Emil

Emil was born in 1916 and passed away on March 3, 2007 at the age of 90. His wife, Rebecca "Becky" preceded him in death. He is survived by his son and two grandsons.

Emil graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1939. He joined the Army Air Corps after Pearl Harbor and rose to the rank of Major. Emil was a flight instructor and later became an inspector in the South Pacific. Upon his return to Pittsburgh in 1946, he accept a position as an assistant football coach at West Virginia University and enrolled as a full-time law student.

Emil had a long career in labor law and was elected to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas bench in 1977. However, due to his age, he was forced to retire from the common pleas bench in 1986, but then became a senior judge on the Commonwealth Court. He was also involved with the community, serving as a Pitt trustee and as chair of the Allegheny County Planning Commission.

January 30, 1942 Friday night

Special Delivery January 31, 1942

Cadet Emil E Narick

Corps of Aviation Cadets

Maxwell Field

Montgomery, Alabama

Darling,

In a few minutes Peggy and Bob will be calling for me to go to a movie. How nice if we could all be together, but those days will come again.

It seems that we are always having an anniversary over something or other-doesn't it-Just a week ago this morning you left. Don't you feel as though you were in an entirely different world? Nice warm climate now for you. I'm sure you are going to like that new life of yours. And before you know it, you will have your commission, and yes-I will be with you. Ours will probably be a funny life for awhile, but I will be happy anywhere, just so I can be with you. Its hard to tell where we will live, or under what conditions but those things are quite incidental.

There isn't a great deal of news to write about today. Researched all day over on the 19th floor -making charts-and finally Ginny Vinnedge and I sorted sales checks for about three hours-a tiresome job. I'd go completely batty if I had a job like that day after day!

At noon, Jane Stonerod and I went up to the bank and what a crowd was there! Pay day I guess. Took me about twenty minutes to even get up to the window.

This evening was down to King Edward - bought a lot of magazines and had a chocolate milk at our favorite table in the back. The boys there were asking about you.

---------------------Later--------------------

Just came in from the movies with Peggy and Bob. We went to see "The Man Who Came to Dinner". It really is the fastest moving movie I've seen for some time and is excellent. Bob and Peggy tickle me to pieces - their plans are indefinite too - not for exactly the same reasons. Oh yes, Bob said for me to be sure and tell you that when I went out with them, they really showed me a time. Not just to the show, mind you, but hamburgers too!, at the White Tower...they were good.

Didn't get a letter today so I'll come back out to the apartment tomorrow night after work before going home. There just might be a letter.

With all due respect to Peggy and Bob, I think we are a nicer couple, prejudiced aren't I! But I do think we are pretty nice.

Had a card from mother today saying she had been vaccinated. Also that daddy's uncle Bock Nay had died in Casey, IL on Tuesday. All his other uncles had just been by on Monday. The Nays certainly are disappearing fast. Daddy is the last of that line. I always thought I would like to include Nay in my son's name because of that, but it wouldn't sound right to name a boy Bland Nay Narick. Nay and Narick just sound too much alike don't they?

I'm here by myself tonight. The girls have gone home. I was so glad that Peg and Bob took me out tonight, for I would have been pretty moody staying in by myself I suppose. I've learned in this past week to stay around people, for I miss you too terribly when I'm by myself. Mother appreciated your letter so much - good work - Drop Jonesy a card and mention how much I enjoyed going out with them. They were swell. Jonesy sends his very best and is calling me for your exact address next week when I come back from home.

Darling, let's save dimes, you and I. I have a new piggy bank which will hold just $20. Let's do that and buy another bond. Does it appeal to you? I'll try to save at least a dime a day. Maybe I can make it a dollar a week. It wouldn't take us long that way, would it? What do you think?

Darling, I've wondered what you are doing tonight. What you are thinking and wondering if my letters are reaching you alright. I'll send this special delivery in the hope that you get it Sunday. It's spring weather here tonight too, darling. Now if we just had some of the sunshine you seem to have so much of down there. I'm wishing our warm weather would stay around. But we really haven't had our snowy season have we?

Tonight in one of the magazines I was looking through I found these three little quotations which I though were quite good:

"What They Say About Living"

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in our own sunshine----Emerson

Character is the result, not so much of trying to be good, as trying to be better----Anon

No one is entirely useless. Even the worst of us can serve as horrible examples -----The Arkansas Banner

I'm finding myself comparing you with everyone I know dearest, You know, there can never be happiness for me without you. I'm in love with you Emil. Not for just the "duration" but forever.

My love to Uncle Sam's best Cadet

"Becky"xxxxx

I love you more darling and am sending you a special kiss. Shut your eyes and think of it.

