WW2 - Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat - 1940 (Book One of Six)

Chapter One (Dave's .P.O.V.)

I am Dave Chamberlain and I am 27 years old. I have a family, my daughter Sarah, my son Richie and my wife Caroline. I woke up at 4 in the morning and I couldn't sleep so I went outside. Our dog T-Bone was running around the yard chasing a chipmunk. I lit a smoke and breathed in the cold Febuary air. Caroline walked outside and sat down. "You're up early" I said as I put my cigarette out. "Couldn't sleep Sarah is up crying, I tried to get her to drink some milk but she wont take her bottle. "Did you check her diaper?" I asked. "Yes I did but she's clean." "Let me see what I can do." I walked in the house and Richie was in the kitchen."What are you doing up Richie?" I asked and I walked over to him. "Sarah won't stop crying and I can't sleep so I came out to get some water." Well, are you excited for your 9th birthday tomorrow son?" I asked "Yeah  I'm super excited." "Okay son, you have a big day tomorrow, so try to get some sleep." "Okay." he said as he stirred back to his room. I walked into the baby room and Sarah was still crying, so I picked her up and tried rocking her to sleep and she fell asleep after a couple of minutes, So I went back to sleep.

Today is November 26th, Richie turns 9 today. Caroline made him a cake, German chocolate, just how he likes it. We celebrated his birthday and later around 7 PM there was a knock at the door. And no one was there, just a sheet of paper with writing on it. It was a draft notice. "What is that, honey?" Caroline asked me. "I...it's a draft notice, it says World War 2 has started and they need me, attendance is mandatory. "Well, your dad was in World War 1" "Yeah, but when do we tell the kids?" "Tell us what?" Richie asked as he walked out of his bedroom "I'm going to have to leave for the military..." "Dad no you can't leave!" "It says it's mandatory." "I have to be there by 7 AM tomorrow.." We spent some time together and went to bed at 10 PM.

Today is November 27th. The day I go to boot camp I got in my 1929 Ford Roadster, I started it up and drove to the base and walked in. "Hi I'm Dave I got this Draft notice at my house in Kentucky. Why did they want me all the way out here in Oregon?" "Its closest to the Docks." "Where are they going to take me?" "Pearl harbor in hawaii." "Oh Okay where should i go?" "Over there to the Dock." I went Out to the Dock and they waved me into a boat. "Get in the boat! move move move!" The Man yelled At me. and another guy was in the boat He was probably in his 30s early 40s Skinny and had a little stubble beard "Hey, im Dave" "Im tom, but you can call me sarge. "Nice to meet you sarge." "Other then the president I run the show around here." "Cool" I said.

We got to the harbor a couple hours later And went inside One of the ships and unloaded our suitcases "So Sarge How does things run around here?" "Well right Now your a private so You'll clean the docks and Help with things. if we get attacked you'll get a gun. "An older man with a cane walked in. "Hey Mr. president" "Hello Tom." "Wow.. your..your" "I'm fdr." "Its nice to meet you, im dave" "Nice to meet you dave." "But boys Were shutting down japans steel source." "I"ll see you Boys later" He said as he slumped out of the room.