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Monday, October 20, 2003

Howard Thomas Pitts, Was in the 135th CBN and Helped Build the Airstrip on Tinian

 Attached is an essay about the Effort at Tinian as printed for the 112th NCB reunion this past October. Many Tinian Vets contributed the content and reviewed it after I recorded their contributions. This was an ongoing 1 1/2 year project that I wrapped and printed for the 112th NCB reunion Oct 2003.

Thanks to all who contributed and edited. Please post so that all Tinian Vet family members may be informed about their father's (grandfather's etc.) most significant historical contribution. I take no credit for this essay - the credit belongs to all the Tinian Vets who lived the story , contributed info and edited the essay.

Salute.
Edwin Foster
112th NCB Historian
Cleveland, Ohio

TINIAN IN WWII – TEAMWORK AND EFFORT

Tinian is a tiny 39 square mile coral island in the Northern Marianas Islands that rests atop the seven mile deep Marianas Trench. Tinian became the largest and most valuable airbase of World War II while the United States and the Empire of Japan were locked in mortal combat.

Beginning in late 1944, two complete airfields- North Field and West Field were efficiently constructed in record time from the island’s plentiful coral deposits. A vast and confident fleet of long – range B-29 “Superfortresses” soon arrived from the China-Burma-India Theater and directly from the United States. Shortly thereafter, T

Tinian based B-29s launched from the newly constructed and expansive 8500+ feet long runways, besieged the Japanese home islands on a continuous 24 hour basis. 

Many incredible feats in construction, logistics, teamwork and airwarfare were witnessed on and from this tiny coral island. Paramount was Tinian’s contribution to the Manhattan Project that culminated in two atomic bomb missions that hastened the end of World War II and clinched Tinian’s deserved place in history.

Both the Japanese and the Americans realized the strategic importance of air bases at Saipan, Tinian, and Guam in the Central Pacific in mid -1944. The U. S. invasion of the Marianas Islands on 15 June 1944 brought the Japanese Navy out fighting for the first time since the naval battles of Guadalcanal in the fall of 1942. Determined to force a showdown battle, Admiral Soemu Toyoda ordered a combined fleet of 9 carriers and 18 battleships and cruisers to attack the U. S. warships protecting the landing on Saipan. There Admiral Raymond Spruance, Commander of the U. S. Fifth Fleet (14 battleships, 25 carriers and carrier escorts, 26 cruisers, 144 destroyers and countless transports), organized defensive preparations and sent 15 fast carriers of Task Force 58, commanded by Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, west to intercept the Japanese, then only 90 miles away.

The Battle of the Philippine Sea commenced early on 19 June 1944 with an attack on Task Force 58 by Japanese land-based planes from Guam and Truk. Hellcat fighters from US carriers destroyed 35 enemy fighters and bombers. The remainder of the battle was fought by 430 Japanese carrier planes attacking the 450 planes of Task Force 58 in four fierce waves. At the end of the eight-hour onslaught, only 100 of the enemy planes returned to their carriers. The rest had been destroyed in the most decisive aerial combat victory in the history of aviation.

Thirty American planes were lost in what the American Fliers called the "Marianas Turkey Shoot." Incredibly, no damage was done to the U. S. Navy Fifth Fleet's ships. By 9 July 1944 at a cost of 2,949 Americans killed and 10,364 wounded, Saipan had fallen. The Japanese fared much worse with 24,000 dead from burial count, 3,612 missing, 1,780 prisoners and the Japanese commander of the Pearl Harbor attack, Admiral Nagumo killed.

Saipan was the staging area for the attack on Tinian 24 July 1944. Task Force Five One, commanded by Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill, along with the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions commanded by Major General Roy S. Geiger, teamed up to invade the island of Tinian which is only three and a half miles distant from Saipan. Defending the island were 9,162 Japanese troops. The invasion of Tinian hinged on a fake landing on the southern part of the island near Tinian Town. Supported by shore bombardment from the USS Colorado (which received 22 damaging hits from Japanese shore batteries), the 2nd Marine Division faked an invasion by lowering landing craft and men into the water. Simultaneously, the 4th Marine Division was launching an all out invasion at White Beach on the northwest side of the coral island. The Marines efficiently overcame the numerically superior Japanese force on 1 August in what is considered to be the best-executed amphibious operation of the war. Marine casualties were 328 dead and 1,571 wounded. The entire Japanese garrison was destroyed and as previously witnessed on Saipan, many remaining Japanese chose suicide instead of surrender by jumping off nearby cliffs.

Tinian’s history is forever intertwined with the culmination of the atomic ”Manhattan Project” and the infamous U.S.S. Indianapolis tragedy but in the annals of war, the tiny island holds other, lesser-known distinctions. At the request of Marines who would soon invade Tinian, The SeaBees removed steel members from the Japanese sugar mill on Saipan and built ten ramps mounted on AMTRAKs that they called their "doodlebugs." These ingenious landing ramps allowed the Marines to easily scale the 8-foot cliffs along the landing area at White Beach.

General Smith and Admiral Turner were very impressed with the SeaBee handiwork. Needless to say, the Tinian invasion was flawless, and extremely successful. Another first in the history of warfare that later proved so useful to US forces on Okinawa was napalm. As part of the 13- day bombardment preceding the Tinian invasion, napalm successfully cleared the Japanese defenders from the cane fields and also destroyed enemy defenders in Tinian Town.

