August 6 & 7, 1944: Firestone Program Marriage

 

Letter from Opa to Grandmother, August 6, 1944

Transcription:

St. John,

August 6, 1944

My dearest little Crystal Ball,

Right now, you are probably sitting on the train with Edith, wishing that Lawrence were only ten miles from Newton.

My train ride was rather nice; there were two little brats in the car who alternated in either making. lot of din or in other ways attracting attention, smiles, and curses from the reminder of the passengers. It rained in St. John when I arrived, and now the air is cool and fresh: a nice evening.

About twenty-four hours ago, I had just arrived in Newton; it seems like a year ago, so much has happened; and yet, the time flew too fast. Now I am playing your Hungarian Rhapsody No.2, and am in that state which a philosopher once called happiness: pleasant memories and pleasant anticipation for the future.

October seems very far away now, but there will be work and your letters to pass the time away. Darling, I know you are not very happy about our October date. Maybe I was too insistent or too selfish this afternoon; I want you to be fully sure of yourself and fully prepared when we get married; so if you really believe that October is too early, we'll set another date. Naturally, I would prefer if we can keep the 14th of October, but if you change the date, I shall not be mad and shall try not to be hurt. It is your happiness I want first.

The house is empty, there is no one but myself here now, and I like it tonight. The records give plenty of entertaining background, and when I finish this letter, I shall read Wells for a while, it is if I don't get too sleepy. (For some reason or other, I feel a little tired tonight. Do you think sitting in a bath tub with you might have contributed to that?)

Good night, darling; there'll be plenty to dream bout tonight: plenty of you!

Tom.

Letter from Opa to Grandmother, August 7, 1944.

Transcription:

St. John

August 7, 1944

Dearest,

After a week end like this, it is difficult to get back to business again. This day started off badly: it rained. The roads were so muddy that we had a hard time planting our jugs without having the cable shorted by the moisture.

I was certainly kidded today about the trip; the fellows wanted to know details, but I thought it was better to keep them guessing.

The radio is playing: Firestone Program. That's  nice thing for us to do after we get married: to listen to some of these programs. Many entertainments like that mean much more the n enjoyed together.

So far, nothing has happened any more in this police deal; the city will soon have forgotten it and will be looking for something else to worry and gossip about.

I read some more of Wells; still interesting. I hope you will get the book soon and catch up with me in reading it; we can then write each other about it.

One of our boys who graduated from high school this spring is planning to go to college. Right now, I am giving him a pep talk on Kansas State. He wants to take Diesel Engineering, which we don't have; so I am trying to talk him out of Diesel and into Electrical or Mechanical. I think the college ought to pay me for this.

Have you found the right jeweler yet? And the correct drugstore for the pictures? You little dumb-bunny! And, honey, if you are still short of money, let me know; I can easily send you whatever you need, since I don't expect any more court fines this month.

Sleep well, my little crystal, and remember: next time we meet, you'll be mine!

Love,

Tom.

To sum up a few things from these two letters: 

-looks like Edith was a part of the weekend, but Opa got over it; 

-the wedding has been pushed to October 14th which is still too soon by Grandmother's standards; 

-no news about the police business so things are quieting down, and...

-Opa is still madly in love with Grandmother despite the fact that she pushed their wedding date back and brought a friend to their romantic weekend. 

Bless it. 

I was particularly touched by his vision of their married future: sitting together and listening to radio programs. The Firestone Program was a show highlighting classical music and opera music (definitely a shared interest of Grandmother and Opa). I love what a lovely and simple hope he has for his marriage. He does not have a lot of examples of steady, happy marriages from his family of origin. So he has had to compile his wishes from other examples. I wonder if he took cues from the Shelleys and other families who took him in. I'm sure he also had the joy of creating his own ideas and dreams of what a marriage could look like. I love that he did not lose faith and had not been made bitter by life's example so far. 

It seems like they not only set the wedding date for October 14th, but also that will be the next time they see each other! Seems like a long time! 

August 5, 1944: Most Interested

 

Letter from A.W. Elieforth (American Consul General, Canada) to Opa, August 5, 1944

Transcription:

American Consulate General

Winnipeg, Manitoba,

August 5, 1944.

