gwinAdrianDotalbum.htm

Name:

Adrian S Gwin

Birth Year:

1916

Race:

White, citizen (White)

Nativity State or Country:

Alabama

State:

Louisiana

County or City:

Orleans

Enlistment Date:

20 Nov 1942

Enlistment State:

Louisiana

Enlistment City:

New Orleans

Branch:

Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA

Branch Code:

Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA

Grade:

Private

Grade Code:

Private

Term of Enlistment:

Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law

Component:

Selectees (Enlisted Men)

Source:

Civil Life

Education:

4 years of college

Civil Occupation:

Student Codes 0x, 2x, 4x and 6x as pertain to students will be converted, for machine records purposes, to the code number 992.

Marital Status:

Married

Height:

Weight:

150

A Girl, a Guy, and Good Intentions: A True Love Story
by Dorothy Lee Keeney Gwin
with Courtney Elaine Gwin

* * * I * * *

    For lack of suitable names, I’ll just call her Girl and him Guy. Girl had just rented a room at Guy’s mother’s house two days before.
    She was sitting on the porch swing listening to the sounds of the night. A street car rumbled by, crowded with noisy people talking loud to be heard over the clamor of the street car. After it was gone, a quietness settled over the evening.
    She was thinking, “I want to see that show, but would it be foolish to walk the six blocks to the neighborhood theater by myself this late?”
    Just then a bicycle swung into the yard and a young man jumped off.
    “Hey!” she cried out impetuously. “Have you seen that movie with Ronald Reagan and Rita Hayworth?”
    He came over to the porch step to see who was talking. “Oh, hello,” he said, “and to answer your question, no, I haven’t.”
    “Well, would you go and take me with you?” she asked eagerly.
    “Sure!” he said. Then ruefully pulling out the lining of his pockets, added, “But I’m broke! Plumb, flat broke.”
    “Oh, I’ll pay,” said Girl, “if you go.”
    “OK,” he said, “wait ’til I put away my bike.”
    When he returned, she was waiting, and she handed him a small coin purse.
    They talked little as they walked at a fast gait to the theater. “I hope we get there before the last show starts,” she said. He quickened his pace, and she had to almost run to keep up with him.
    At the theater, he paid the twenty cents for their two tickets, and in they went. He whispered, “How far down do you want to sit?”
    “About half way.”
    The main feature had just started. She never took her eyes off the screen. The one time he started to say something, she rebuffed him with a quick, “Shhh!”
    But when the story got to the part where the hero had to lose his legs, she started crying. He quickly reached into his pocket and handed her a clean handkerchief.
    As they were walking home, she was very quiet. It had been raining, and suddenly he reached up and vigorously shook a tree limb over her head.
    “Hey!” she cried. “What did you do that for?”
    “I had to get your attention some way.”
    Girl laughed, “Well, you sure did,” wiping her face with his handkerchief she still had in her hand.
    Guy waited ’til they got to the house, then asked, “How about my handkerchief?”
    “When I get back my coin purse,” she said, holding out her hand.
    He quickly handed her the purse. “Thanks for the movie.”
    “Thank you for going,” she replied. “Good night.” And quickly she walked into the house.
    She quietly opened the door of the room she rented and shared with a girl from Mexico. She didn’t want to awaken Alicia.
    Next morning she was packing a small bag, planning to spend the weekend over on the coast. There came a knock on the door. It was Guy’s mother. She handed Girl a dime.
    “I think that’s what it costs to get in a movie these days,” she said. “I don’t want my son to be a gigolo.” And before Girl could say a word, she closed the door and was gone.

