Chapter 1: Greenville, Illinois, Spring of 1941

Tom in 1936 at the Western Military Academy, Alton, Illinois, age 12
Tom in 1936 at the Western Military Academy, Alton, Illinois, age 10

Tom was born December 19, 1923, in Greenville, Illinois, where he spent his childhood. His father, Dr. H. D. Cartmell was a doctor in this small town in Southern Illinois. His mother, Oradelle DeMoulin Cartmell, ran the household and looked after Tom and Tom’s older sister, Elaine. Elaine was 8 years older than Tom.

Tom’s mother died when he was 10 years old and she was 46. Her loss was a sad event for the entire family, but particularly  so for young Tom. Family tradition holds that following Oradelle’s death, Tom’s father decided that Tom needed more structure and guidance than he alone could provide, so he sent Tom to attend the Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois, in 1936 and 1937.

Dr. H. D. Cartmell, February 1, 1936, in front of his medical office in Greenville
Dr. H. D. Cartmell, February 1, 1936, in front of his medical office in Greenville

Oradelle Demoulin
Oradelle DeMoulin
Tom Cartmell, 1941
Tom Cartmell, 1941

Tom returned to Greenville for high school, graduating in 1941. Among his best friends are classmates Bob Blizzard, Bill Van Meter, and Boyd McCracken.

While in high school, he developed a romantic relationship with Zoe Foran, who lived in Sorento, Illinois, an even smaller town 14 miles northwest of Greenville They were in high school together.

Zoe finished high school one year before Tom, and she left for college at the University of Illinois, in Champaign. At Christmas break, when Zoe is back home, they see each other again. After the holidays, they began exchanging letters, and this is where their written story begins. For Tom, the war is remote and in most respects does not affect him.

Tom gets his news primarily from the local newspaper, The Greenville Advocate.

Greenville Advocate, January 11, 1941
Greenville Advocate, January 11, 1941
The rest of the world has been at war since September of 1939. By early 1941, Germany has conquered most of Europe. Britain is experiencing nightly German bombing. In the far east, the Japanese had conquered most of eastern China and occupied all of the major Chinese ports. Japan had occupied Korea since 1910.
Zoe Foran, 1940
Zoe Foran, 1940

In January of 1941, Tom is in his senior year of high school and is 17 years old.

A Young Man Went Off to War