Great Granddaddy's family homesteaded a large farm near Glenville Neb. just after the Civil War. In WW2 the area was used by the military as a huge ammo dump for bombs and Navy torpedoes and other munitions. The location was as far away from both shores to make it less likely to be air attacked. In 1943 a train load of USN torpedoes were being unloaded for storage when an accident occurred. The resulting explosion blew a crater in the ground all the way to water, and leveled the surrounding area, including the old farm house which was over a half mile away from the blast. There were several hundred workers killed.
This photo was taken at the site of the old farmhouse when I was 13 years old. Dad wanted to see if he could find anything of the old place left. By looking at the old bushes and trees he found where the house sat, and picked up a few bricks from the fireplace. Dad is holding those bricks. I have one of those bricks at home now. I am standing with my back to the camera, Dad and his Aunt Kate are looking at an airplane flying over head. I wonder how many folks can honestly say that a family home was blown up by torpedoes?
Not all casualties were overseas. DC
This photo was taken at the site of the old farmhouse when I was 13 years old. Dad wanted to see if he could find anything of the old place left. By looking at the old bushes and trees he found where the house sat, and picked up a few bricks from the fireplace. Dad is holding those bricks. I have one of those bricks at home now. I am standing with my back to the camera, Dad and his Aunt Kate are looking at an airplane flying over head. I wonder how many folks can honestly say that a family home was blown up by torpedoes?
Not all casualties were overseas. DC