Tinian was declared "safe" by the 4th Marine Division on 2 August 1944. Or was it? During the night of 30 January 1945 thousands of pounds of TNT exploded near the center of Tinian, jarring and shaking the ground all over the island and waking everyone asleep. Several GI’s were killed in the terrific explosion that authorities believed to be the result of sabotage by Japanese soldiers still at large.

A tiny and fairly flat coral island 75 miles north of Guam, Tinian became an ideal B-29 “Superfortress” base for the rest of the World War II. As spoils of war go, four captured runways as well as bountiful coral construction resources made the island an outstanding catch.

Right behind the Marines, in their Can-Do manner, SeaBees in jungle green fatigues with uplifted tropical baseball caps swarmed over the island expanse of coral and cane fields to carve out the huge airbases necessary for the new B-29s. A short few months later, North Field and West Field combined was the largest airbase in the world, with six vast 8,500+ feet long runways and a total of 19,000 combat missions launched against the Empire of Japan.

The rapid and intensive construction effort on Tinian enabled the B-29 onslaught against the Empire of Japan. On this remote coral island, SeaBees of the Sixth Naval Construction Brigade consisting of the 9th, 13th, 18th, 38th, 50th, 67th, 92nd, 107th, 110th, 112th, 121st and the 135th  Battalions commanded by Commodore Paul James Halloran, Civil Engineer Corps USN, built the largest airport in the world. Tinian’s B-29 airport, consisting of North Field and West Field, was larger than any airport anywhere in the world. North Field had about 13 miles of taxiways and runways. West Field was only a fraction smaller. Tinian's runway construction measured from 425 to 500 feet wide with the then unheard of runway lengths of 8500+ feet.

The Naval Construction Battalion, the fundamental unit of the SeaBee organization, comprised four companies that included the necessary construction skills for doing any job, plus a headquarters company consisting of medical and dental professionals and technicians, administrative personnel, storekeepers, cooks, and similar specialists. The complement of a standard battalion originally was set at 32 officers and 1,073 men, but from time to time the complement varied in number. Twelve complete Battalions as well as specialized Seabee “Specials” and detachments participated in the effort at Tinian in early 1945.

The SeaBees did all the construction on Tinian. No Army Engineers were involved, as were on many of the previous jobs that were done jointly. In what was the largest construction project that the recently formed (The “SeaBees” were born 5 March 1942) Naval Construction Battalions had ever undertaken up to that time, Battalion builders hauled, blasted and packed down enough coral to fill three times the volume of Hoover Dam. They built six huge B-29 bomber strips, each a mile and one half long and a block wide, along with miles of taxi ways with "hardstands" sufficient to park 400+ aircraft. The SeaBees dug and moved eleven million cubic yards of earth and coral on Tinian. Piled on flat ground, this would form a cube 6700+ feet in height.

SeaBee equipment was kept busy 20 hours a day while their maintenance crews worked to repair bulldozers, shovels, trucks and other equipment damaged as a result of the rough construction activity. Sharp and abrasive coral was especially damaging to tires and GI’s shoes.

In typical SeaBee fashion, one innovative construction crew had a Marine tank team fire armorpiercing shells into the side of a hill so dynamite charges could be placed to break up the coral.

The 15,000 Seabees on Tinian operated all types of construction equipment including asphalt plants to pave the airstrips. In addition to the airfields, they built Quonset huts and a wide variety of service buildings including the shop in which the atomic bombs were assembled.

Every airstrip was completed on time and none required more than 53 days to build. The SeaBee's motto, "We Build, We Fight" and their "Can Do Spirit" distinguished this group as being able to do any kind of work, any place, under any conditions. The effort of the 6th Naval Construction Brigade on Tinian was truly remarkable.

Tinian is about the same size and shape as Manhattan, and as soon as U.S. forces captured it in August 1944, a system of roads in the same grid pattern as Manhattan was created. In order to transport the huge quantities of bombs and supplies up from the port at the southern end of the island, a divided four lane highway appropriately named “Broadway” was built. The GIs gave the roads typical New York names like Broadway, 8th Avenue and 86th Street. The main north-south road, Broadway, runs parallel to the other main north-south road, 8th Avenue. The strange coincidence that Tinian has streets named after streets in Manhattan, New York has no provable connection with the Manhattan Project, although personnel involved in the project were stationed on Tinian.

As soon as rudimentary accommodations were prepared, squadrons of B-29s eager to
undertake strategic bombing operations against the Japanese home islands began arriving in October and November at Isley Field on Saipan. The first B-29 mission from the Marianas (Saipan) was witnessed on 24 November 1944. Soon, camps on Tinian were constructed to house up to 50,000 U.S. troops and 1.2 million pounds of crops were produced, all of which were consumed on the island. By August 1945, a year after construction started, Tinian was the largest airbase in the world at the time, and accommodated nearly 450 B-29s.

During the last two months of 1944, B-29s began operating against Japan from the islands of Saipan and, Guam. Initial bombing missions were flown during the day at high altitude, concentrating on chemical plants, aircraft factories, harbors and arsenals. Gen. Curtis LeMay studied the poor results and instructed the bombers to begin low-level incendiary raids at night. The raids targeted Tokyo and some of Japan's other major cities, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kobe.