Mr. Thomas W. Doeppner,

National Geophysical Company,

St. John, Kansas,

Sir:

I have received your letter dated August 1, 1944, enclosing the completed questionnaire, in connection with your desire to obtain an immigration visa at this office.

Before this office can inform you further concerning your application, it is suggested that you communicate with the Visa Division of the Department of State at Washington, D.C., with a view to obtaining certain prescribed forms that must be approved by that Department before this office my take any action in your case. These forms consist of Form C, Affidavit of Support and Sponsorship, to be executed by two persons, and Form B, a biographical statement to be filled out by the person most interested in and most familiar with your history.

When the above approval has been received you will be notified.

Very truly yours,

A. W. Elieforth

American Consul General

So, no answer on what a helpful affidavit looks like, but at least Opa got a quick response from the office. He needs two affidavits (or at least two folks to sign), and a biographical statement "filled out by the person most interested in and most familiar with your history." What a weird description for who should fill that out!

"Hi, are you the most interested in me?" 

I assume that person would be Grandmother, but that seems weird to have your fiancé fill out paperwork about you. So maybe Opa will ask his librarian friend and former boss, Eileen? He is going to see Grandmother this weekend, so if this letter arrives to him before he leaves, he may very well ask her to fill it out.

Opa is hoping that the window-seeker incident is fading into the background and that it will only be a small blip on his radar. That way he can move forward with his plans for immigration, and marrying Grandmother!

August 2, 1944: Starting to Crack

 

Letter from Opa to Grandmother, August 2, 1944.

Transcription:

St. John

August 2, 1944

Dearest,

We still could not do any shooting today, so we took time out to paint our truck. It was an all-day job; we had only one brush, and there was no brush to be had for gold in St. John, so Bob and I took turns painting and admiring the other fellow's work. As all National trucks are, we painted the body in a light grey and the bumbers(sic) brilliantly red.

Thanks for the forms; I have a not in to take them over to the post office to show those folks what they are supposed to know.

I made final reservations today at the Hotel Ripley, 114 W 5th; two rooms. If I should have to take the doodlebug, I suggest you go to the hotel as soon as you get to Newton, in order claim the rooms. Probably, I'll get there before you do, though, or at the same time.

Went to a show tonight: Buffalo Bill. Good, but incomplete in purpose and a little inconsistent in ideas.

Honey, I am afraid I have been very cranky in some of my letters lately. Forgive me, I have been awfully nervous during the last few weeks; I'll tell you all about it Saturday.

There isn't much to write now; all the big things I want to save for the weekend, and little things don't happen in St. John.

Love,

Tom.

P.S. Don't forget your swimming suit; there may be an opportunity to use it in Newton.

I had a "special friend" in college (we dated, but never got serious, and we were both on the same page about it) who graduated and got a job in Huntsville, Alabama. He was a smart guy and the job was a pretty good gig, and used his gifts and degree, which for a college grad is pretty unusual! But I remember when I would catch up with him, he seemed unhappy. He wasn't really fitting in with the "good ol boys" crowd, and he was surrounded by a lot of ex-military "macho" men. My friend was not a macho-man. He was kind, thoughtful, and had very little trace of what I call toxic masculinity. Even though his job fit his skill set, the people around him were making him miserable. He ultimately found another job in a work place that had a more kind and open culture. It was amazing what a difference it made for him.

I wonder if something along these lines is going on for Opa. Is he not fitting in with the "good ol' boys" of St. John, Kansas? Is his German-background getting him bad attention? Or perhaps his Jewish background? Opa confesses that he has been a bit grumpy, and his grumpiness dates further back than his window-peeking incident. Perhaps that night was the culmination of events rather than the beginning. 

He's not surrounded by his friends from school, his fiancé is not around (and keeps moving the wedding date). He hasn't heard from his family (except maybe his sister Patti, who likely has not great news). Opa's family (and national) culture is to sort of grin-and-bear it. Don't burden people with your sob stories. I imagine he has been trying to focus on the positive in St. John, but he finally can't bear it that much longer. He is SO ready to see Grandmother, not only to enjoy her company, but also to be able to be honest and vulnerable. Putting up a cheerful facade is exhausting, especially if you are really struggling.

I don't know exactly what is going on with Opa, what his struggles are, but I know that he's starting to crack a little. 

Not the most important part of the letter: but I really can't figure out how two men painted a truck in one day with a single paint brush. 

