Jax Stumpes: "The Kid From Cincy" (12/21/2018)

Friday, December 21, 2018

"The Kid From Cincy" (12/21/2018)

Friday, December 21, 2018 (continued)
From Fort Ancient near Lebanon, OH, we arrived in the Hyde Park district of Cincinnati, OH.
The song title "The Kid From Cincy" (1967) is by the Hatfields. The kid we are referencing is Albert "Bert" F S, who was born in Cincinnati on September 11, 1922. Initially he lived near the Cincinnati Zoo, where he could hear the elephants trumpet and the lions roar. His grandfather was a stonemason who built the bear pits at the zoo.

Bert's father, Albert Heinrich S

Bert's mother, Lillian R S

Bert with his mother (1922)

Bert (c 1924)

Bert (c 1925)

Before he was school-age, Bert's family moved to Besuden Court in Hyde Park.

Besuden Court house now

Besuden Court house (c 1940s)

Besuden Court garage

Hyde Park Public School

Bert with tricycle (c 1920s)

Bert (c 1930s), the natty dresser

Bert on steps to house (c 1930s)

Bert with his father (c 1930s)

Bert's first job was as newspaper boy, then he delivered shopping flyers.

Withrow High School (1919, by Frederick W Garber),
known for the entrance bridge and clock tower

The restored bridge was rededicated in 1982 in
honor of Nora Mae Nolan, a former English teacher (KSS)

Panoramic view of the immense high school (12/23/2018)

Bert's graduation photo (1940)

Bert was a member of the Buckeye Boys' State, where selected students (typically one or two per school) go to the state capital to participate in a mock state government.

Shortly before high school graduation, Bert obtained a job working, we believe, in the ink business where his Uncle Henry was a supervisor. The high school principal gave Bert permission to quit school early for the job, but because he was such a good student, he was still allowed to graduate.

Bert worked to earn money to go to college, and took courses at the University of Cincinnati.

Then World War II intervened, and Bert signed up. He had enough college credits to be eligible for Air Flight School with the US Army. Training came in four stages (extended to five stages in April 1942 with the creation of the pre-flight stage). Classification lasted one week and the education and training stages were nine weeks each.

Albert, Lillian, and Bert in front
of the Besuden Court garage (c 1944)

Bert graduated in 1944 and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant. He was assigned to the 8th Combat Cargo Squadron of the 2nd Combat Cargo Group in Syracuse, NY, for further training in Douglas C-47 ("Gooney Birds") transport aircraft, glider towing, paratroop and cargo drops, formation, instrument, navigation and night flying. In August 1944, the 8th Combat Cargo squadron deployment was changed from China, Burma, India Theater to the South Pacific, and to using C-46 Curtiss Commando planes. After preparation at Baer Field in Fort Wayne, IN, the 8th Combat Cargo Squadron transferred to Hollandia, New Guinea; Bert and others via the troop ship Bosch Fontaine, a Dutch freighter. By December 1944 they were flown to their base on Biak (island of Indonesia) that was recaptured from Japanese during Battle of Boak.
In March 1945 the base was moved to Dulag, on the Island of Leyte, Philippines. Flying operations were mainly to islands of the Philippines; Luzon, Cebu, Mindinao, as well as Clark and Nielson Fields in Manila. In May, Bert was promoted to First Lieutenant. By August 1945, the 8th combat Cargo Squadron was moved to Okinawa.
After the Japanese surrendered in September 1945, the squadron was moved to Tachikawa in Occupied Japan. They were billeted in the barracks of the Yokota Air Base near Tokyo. The barracks had only cold running water, but staff personnel were able to plumb a hot water system. It was here where Bert spent free time in the post library to peruse college catalogs. Because of the name, he was intrigued by Kent State University, and sent a letter asking to be matriculated, and was gladly accepted.
In June 1946, Bert mustered out and returned to the United States aboard the Sea Barb. After a summer of camping, he started at Kent State University. This was when he met Ada May H at the Freshmen Dance, which Bert believed was "predestination."
We know the rest of the story!