In January of 1945, the 20th Air Force, 313th Bombardment Wing (6th, 9th, 504th, and 505th Bombardment Groups) under the command of Brig. Gen. John H. Davies took over the newly built North Field on Tinian. They took part in a high-altitude daylight raid on Kobe on 4 February 1945. In April and May 1945, West Field, Tinian received the 58th Bombardment Wing, (40th, 444th, 462nd, and 468th Bomb Groups) which had been redeployed from the now-defunct XX Bomb Command in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theatre. Approximately 450 B-29’s could now be efficiently launched on a mission from Tinian in 70-80 minutes.

On 22 December 1944, the Army Air Force issued orders for mining operations of Japanese waters to begin on 1 April 1945. After the order was issued, the Navy moved a team of mine experts to Tinian. One month later, the SeaBees had a mine assembly depot completed and in operation on the island.

In late March 1945 the 504th Bomb Group of the 313th Bombardment Wing operating from the newly carved out facilities built by the SeaBees on Tinian lead-off this highly specialized mission - the aerial mining of Japanese waters from the dangerous altitude of 5000 feet. Each B-29 carried 12,000 pounds of half ton and one ton mines to be strategically and accurately placed in Japanese shipping lanes patrolled by Japanese Navy warships. Japanese Navy searchlights and all anti-aircraft weapons were most effective and deadly; much deadlier than their land based counterparts. During a mine run, a B-29 caught in searchlights could take no evasive action – they took everything that was thrown at them by the enemy. Many crews were lost in this operation that was described as “Hell”.

By mid August 1945, B-29’s had dropped more than 12,000 mines mostly in Shimonoseki Strait between Honshu and Kyushu. Eighty percent of Japanese shipping used this route. In less than five months these planes flew 1,528 mine laying sorties. This campaign devastated the Japanese merchant fleet. The Tinian based B-29’s in this mining operation sank half of all the tonnage losses suffered by the Japanese merchant marine in the entire war! The 20th Air force operating from Tinian caused the loss of 9 percent of all Japanese ships operating in the war.

Not long after the arrival of the B-29’s on Tinian, a very special comradeship developed between SeaBees and Airmen. Many SeaBee Battalions would "adopt" an aircraft by officially painting their logo and name on the B-29’s nose. The quality of life for the crew of the plane improved considerably because the SeaBees provided the crew of "their" Superfortress with better Quonset huts, washing machines, better mattresses, ice cream, cold beer and many other comforts of life. The SeaBees in return were personally and proudly represented in the B-29 raids against the Japanese homeland.

On 16 July 1945 the USS Indianapolis arrived at the Naval Weapons Center- Port Chicago, California and received a three foot diameter by four foot tall canister of top-secret cargo. The heavy cruiser then proceeded at top speed unescorted to Tinian on a record setting 5000 miles in ten day voyage across the Pacific. Upon arrival 26 July 1945, the ship anchored 1,000 yards off the shore of Tinian and delivered the radioactive components of one of the newly created atomic bombs. SeaBees of the Sixth Naval Construction Brigade helped with the unloading of the components of a newly- developed secret weapon. The SeaBees then stored the elements in a shed built by them, and organized a detachment to guard the shed and its mysterious contents. Atomic scientists assembled the weapon in the shed with several SeaBees assisting.

After this historic delivery, the heavy cruiser set out for the Philippines but the worst of fates awaited her. At noon 26 July 1945 Japanese Submarine I-58 hit the heavy cruiser with two torpedoes sinking her in only 12 minutes and sending 1,199 sailors into the shark infested sea. In this most infamous tragedy of World War II, only 316 men survived.

Atomic Bomb Pits, slightly larger than a grave, were prepared for loading the world's first atomic bomb to be detonated in anger. The bomber aircraft would be rolled over the pit, until the bomb bay was directly above the bomb. Then, the bomb would be hoisted into the aircraft weapon bay. At No. 1 Bomb Loading Pit the atomic bomb was loaded aboard an American B-29 dubbed Enola Gay on the afternoon of August 5, 1945, to be dropped on Hiroshima the next day. On August 9, 1945 at nearby No. 2 Bomb Loading Pit, a second atomic bomb was loaded aboard Bocks Car and dropped on Nagasaki.

On 06 August 1945 the specially equipped B-29 “Enola Gay” piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbetts, in what was described in military terms as a perfect mission, dropped the world's first atomic bomb on the Japanese City of Hiroshima. The 509th (Atomic) Composite Group stationed at Tinian Island, launched "Special Bombing Mission 13" at 0245 on that fateful August morning.

Once safely airborne, Navy Captain William Parsons climbed into the bomb bay and armed their special weapon--a 9,000-pound uranium-235 bomb, called "Little Boy" which had the explosive power of 12.5 kilotons of TNT. At 0815 Hiroshima time, on time and on target, bombardier Tom Ferebee released the weapon which detonated at 1885 feet above the ground leveling everything within a 1.2 mile radius within the city.

