- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Estelle Herzog Light
- Creator:
- Tozzer, Newell Bryant
Light, Estelle Herzog, 1922- - Date of Original:
- 2003-09-17
- Subject:
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
Light, Arthur W., 1920-1991
Goldberg, Sophie
Light, Bert
United States. Army. Women's Army Corps
Angel Flight Georgia - Location:
- United States, Alabama, Calhoun County, Fort McClellan, 33.71076, -85.73733
United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
United States, Georgia, Atlanta Metropolitan Area, 33.8498, 84.4383
United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Fort McPherson, 33.70733, -84.43354
United States, Massachusetts, Worcester County, Harvard, Fort Devens, 42.5073, -71.66669
United States, New York, Bronx County, Bronx, 40.84985, -73.86641 - Medium:
- video recordings (physical artifacts)
mini-dv - Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/quicktime
- Description:
- In this interview, Estelle Light recalls her service in the Womens Air Corps during World War II. She recalls her childhood and declares that she and her three sisters were patriotic. She tried to join the Womens Army Air Corps (WAAC) but was initially rejected; by the time she was accepted, it had been renamed the Womens Army Corps. She recalls her training, which was similar to the men's and included parading and going through the gas chamber. She learned secretarial skills and was placed in charge of soldiers' paperwork such as medical and discharges. She was offered the opportunity to take photography, and worked in the photographic lab. She met her husband, who was in the Navy, at a dance. He enlisted the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked and was stationed there for recruiting duty. After the war ended, he was recalled to Korea. She recalled the shock of arriving in the South, with its red clay and hot weather. She recalls German POWs working in the kitchen.
Estelle Light was in the WACs during World War II.
ESTELLE H. LIGHT WWII Oral Histories Atlanta History Center [Tape 1, Side A] Interviewer: …Tozzer and I am going to interview Estelle H. Light at the Atlanta History Center. This is a project to interview World War Two Veterans which is a part of the Library of Congress, will go to the Folk Light [phonetic] Center at the Library of Congress and the Atlanta History Center is affiliated with this project. Would you please tell me your name, Ms. Light and when you were born? Light: My name is Estelle H. Light and I was born in the Bronx, New York. Interviewer: What date were you born? Light: Oh, January the seventh, nineteen twenty-two. Interviewer: And you served in the Women's Army Corps during World War Two. Is that correct? Light: I served in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps to start off. And then I rejoined after three months into the WAC, which was the Women's Army Corps. Interviewer: I didn't know about that. I knew about the WACs, but did the WACs grow out of the… Light: No, they were admitted into the Army in nineteen forty-four. And I had a chance to get out of the service or to re-enlist. And I re-enlisted. Interviewer: So, it was all part of the same Women's Army? Light: No, at the beginning it was the Auxiliary. It was not part of the Army. But then they went into the Army. The Army admitted the women. Interviewer: Now I understand. Then when we realized that we really needed women to win World War Two, it became more serious and you really went into the Army. Light: That's correct. That's correct. And this medal here is from the Women's Auxiliary, before it was part of the Army. Interviewer: I see. And this is from…this medal is from the Women's Army Corps? Light: Women's Army Corps, um-hmm. I think it's the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. Interviewer: Women's Army Corps it says. And this was presented to you? Light: Yes. Un-huh. Interviewer: It's a beautiful medal. Light: Right. Um-hmm. Interviewer: Do you eve wear it? Light: No. No, just keep it. Interviewer: What year did you go into the service? Light: I went in in nineteen forty-three in March. Interviewer: So you were twenty-one years old? Light: Twenty-one years old. Interviewer: Twenty-one years old. How did you happen to do this? Light: I was at the age where most of my friends…boyfriends were leaving for the service and we were four girls at home. Interviewer: Four sisters? Light: Three sisters and myself. And I was very patriotic and I said, “Well, one of us has to do something for the service and I joined up.”