Tanner

About the Book

This book is about a family finding themselves in a desperate situation after the loss of their mother. With help from caring individuals, a home was found for the children at the Methodist Children's Home in Winston - Salem, NC. "Pop" Woosley and his dedicated and understanding care givers provided the education and leadership that directed the children toward an opportunity for a better life. The life of the boy, Fred Tanner, and what his physical and emotional experiences were well documented as he describes the daily life at this home where he lived for 16 years. In some instances, living in an orphanage is much better than living in some family situations. The structured living environment was so designed that one home mother could manage the behavior of 30 boys. The boys had the opportunity to get into boyhood mischief, and that they did! Boys had their own understanding of "orphan humor." Some boys lived the life that would rival Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer while some boys were mellow and studious. Through sports, work responsibility, scouting and some social events the boys were mellowed somewhat into responsible young boys. Hard work and discipline were a matter of fact and became the life habits of most of that were raised at this home. Opportunity for further education was made available through work programs and college assistance to those that wished to attend. Most all boys served a tour in the military. Children and their parents, many in not much better situations than we were, gave their pennies and nickles so that we could have a pair of shoes or a decent set of clothes. This was most humiliating. Other people of means were kind enough to see the need of over four hundred children.

About the Author

Fred was born just a year before the Japanese forced the United States into World War II. He was born into the typical poor Appalachian mountain family. The early death of his mother forced the decision on his desperate family to let his sister and him grow up in an orphanage or home for children. At the orphanage Fred survived the many hardships other children suffered of family separation by entering at such an early age. His life at the home would be nurtured and guided by some of the nation's best and devoted care givers. There were many trying times in his growing years as he was a very spirited lad. Fred was slightly smaller than many of the boys his age but there was no smallness in his heart. Competition was a matter of survival during all of his youthful years. With much forgiveness from the devoted staff members; they helped set his style in life. He learned from the adults everything they were willing to teach him. (Being all boy, sometimes not always in his studies though). He learned to work hard early in his youth and that hard work ethic would be noticed by all that knew him in his lifelong career in the United States Coast Guard. Fred's youth learning experiences of making things better would be carried with him into his career. He feels that these experiences actually saved his life and that of his fellow crew members on many occasions. Fred loved his orphan home and wished every child could have a year with the experiences he lived with and with having over four hundred brothers and sisters to learn to live with.