Three days later, on 09 August 1945, a second and even larger 22 kiloton plutonium bomb mission was launched from Tinian. With Major Charles W. Sweeney at the controls, “Special Bombing Mission 16” proceeded aboard a B-29 named Bocks Car. The primary target was the city of Kokura, but clouds obscured it. With fuel running low due to a fuel transfer problem, Sweeney proceeded to the secondary target, Nagasaki, a leading industrial center. The bombardier had specific orders not to drop the bomb unless he could see the target. There was enough fuel for only one bombing run, and a last minute break in the clouds allowed the bombardier to bomb visually as specified by the field order. When the bomb detonated at 1100 Nagasaki time at 1500 feet above the ground, it felt as though Bocks Car was "being beaten with a telephone pole” said a crew member. With fuel critically low, Sweeney turned toward Okinawa where he landed to refuel before returning to Tinian.

It is little known that the B-29 was a global US bomber fashioned in 1942 at a price of three billion dollars to protect America in case England fell to Germany. Independently, the atomic bomb (Manhattan) project was driven by a two billion dollar price tag. American industry had brought together the atomic bomb and the B-29 at just the right moment in August of 1945 on Tinian Island. This terrific weapon combination helped force the end of this terrible World War.

The lives of thousands of civilians and POWs who were perishing at the hands of the Japanese and the untold lives of countless brave American servicemen as well as Japanese who would have perished in the invasion of Japan were spared by the surrender of Japan. As a direct result of the successful B-29 effort, The United States Air Force was soon established as a separate service.

On 14 August 1945 Emperor Hirohito, without his cabinet's consent, decided to surrender. As the Emperor was traveling to a palace to record his surrender message, a group of young army officers attempted to kidnap him and force Hirohito to broadcast false orders to continue the war. The Emperor escaped the coup attempt and the next day, cit ng “the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is indeed incalculable”, broadcast his surrender message – thus ending World War II.

The legendary inter-service effort on Tinian that enabled a relentless B-29 air campaign against the Empire of Japan had undoubtedly hastened the end of World War II.

Addenda: Emperor Hirohito’s surrender message, 15 August 1945. At noon (Tokyo time) on 15 August, 1945, for the first time in history, the voice of the Japanese emperor was heard on the radio. His Imperial Majesty Hirohito had recorded the message the previous day, and he spoke to his people in the very formal language of the Imperial Court, which many of his subjects could not understand:

To our good and loyal subjects

After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure. We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provision of their Joint Declaration. To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations, as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects, is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors, and which We lay close to heart. Indeed, We declared war on America and Britain out of Our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self -preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from Our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement. But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone--the gallant fighting of military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people--the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest. Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is indeed incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should We continue to fight, it would not only result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects; or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers. We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to our allied nations of East Asia, who have consistently co-operated with the Empire toward the emancipation of East Asia. The thought of those officers and men as well as others who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met with untimely death and all their bereaved families, pains Our heart night and day. The welfare of the wounded and the war-sufferers, and of those who have lost their homes and livelihood, are the objects of Our profound solicitude. The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subject hereafter will certainly be great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all ye, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictate of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is insufferable. Having been able to safeguard and maintain the structure of the Imperial State, We are always with ye, Our good and loyal subjects, relying upon your sincerity and integrity. Beware most strictly of any outbursts of emotion which may engender needless complications, or any fraternal contention and strife which may create confusion, lead ye astray and cause ye to lose the confidence of the world. Let the entire nation continue as one family from generation to generation, ever firm in its faith of the imperishableness of its divine land, and mindful of its heavy burden of responsibilities, and the long road before it. Unite your total strength to be devoted to the construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude; foster nobility of spirit; and work with resolution so as ye may enhance the innate glory of the Imperial State and keep pace with the progress of the world.

Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Richard J Childs



EMERY - Richard J. Childs, 51, our loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle passed away peacefully Sunday, July 27, 2003, at his home in Emery after a short battle with cancer.
He was born March 12, 1952 in Price to Max and Renee Childs of Huntington. He married Denise Addley of Emery Feb. 23, 1974 in Emery. Together, they had three children, Justin Childs of Emery, Steven and Katie Childs of Helper, and Mindy and Zac Crawford of Ferron; one grandchild, Gage Crawford; and a precious granddaughter on the way.
Richard was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He loved fishing, camping, riding four wheelers, working with his friends at Nielson Construction and being with his family, which he loved dearly.
He also served 25 years with the Emery County search and rescue and about 10 years as a volunteer fire chief in the Emery Fire Department.
He is also survived by two brothers, Garth and Alyce Childs of Huntington; David and Kim Childs of Tacoma, Wash. He was preceded in death by parents; infant sister; and in-laws, Rex and Barbara Addley.
Funeral services will be Thursday, July 31, 1 p.m., at the Emery LDS Ward Chapel. A viewing will be from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to funeral. A viewing will be Wednesday, July 30, 6 to 8 p.m., at Fausett Mortuary in Castle Dale. Burial, Emery City Cemetery. 


Friday, March 7, 2003

Leonard's Testimony Talk


Carbon County, where I grew up, was only about 30 percent LDS. Many of my friends were not LDS. Two of the men that were my closest friends were LDS but not the kind that would stand up for the church. Fact is, later on one of them joined the Catholic church. Two of the girls we went with were Episcopalians (Church of England) and the third girl was Greek Orthodox. The Greek girl always had some smart remark about the Mormons and then she and I would get into an argument. She would always come up with some scripture or other and then say that the Mormons didn't believe in the Holy Bible. I would defend the church the best I could, which, at times, was not very good, because even though I had grown up in the church I really didn’t study the gospel. A couple of times the car was stopped and we were told if we did not knock it off we could walk home, and that was quite a distance.