. Interviewer: Good. Where did you go first? After you joined, where were you sent? Where did you first… Light: I went to Fort Devon, Massachusetts, for my basic training. Interviewer: All right. And what did your basic training include? Light: Oh, just about everything that the male…a man would do the same thing. We went through the gas chamber and we did parading and just were taught to be soldiers. Interviewer: The gas chamber? Light: Yeah. Interviewer: What was that? Light: We had to go through the gas chamber. Put the gas mask on and go through. The same thing as the Army. We were part of the Army then. Interviewer: What did they want to do? Because I knew some WACs during World War Two when I was growing up and I think they mostly did secretarial… Light: That's what I did. When I finished basic training at Fort Devon I was sent down to Fort McClellan, Alabama, where I was in the office in charge of the discharges, who had medical discharges and different types of discharges. If you were pregnant, you got out of the service at that time. I think now they keep you in. [laughter] Interviewer: It was a different day. Light: It was a different day. And that was my duty, being in charge. And also for the insurance. When people were discharged, I tried to get them to keep their government insurance and just gave lectures on it and tried to get as many as leaving the service to continue on with their insurance. Interviewer: Makes sense. Light: Makes sense. Interviewer: I hope they did. Light: I hope so. I know I did. [laughs] I still have mine. Interviewer: So there you were at…good, you still have your government insurance. Light: Yes, uh-huh. Certainly do. Interviewer: So there you were at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Light: Fort McClellan. And then from there…oh, I was there over a year. And then they had a photography course that came up at Fort McPherson and I signed up for that. Interviewer: Right here in Atlanta. Light: I love photography. I'm still a photographer. And I was sent to Fort McPherson and took the course there. That was about a three-month course, I guess. Something like that. Interviewer: In photography? Light: In photography. Interviewer: I guess they needed photographers. Light: And after that, I was sent back to Fort McClellan, where I worked in the photo labs [inaudible] center. And it was very, very interesting. I loved the work. Interviewer: And how long did you stay at Fort McClellan that second time when you went back out there? Light: Until I was discharged. I was discharged from Fort McClellan. Interviewer: And when was your discharge? Light: In forty-five. Interviewer: When the war was over. Light: When the war was over, um-hmm. Interviewer: So you might say that you spent most of the war at Fort McClellan. Light: Fort McClellan. Right. I had my chance to go overseas, but I met my husband there. Interviewer: Oh, at Fort McClellan? Light: At Fort McClellan. He was in the Navy and I was in the Army. Interviewer: How did you happen to meet him? Light: Well, the WACs gave a dance and he asked me to dance. Interviewer: They did have some social things. Light: At the USO. Uh-huh. And he asked me to dance and we started going out together. He came from Westchester, New York, and I was from Manhattan, New York, so. Interviewer: You had that in common. Light: We had that in common. Interviewer: And he was in the Navy? Light: And he was in the Navy. Interviewer: At Fort McClellan? Light: He was stationed at the post office on recruiting duty. He was recruiting at the time. He joined the Navy, he enlisted the day after Pearl Harbor. Interviewer: And was he about your age? Light: Two years older. Interviewer: Two years older than you. Now your maiden name was Hertzog. Light: Herzog. Interviewer: And his name is…cause he's still alive? Light: No, he's not. He passed away in ninety-one. Interviewer: Oh, I'm sorry. Light: Twelve years. Interviewer: Well, his name was Liechtenstein? Light: Liechtenstein, um-hmm. Interviewer: And then you changed it to Light. Light: Yes, changed it to Light. Interviewer: Very good. And you never remarried. Light: No. Interviewer: And you have children? Light: I have four children. Three boys and a girl. And five grandchildren. And my oldest grandchild was just married. So that gives me six grandchildren. Interviewer: Wonderful. Where did you live most of your married life? Light: Well, my husband was in the Reserves and we moved… Interviewer: The Naval Reserves? Light: Navy Reserve. And we moved to Dothan, Alabama, where there was not a Reserve unit. So he was called back for the Korean War. So from there, we went to Norfolk, Virginia, and Newport News, Virginia. And we went down to Dothan, Alabama. And then to Atlanta. Interviewer: So, after the Korean conflict… Light: After that. Interviewer: …was over you and your husband moved to Atlanta. Light: Moved to Atlanta. Interviewer: And that was when, Estelle? Light: That was in about fifty-seven, I'd say, fifty-eight. My daughter was born in sixty and we were here. She was born at Georgia Baptist. Interviewer: How did you happen to choose Atlanta? Light: Business. Interviewer: What was his business? Light: He was in the jewelry business at the time and worked for one of the jewelers here in town. Interviewer: I see. So it was a good place. Light: Very good. Very