MEMOIRS OF A WARTIME ROMANCE

This is our parents’ story told through their letters, journals, and dictations. It is primarily their love story. It is also the story of religious prejudice, as they fought for their relationship over the opposition of Dad’s family. Gretchen Boody and Edward Siegel met the evening of January 8, 1941 on the Shawnee, a troop ship, on route to Panama. Gretchen was a 2nd Lieutenant, an Army nurse from Hudson, Wisconsin, daughter of farmers, and was raised as a Methodist. Edward was a 1st Lieutenant, an Army doctor from Poughkeepsie, New York, son of shopkeepers, and was raised as an Orthodox Jew. They were stationed together in Panama for two years and two months, and had an exclusive relationship during that time. Dad never told his parents about their relationship while they were together in Panama. The letters begin when Mother left Panama to return to the States, for home leave, then reassignment. Her letters are typed in italics to differentiate them. And no one in the family has any idea where their shared nicknames, variations of “Mr Bops,” “Bops” or “Bopsy,” came from. Mom first refers to Dad in her diary as “Bopsy” two days after they met writing, “Bopsy played the piano awhile.” Mom’s other nickname, “Miss Boo,” clearly derived from her maiden name, Boody. Sample parts of some letters On the ship from Panama to US My dearest Bopsy, I’ve only been gone a few hours, but already I’ve looked for you a dozen times to tell you something… no I didn’t let anyone know my feelings today, but not bragging it was the greatest thing I ever did for I wanted to cry like a baby. I was so lonesome & lost. … Your Miss Boo 11a.m. Hi Scruntchy, You wouldn’t be very proud of your sailor honey. I’ve been sick as a dog. We had been out an hour when my cookies really got tossed. Suppose it was the nervousness, excitement & everything all at once & then that horrible let down. The way I feel, they’ll bury another sailor at sea… 2/26/44 Hello Darling, I’ve been thinking of us so much, darling, that I find it practically impossible to sleep at night…. The idea of not seeing you again is just too much for me to contemplate... There must be some answer to you and I somewhere in this world… Your old baby, “Bops” Mar 17, 1944 My darling, Well, the die is cast. I wrote to the folks today and for 4 single-spaced typewritten sheets I poured out my heart and story to them about us, darling. I don’t know how they can say or do anything but what we want baby, now all we have to do is wait. … I love you--------- Bops March 29, 1944 Dear Gretchen; I am answering your letter to the family… please understand; we are all sick at heart and frankly, Absolutely do not give our consent… There is no further chance of changing our feeling, it is definite, it is final... God bless you, Martin