THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 33, Number 44 Thursday, November 9, 2017 A Window Into the Past by Andrew Tallackson Dennis Bos (left) and Arnold Bos stand in front of the garage in Wanatah where the old letters saved by their grandmother were discovered. Photo by Andrew Tallackson Elizabeth Bos was a salt-of-the-earth woman, born at the turn of the 20th century who, her husband by her side, farmed the land on the outskirts of Wanatah before settling into a comfortable home in the town proper. Family was everything to her. In return, she was A letter by loved by those closest to her. She passed away in Arnold’s father 1972, one year after her husband, William. to his parents That legacy, one sculpted by love for the ties that bind, has re- stating the war is over. surfaced 45 years after her passing, affording her surviving grandchildren Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 November 9, 2017 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.thebeacher.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. all carefully organized and, to their astonishment, A Window Continued fom Page 1 impeccably preserved. Penny’s daughter recognized the last name on the letters, subsequently calling her mother. For Arnold and Dennis, that fi nd opened a win- dow into the past, revealing not only the caliber of men their fathers were, but also of lives carried out amid a world at war. The letters are all the more remarkable when taking into account that Arnold never knew his fa- ther, who died of a heart attack one year after he was born. Any insight into the man came from fam- ily, particularly his widowed mother, who never re- married. William Eugene Bos Jr. was born Nov. 28, 1920. He entered active service July 22, 1944, ultimately serving as a gunner’s mate third class in the Navy. He was honorably discharged Feb. 14, 1946, passing away in 1947. Of his uncle, Robert J. Dennis Bos of Wanatah holds the canister that contained the letters, Bos, Arnold knew he was written during World War II, by his father and uncles. a corporal in the U.S. Ma- a poignant glimpse into the lives of their fathers rine Corp. Born July 7, who served their country during World War II. 1922, he enlisted on Aug. William Bos Jr., Arnold’s father. One of those grandchildren is born-and-raised 26, 1941. He was honorably Michigan City resident Arnold Bos. He will never discharged on April 6, 1945, receiving the Purple forget the exact time and date when his cousin, Heart. He passed away Sept. 26, 1997. Dennis, called with the most unexpect- ed news. Tuesday. Sept. 26, 2017. 7:42 p.m. Turns out, Dennis was contacted by an old school acquaintance, Penny, whose daughter lives on Main Street in Wanatah, directly across from where Elizabeth and William spent their gold- en years. The daughter knew the fam- ily renting the home. Shortly before the family moved, they made a startling discovery. Tucked away in the garage was an old canister, tarnished by time, yet concealing the most prized of posses- sions: letters and cards written to Eliza- beth and William during World War II by Arnold’s father, William Jr., Dennis’ father, Donald, and their uncle, Robert, William and Elizabeth Bos. THE November 9, 2017 Page 3 Passionate about genealogy, Arnold saved any- thing he could that harkened back to the lives of his father and uncles, not just pictures, but also his fa- ther’s uniform and his uncle’s Marine dress jacket. The canister discovered in the garage, however, deepened the connection between father and son. Around 37 letters, written by William to his par- ents between August 1944 and August 1945, were 129(0%(5(9(176 contained in the canister, along with 57 by Robert VW WK between August 1941 and December 1944. 1RYHPEHU WKUX The minute Arnold received the letters from Den- (DUO\+ROLGD\6KRSSLQJZLWK2)) nis, he poured over each and every one. RQHLWHPZLWKPLQLPXPWZRLWHPSXUFKDVH “I couldn’t stop reading them,” he said. “I read 1RYHPEHUWKWKUXWK them all, late into the night.” +ROLGD\2SHQ+RXVH &RPSOLPHQWDU\ZLQHDQGKRUVG¶RHXYUHV DQGIUHHJLIWZLWKSXUFKDVH 1RYHPEHUWK 6KRSVPDOODQGORFDO -,2L'PABMM:D>KLM%G>P;N??:EH%FB The stacks of letters discovered in the canister. Some of the letters were redacted, dates and loca- tions crossed out. Arnold knew his father, by serving in the Navy, spent most of his time at sea. A few let- ters refl ect free postage. Others sport 3 cent stamps. Family was of the essence. Always. How was life on the farm, his father frequently inquired. How were the corn crops? How were his sisters, Katherine and Mary Lou, doing? The most dramatic latter was dated Aug. 14, 1945. Addressed “Dear Mother & Dad,” the fi rst sentence no doubt fi lled the hearts of Elizabeth and William with joy: “Just got the good news that the war was over.” The letter goes on to inquire as to how everyone is doing back home. Arnold chuckles when discussing the letters writ- ten by his uncle, Robert. “Apparently, he liked the food,” Arnold said with a laugh. “He mentioned that quite a bit.” Again, family was at the forefront, with Robert repeatedly checking on his sisters, requesting up- dates. Robert passed away sometime in the past 15 years, Arnold said, having worked as an inspector for Sullair Corp. For Dennis, the letters penned by his father to his parents — some 68 in total were found in the canis- ter, written between 1942 and 1943 — paint a more complete picture of a father to his son. Dennis was Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 November 9, 2017 with them? A Window Continued fom Page 3 Dennis plans to share them with his siblings, Da- just 15 when his father passed away from a heart vid, Darryl and Debbie. The letters will be especial- attack in 1966: a greater luxury of time together ly meaningful for Debbie, who was only 2 when her than Arnold had with his father, but a loss nonethe- father passed away. less that arrived, as Dennis puts it, “right at the age For Arnold, the letters tap into his passion for ge- when dads are just starting to let you know ‘stuff’.” nealogy and will help compile a more complete fam- Dennis described his father — a tail gunner on a ily picture. dive bomber with the Marines — as incredibly disci- The humanity, the compassion for others in the plined, a quality cultivated by his military training, letters is what resonates the strongest with both one who worked for many years at Allis-Chalmers men. in La Porte. “My father was really into his family,” Dennis Dennis smiles as he recalls reading for the fi rst said. “He was always checking in on his brothers time the letters by his father. and sisters. That’s what impressed me the most.” “We did learn that he must have been quite the Then again, consider the parents of these men. partier,” he said, chuckling. “He was always telling Whereas some might treat old letters as clutter to about how late he got in.” be discarded, Elizabeth cherished every single one. The fi rst letter from Don- These communications from the past contained the ald to his parents was from hopes, the dreams, the concerns of her beloved chil- boot camp. Ensuing letters dren. Whether she revisited them as the years went run the gamut of repeated by, or if they’d been long forgotten at the time of her requests for Elizabeth to passing, is unknown. send an iron so he could What is known is this. The children she brought press his uniform, to one into this world loved her. They grew up to be men night heading out with two who served their country. Men whose letters are buddies for a meal consist- now cherished by their sons, a connection not only ing of three steaks, three to the past, but also to the men they hold near and potatoes and salad, all for dear in their hearts. $6.05. “We’re living high on Donald Bos, Dennis’ father. the hog,” Donald wrote, Dennis laughing about the thought of three meals for three men costing only about six bucks at the time. Later, Donald writes of seeing Yankees center fi elder Joe DiMaggio when the Marines played the Army during a pickup baseball game. Realizing the women in his family might not be impressed, he wrote, “Just tell grandpa I saw Joe DiMaggio. He will know who he is.” Dennis says his father was often worried about his family, especially his brothers and sisters, re- questing frequent updates. So now that the letters are safely in the hands of Dennis and Arnold, what do they intend on doing One of the letters that sports a 3 cent stamp. 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