Beginning on November 1, which is the date of my mother’s first letter from her Hawaii trip 84 years ago, I am serializing day by day, the book, Cecilia King’s Extraordinary Senior Trip, which you can obtain from Amazon in either Kindle or paperback.

I hope you enjoy the upcoming nine-months in Hawaii 1940-41.

Honolulu, Sunday, December 22, 1940

Sunday night

Oh me! I’m so excited over so many things & have just come in from such a grand time I hardly know how to tell it all at once. Yesterday afternoon – after much preliminary preparation here (wash hair – A. Susan pack blue net dress – collecting & packing bag) Uncle Ed drove me out to Schofield. On the way we stopped at Chun Hoon – it’s the largest market on Honolulu, run by a Chinese – Whenever its owner takes a fancy to some customer they throw a big party for the Army or Navy whoever it’s in their huge house just back of the store. The house has a wide porch all around, lighted with Chinese lanterns & is beautifully decorated inside with oriental things. The “honored one” invites his own friends (sometimes over a hundred invitations are issues for one dinner) & the meal is all native Chinese fashion. Really, no Army one has quite “arrived” unless he has been to one of Chun Hoon’s aloha parties. Beside the market is a gigantic “parking” shed – and tall warehouses – and millions of little Oriental people buzzing through the place –a “small” diversion (about as big as our whole house) is turned into a “Christmas decoration & tree mart.”
On out to Schofield – through the Japanese “neighborhood” shopping district – a little yellow Jap weighing off sausage links of some kin from his little food cart to a housewife in her back door.

McDonalds: Col. McDonald & his wife are both Scots! And the most lovely, pleasant couple I’ve nearly ever seen. Their house leads the ow of 8th Field Artillery Is brown frame made in U-shape – with a little patio of stone floor and surrounded by vines & flowers inside the

The object of this particular party was for Mary to entertain some of the absolutely terrible reserves in her father’s regiment. But they slipped in a West Pointer for me (newly-made captain). There were about 24 of us – we had cocktails out on the patio & were then seated inside for dinner at card tables. Menu: fruit cocktail, sweet potatoes & marshmallows, baked ham, green beans, hot rolls, strawberry shortcake.

Mary & her date (whom she goes with most of the time & a grand person) and “Westy” & I were at the same table & had loads of fun. After dinner played “bunko” and “bingo” until “orchestra time at the Schofield Club, then went over for dancing. It is a huge officers club – probably over a city block – two story.

Among those present at dinner: Louise Herron (the Shafter Gen’s dau. – has studied violin in Germany) – a newly-made Gen’s aide, two very lovely girls – several messy ones – and the pitiful corny reserves that don’t know poise from pop-eyes. My date, “Westy,” was simply grand! Plays polo, was first cadet capt. of the West point class, sails, grand dancer (likes to waltz), good conversationalist, BUT goes back to the mainland in a month.

The McDonald’s house is full of lovely Oriental rugs, china, brass etc. But the most intriguing (no can spell) thing as the doll house in my room – two story & perfected even to detail of ancestral portraits & hunting scenes in oils (minute, of course) on the wall. Their Filipino boy made it – the Filipino was all in white that night – answered the door & brought guests out to the patio where a little Jap woman in silk kimono & obi (native “sash”) passed cocktails & canapes. My blue net dress looked very pretty (and my heavy wrap felt good) but I’m wearing the dress hard now because Honolulu bugs have it as No. 1 on their list of favorite foods & one just cannot keep net at all. Si I’m trying to beat the bugs at their own game.

I have to go back a little here to fill in the story up to to-day. Earl hadn’t called about the swimming date so when Joe Greco (late “engage” of Helen’s) called for a date then, yesterday, I said O.K ---

Now back to this morning – got up about 10:30 & had breakfast to the rhythm of Mrs. McDonald’s “family tales” then we set out in the yard – two of the girls there last night came over for a while (so did hundreds of little black pineapple bugs) – the yard faces the palm border “loop” or parade ground.

Joe had been to Wheeler so came by about one to bring me into town with him – we rushed home for me to grab a bathing suit & change clothes – BUT just the minute we got in Earl called asking if I were ready to go on that swimming date. Blank me could only think to say (and stupidly) “Oh, I thought you meant for next Sunday” which would have been impossible – to get such an impression when it couldn’t have been anything other than today.

