Alice Irvin, Col. Dean Irvin's wife, reviews World War II newspaper artcles with student interviewers
Imagine living alone with one child and one on the way and only your family to look to for support while your husband is in Europe fighting the war. Well, that was what is was like for Mrs. Irvin, wife of Colonel Dean Irvin.
Mrs. Irvin was about 24 years old and 3 years into a marriage when the war started. They already had a little girl and Mrs. Irvin was pregnant with their second child when her husband had to go. He was already in the army.
The day before he left, they had a lot of conversations, and a lot of "what ifs." After he left, she turned to her family for support. There were no support groups, only friends and family.
The most important letter was the one that told her he was coming home.
When she had her second child, David, Colonel Irvin's mother sent him a cable. They sent letters back and forth regularly, except for one six week period when she didn't hear from him. That time was very frightening for Mrs. Irvin. The scariest letter she received was after the break through, because she didn't know where he was. The most important letter was the one that told her he was coming home.
The things she remembers the most about the war years were the prices for things such as milk, bread, coffee, and fruits and vegetables. She said there was a dramatic change between the prices. She also remembered that there was no meat for sale.
She believes that being in the war changed her husband. He came back more grown up, more mature, and he did not take things for granted, like before. She also believes this brought them closer together, and he also had a baby boy to get to know. Given the circumstances and the reason for the war, she would do it again, even though she wouldn't want to.
- Heather Hurley