August 2, 1944: Quick Reply

 

Letter from Chief of Police to Opa, August 2, 1944.

Transcription:

Office of The

Chief of Police

McPherson, Kansas

Aug. 2st-44

To who it may concorn.

in regards of Mr. Thomas W. Doppner.

i dont have and record in my Court.as far as i can find out he is a good citizen.and honest in ever way. I can't say that I am persneal aquainted with Mr. Doeppner. but from good people that knowes him he must be all right.

Respectfully Yours.

John Holloway

Chief of Police 

Well. That was fast, and maybe a little too fast. I don't want to be rude, but wow, this person could have used spell-check. And capitalization. And spaces. And a number of other grammatical helpers. 

I imagine the Chief of Police did not need to be an excellent writer in order to do their job well. I hope the lack of professionalism on paper did not hurt Opa's visa application.

August 1, 1944: Hopeful Paperwork

 

Letter from Opa to American Consul General in Canada, August 1, 1944.

Transcription:

St. John, Kansas

August 1, 1944

Mr. A.W. Elieforth

American Consul General

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Canada                  Your file no. 811.11/ay

Dear Mr. Elieforth:

Due to several changes of address, your letter of May 29, 1944, reached me only last week. Enclosed pleased find the visa questionnaire, filled out to the best of my ability. I have several, questions concerning the questionnaire and the documentary requirements for an immigration visa and shall be very grateful if you will help me with these.

On the second page of the visa questionnaire, it is asked who will guarantee my support in the event of loss of my income. It also is asked how much property this person owns and what his annual income is. Before asking anybody to give such an affidavit, I would like to know what property value and what annual income you would call sufficient as an affidavit in my case.

Concerning the required documents, I have the following questions: I am in possession of only one birth certificate and, due to the fact that I was born in Berlin, have no means of obtaining duplicates. Will photostatic copies do?

You require a medical certificate issued by the U.S. Public Health Surgeon in Winnipeg. Will it be necessary for me to take any steps toward obtaining it before preexamination has been granted and I undertake my trip to Winnipeg?

"Valid passports" are required. I have no German passport, but only a Dutch Foreigner Passport which expired on August 28, 1940. However, one America visa and one extension of it have been entered into this passport after the date of expiration. Will this passport be sufficient, or, if not, what steps should I take to obtain a passport which you would call sufficient?

Will it be necessary for me to produce evidence that regulations of the Canadian National Selective Service pertaining to LaborExit Permits or Exception Certificates have been met?

I am collecting all other required documents and shall send them to you as soon as received.

Thank you very much for any help or assistance you may give me in regard to the above questions.

Very truly yours,

Thomas W. Doeppner

National Geophysical Co.

St. John, Kansas

P.S. Please note my change of address.

Letter from Opa to Chief of Visa Division in D.C., August 1, 1944.

Transcription:

St. John, Kansas

August 1, 1944

Mr. Howard K. Travers

Chief, Visa Division

Department of State

Washington, D.C.      VD 811.111

Dear Mr. Travers:

Due to several changes of address, your letter of June 9 reached me only last week. I was born on May 22, 1920, in Berlin, Germany. My nationality is German, but I am in possession of a Dutch foreigner passport, No. 2173, issued at The Hague, Netherlands, on August 28, 1939.

I shall be grateful for any help you may give me and for receipt of Form BC for use in connection with my preexamination case.

Very truly yours,

Thomas W. Doeppner

National Geophysical Co.

St. John, Kansas

P.S. Please note my change of address.

Letter from Opa to Chief of Police in McPherson, Kansas, August 1, 1944.

Transcription:

St. John, Kansas

August 1, 1944.

Chief of Police

McPherson, Kansas

Dear Sir:

In connection with an immigration visa which I file with the Department of State, I am requested to produce a letter or certificate, in duplicate, from the chief police officer of each place of residence setting forth court record, or non-existence of such a record.

Since I have lived in McPherson from November, 1939, till September 1941, I shall be grateful if you will supply me with two copies of such a letter.

While at McPherson, my addresses have been McPherson College, c/o Mr. W.C. Shelley, and c/o Mr. Sherwin Misenbise(?), respectively.

Your help and efforts in this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Very truly yours,

Thomas W. Doeppner

National Geophysical Co.