Then something happened to me that I would never have thought would happen. My Bishop had the nerve to call me on a mission. I will be eternally grateful to him. You might not be as grateful because if he had not done it at the time he did you would not have to be listening to me.

When I was called on my mission, I was not sure about my TESTIMONY. I thought I had one but I also knew I would have to look at other people and tell them that: Jeg ved at Gud liver og Han er mine Himelske Father og at Jesus Kristus er Hans Son, vore Frelser og vore Forloser og et Mormons Bog er Guds ord ligesom Biblen er Gud’ s ord.   (Give in English) I wasn’ t sure that I was ready for that because what if someone asked me, “ How do you know these things, prove that what you say is the truth?”

I started to take the intellectual or scientific approach. This approach relies on knowledge of facts and reason. Just like Brother Mangelson in his profession. Have him come and tell why he gathers facts. The prosecuting attorney will take those facts and build a case against the person or persons he has charged. If the facts line up right and the attorney can show beyond reasonable doubt the person(s) is/are guilty then they get a conviction.  If the facts do not line up, then there is a good chance the person will go free.

What happens if you base your testimony on facts and reason and some one comes along and shows you that some of your facts are not right? What happens to your testimony?

FOR EXAMPLE: 1.You study all the South American histories and culture to prove that the Book of Mormon is true, not necessarily studying the contents of the book. You believe they know where Noah’ s Arc is, or you know someone who has a sliver of wood that is supposed to come off the cross that Jesus was crucified on. There is one church that used to sell pieces of the cross. I do not think they do it today.

You believe the church to be true because your parents believed it or someone you respect believes it. What happens to your testimony if one of them falls away from the church or moves away? You need to learn that you can not survive in the church on another's testimonies. On the other hand if you want a testimony that God is our Father and Jesus Christ is his son, our Redeemer and our Savior you must go beyond the intellectual approach. You must rely on revelation.

How do we receive revelation? Some receive it through personal contact with Deity (such as Adam, Moses, Joseph Smith) others receive it through dreams, others by experiences and others by the burning in the bosom. Paul the apostle first heard a voice and the voice he heard said,"Saul, Saul, why persecutist thou me?” and Saul asked, "Who art thou, Lord?" And the voice said to him, "I am the one whom thou persecutist." It was not at this time that he was converted to the church but later on.
His‹ ‹conversion was not done by the teachings or hands of man. He writes in Galatians 1:12 “ For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Paul never knew Jesus and never met him before Jesus was crucified. He was converted thro ugh revelation. Paul also wrote in to the Corinthians in his first letter 2: “ But it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God."

What spirit is he talking about? The Holy Ghost.

In John 7:15-17 It says that the "Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never been learned? Jesus answered them, and said: My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself."

Joseph Smith read James 1:5-6: "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

In the Book of Mormon, Moroni states, in 10:4-5: "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. "

You may not receive a personal visit or a voice but you will receive a conviction in your heart that it is true. This testimony is not based on only fact and reason although they may be part of it. You may receive a burning in your bosom that Jesus is the Christ and be eternally grateful for what He did for us in becoming our Savior and our Redeemer and our Brother.

When you tell your parents that you love them, what facts will show that you believe it? It is like the Lord said, "If you love me‹ ‹keep my commandments.” That is the same with the church if we testify that we love God and Jesus then we will keep their commandments.

You young people, if you have had a chance to feel a knot in your stomach when a Prophet dies or someone strikes out at the church or its leaders or you hear someone use God’ s name or Jesus' name in a swearing situation (in vain) then you are on the way to developing a testimony. Prayer is a key that opens the gate to having a testimony. Do not let your key rust.

(If time permits tell about the film at Legacy and the feelings it brought.)

If I had time I would like to tell you about some of my sacred experiences that have strengthened my testimony. That is another new talk.

Share Testimony.

Wednesday, March 5, 2003

Kevin

Hey all,

I just changed my plan for my cell phone so now I can receive text message which includes aol instant messenger(AIM) and (short) emails on my cell phone.  My screen name for AIM is kevinjer21 and I will have the icon   next to my name when I am logged on.  To send me a page or email the address is 5035449540@tmomail.net  If I don't get back soon that means I am at work or some place where my phone is in the silent mode.    Just thought I was pass this info along!

TTFN

Kevin

Tuesday, March 4, 2003

Amino

Looks borderline, so probably not tommorrow, but maybe Friday or early next week.  I will know tonight for sure. 
Love, Kimberly

Saturday, March 1, 2003

Hi Neighbors:

Just a note to let you know we arrived Sunday evening. We went to work Monday morning at 8 a.m. We have 7 days to receive training. Normally, the new office personnel have 4 weeks.

We are in temporary housing in Plano until next weekend.

We sure are busy.

We will check out Kirsten when we get moved and get a telephone.

Thank you for watching our home.

    Russ and Colleen

Thursday, February 27, 2003

Hi from Texas!