"Becky"

Rebecca "Becky" Nay was born in Mannington, West Virginia and raised in Parkersburg and Wheeling West Virginia. She graduated from Tridelphia High School in Wheeling. Becky graduated with her B.S. in 1941 from the University of Pittsburgh and in 1942, received her Master Degree in Distributive Education. She also attended and received a Masters Degree from New York University.

Becky and Emil were married 54 years before her death at the age of 78 in 1998. She died of a heart attack in her husbands arms at their home.

Becky was a member of the West Minster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Her hobbies included cooking and traveling.

At the time of her death, she was survived by her husband, Judge Emil Edmund Narick, one son David Kirk Narick and two grandsons.

WEDDING PLANS PUT ON HOLD FOR A YEAR

In April, 1942, Rebecca has an opportunity to teach in high school, but this would postpone their marriage a year as Rebecca has to sign a contract for one year. For her interview at the McClure Hotel, it was suggested that she dress "older". So Rebecca selected a tan suit, black hat and shoes. The teaching position (which she did obtain) would be at Moundsville.

This new job required Rebecca to go to summer school for six weeks to obtain the educational requirements and then three more weeks of training (as she already had her under graduate degree). Teaching would mean working 10 months from the middle of August to the middle of June at a salary of $150 a month ....$1500 a year. The summer course would cost $300. This teaching position would teach vocational work...training people for jobs which must be filled in stores and in some cases industry...jobs which have been left open by men being called to the forces. Incidentally that was what happened to the teacher whose place Rebecca would fill.

Rebecca refused to marry Emil before she finished teaching as she didn't won't to be married and be away from him. They both agreed that marriage should not be started with a separation. She wished that they could wait until all of this War "business" were over but that was impossible for now...America was no longer a country at peace. The whole War situation was so much more serious than they thought when he left to join the Army Air Corps. The War was much more complicated and involved than just Rebecca's and Emil's personal life. The couple would have to put aside their plans and do their job completely and get this War business over with.

With Rebecca's teaching salary she could buy linens and perhaps their sterling. Emil could put his pay into savings and they would be pretty well set come the summer of 1943.

Distance and the Heart

While Emil was getting trained in the Army Air Corps stationed @the Army Air Base in Homestead, Florida, Rebecca was missing Emil very much.

She told him that in reading one of the magazines, she came across an article about the war resting so very much on the shoulders of the girls of the country. It was up to the girls to keep the boys contented in their country's service. Rebecca doubted that all of the girls realized that. The majority of the American people still didn't realize the seriousness of the situation.

Rebecca was in love with Emil - not for just the duration - but forever.

Convenient "Engine Trouble" in a C-46

After graduation in 1939, Emil worked for the Ford Motor Co. After Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps.

One time, as he flew a C-46 across the eastern United States, the C-46 conveniently developed "engine trouble" over Wheeling, West Virginia. Being an easy drive of the love of his life, Rebecca Nay, Emil landed the plane. He assumed the military wouldn't be the wiser. However, his plane was by far the largest ever to land at the Wheeling airport. The local newspaper not only covered the landing, but reported Emil and Rebecca dining together.

When Emil reached his destination, MP's escorted him from the C-46 and took him to the commanding officer who proceeded to "chew" Emil out in a rather loud voice. The commanding officer later remarked, "Wish I'd thought of that one."

A Bit of Emil's History

Emil's Croatian immigrant parents were very glad Emil turned down playing professional footbal with the Pittsburgh Steelers to study law. Emil had been a member of the University of Pittsburgh's Pitt Panthers 1937 championship team.

As Emil loved to tell stories, one of his favorites was flying to a game at the University of Washington . It became a marathon journey, lasting 2 days. The team stopped over in Los Angeles for a public realtions shoot with actress and pin up girl Rita Hayworth.

More Background Information on Emil and Rebecca

Emil and Rebecca came from two entirely different upbringings but one thing they had in common was their desire for education, hard work and most importantly their love for each other.

Emil went to college on a football scholarship and was a son of a miner.

Rebecca's father was an architect, Harry Ray Nay.

In the beginning....

My history with Emil and Rebecca began in Feb, 2007 when I purchased some World War II love letters off of EBay. I read the letters with great interest because of my desire to learn about the daily lives of the men and women during wartime. I was born in the late 1940's and grew up hearing my parents, mostly my mother, talk of World War II. I've always had a fascination with the time period of 1939-1945 in the United States.

The letters exchanged between Emil and Rebecca show their tremendous love for one another and also give great insight to the feelings that American's had for their support of the War. Individual feelings were put aside and put on hold for the "duration". Any sacrifice was not too great. It's a shame that so many Americans are totally clueless to what that would be like today.