St. John, Kansas

Opa had a really rough night. I imagine he spent the whole night worrying about whether his chances for an immigration visa were shot by this horrible injustice. 

He didn't know either way, and paperwork is paperwork, so the very next day he got to work writing the various government agencies with his questions and answers to their questions. I wonder if it made him feel better or worse. Did it give him a sense of moving forward, still working toward the next thing? Or did he read with despair his questions of whether they would accept an expired foreigner certificate from a country that was technically no longer in existence?

It is terrible irony that he should have a statement from the chief of Police in every place he lived. He lived in McPherson nearly three years and not one mark on his record. He's been in St. John for hardly two months and now his record is not clean. 

He asked what would be a sufficient affidavit, which I think is a fair question that they likely will not answer. The Shelleys, who own a farm and live on a small, but manageable salary, were not enough for Ella's affidavit. Will they be enough for Opa? Opa has been down this road, and in my mind, I feel like he's asking the department to just tell him what they want, then he doesn't have to guess at it. What's the magic number so I don't waste my time? You know the answer: there isn't a magic number. It's how they feel that day, what the leadership told them to do that week. It's so subjective.

Opa goes to work to keep his mind off things, or to feel like he's making progress, but he has no idea if all these letters and documents and whatever will even see the light of day. He hopes that he can go forward with his plan to travel to Canada and then re-enter the US on a regular immigrant visa, his next step towards citizenship. If that fails, what else can he do? His whole future rests on his ability to stay in the US.

August 1, 1944: Peeping Tom

 

"Window 'Peeker' Fined $25.00," Article in St. John Daily Capital Newspaper, August 1, 1944

Transcription:

WINDOW "PEEKER" FINED $25.00

Thomas Doeppner, who is employed with a geophysical surveying company, was fined in city court this morning $25 and costs, for window peeking last night at the Wm Davison apartment. Willard Ausmus, who lives in the apartment at the Davison home, heard someone and upon investigation, he found Thomas Doeppner. He was arrested, and fined this morning.

When Opa said in his August 1st letter to Grandmother that something "pretty bad" had happened the night before, he wasn't exaggerating. Somehow Opa was in the wrong place at the wrong time (and had the wrong "look" and "accent" about him), and he was arrested for "window peeking." It's pure irony that the phrase for this crime is "Peeping Tom." 

I did look into other sources and the letters between Opa and Grandmother, and I can honestly say I believe that Opa did not commit this crime.

I cannot imagine the embarrassment, the frustration, and the feelings of injustice that happened in that night. I assume Opa spent the night in jail and had to pay the fine the next day. For Opa, it was a big amount of money, adjusted for inflation it would be the equivalent of about $360 today. It seems a bit harsh and without evidence, especially since there was no indication of any witnesses actually seeing Opa "peeking" in. Only that they heard a noise and found Opa outside when they looked. 

We actually had an incident with a window seeker one time. It was when my husband and I were first married, living in a big parsonage in Fairfax. We were downstairs in our basement, watching a movie (it was a drama- not a sexy movie) and we were both just in our regular shorts and t-shirts type of clothing. (I say this to show just how utterly boring we were to peep). We saw something moving in the window well behind the TV. We thought it was a cat, and then realized it was a man! My husband moved as fast as I've ever seen him, and my gentle, slow-to-anger spouse ran out the front door yelling at the man who had long sprinted down the street. We never figured out who it was, but he never came back!

Probably because we got a St. Bernard a month later.

I don't know the details of Opa's incident. Opa only told Grandmother when they saw each other, and this certainly was not among the stories he repeated as he got older. In fact we didn't hear much about this time at all, and in his auto-biography, he blurred the lines on this time in his life: 

...when I finally came to America I went to college; and as soon as graduated, I volunteered for military service. (pg 5, From Nazi Germany to a Career in Freedom, Doeppner)... Both my wife and I graduated from Kansas State College (now Kansas State University), Marjorie in Home Economics and Child Welfare, and I in Electrical Engineering. I really wanted to get into the Army "to fight the Nazis." As an "enemy alien," however, I was not eligible to enlist. Someone suggested I could volunteer for the draft (probably thinking, if you are stupid enough). Also, Marjorie and I were engaged to be married. (pg 30).

