By Richard Mabey Jr.
background, on the right hand side of this picture, you can see the garage that Grandpa built. Dad’s old homestead still stands
beside that garage. To the best of my knowledge, the old garage is also still standing.
At the age of 18, my father enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, during World War II. What inspired my father to sign up for the Air Corps, is in itself, an inspiring story. Dad’s older brother, Edward, was serving in the U. S. Navy, aboard a ship, not far from the coast of dear old England. The ship was sunk by a German war ship. Uncle Ed bobbed up and down in the Atlantic Ocean for at least one full day and one full night. He was saved by a British ship. I think that the sinking of Uncle Ed’s navy ship, had a deeply profound effect upon my father. It inspired him to join the service, at such a young age.
My father grew up in the shadows of the maple, the elm, the oak and the pines, at the end of Mabey Lane. It was there that his father had built a two-story home. To the west, the north and the east of this dear home, lied a thick forest. To the south, lied a big, open field. My grandfather named the big field, Earl’s Meadow. For it was on this beautiful field that Grandpa’s brother, Earl, was going to build a home, when he came home from World War I. Sadly, my Great Uncle Earl was killed in battle in France.
After his basic training was completed, Dad was shipped to Hickam Airfield in Hawaii. Hickam bordered Pearl Harbor. At first Dad had the job of driving a big fuel truck, to fuel up war planes in the open fields of Hickam.
Later, Dad would work on P-51 Fighter Planes. Specifically, Dad had the responsibility to change spark plugs in these Mighty Mustangs, as they were also called.
An interesting side note of Dad’s stay at Hickam Airfield is that he became acquainted and became friends with the late, great Jerry Siegel. The man, whom with the help of Joe Shuster, created Superman. Jerry wrote for Hickam Highlights, the official newspaper publication of Hickam Airfield. Dad had the high honor of once being interviewed by Jerry.
My father told me, on several occasions, that there was always the fear of another Japanese attack upon Pearl Harbor and Hickam Airfield. The servicemen at Hickam were always on alert, for another attack. My grandmother, Bertha Mabey, was a very devoted, religious woman. She once told me that she prayed many times a day, that the Japanese would never again attack Pearl Harbor and Hickam Airfield.
During the early Summer of 1946, Dad received an Honorable Discharge from the U. S. Army Air Corps. He had served his country well. Dad returned home to Lincoln Park, to his hamlet homestead at the end of Mabey Lane. He began dating Janet Kemmerer, from Boonton. The girl who had sent him cookies and wrote letters to him during his stay at Hickam. The very girl that Dad married and was destined to became my Mom.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.