THEY ONLY CHANGED HIS NAME

SELECTION FROM THE TEXT-“THEY ONLY CHANGED HIS NAME” (PP. 155-157, CH. 29 – FAST FORWARD TO SEMPRE FIDELIS) “What is known is that the relationship between Bert and Julia had reached a plateau of mutually comfortable accord—they solemnly pledged that each would have the other as a marriage partner. This was not a heart-throbbing romance. Bert’s status in the Becker household affirmed the regard with which he was held by all its members. This association persisted for nearly four years and it enriched his life and radically altered the manner in which he spent his free time. “All of that was to change, however, in that on April 6th, 1917, the United States entered the war in Europe. The draft was initiated and recruitment posters were prominent in every city, town, and village. Bert, now twenty-five years old, was of prime draft age and on the 23rd of June, 1917, he completed his draft registration form in Fullerton, CA. Although he didn’t live there, it was more convenient for him to sign up at that local draft board than doing so in Oil City, still regarded as his place of legal residence. His working routine continued and he read the papers for any news pertaining to how well the American troops were doing in France. He exchanged opinions about the war with his fellow workers at the repair depot. It was more than obvious that Bert was the one person in that shop whose age made him most susceptible to the military draft. Of course, he shared his perception of his probable role in the war effort with Julia and the members of the Becker family. Without a doubt, this war was creating a new role for him which he knew would soon be his. “The American involvement in the war had continued for nine months and yet his draft number had yet to be drawn. So far, he was fortunate in that regard. He suspected, nonetheless, that a call up which included his number would now come sooner rather than later. It was inevitable, to say the least. With such a realization swirling about in his head, he decided that his future would be advantaged were he to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps rather than waiting to be drafted into the regular Army. This was the decision that, in February of 1918, he presented to Julia. Like many engaged young women, accepting the prospects of such a situation was experienced with a saddened sweet bitterness. “You know I’ll wait for you, Bert. I’ll pray every day and every night for your safe return.” “I’m so sorry that our plans to marry have to be set aside. And if I don’t…” “Julia interrupted Bert, placing her hand over his mouth. “Don’t say it, please, don’t say it. You’ll be back, I just know it. Don’t ever think about…well, you know, about what a war can do. It’s heart-wrenching. It’s already destroyed so many lives. A family up the street got that horrible telegram last month, and as you know, two families at church have suffered the same loss—and for us, the war is just getting started.” “Please understand, Julia. We might have had a little more time together now if I would wait for my number to be drawn. But then, I’d be in the Army and who knows where I’d be or what I’d be doing. If I enlist now, at least then I’ll have a choice in some of that. But in either case, I’ve got to go home first because that’s still my legal residence. So, what I’m trying to tell you is that I’ll have to leave for Oil City at the end of next week.” “As far as the draft procedures were concerned, Bert was still a citizen of Oil City, Pennsylvania. So, in order to lawfully satisfy the draft requirements although he was going to join the Marines, he’d have to return to his parental home and the draft board for Oil City, Pennsylvania. The draft board in Fullerton had sent his registration form to that office. “There was a flurry of letter writing in the days that followed his declaration to Julia. He requested military leave from the Company, he notified Mrs. MacDonald that he would be gone at the end of the next week, and he penned a brief statement for Pastor Hoick of St.Paul’s Lutheran Church. He had never formally joined that church. Throughout the nearly nine years he had now lived in California, he still regarded himself to be a member of Good Hope Lutheran Church in Oil City. Indeed, his occasional contribution to the church’s treasury and his attendance at Holy Communion on those few Sundays when he was in town on a visit, according to the church council, sufficiently confirmed his membership status. Indeed, in subsequent publications, Bernard E. Baumbach was always listed as a member of Good Hope Lutheran Church who was serving in some branch of the American military force. A footnote to this issue of his presence in Oil City, Bert had vowed never again to attempt to make the trip on his motorcycle. Subsequently, every return trip was accomplished, first by rail, and then, in later years he made the journey in a meticulously conditioned sedan. “He learned that his two brothers-in-law, Irby Sharp and Frank Kistler were not draft eligible. Irby’s job with the railway was considered to be one which was essential to the war effort and Frank did not pass the physical exam. Bert’s older brother, Albert, a skilled machinist, was judged to be ineligible for the draft because his position in the petroleum industry was classified as being essential to the war effort. Bert’s younger brother, Conrad, who was two years younger than Bert, joined the Army long before his number had been drawn. Indeed, it was in Florence’s letters to Bert that he had learned of Con’s experiences in boot camp and that he had already been shipped out and, as far as she knew, he was already somewhere in France. Truth be known, it was the way Florence expressed to Bert what Con had written to his parents about his experiences in the Army which had provoked Bert’s decision to join the Marine Corps.”