So, not exactly how things happened. Opa was arrested on that summer night, and after that, everything changed. In fact, things happened so quickly, I genuinely believe Opa may have forgotten (blocked out) his time at St. John's altogether! 

There was a calm before the storm, so he pressed on with everything, hoping it would just be a blip on the radar. It wasn't.

August 1, 1944: Something Terrible Happened

Letter from Opa to Grandmother, August 1, 1944.

Transcription:

St. John

August 1, 1944

Dearest,

It is sure now that I will have to work on Saturday, so I shall take, if possible, the bus that leaves here Saturday afternoon at 5:08. It arrives in Hutch shortly before seven, from where I take a bus leaving Hutch at 7:15. I don't know the exact time of arrival in Newton, but I assume it will be approximately the same time as you do. If, however we work so late that I can't get that bus, I shall have to take the doodle-bug which leaves St. John at 9:45pm I would hate to have to wait that long, but in all probability I shall come by bus. Let me know what time your train gets in. I have applied for my travel permit, so it will be difficult to change the date. You don't know how much I look forward to this weekend, honey.

Something pretty bad happened last night who might bear influence on my visa affair. I don't care to write about it but will tell you when we are together. I came as close to the point of desperation as I ever care to get, but I believe now that it can be straightened out.

There was no mail from you either yesterday or today, and I was sort of disappointed.

Since they are still working on our drill, we could not shoot any today. I took this opportunity and in the afternoon went out with the surveyor to get an idea of what he is doing. It was interesting and took my mind off other things.

I started reading an excellent book: The Outline of History, by H.G. Wells; you may have heard of it. There is a complete history of mankind, written in almost novel form, divided not into dates and pedigrees, but ages, nations, races, and cultures. It reads like a mystery novel; I never dreamed that history could be interesting. 

Honey, I don't think I ever felt so lonesome for you as today. When things go wrong, when people throw filth on you, love is the only harbor; love and the feeling that there is someone who believes in you and will help you fight things out. I hope we don't have to wait much longer until we can be together for always.

Well, I am awfully tired tonight; it I only 8:30, but I shall go to bed anyhow. Tomorrow we can probably work gain.

Good night, darling; I'll be seeing you soon,

Tom.

Something terrible has happened, which I will show in the next blog (sorry, I cheated and looked ahead for research). When Opa says it may have an effect on his visa, it means that the something terrible involved something potentially criminal. When you apply for a visa (an hope for citizenship), you go through quite a process, including a background check of sorts. If you have any smear on your record, it may greatly hurt your chances of staying in the US. It's like how adoptive parents must prove their virtue and value, but folks who are able to carry a child to birth, get sent home with nary a glance. 

What Opa doesn't know is that this smear on his record could mean nothing, or everything. The process for the approval of a visa and even citizenship is surprisingly quite subjective. Sure, there are things that are important and necessary to have in place, but after that, the details are read and processed by a human who ultimately gets to stamp it, or not. 

This is a side note, but I think this is something that is important for anyone to know: there is no such thing as a completely monolithic and consistent system. Every system has humans, and humans have always been bending the rules (for good or for bad). This has proven to be helpful wisdom for me in my life. Always ask, always try, and also never assume that the "monolith" will always work in your favor either. This isn't a wisdom of cynicism, but actually of hope. It reminds us that humans are not machines, and though some can be exceedingly hard, there is always softness. Which means there's a chance we can find it and appeal to it. Even within the so-called monolith of the Nazi government, there were exceptions, unexpected helpers, and people looking the other way. 

Opa sounds worn completely out in this letter. He couldn't work because the damn drill was still broken, so to get his mind off things, he shadows a surveyor. 

It looks like Grandmother was never planning to get to Newton early on her train, and Opa will be arriving late after working. Now this romantic weekend is starting to look kind of sad. Not for Opa, he is so desperate to see Grandmother and be with someone who loves him and can support him. This line struck me as so profoundly beautiful: 

When things go wrong, when people throw filth on you, love is the only harbor; love and the feeling that there is someone who believes in you and will help you fight things out.

Opa is longing for a familiar and loving face. Reading and working and writing are all helps, but nothing like connection with his love. He'll get to Newton, by train, bus, or doodle-bug (which I think is a self-propelled rail-car, so like a mini train?).