Eleanor J. McMahon

Interview with Eleanor J. McMahon

Excerpts

Eleanor McMahon Narrative
Eleanor McMahon Full Interview

“…We all stood together and we all, this was our job. And we, whatever we had to do we did. If it meant, you know, saving cans, if it meant ripping bandages… But living in the country, I was very protected. It might have been much different if I’d lived in the city. I don’t know. It was a small town and everyone was geared toward the war and we felt we were participating by helping and just doing our part.”

“And one of the things that my girlfriends and I used to do, I forgot to tell you before. We did go to the movies and one of the things we did like maybe once a month we would take the train and go to Waterbury which was five miles away. But, we’d go down to the train station, and by that time we were about fifteen years old, and there would be service men hanging out of the windows, and they would be whistling (laughs) and we would be getting on the train. We’d get off in Waterbury, five miles, and then we would have a Chinese dinner for 99 cents. And that was really special; that was the most fun we did. (laughs) And getting all those whistles was really great! (laughs) And, seeing all those young men in uniforms! (laughs)”

“I’d say we were all relieved when it was over with because it was something that we all felt we had a hand in. A big problem that was solved and we all participated in it.”

“You had the impression that there was only one way and that was up. You were growing in the sense that it was going to be wonderful. And I, as a young person coming into the world, I could see nothing but a positive way of life. It was a feeling of accomplishment, something that was horrible behind us, and it was just growth from there on in.”

“I guess it was the cohesiveness of everyone. The war effort was so much a part of our lives; you just went along with it and you looked at it in a very positive way. But of course the war was taking place in another area, it wasn’t in our backyard and I think that’s why we felt that way too. Everyone was giving up some little thing and participating in some little way.”