...To HEARTH and family
Carl arrived in New York on July 17, 1945 and was sent to Camp Campbell, KY for outprocessing. Thousands of troops from the European theater and the Pacific were returning as fast as the government could ship them. Carl was mustered out of service on November 8, 1945.
In his book of memories of military service under
"Things I Want To Remember" his lone entry read:
"None of the fighting!!!"
Before Carl mustered out, tragedy again strikes this young family. Nila's mother, Cora, was killed on September 1, 1945 after being struck by a car on Highway 13 in The Dells.
Carl's Discharge Certificate and DD Form 214.
Carl's Separation Qualification Record
Click on images to enlarge.
As World War II came to a close in 1945, so did the government rationing program. By the end of that year, sugar was the only commodity still being rationed. That restriction finally ended in June 1947. Plenty of other goods remained in short supply for months after the war, thanks to years of pent-up demand. Note the name on this book belonging to Carl and Nila's firstborn, Mark.
In October 1945, Carl had a job waiting for him with The Trane Company in La Crosse, WI as a Design Draftsman and Junior Designer. He stayed with Trane Company until December of 1947. In December 1947, Carl was employed by the Bureau of Land Reclamation as a GS-04 and later GS-05 Engineering Aid, working to build Kortes Dam in Wyoming. He moved his little family from La Crosse to Wyoming and he put to good use the courses he took at Whitewater and through the Army ASTP program. Although the dam was completed in 1951, Carl applied for a transfer in June 1950, always searching for that better opportunity over the next hill.
Click on images to enlarge.
At the time of this request above, Carl and Nila were raising their first two children, Mark who was born in the Spring of 1946 and Paul in the Fall of 1948. By 1956, three others joined the family.
Jobs, homes, children, Carl and Nila took the responsiblity of creating a safe and happy home for the family and continued to create their American Dream. The defeat of dictators and the joyous homecomings across the nation brought the power of the Greatest Generation to bear on the country, communities and homes of all Americans. The country was heading into the greatest period of prosperity know to us at that time.
The boys were finally home and we were at peace.
The young family moved several times in the fifteen years following the end of the war. From Wyoming to Minnesota, Colorado, Iowa and finally back to Wisconsin. Carl followed his dreams and taught us all the beauty and excitement of wanderlust and to remember to continually search for the next opportunity, because "you have to go where the work is at." Through Nila's nurturing and unselfish devotion, her childen all were loved, clothed, fed and educated. They were taught kindness and respect and were shown a life ethic that cannot be forgotten.
Nila and her children, ca 1959 - Denver, CO