We've been freezing down here. It has been raining ice. It immobilized everything. The roads were like ice ponds. We walked on top of frozen rain. It was weird.

We are learning so much. I cannot believe all the office work it takes to run a mission. I think we'll be ready to retire in a year. We spoke at the transfer meeting today. It was really neat. We had missionaries in our office all day. Transfers really are an exciting time.

Russ will be doing lots of driving and taking care of the vehicles.

When we left Nephi we didn't realize our Times News would not be sent. Will you let me know how much it will cost for a year to have it sent here?

The post office does not forward newspapers or magazines.

Hello to everyone. We share your funnies with anyone with a listening ear.

Thank you.
Russ and Colleen

Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Helen

Dearest family- hope all is well-the snow is and has been so wonderful. Our family christmas day is going to be on Saturday the 26th of July at the Holladay South Stake Pavillion and ball park-where we had it last year. I want to send and e-mail to each family  so they can get it on their calendars. I don't think I have all the current e-mail addresses. Will you please within  this next week e-mail me each of your childrens' e-mail addresses-I will then get them notified immediately.

Have a very special week and know I love you much. Love to you-Helen

Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Re: Pictures of


Melanie wrote: In the picture of you, Great-grandma and Menetta, is Menetta the one in the back, standing. I am positive she is, but just wanted to double check. Who
is Toni? I seem to have a memory lapse on this individual.

Melanie

Myrna Trauntvein wrote:

Yes, Melanie, that is Aunt Menetta. She had an artifical leg. Toni is the cute little
baby. She belongs to Aunt Jessie's daughter, the lady I call Aunt Betty. (Not really an aunt at all.) Toni married a Disney artist and had twins but I guess they are divorced because in her letter at Thanksgiving time, which I haven't replied to yet, she said Toni was living in Oregon in the same town. It just sounded like they were divorced.

Love, Mom

Friday, February 21, 2003

I'm going to live!

On Friday, February 21, 2003 10:05 AM, Myrna Trauntvein <mandlht@sisna.com> wrote:
I actually think I am going to make it! I have had a bad past week. I had the good old stomach flu--the kind where you can't leave the bathroom. I missed going to the temple and to church. I was beginning to feel better by Tuesday but I was weak. I'd walk to the top of the stairs and have to sit down. Now I feel fine except when I sit down.

The upshot of my physical was that I have an underactive thyrold, my cholesterol count was 309 (the bad was bad and the good was bad), and I have an 8 degree curve of the upper spine to the right and an 8 degree curve of the lower spine to the left (called an "S" curve) so, yes, I do have scoliosis. However, it looks as though mine was caused by the fall I took down the stairs before I married. (That is good news for my granddaughters.) My bone density has continued to improve and I am now well above the fracture level. When I have the old lady hump on my back it won't be because I don't have good bones it will be because I fell down the stairs and fractured everything.

I now take so much medication that I no longer have to eat--I just take pills (hiatal hernia, thyriod, cholesterol, anti-blood clot, and bones). I get my exercise opening bottles. I should soon be in good shape--pills for food and plenty of exercise!

Lots of love, M

LHT: HIP HIP HURRAY 1,000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000ECT----------RAN OUT OF TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leonard Trauntvein

Thursday, February 20, 2003

Baby Update

My amnio is scheduled for Tues. March 4th at 11:30am  They will know that night or by Wed. morining when they will induce.  I am currently 80% and at a 2.  Dr. Joseph says I won't make it to the 4th and Tracey (midwife)  says "don't count on it."  I am not counting on it, as I was at a 4-6 full-term with Dane and not in labor.  

However, more than likely we will have our baby girl sometime that first week of March.

Love, Kimberly

Saturday, February 15, 2003

More about dress

Mom,

I can view the picture Siovhan sent of her dress, but when I try to save it to a format you can view, it destroys the file format.  Maybe Todd would know some tricks I don't.  Sorry.  I thought I'd be able to save to a format you could use, but it's not working.  Sorry it's been so long.  I haven't logged on for a while.

Love,
Kirsten

Wednesday, February 12, 2003

I'm Glad

I am glad the testing went well. I loved the humor. I don't know if I could have watched Howard's testing. He would be afraid that I would try to blame all of his bad food choices on the polyps that he had to have removed. I don't think I could have watched the removal of them, either.

I am glad that you were able to sleep. It is sad that sometimes the only sleep that we as mothers get, is the sleep that comes from anesthesia. I know that you have been tired, and I don't think that the extra few hours hurt you any, in fact they probably did more help than harm. Remember that I have a very hard time coming out of the anesthesia? I think we know that it comes from somewhere in your line. I have heard that male hormone has a key to helping people come out of anesthesia better, but Ben is like you and I, so I don't know if I would give to much credence to that logic.


The dog was tested for Addison's disease yesterday, but miraculously he doesn't have it. Addison's disease is the same in humans as it is in animals. It is a malfunction of the adrenal glands. It does have to do with the thyroid, in some cases, but mainly the pituitary gland is the one that malfunctions. They would have put him on a corticoid steroid for the rest of his life. It was very expensive. I did a lot of praying that he wouldn't be ill like that. I have to keep him in the kitchen where it is warm and where I can watch him. So far, it has been okay. He didn't howl all night long, like he has done in the past. He just has been like a big baby. He seems to take to me, I don't know why, but he is like my shadow.