We drank a coke here then went down to DeRussy – met another couple for swimming (and, of course, bumped very embarrassingly into Earl) – had a dip into the water – laid out on the sand to sun and read the Sunday funnies. After we had dressed, went out under the “arbor” and had hamburgers and milk. Then Joe and I went to a place in town for dinner – saw several Wheeler Field men over there – then to the movies. Fort Street (the main downtown traffic vein & one way affair) is lighted a mile with colored Christmas lights cris-crossed over the street. It was beautiful! So of course we drove all the way under them—The own streets for miles are so crowded with sailors that one can hardly see the pavements at all. And ten more ships due in Jan. 3!!

After the movie, we went to Sutherlands on Waikiki for one of their wonderful rich ice cream chocolate cones, stayed for two – then across the street to an archery target & the old Italian tonight taught me “how to do it”—from there, down Kahala & so home. I’m going with Joe Sat. night to the Young Hotel roof garden for dinner. I can’t decide whether he enjoys my company or is just trying to “play” away his disappointment in love over Helen. But we did have fun any hoo. He’s an Air Corps runt from Conn, so the odds were all against him from the first, so I had a pleasant surprise in enjoying today with him.

Last minute thoughts & jottings: The sugar cane grows beautifully in the red soil of Schofield district – but so did the tail of my net dress & white satin slippers become very attached to it, with a heavy dew for encouragement. We wrapped the spice cake in a braided cloth yesterday & it was o good I had a hard time holding my “sample taste” bite down to a permissible size.

Got two of your letters today but have just read them “on the go” so will answer tomorrow as I re-read. Met my date for the New Years at the club last night. He’s big, droll, Sigma Nu from U. of Missouri, very nice – looks a little like that Weir boy Carol went with, only more lively and attractive.

Editor’s Notes
A lot of new acquaintances mentioned in this letter, many of whom continued to play a role in Cecilia’s Hawaii sojourn.

1. Louise (“Jimmie”) Herron (1918 – 2017)

When Louise Herron was born on March 16, 1918, in Richmond City, Virginia, her father, Lt, was 41, and her mother, Louise, was 31. She married Col Richard Wilkins Ripple on September 2, 1941, in Crawfordsville, Indiana. They had three children during their marriage. She had one brother.
Louise Herron Ripple, March 16, 1918 - October 3, 2017 Louise Herron Ripple, known to her friends as 'Jimmie', passed away peacefully at Arcadia Retirement Residence in Honolulu on October 3. She was 99. Jimmie was born to loving parents Charles Douglas and Louise Milligan Herron, in Richmond, VA. She grew up as an Army 'brat' and traveled extensively with her parents and brother, Bill, as her father, who retired as a three-star general, was stationed at many Army posts around the world. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College with degrees in music and German. While visiting her parents at Ft. Shafter in Honolulu in 1939 she met Richard ('Rip') W. Ripple, also a West Point graduate and career Army officer. They were married in 1941 and embarked on an adventurous life together that took them to post-war Germany and Izmir, Turkey, as well as many stateside tours of duty. Jimmie was a quintessential Army wife, just as her mother had been. Rip's last posting was in Honolulu, where he and Jimmie retired in 1966 and enjoyed a full life of friends, music, paddle tennis, bridge, worldwide travel, golf, deep sea diving (Jimmie), and fishing (Rip). Jimmie's natural curiosity and independent nature led her to pursue her many interests throughout her life. She was an accomplished equestrian as a teenager and won many hunter/jumper competitions; in keeping with her avid interest in nature and preservation, she was a member of the Outdoor Circle; as a violinist and violist, she made friends and organized chamber music groups wherever she lived, including in Honolulu, where she was active in the Morning Music Club and played in the Honolulu Symphony. At age 65, she fibbed about her age so she could take scuba diving lessons. She dove around the world, taking photos of undersea life and delighting in the creatures she encountered. She was a docent at the Honolulu Aquarium and she regularly swam out to the windsock in the channel at the Outrigger Canoe Club. Rip passed away shortly after they moved to Arcadia in 1998. Jimmie stayed active well into her 90's, swimming at the Outrigger, playing chamber music and bridge, and supporting music and the arts. Her many friends at Arcadia, some of whom she had known since 1963, were dear to her. She was an inspiration to all who knew her, and her gracious nature and gentle warmth will be remembered always. She is survived by her four children, Richard Ripple and his wife Fiona (Nipomo, CA), Louise Ripple Yuhas (Smith Valley, NV), Daphne Ripple Araujo and her husband Bart (Napa, CA), and Carol Ripple and her husband David Bersoff (New York, NY); three grandchildren, Jessie Doernberger (Baltimore, MD), Jeremy Doernberger (Washington, DC), and Camille Ripple (Boca Raton, FL); granddaughter Olivia Ripple predeceased her grandmother in 2015. Jimmie will be missed by her three step-grandchildren, Jaime Araujo Bezian (Piedmont, CA), Gregory Araujo (Boca Raton, FL), and Chris Araujo (Portland, OR). Friends are welcome to a celebration of her life at Arcadia, 1434 Punahou Street, Honolulu, at 2:00pm on Wednesday, October 18th. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Morning Music Club of Honolulu. Please contact Susan Spangler at (808) 734-2925 for further information.

