Captain Leonard E. Rusch
My father, Leonard E. Rusch, served in the Army Air Force from October 3, 1942, until February 15, 1946, attaining the rank of Captain. Two and one-half years were in Alaska – Ketchikan, Anchorage, and the Aleutian Islands. I remember his mentioning Adak and Annette, clear out at the tip of the island chain. The remainder of his service was in the United States. His military occupational specialty was Communications Officer. Having been a manager at both the Miller and Orpheum theatres in Wichita and with an accounting background, he saw no action, but had a desk job. Decorations and Citations he received were Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal, Victory Medal, American Defense Ribbon, and ATO Medal.
My mother had a temporary residence in Edmonton, Alberta, while my dad was
stationed in Alaska. I stayed with my grandmothers in Wichita much of that time, but do remember riding the train with my grandparents to Edmonton. We had no car as I recall, so Mother toted me around on a special sled that had a place for groceries. At right, the back porch of our home with my bulldog, Spook.
I still have mementos of his service in Alaska – an Eskimo doll I named Elmer, several small totem poles, and two ivory pins, a sea gull and a seal. He was an avid photographer and had several boxes of pictures of locations where he served. Bad judgment on my part – I did not keep them after he passed in July, 1967.
My great-grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Rusch, born in Russia in 1860, had twelve grandsons, including my father, who served in WWII.
Diane, Yours is a really different background for a Kansas girl! Alaska is an exotic start for your parents and you. Assuming our parents were the same age range, my dad might have worked for your dad at the theaters. During the silent movies, my father played clarinet and saxophone in those theaters. I wish we coould talk to them now!
Your dad mentioned Alaska more than once but never knew some of the wrinkles. As for discarding things, we have to do so. On the other hand, I still have my dad posed with his World War I tank. He was in the middle of the Atlantic today in 1918 on his way to France. ALL his siblings and mother were very relieved. He was eldest child, and his mother tossed out his alcoholic womanizing cowboy father earlier. Some things are ignored or obscured for many reasons. That’s a good lesson in the history we read.