I will talk with you later. I hope that your week goes better than last week.

Love, Melanie

Monday, February 10, 2003

Dog Problems


Mon, 10 Feb 2003 13:57:08 -0700
Mom, 
       How did your test go today? It was a breeze--right? I hope that 
everything was normal and that you didn't have to suffer too much.  
       The dog isn't suffering from the Grub-Ex poison, as we thought. He has 
a disease called Addison's disease. Canines can have the same disease as 
humans. It is a problem with his adrenal glands. Several days worth of tests 
and maybe a life time of medicine will help so that he doesn't go into shut 
down again. The reason he looked so awful last night was because he was 
seizing. I didn't know that a seizure could last so long. He was in full 
seizure mode when I got him to the hospital. I don't know what else to do. I 
guess it is all in the Lord's and the vet's hands. I can't believe that this 
could be so traumatic. I have cried and cried. Amazing for someone who is so 
apathetic. I grumble and complain like an old woman living with a crotchety 
old man, but when the truth comes down to it, I kind of like the old man. 
Anyway, I will let you know more tomorrow (Tuesday) after the vet calls me. 
What a life!  At least it is the dog this time, and not the children. 
       Siovhan made it into the Driver's Ed. class during our winter break. 
She will be going to Driving School from 9 AM until 3 PM for five days. She 
can't wait. After that, she just has to take her manual Driver's Test. I am 
glad, but nervous at the same time.
       Thanks for your words of encouragement. I am glad that you could cheer 
me up.
Love, Mel

Thursday, February 6, 2003

CBS Morning Show

I was greatly moved by a young soldier's courage this morning. I was watching the CBS Morning news program, something I don't usually do, when they were interviewing two young soldiers in Kuwait. The soldiers were able to talk to family members and see them via the satellite connection. One young soldier was talking to his wife and two small children, the other was able to talk to his two brothers, two sisters, Mom and Dad, and his brother-in-law. The larger family was being broadcast from Tucson, AZ. The young man with the larger family, was asked a few questions, by his Mom and Dad about the food and his training. He then was asked how he felt about the situation. He remarked to his brother that he knew what he was fighting for, and asked his brother if he remembered the story of one of the greatest Captains in history. I immediately thought of Captain Moroni, and thought with a bit of sadness that most of the world does not know about him. This young, brave soldier then surprised me, and I think he surprised Harry Smith, the anchor man, by explaining that the Captain he was talking about was Captain Moroni. And that this young man was fighting for what was important. He said, paraphrasing, ' We are fighting for our freedom, our peace, our wives, our families and our children.' Some of the soldiers seemed to be mocking him, but he continued to teach a little more about Moroni, and then it was time to let the soldiers say good-bye. I was so moved by his diligence, by his love for his family and for his missionary work.



Melanie

Monday, February 3, 2003

Dress

Grandma,
       This is my prom dress, the one that my Mom talked to you about. We need some help tring to figur out how to add sleeves or large straps. Thanks for your help.

Siovhan



Myrna: Could you, please send the dress as a jpeg? My computer keeps telling me that the file is a movie file and it cannot open it?

Email History

I opened up the email this morning and there was the family history. I have copied it over to Word Perfect so that I can clean up the copy. It copied with two and threes as the quotation marks and a few other computer codes attached. It makes for interesting reading, however. I am fascinated that the name has been attached to so many different areas of the world. It would be interesting to see if where the name originally started.

I love you.

Melanie

Wednesday, January 29, 2003

Snack Sets

Mom, before you give anything to DI, Amy said she would happily take the the remaining glass snack sets.  She doesn't want to stand in the way of others who might want them.  So, she is keeping quiet.  Family and possessions is always a tricky subject.  But, as soon as you say the acronym "DI" all bets are off.

Todd Trauntvein
Sr. Associate

Todd,
I have one more matching snack set for Amy. In other words, it is just like the other two you already have. Also, I have a box of ten plates and cups: two of one kind, three of another, and five of another. Two plates had one small chip each which I repaired and have used that way. If you would like those to go with the other set of four, I would be happy to give them to you. BUT if you do not want them, you do not need to feel that you HAVE to take them to make me happy. I was just going to give them to DI and I still can.

They are yours! Love, Mom


(Everybody in the family got two sets. Some just weren't too excited about it. Julie, for example, thought she would probably never use them. But Jim said to take two. When I got down to counting the number of sets I actually had, there were 18. Kirsten and your Amy wanted three. Then in addition to the 18, there were the 10 cups and plates that were not all  matched. So I will make certain you get them. There is still the one perfect set that will match the others that you have in addition to the others. You will have plates and cups out the ying-yang.)


Love, Mom

Todd wrote: Thank you.  By the way, what's a ying-yang?  :)

Mom: It really is yin-yang. I spelled it wrong. That is the erroneous spelling of yin yang or yin-yang, which is an ancient Chinese concept and symbol referring to complementary opposites, such as light/dark. It can mean from one  end to the other.





Tuesday, January 28, 2003

If


I will get this other cup to you.  Amy likes the dishes and the punch bowl. She is thinking of times we can use them already.

