January 4, 1945
Marriage to "Blondie"
After Dad returned to the States on December 7, 1944, he began 30
days of rehabilitation leave. During this leave Dad finally got
to see his family again, but more importantly he got reacquainted
with "Blondie", the girl he met at Kennywood Amusement Park in August
of 1942. Dad and Blondie only saw each other a few times before
Dad was sent overseas, but their relationship blossomed through
their almost daily letters to each other during the war. Dad often
expressed to his sister Mae that "Blondie" was the one for him.
Wedding Photo
Mel and Stan
Weddding Photo January 4, 1945
Wedding Ceremony
After a
little hurried planning, Stan, in his Navy uniform and Mel (Blondie)
in her wedding dress, got married on January 4, 1945. In less than
a week Dad had to report back to Norfolk, VA. There was no time
for any honeymoon or big wedding celebration. Only several family
members were present for the private wedding ceremony.
Tom Brokaw, when he spoke of marriages that occurred during the
World War II era, probably summed up Dad and Mom's relationship
when he said:
"Most of these relationships were forged when the world was a
dangerous place and life was uncertain. Couples were forced to confront
the profound emotions and passions that come with the reality of
separation and the prospect of death."
Tom Brokaw - The Greatest Generation
On January 8th Dad, now a married man, returned to Norfolk, VA without
his new bride.
January 1945 |
Other WW II Action and Notable Events |
| January 9, 1945 |
American forces began landing at Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines. |
| January 12, 1945 |
Soviet forces began a huge offensive against the Germans in Eastern Europe. |
| January 17, 1945 |
Soviet and Polish forces liberated Warsaw.
Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, credited with saving tens of thousands of Jews, disappeared in Hungary while in Soviet custody. |
| January 20, 1945 |
President Roosevelt was sworn into office for an unprecedented fourth term. |
| January 27, 1945 |
Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland. |
| January 28, 1945 |
Allied supplies began reaching China over the newly reopened Burma Road |
| January 31, 1945 |
Private Eddie Slovik became the only U.S. soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion as he was shot by an American firing squad in France. |
**LCI (M) 974 Sunk by Japanese Suicide Boat in Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 10 January 1945
**LCI (G) 365 Sunk by Japanese Suicide Boat in Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 10 January 1945
**LCI (L) 600 Sunk by Undetermined Explosion at Ulithi, Caroline Islands, 12 January 1945