good. Atlanta was very good to us. Interviewer: I'm so glad. Light: Then we went into business on our own. Well, he worked for an office supply company and we had four children. And it just wasn't [inaudible] out. Interviewer: What part of Atlanta did you live in? Light: In the northeast, on Biltmore Drive. Interviewer: Okay. I know where that is. Now, let's go back to wartime [inaudible] did your service. Did you have something there that you were going to read for us? Light: Well, it was more or less what you were asking. Interviewer: All right. I would love to hear it. Just go on and read it to us, please. Light: All right. [reading] It was wartime and all of my friends were leaving for service. We were four girls at home and I wanted to do something for to honor my country and represent my family. Interviewer: We were patriotic, weren't we? Light: Very patriotic. Interviewer: All patriotic. Light: [reading] I signed up for the WAAC in March of forty-three, reported for duty in… Interviewer: Go a little bit slower, Estelle. Light: Oh. [reading] I left for Fort Devon, Massachusetts, for my basic training. In July of nineteen forty-three, the WACs were admitted to the Army, the WAC, and I re-enlisted into the Army. I was assigned to Fort McClellan, Alabama. Interviewer: Did you…I must interrupt a minute to ask you this. Light: Go ahead. Interviewer: Was the South a shock to you? Light: Oh my heavens. Interviewer: I want to hear about that. Light: When we saw that red clay! We were on the train and they didn't tell us where we were going. We just got off. We were twenty of us, the first twenty to arrive at Fort McClellan. They had never seen a WAC before. Interviewer: They didn't know what a WAC was. Light: They didn't know what a WAC was. Interviewer: [laughs] [inaudible] Light: So we arrived at Fort McClellan with all that red clay, which we never had up there. We were looking out of the train window saying, “Oh, where are we going? Where are we going?” We thought maybe to Mississippi. Interviewer: Had they told you Alabama? Light: No! They didn't tell us a thing! They just… Interviewer: It was a secret? Light: …put us on a train and moved on off. That's it. Interviewer: It was a secret. Light: Um-hmm. Yeah. Interviewer: And then they'd say, “Get off”. Light: Well, they had the trucks waiting for us at the time to take us to the barracks. Interviewer: And there you were in the midst of… Light: In the midst of the red clay. Interviewer: I can't remember…I had been there to Fort McClellan, to [inaudible], because my husband was there during World War Two. What is it near, in Alabama? What town is it near? I can't remember. Light: It's on the other side, I know, on the south side. But I don't know. Interviewer: Anyway, Alabama was a surprise to you from the North. Light: Absolutely. Yes, it sure was. Interviewer: And it was hot. Light: Very, very hot. Interviewer: What month was that? Do you remember? Light: In June. Interviewer: Hot! Light: Hot, hot. Hot, hot. Interviewer: No air conditioning. Light: No. Interviewer: But you survived. Light: Well, I guess I did. [laughs] Many years later. Interviewer: And when did you meet your husband? Light: In nineteen forty-three. In September of forty-three. And we were engaged in February. Interviewer: Excuse me. When was that that you got to Fort McClellan Light: When I got to Fort McClellan? In June. Interviewer: June of forty… Light: Three. Interviewer: Forty-three. And you met him in September. Light: In September. Interviewer: That was pretty quick. Light: Pretty quick. Um-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Well when…[reading] I was assigned to leave for Fort McClellan, Alabama. We were the first contingent of WACs to arrive in Anniston, Alabama, in nineteen forty-three. Just twenty of us. I was in charge of the office where men and women were discharged for various reasons. Since I did not drive at the time, I was assigned a driver and a Jeep, which was very nice, to take me around Fort McClellan. Insurance was also my job, to see that when the soldiers were discharged would hold on to their government insurance. And then my husband enlisted in the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor, was sent to Anniston, Alabama, for recruiting duty. We met at a WAC dance in September of forty-three. We were engaged in February of forty-four and married on June eleventh of forty-four. Married forty-eight years. And Arthur passed away November twenty-first, nineteen ninety-one. Four children. Five grandchildren. Interviewer: Wonderful family. Light: Um-hmm. [paper rattling] Interviewer: And you have…and lots of them are here in Atlanta, the Atlanta area? Your children and your grandchildren? Light: All of them. Everyone lives here. Interviewer: Oh, aren't you lucky. Light: They all worked together and they live there. Interviewer: In this family business? Light: Family business. Interviewer: And what is your family business now? Light: Office supplies and furniture and pens. Interviewer: All right. Light: We're the largest pen distributor in the Southeast. Interviewer: Wow. And what's the name of the company? Light: Art Light. Interviewer: Art Light. Oh, of course. Go there all the time. Light: Do you? Interviewer: I do. Right there on Piedmont. Light: Piedmont, yeah. Interviewer: That's your business. Light: Yeah. That's our business. Interviewer: I love it. Light: Well, good. That's wonderful. Interviewer: Well, you certainly have had a successful time in Atlanta. Light: Yes, we sure have. We were here at the right time. But of course, things change with these big companies coming in. It's a little harder now. Interviewer: I know. Office Depot. Light: But we have a good name. Interviewer: Yes, you do. You really do. Now let's look at some of this wonderful pictures and things that you have here and talk about them. Talk about what you…have you got the original? Yes, you've got the original and I've got this copy here. This picture…let's see. Why don't you hold it up for the camera and I'll let you hold it up that way. This picture is of you and a group of WACs. Light: Right. Interviewer: And where was it taken? Light: This was taken at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Interviewer: All right. Light: On the…looking at it, I'm on the left side. Interviewer: You're the one on the far left. Light: On the far left. With the Band-Aid on my finger. Interviewer: Uh-oh. [laughter] [inaudible] on your finger. A typewriter accident. Light: Probably. Interviewer: And this was the original group. Let's see. This is one, two, three, four… Light: Yes. Interviewer: …five, six, seven, eight, nine. This is nine. Light: Well, some of them, I guess, we're sleeping and didn't get down to the picture. [laughter] Interviewer: But this is part of the group. Light: This is the group that really came from Fort Devon. There were twenty of us. I guess didn't make it to the group. Interviewer: Was this shortly after you got there? Light: Um-hmm. Interviewer: This picture was taken shortly after you got there? Light: Yeah, I would say so. Shortly after. Interviewer: With the group. Light: It was still summertime. You can tell it was hot. Interviewer: Oh yeah. Who came from Fort Devon? Light: Fort Devon. Interviewer: I guess they really needed your help, so they were pretty welcoming and nice to you down there, weren't they? Light: Oh, they were. They were really nice to us. We had the German prisoners of war that were down there working in the kitchen. And they really cooked very good [inaudible]. Interviewer: At Fort McClellan. Light: Fort McClellan. And they did all the cooking for us. Um-hmm. Interviewer: They were probably the trustees. The trustees of the…you know, the ones they trusted to… Light: Oh, I imagine so. But they were…I mean, they had plenty of security and all around them all the time. And they were behind bars most of the time. Interviewer: Where did you live? In barracks? When you were at Fort McClellan, where did the WACs live? Light: They had very, very nice barracks. Very nice. They were like two-story buildings and we had the whole building. It was very nice. Had a nice, big rec room. And you know, we were two in a room, which was nice. And some had bathrooms. Some did not. But it was very nice living. Interviewer: Pretty comfortable. Light: Very comfortable. Interviewer: Aside from no air conditioning in those days. Light: Right. And then I told you I had a Jeep, a car at my disposal to get down there. Interviewer: You must have been a general. Light: [laughter] Yeah, a general. A general nuisance. [laughter] But it was very nice. I really enjoyed it. Interviewer: What did you do for recreation? Light: There was the USO and then my husband was stationed…at that time it was my boyfriend, I guess, was stationed in Anniston, Alabama, and he had relatives that were in business there. So, he had a car all the time which was very convenient. Interviewer: Very helpful. Light: Very. And he had a lot of relatives there, so we were always visiting when I had time off. In Anniston and Birmingham. Interviewer: They're pretty close together. Light: Oh yes. Un-huh. Yeah. So we were in Birmingham quite often. Interviewer: And so, where did your husband go—I'm in interested in that—when he was perhaps sent away from Anniston? From Fort McClellan? Light: Well, he wasn't really assigned to Fort McClellan. He was with the Navy in Anniston, Alabama. Interviewer: Oh, I see. Okay. All right. Now, what are you doing? Are you at Fort McClellan or Fort McPherson, this wonderful picture here with the cannon? Light: Oh, this was my photography course that I took at Fort Mac. Interviewer: Wonderful picture. Just a great picture. Light: It was cute. Real cute. Interviewer: Cute as it can be. Light: And the course was wonderful. They gave us really nice camera and everything to use. So it was a very nice course and I learned an awful lot