Todd Trauntvein
Sr. Associate
801.567.7137 (w)
801.205.8882 (c)
8662224560@archwireless.net


                                                                                                                   
                    Myrna                                                                                          
                    Trauntvein           To:     "Todd N. Trauntvein" <toddtrauntvein@discoverfinancial.com>       
                   
                    a.com>               Subject:     If                                                           
                                                                                                                   
                    01/27/2003                                                                                     
                    05:50 PM                                                                                       
                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                   




If it wasn't a cup from that puch bowl set that broke, then it was from another. One of the punch bowls has a cup missing because Norma told me one got broken in the kitchen at Julie's reception. By-the-way, I found two
cups that will match that punch bowl if you want them. I don't know where you would keep them, but they would go with the set.

Love, Mom

Thursday, January 23, 2003

I' moving to the Dr's office

The ultrasound was good today.  My fluid is "low normal" at 10 (Cathrina said she was at 4 when they induced her, and 5 when they put her on bed rest--so I am good) and she weights about 3.5 pounds, right on for my  due date (or maybe even a few ounces under), which I will never see (March 26th due date)  because Dr. Joseph is going to treat me as "regular" diabetic and do the amnio at 37 weeks, which is March 5th. Keturah may have this baby for her birthday, after all.  He says that with diabetic babies they don't mature as fast as they do in regular pregnancies and that's one of the reasons they start monitoring so close at 37 weeks. He said in the 50's before insulin the moms/babies just died. And after insulin the babies were doing great, then dying at full term for some reason, and then they started taking the babies early and some still died, and now after lots of practice they have the system down.  

Next week I start the non stress test and ultrasound each week. He  doesn't want me to go more than 4 or 5 days without coming into to  office, which he admitted is "overkill" but he says they also won't miss  anything. So my appt next week is on Wednesday for the NST, Ultrasound  and Doctor.  I think I've decided to stay there, I feel comfortable with how serious they monitor me, and I will probably switch and have Tracey (another midwife) do the delivery with Dr. Joseph as the backup. Grandma Nonie really liked him (Dr. Joseph) and thinks I should let him do the delivery.  I will still see him over the next month and he will be the one to the amnio.    

I also, still have to see LeAnne for the diabetic monitoring, and now she is at McKay Dee hospital,  so I am living at the doctors office for the next 6 weeks. 

Love, Kimberly 





Thursday, January 16, 2003

Photos

Mom,

I have been extremely touched by the photos that you have sent. It is an amazing thing when one feels connected to a deceased family member via a picture. I do remember small things about my Great-grandmother, but not enough. I am glad that you taught me what kind of woman she was. It is amazing to look at a photo and feel time and distance shrink.  I never saw Aunt Renee so young looking. She was a stunner. I don't know why she never thought that she was attractive. She was beautiful! I just remember her in all her tom-boyishness, and she was just Aunt Renee.  I thought of her as a surrogate Grandma. I remember her chastising me when I told her that I wanted to call her Grandma. She did it so lovingly, but still, she seemed like a real Grandma. Thank you for helping to bring her into my thoughts.

Mommy, I love you. I miss you. I hope that you are well.  Mel

Wednesday, January 15, 2003

Remember

I sent AnnMarie food from Kirsten. I asked Kirsten to call her and talk to her tomorrow and then give me the feedback. Let me know what else she needs. Would she like some reading material--or does Matthew take up too much of her time, so that she doesn't get to read?

If you are off on Friday and Saturday, are you going to be in Provo? Hope that you get some rest. You need to take care of yourself as well. You need to be able to help AnnMarie, and so you need to take care of yourself so that you won't be too tired to travel or to watch the children. I am sorry--I know you have a Dad, but I know that you need your oldest daughter to step in and remind you that you tend to do too much, so that you can keep your mind on other things (you've always been like that). Just be careful and don't wear yourself out, we want you to be healthy.  I know you're thinking, "Me? Healthy?" You know what I mean.

I love you.
Mel

Monday, January 13, 2003

Concerns

Dear Myrna and Leonard,

        We got a message from you the other day which we wondered if you intended for us to receive.  It expressed concerns about AnnMarie's health.

        But even if it was unintended, we are worried and concerned with you.

        Even though I don't know a whole lot about either lymphoma or M.S., from what I do know, I believe lymphoma would be preferred, because it has a better chance of being cured than does M.S.   At least that is the way I understand it.

        We have been praying for her, and you, hoping that she may have something more benign.

        We received some worrisome news from Diane over the weekend,too. She has been having some bleeding and pain near the female organs, and she found out that she has a fibroid cyst near her uterus, about the size of
chicken egg.  The doctor told her she will need it out before too long, but he said it would be OK to postpone the surgery until Kory returns from an assignment he is on.  So, we are praying about that, too.

        Pres. Kenison sent in our mission papers last Thursday, so I guess we should learn something about that in a couple of weeks also.

        Keep us informed about concerns that come along.  OK?


                                    With love,  Colleen and Russ



Wednesday, January 8, 2003

Sick

Mom,

Could you let Dad know that I am helping Mikaela and I won't be able to talk to him tonight like I had hoped. She is having really big problems with her breathing. She is coughing so much she is throwing up. Tell Dad "Happy Birthday!" for me and I will call him later this week. I am sorry. I need to go. I can hear Mikaela in the bathroom.

Mel

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