* * * II * * *

    The weekend at the beach was fun, but she had stayed in the sun too long, and now she had a sunburned back. When she was getting ready for bed, Alicia noticed her back and said, “I fix!” Alica didn’t speak English fluently. But the lotion she carefully spread on Girl’s back felt cool and soothing.
    The next morning when Girl was picking up her books to go to school, there was another knock at the door. It was Guy’s mother again. I’m going to North Carolina today to meet my new daughter-in-law,” she said. If you two girls want to use the kitchen to fix your meals, you’re welcome. I won’t be back for two weeks.” And again she was gone.
    The first week turned out to be really fun. They shared their home-made meals with Guy, who seemed to be particularly interested in helping Alicia with her English.
    One day they had a picnic in the back yard. Girl had invited a friend or two from school, and Alicia invited the lady next door whom she’d met and liked very much.
    They also walked in the park several times, Alicia always carrying her Spanish-English dictionary. Guy could speak Spanish much better than Girl could, but Alica insisted on speaking only English.
    On Friday, Girl’s friend, Lucille (who had been to the backyard picnic) invited Girl to a party at her apartment. “Starts at eight,” she said. “Bring Guy with you.”
    “If he’ll come,” she said. “He doesn’t stick around the house much at night.”
    But when she asked him, he seemed eager to accept. “Sure,” he said. “Casual or dress-up?”
    “I think it’s Come-As-You-Are,” she said, and added impishly, “and it’s free!” The look on his face showed resentment, but he held his tongue.
    “Just kidding!” Girl said quickly, and turned to Alicia, “You’re invited, too.”
    Alicia said, “NO. Tonight I sleep!”
    The party was in full swing when they arrived, and Guy seemed to know everyone. He hardly noticed Girl; she was sorry she’d asked him.
    But on the way home, he suddenly said, “Thanks for asking me. It was good to see kids I hadn’t seen for months.” Girl started to make some bright remark about his inattentiveness, but he continued. “Want to go biking with me in the morning?”
    “I don’t have a bike!”
    “I’ll furnish the bikes…” He hesitated a second, then added, “…for free.”
    “Too-Shay!” Girl said, laughing. “Now we’re even. What time?”
    “I’ll have the bikes at the front door at seven,” he said. “It’ll be too hot if we go much later.”

* * *   III   * * *

    At ten to seven, Girl was sitting on the front steps. But she didn’t have to wait long. Guy came around the house, carefully guiding two bikes.
    “Try this for size,” he said, pushing a girl’s bike toward her. She rode it up and down the sidwalk. “It’s fine,” she said. “Now, where shall we go?”
    “The other day you mentioned that you missed seeing hills. Well, I’m taking you to see a hill this morning.” And he started riding toward the park.
    Girl followed but said nothing. She thought, The only hill he can show me in this flat town is an ant hill.
    They rode into the park—past the swimming pool, past the little zoo, into a part of the park she had never been. She was getting tired. “How much farther?” Girl asked.
    “Just around the next bend.”
    And sure enough, around the next bend there was a hill! I was about as high as a three-story building, but it was a hill! As they parked their bikes and started up the little path, Guy reached back and took Girl’s hand. “We’ll rest when we get to the top,” he said.
    She said nothing but realized she was glad he had hold of her hand. At the top she sat down on the grass.
    “The city school system had this hill built to show little kids what a hill is,” he said. And he sat down beside her.
    For several moments they just sat there, enjoying the cool of the morning. Guy reached over and stroked her hair.
    “Your hair is mighty pretty with the sun shining on it,” he said. When she turned to look at him, he leaned over and kissed her quickly.
    Suddenly she thought of Bob. She hadn’t thought of him for a week. But for the past seven years she had dated him—and in fact, she thought she was in love with him.
    “Penny for your thoughts!” said Guy, snatching her back to reality. She said nothing for a few moments, then abruptly, “I’m hungry!”
    “Good!” said Guy, reaching for the saddlebag he had had on his bike. Out came four doughnuts and a pint thermos of coffee. He filled the thermos cup and handed it to her. “There’s no cream, but here’s sugar if you want it.” They ate the doughnuts and drank the coffee in silence.
    “We’d better go,” he said finally. “I’ve got lots to do today.
    That night, Girl’s back was giving her fits. Her week-old sunburn was peeling and itching. Nothing seemed to help. Alicia was out with a friend. Girl heard someone whistling outside. She went out on the porch, and there sat Guy, whistling “Oh, Susanna”.
    “I’m looking for someone to scratch my back,” Girl said sweetly. “Would you?”
    Guy made room for her on the swing.   “That’s a bad burn you’ve got. Your whole back is peeling.”
    “That’s the first sunburn I ever had,” she said, leaning a little closer to him. And immediately his arms were around her, holding her tight.
    He said, “You know something? I think I’m falling in love with you.”
    Girl said nothing. Her mind was back home again—thinking of Bob. They’d had lots of fun together, but in all those years, he’d never said he loved her. And here was Guy, whom she didn’t really know, holding her in his arms and saying he loved her. The funny thing is, she mused silently, I feel right at home here in his arms. Out loud, she said, “I must be homesick.”
    “Well,” said guy, “next time you’re homesick, let me know,” and he gently released her and walked off the porch.
    Girl just sat there, hoping he would come back, but finally she went in and went to bed.