from it. Interviewer: I can tell. Really, a great thing. Now, I love this picture of you and your husband and he has on his Navy uniform. When was it taken? Light: This was taken at Fort McClellan. I would say around forty…late forty-four. Somewhere around late forty-four. Interviewer: Okay. And you were married…okay, I remember now. Light: June of forty-four. Interviewer: Married. June. Light: We were married when the picture was taken. In fact, I want to tell you something. I think this was our wedding picture. Interviewer: I bet it was. I was thinking that. Light: That was. That was. Interviewer: That's what I was guessing. Light: Yes, you're right. Interviewer: If I had to guess, I would guess it was. Light: So it was June of forty-four. That's right. I remember it now. Interviewer: Just like that. Light: Little things come back to you. Interviewer: Of course. I was just bet…I was just guessing. I felt like it was [inaudible]. Light: Yeah, you're right. Because… Interviewer: I guess I felt that way. Now is this what you wore when you were married? Light: Yes, un-huh. Yeah. Interviewer: And where were you married? Light: In Birmingham, Alabama. Interviewer: All right. Where? Light: At Temple Bethel. Interviewer: Because your husband had family there. Light: Had family. Interviewer: Did any of your family come to the wedding? Light: Yes, some of my family. Not all. Interviewer: Good. Good. I just knew that was your wedding picture. Did you have a honeymoon? Light: No, we didn't. We didn't have a honeymoon until we were married twenty-five years. And then my children…he could get off. We had planned to go to New Orleans. And he was okay in getting some time off, but I couldn't get the time off. So we just let it go. And when we were married twenty-five years, the children got together and gave us a honeymoon. [laughter] Interviewer: I like it. Light: [laughing] I [inaudible] so. Interviewer: That was wonderful. Light: So it was really nice. Interviewer: You've got good children. Light: Very good. Wonderful. Interviewer: What are their names? Light: What are their names. Okay. Interviewer: This picture [inaudible]? Light: Yeah. Un-huh. This is Stewart. He's my oldest. Okay. Interviewer: Stewart's a boy. Light: A boy. And this is Steve, next to the oldest. This is Bert. And this is my daughter, Cindy. Interviewer: All right. Light: And there I am. Of course, Arthur was…this was taken about a year or two…a year ago. And my grandchildren and their spouses. Interviewer: Wonderful children. Now, this picture of the WACs. Tell me about it. Light: Okay. They took this picture in the barracks. And I didn't even know it was being taken. They called me and said, “Come on, come on”. They called you by your last name, Hertzog. “Come on down.” So I came down and there they snapped the picture. [inaudible] Interviewer: They put you in the back and you're… Light: I'm in my pajamas. Interviewer: [laughs] Taken it [inaudible]. Light: They caught me. Interviewer: That was funny. Light: It was really funny. Brings back memories. Interviewer: Have you been back to Fort McClellan? Light: Well, I know they closed it. It's not there. They closed it now, didn't they? Interviewer: I think maybe it's kind of torn down or something. Light: Yeah. Interviewer: At any rate. Light: But I was… Interviewer: But you've got to go back to it. Light: I was back once or twice. Anniston. I have some relatives from my husband there. Interviewer: They're still over there in Anniston? Light: Yeah. Interviewer: And this would have been forty-four, forty-five? Light: I would say pretty early in forty-four. I don't know if I was married then or not. Interviewer: Okay. And this picture here, which is a newspaper, and it says, “A hundred and eleventh member…Estelle Hertzog of Gray Street, Oxford, whose husband is with the Navy recruiting unit at Fort McClellan Induction Station, is the one hundred eleven Oxford Post of the American Legion”. So this was Oxford, Alabama? Light: Right. Interviewer: I'm glad it's dated, April nineteen forty-five. It's crucial to have dates on things. Light: I know, really. Interviewer: Crucial. Light: You know, you don't think of things. Today I date most everything I have. Interviewer: Me too. It's no good unless…for history it needs to be dated. [reading] “This post was organized last fall.” So that would have been nineteen forty-four. “And a goal of a hundred and eleven members was suggested. On April eleventh, Miss Hertzog spoke to P.A. Mitchell about joining the post. He gave her a receipt for her dues and later discovered she was the one hundred and eleventh member. Miss Hertzog entered the Women's Army Corps in New York and was a Private First Class serving nearly all her seventeen months as a teletype operator. She was honorably discharged last August.” So you were honorably discharged… Light: No, I think that was wrong. Interviewer: I think so, too. Because you said… Light: That was wrong. Interviewer: …you were in till forty-five. Light: Yeah. Forty-five. That was wrong. Interviewer: All right. After you were discharged, and I assume your husband was discharged also? Light: Yes. Interviewer: From the Navy. But you said he went to Korea. Light: Not to Korea. He was in the Korean War. Korean…worked not for the war and he was a yeoman in the Navy. Interviewer: All right. He did not go to Korea? Light: No. No. He was stationed…they shipped him to Norfolk, Virginia. And then we moved to Norfolk, Virginia. Interviewer: Like a good bride. Light: Like a good bride. Interviewer: You followed him to Norfolk. So you followed him around. Light: I had one son. When he was discharged from the Navy, we went back to New York and I…well, Stewart was born in New York before we went down to…and then I had two children in Norfolk, Virginia, and one here in Atlanta. Interviewer: And then how did you happen to come to Atlanta. Light: Business. Interviewer: Just the opportunity. Light: Opportunity. Un-huh. He came with a jewelry concern. Interviewer: And was he…he had been discharged from the service. Light: Oh yeah. Interviewer: By that time. Light: By that time he was discharged. Um-hmm. Yeah. Interviewer: Well, how do you feel—I can't believe it's this long, fifty years—how do you feel about your World War Two experience? Light: Oh, very pleased. Uh-huh. I'm really, you know, when I look back and think of what I did I'm very happy that I joined the service. Interviewer: You know what we call it. The greatest generation. Light: That's right. That's right. Uh-huh. When I look back it's very nice memories. You know, I try to tell my children most of the things, what happened and all, if they're interested. I don't know. Interviewer: I bet they are. I hope they are. I bet they are. Light: I have one son that really is interested. Interviewer: Do you keep up with anyone of your contemporaries, any of your…any of these ladies, these girls? Light: No. Interviewer: The girls in this picture here? Light: No. Most of them were from Chicago. I was from New York. When I enlisted, the school really had just gotten out and most of them were school teachers from Chicago. Interviewer: Really? Light: Um-hmm. Interviewer: So most of this group were from Chicago. Light: Chicago. Most of them were. Um-hmm. You know. Interviewer: Were they pretty clicky [phonetic]? Light: No, no, no. I was very friendly with this one and this one and she was a pharmacist. Interviewer: Do you remember any of their names? Light: This girl here was Sophie Goldberg. And this…oh, she came from Pennsylvania. And the rest of them, really, most of them were from the West. Interviewer: Interesting. Light: From the West or Chicago. Um-hmm. Interviewer: Did you keep up for a little while? Light: A little while, yes. But then, with moving around, you know. You just don't keep up with people. Sometimes I feel like putting a little note in the veteran's magazine, seeing if any of them… Interviewer: I know. Something like that. Or perhaps this project. Something like this project could get you back in touch with each other. Light: Right. Or the e-mail. Interviewer: The e-mail. Do you use that? Light: Yeah. Um-hmm. Interviewer: Proud of you. I need to. Light: You don't? Interviewer: Oh, I try. But I've got to get a better computer. But that's another story. But yeah, the e-mail, the Internet. Light: Um-hmm. Right. Interviewer: I should think…how many years ago was this? This is nineteen forty-five? Light: That's forty-five. That's five, fifty-eight years. Interviewer: I should think it would be fun and interesting to… Light: To try and get in touch with them. But I imagine most of them, some of them…most of them were older than I was. So I guess they're probably… Interviewer: Okay. You were the youngest. Light: I was one of the youngest. So, I imagine most of them are like eighty-five, eighty-six years old. Interviewer: Getting up there. Light: Getting up there. [laughter] Who knows if they're still alive. Interviewer: I don't think eighty's up there. [laughs] But still, it's exciting. This project is exciting and through this project, if they have responded…tell me how you heard about this project. Light: Through the newspaper. Interviewer: Good. Light: I called and they set up an interview and there was the interview. Interviewer: So, it was through the paper? Light: It's been about three months ago, I guess. Interviewer: It was June? Light: About three months ago. Interviewer: It was June sixth, D Day, that the first article…it was June sixth. Light: Yeah. Interviewer: Good old newspapers. They'll put you in touch. Light: Yeah. Right. Interviewer: So you responded. Light: I responded to the newspaper, to the…you know. Interviewer: Now tell us about whatever you want to tell us. Tell us about some of these other pictures. Light: Well, I'd like to tell you a little bit about this. Interviewer: All right. Good. Light: This is…we have a farm up in North