World War II Honoree

Glenell Malsbury Owen

Hometown

Shawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SHE WAS NINE YEARS OLD WHEN GERMANY INVADED POLAND ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1939. SHE RECALLS THE BIG BOLD HEADLINES IN THE TOWN NEWSPAPER ANNOUNCING THE INVASION AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 'EUROPEAN WAR'. IN THE SUMMER OF 1940, SHE AND FRIENDS SET UP A LEMONADE STAND AND SOLD DRINKS FOR 2-CENTS A GLASS. THEY THEN GAVE THEIR PROFITS OF $5.00 TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS TO AID REFUGEE CHILDREN IN EUROPE. SHE HEARD THE RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE JAPANESE SURPRISE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. THE FOLLOWING DAY, SHE HEARD PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S ADDRESS BEFORE CONGRESS ASKING FOR A DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST JAPAN. WHEN THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR, LIFE SOON CHANGED FOR HER FAMILY WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF RATIONING AND OTHER WARTIME RESTRICTIONS. RATIONING BECAME A WAY OF LIFE, AND SHE AND HER FAMILY LEARNED TO CUT BACK OR DO WITHOUT ITEMS THAT WERE IN SHORT SUPPLY. ALL MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY PARTICIPATED IN THE GROWING OF A GARDEN, AND THE CANNING OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES DURING THE SUMMER, TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR FOOD SUPPLY. SHE COLLECTED TINFOIL FROM INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF GUM, AND FAITHFULLY WROTE LETTERS TO EACH OF HER RELATIVES WHO WERE SERVING. SHE AND HER MOTHER KNITTED SCARVES AND CAPS FOR SERVICE PERSONNEL, AND ROLLED BANDAGES AT THEIR CHURCH FOR MILITARY HOSPITALS. HER FAMILY ALSO HOSTED MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM NEARBY MILITARY INSTALLATIONS FOR PICNICS AND SUNDAY DINNERS, WHICH WAS PARTICULARLY NOTEWORTHY CONSIDERING THE FOOD RATIONING RESTRICTIONS THEY WERE UNDER. SHE WAS HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE AMERICAN WAR EFFORT IN HER OWN SMALL WAYS.