* * *    IV    * * *

    Next morning Alicia reminded her that she had a paper due the coming Friday. Girl decided to go to the library and spend the whole day gathering material for the paper. But much of the time she let her thoughts wander to Guy. What did he do? What was he really like? And she thought, at this rate I’ll NEVER get this paper done!
    She hurried back to her room hoping she’d see Guy. But he was nowhere around. Nor did she see him the rest of the week. But then she was at the library most of the week.

    On Saturday, she stayed in her room; she’d turned down Alicia’s invitation to spend the day at the Lakefront. There was no one in the house all day but her. It was getting dark, and suddenly she heard his whistling. She had to really make an effort to keep from running out on the porch, and when she saw him, she wanted to snuggle up in the swing beside him. Instead, she sat in a chair.
    “Where have you been all week?” he said.
    “Mostly at the Tilton Library, working on a paper that was due yesterday,” she said. “And what have you been doing all week?”
    He didn’t answer. Then he said. “I’m leaving for camp in the morning. Be gone for three weeks.”
    Her heart sank. Three weeks! School would be out, and she’d be going home! But she didn’t say anything.
    Suddenly he asked playfully, “Wouldn’t you like to share the swing with me, please?”
    Not wanting to sound too eager, she answered, “Perhaps.”
    When the move was made, he casually put his arm around her shoulders. “When will you be going home?”
    “In three weeks,” she replied.
    He pulled her over to him and kissed her gently. “I’ll miss you,” he said, and got up and went upstairs. Girl got up and went to her room.
    Sunday she woke early. She heard him walking around upstairs. She got up and dressed hurriedly, hoping he’d stop and say good-by. But he didn’t.


* * *    V    * * *

    Monday she rode the streetcar back to “The Home” where she would be for the next three weeks. All the children were glad to see her. It would be good to fall back into the routine of the The Home.
    Later in class, she learned that classes had been called off until Friday! The faculty was hosting a three-day seminar. Three whole days to do something, and no one to do it with!
    That evening Girl was sitting at her desk in the infirmary of the Home, where she was on duty from seven to ten. At almost ten, the phone rang. She said hello and listened. “I’ll be over there in about ten minutes,” Guy said, and hung up. Girl was shaking. She tidied up her desk and ran down to her room, passed a comb through her hair, then ran out to the big front door to wait for him. Shortly he came riding up the walk on his bicycle.
    She ran down the walk to meet him. He hugged her tight, then kissed her. When he released her, she asked, “How come you’re back?”
    “The camp director decided to take the week to give the place a thorough cleaning. So he won’t need me until next Sunday,” said Guy.
    “What a great coincidence,” said Girl. “Classes at school have been cancelled ’til Friday. I’m free for the next three days.”
    He hugged her again. “I’ll be around about ten in the morning, and we’ll paint the town red!” She laughed and squeezed his hand.


* * *    VI    * * *

    In the morning, he was waiting at the door when she came out. They caught a streetcar and rode downtown. They wandered through the old part of the city, browsing the antique stores and the coin shops.
    When they came to the court house, Guy said, “Let’s check in here. Wonder what you have to do to get married.” Girl’s heart leaped, but outwardly she seemed calm.
    “Won’t hurt to see,” she said. There was a sign on the door: “Notice. The three-day waiting period to get married has been lifted. All that’s required is that the man have a blood test.”
    They went into the foyer, and the elevator attendant asked if they were going to get married. Guy said, “We’re more interested in what we have to do to get married.”
    The attendant said, “ You have to have cash to pay the fees. You have to have witnesses, the blood test certificate, and be here about four. Judge doesn’t start weddings ’til about four.”
    Guy thanked him, and they left the building.
    “Who can we get for witnesses?” Guy mused. Girl said, “I could call a couple of counselors from The Home. Wonder what a ring would cost!”
    Guy took her arm. “Let’s walk down to Hausman’s and see,” he said.
    At the jewelry store they found a plain gold band she liked—for five dollars. The jeweler offered to engrave it free. “Pick it up in two hours,” he said.
    “I better round up our two witnesses,” she said, and Guy replied, “I better take a walk up the street to see a doctor friend of mine. You stay here ’til I get back.”
    She asked permission of the jeweler to use the phone, called The Home, and got her friend Rose, who was overjoyed at the news. Girl said, “And Rose, go into my room and bring the five dollars in pennies I’ve saved up this summer.”
    Rose was so enthusiastic, she was sure everyone at The Home would want to contribute toward buying Girl a wedding present. But Girl said, “If it’s all the same to you, just bring me the money! Meet us at Hausman’s Jewelry as soon as you can.”


