ELIZABETH WALSH FECHT AND FLORENCE

Elizabeth Ann Walsh Fecht and her daughter Florence, with baby Bernard. Photograph was taken at the "home place" just outside of Mexico, Missouri.
For the next two days, this blog will be featuring images of Florence Sullivan to honor her birthday on April 7th. This photograph gives a good idea of what the farm house of Elizabeth and William Charles Fecht looked like. The clothes line normally would give a hint about the day of the week, but I think the uniformity of the clothes suggests that they are baby Bernard's diapers.
There was a protocol about clothes on outdoor lines, that Mildred Fecht learned quickly after her marriage of Bill Fecht. Ann Fecht Shire called her aside and said that it was "immodest" to hang underwear where passersby might see it. One hung sheets and towels as a kind of barrier, with "unmentionables" pinned inside. Sigh.
This photograph was shared by Dr. Dan Sullivan, Florence's youngest son.

BILL FECHT and BERNARD SULLIVAN

Dr. Dan Sullivan sent this photo today of Bill Fecht and his nephew Bernard Sullivan. Dan identifies Bernard's uniform as being that of the Civil Air Patrol.
Bill Fecht served in the US Army Air Corps in World War I. He was very proud of his experience and encouraged his own sons to follow his example. Jim, his eldest son served in the Marine Corps, Bob, his middle boy was in the US Army in Korea and Jerry served 8 years in the Naval Reserves. Bill Fecht would have been very proud of Bernard for wearing this uniform and service to his country.

CHILLICOTHE MISSOURI AUGUST 1941

On the hot August afternoon, when this photograph of Bernard Sullivan (left) and his first cousin James Fecht was taken in Chillicothe, Missouri, they would have had little inkling that within a year war would disrupt both their lives. Bernard would be in the U.S. Navy and Jimmie in the Marine Corps. The little boy Gerald Fecht (Jerry), now 70 years old, still remembers this family picnic, half-way between Corning, Iowa and Mexico, Missouri.
I was about 4 years old in this photograph. The picnic-reunion was probably the first big automobile trip of my lifetime. I recall the excitement of my dad and others fixing a flat tire - there were patches to be applied to the tube - and, my first recollection of my dad calling the tire a "sucker!" (Bill Fecht never used any other swear words, save a very rare "damn.") The Missouri family traveled in a caravan on the journey.
I don't recall where we slept, but on Sunday we went to a Catholic Mass in a massive church. Saint Brendan Church in Mexico, Missouri was a tiny chapel on the second floor of the parochial school. Years later I saw the church in Chillicothe and it was itself very small as churches go. On the picnic day, I recall looking through a fence to see real alligators! And, being held up by my big brother Jimmie to look through a dusty garage window to a car that belonged to Mark Twain.
There are several group photos of this reunion. But, I had never seen this photograph before Dr. Dan Sullivan sent it today.

BERNARD J. SULLIVAN

Dr. Dan Sullivan sent this photograph this morning, but it had no caption. I am fairly sure it is a winter picture of his brother Bernard John Sullivan, likely a decade or so after World War II.

BERNARD JOHN SULLIVAN

Bernard John Sullivan
Bernard Sullivan was the son of Florence and Dan Sullivan of Corning, Iowa. He flew a small, private aircraft for many years, and was employed for the city of Red Oak, Iowa's sheriff's department. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and was among the support troops for the Battle of Iwo Jim. He was the great grandson of Margaret (Bost) and Jacob Fecht.
This photographed was shared by Dr. Dan Sullivan. it was repaired by Photoshop techniques.