
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