* * *    VII    * * *

    When Guy returned, he waved a paper at Girl and said, “Clean bill of health!” then folded the certificate and put it in his wallet.
    Guy asked to use the phone. Shortly he was back.
    “The honeymoon’s arranged. Two days and two nights and at the camp for underprivileged kids—including meals!”
    “Where?” she asked.
    He said, “ Over on the coast. We can catch the train at eight tonight. That’ll give us time to go home and pack a few clothes, and we can be at camp by ten thirty or eleven.”
    Just then Rose and her friend Honore walked in. They hugged Girl and shook hands with Guy, and Rose said, “Here’re your pennies. And we collected $8.70. Everyone’s wishing you good luck and happiness.”
    The ring was ready. Girl paid for it with the pennies. Guy put the ring in his pocket, and they all walked down to the court house. It was a quarter of four. The elevator attendant saw they had only two witnesses. “You need three. Wait ’til I get off at four, and I’ll stand up with you,” he said.
    “Great!” Guy agreed.
    Upstairs in the courtroom, everyone waiting was nervous. Girl held tightly to Guy’s hand. The first couple to go into the judge’s chamber was out in about five minutes. The second couple was out even sooner. Then Girl heard their names called. The elevator man had just gotten off, and the five of them went into the judge’s office. Guy gave the clerk the necessary information, then they all lined up before the judge’s desk.
    Girl looked at Guy, and there were tears in her eyes. “I don’t have any flowers!” she half sobbed. He quickly took out his wallet and, after a brief search, handed her a pressed four-leaf clover.
    The judge stood, looking out the window, and started reciting the ceremonial words. He rattled it off so rapidly that no one could understand a word he said. But when he got to the last, he said, louder and quite distinctly, “I now pronounce you man and wife. Pay the court eight dollars: one dollar for the clerk, two dollars for the recording, and FIVE DOLLARS FOR THE JUDGE! NEXT!”
    She looked at him and whimpered, “Are we married?”
    He didn’t answer as he hurried her out the door. They agreed to meet at the train station at 7:30.
    The three girls caught the streetcar back to the Home, and Girl packed her little bag for her two-day honeymoon. She carefully put away her wedding clothes: yellow linen skirt, white eyelet blouse, and white bobby socks. “I’ll have to wear my saddle oxfords,” she said aloud, “they’re all the shoes I own.”


* * *    VIII    * * *

    At 7:30 everyone was at the station, and the train was just coming in. Everyone was hugging and kissing, but finally Girl broke free, and she and Guy boarded the train. When they got to their stop two hours later, they had a mile-long walk to the camp.
    The camp director met them and told Guy which was their cabin. Inside, it was obvious someone had worked hard. All the cots had been stacked at one end of the cabin, half-hidden by the hastily-made curtain of bed sheets. Sheets also hung at the windows. Someone had located an old iron double bed. The scrubbed bare floor was spotless. Bouquets of bright-colored autumn wildflowers were everywhere in the room.
    But the flowers weren’t there for long. The bride had begun to sneeze, and it was obvious that she was allergic to every one of them! What a way to start a honeymoon!

[John M. Gwin Note:
    My father, Adrian S. Gwin, was born and raised in Alabama. His widowed mom and family had moved to New Orleans during the Depression, bought a house near the Tulane campus, and rented out rooms to students. By the summer of 1942, Dad’s siblings had married and moved out, leaving only Dad and his mom to run the boarding house.
     My mother, Dorothy Lee Keeney Gwin, was born and raised in West Virginia. A new school teacher, she went to New Orleans the summer of 1942 to take a class at Tulane and work at the Jewish Children’s Home, renting a room at the Gwins’ boarding house. They were married 11 August 1942 at the court house in New Orleans and moved to West Virginia for the first 57 years of their marriage.
    Growing up, my brother Pat and I heard the story often of how our parents had met and married. When Pat’s daughter and our parents’ first grandchild, Courtney, was a precocious elementary school student, she helped Mom type this account. Adrian and Dot moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, the fall of 1999. Dad died in 2001 and Mom in 2005.]


*Clockwise, from above:* Up Witcher's Creek, 8 Apr 1945; sitting on the old bridge at Aunt Maude's home, Tad, WV, 1943; ready to eat dinner at "5218 Chinaman Rd. Goodyear Homes Brunswick, GA 14 Aug 1945" (l-r:) Nile Norton, Sarah (unk.), Opal Norton, Dot and Adrian Gwin

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 about Adrian S. Gwin