Figure7 - Louise Herron at Bryn Mawr, 1939 (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/65764231/person/130066467020/story)

1. William (“Westy”) Westmoreland (1914 – 2005)

“ My date, “Westy,” was simply grand! Plays polo, was first cadet capt. of the West point class, sails, grand dancer (likes to waltz), good conversationalist, BUT goes back to the mainland in a month.” William Westmoreland (1914-2005) was a United States Army general, most notably commander of United States forces during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968. Following graduation from West Point in 1936, Westmoreland became an artillery officer and served in several assignments with the 18th Field Artillery at Fort Sill. In 1939, he was promoted to first lieutenant, after which he was a battery commander and battalion staff officer with the 8th Field Artillery at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1968 to 1972.

1. Joseph A.L. (“Joe”) Greco (1915 – 2004)

Col. Joseph A.L Greco
GRECO, Col. Joseph A.L.
Col. Joseph A.L. Greco, 89, of Colorado Springs, CO, died Wednesday (May 12, 2004). He was in the Army Air Corps and later in the U.S. Air Force for 23 years, retiring in 1961. He moved to Colorado Springs (Black Forest) in 1972 and until his death was a substitute teacher in the Colorado Springs schools and a Red Cross volunteer at the Air Force Academy Hospital Pharmacy from 1980 on. He was buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery with his wife who preceded him in death. He was born in Winsted, the son of Salvo and Lena Greco who are deceased. His family moved to Hartford in 1925. After graduation from high school, Col. Greco went to Trinity College, Hartford, graduating in 1937, with a B.S. degree. In June 1939, he was accepted as a flying cadet for pilot training in the Army Air Corps and went to Glenview, IL for his primary training. Upon completion of this phase he went to Randolph Fld, TX for basic training and then on to Kelly AFB, TX for advanced training and graduated from there on March 23, 1940, as a pilot light attack bombers. Col. Greco was married to Geraldine C. Broughel of West Hartford on September 27, 1941, at Fort Kamehameha, HI. The attack upon Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, found them both at Hickam, Fld, next to Pearl Harbor. Mrs. Greco was evacuated to the states on Christmas day 1941, to await her husband at the home of her mother in West Hartford. Later, in June 1942, Col. Greco flew in the Battle of Midway. In 1947, he was selected to head the new AROTC at Williams College, Williamstown, MA and left there in 1949, to prepare for duty as Air Attache. In 1950, he was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Egypt as Air Attache and he and his wife were there during the turbulent days that led to King Farouk being deposed. Between 1956 to 1959, he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon and the year after to Frankfurt, West Germany as Director of Material of the Air Force Security Service. Upon retiring Col. Greco was the Treasurer and Office Manager of the AAA of Hartford for four years. Leaving the AAA he was a teacher in Spanish and French in the prep schools of West Hartford. In 1972, he and his wife moved to Colorado Springs, CO (Black Forest). Col. Greco was a member of the Red Cross, Pearl Harbor Survivors, the Retired Officers’ Assoc., The Eisenhower Golf Club at the Air Academy, Palmer Lake Art Group, and the Order of Daedalions of military pilots. Col. Greco was survived by a brother, Richard S. Greco of Hartford; a son, Lt. Col. Barry J. Greco (AF Ret.) of Burke, VA; a daughter, Susan Bird of Marion, TX; a son, Major Stephen B. Greco U.S. Army of Honolulu, HI; and by a grandson and two granddaughters. Graveside services were held at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver. Swan-Law Funeral Home handled the arrangements.