Georgia, which we bought about thirty-five, forty years ago. And they just named the street after my husband, Art Light Drive. Interviewer: That is wonderful. Light: And that's in Claremont, Georgia. Interviewer: Where is Claremont? Light: Claremont is right above Gainesville, before you get into Helen or Cleveland. Before you get into Cleveland. Interviewer: Aren't you proud of that. Light: Yeah. Let me see. It says, [reading] “The late Arthur Light, a member of the temple and Atlanta resident since nineteen fifty-eight, recently was honored with a street in Hall County. The name of a road near a Claremont, Georgia, farm which he and his wife, Estelle, purchased in seventy-one has been changed from Truelove Drive to Art Light Drive.” Interviewer: I love that. Light: Isn't that nice? Interviewer: Wonderful. Light: So, we're real proud of that. Interviewer: Of course. Do you spend much time up there? Light: Yes, I sure do. Sure do. This is our house up there. Not a big house but it's nice. Interviewer: A nice house. Light: And that's the farm. Interviewer: It says, [reading] “Welcome, Light's Farm”. Now the street is Art Light. Light: And this is one of my favorite pictures in the house. [reading] “If I had a thousand lives, I'd live them all for you.” Interviewer: Ah, that's lovely. Light: Isn't that a beauty? Interviewer: Lovely. Lovely. Do your children go up there with you? Light: Oh, yes. We go up there quite often. We have picnics and go up for the weekends and, you know, invite people up. [paper rattling] Let's see. What else can I say? Well, before I joined the service I was working for a chain of ready-to-wear stores. Ready-to-wear stores. I was secretary to the owner then and it just got very boring and everyone was leaving for service and I said, “Goodbye, I'm going”. [laughs] Interviewer: You're going to service. Light: “I'm going.” So that's what happened. Interviewer: Patriotic girl. Light: Very patriotic. I really was. Interviewer: We all were. Light: Yeah. And then I have a son that I'm very, very proud of that is doing a lot of work for the…Angel Flight. Have you ever heard of Angel Flight? Well, he's the president of Angel Flight. Interviewer: Tell us what Angel Flight is, Estelle. Light: He's a…he has his own plane, which there are plenty of planes over there. A lot of the retired pilots and all have planes and they use them to bring children and people that are in need of coming into Atlanta for health reasons, to [inaudible], to Emory. They have a wonderful program and he's a very fine speaker and goes around to the Kiwanis and the different clubs and gives talks on Angel Flight. I'm very proud of him. Interviewer: Of course you are. And which son is this? Light: This is my youngest son. Interviewer: Your youngest son. Light: My daughter is my youngest. Bert, um-hmm. Interviewer: That's a wonderful [inaudible]. Light: It's a wonderful thing. And then we have a family business. Interviewer: Tell us about that because I'm familiar with it and love your business. Light: Well, I'll read you a little bit. [reading] “Since the pen is mightier than the keyboard…well, maybe not. But high-quality pens have enjoyed a [inaudible] in recent years and that's one of the features that makes Atlanta-based Art Light office supplies somewhat different from the average dealer. Art Light offers the largest selection of fine writing pens in the southeastern United States. One of the…Stewart Light, one of the owners of the family-run business.” I'll try to leave some out. [reading] “The store was founded in nineteen sixty-four. The firm currently employs fifty-five people and boasts a sales volume of over sixteen million dollars. ‘My parents started the business when a was a senior in high school. Before that, my father worked for a competitor, but took a chance and started his own business. He went out selling while my mother stayed in the store, which was about the size of a bedroom. I use to drive the truck to high school and then after school I would make deliveries.' As they grew up, Light's two brothers joined the business as did their brother-in-law.” And they were very successful and I'm very proud of them, these boys. They're wonderful children. Interviewer: Of course you are. Light: Wonderful children. Interviewer: That's why your business is so successful. Light: That's right. And we do a lot of [inaudible]. First Georgia used us in their program. The First Georgia Bank. That's Arthur and myself. And these are two of their executives. Interviewer: And then this is you. And this was in some wonderful magazine. It says, “Three thousand pens and still counting for Art Light's Estelle Light. ‘I have a personal collection of more than three thousand pens of all kinds.'” Where do you keep them? Light: Downstairs. I have a room downstairs. Interviewer: In your home? Light: I have several large cases, old cases. Parker and Schaeffer. Different cases that I display them in and I show them. In fact, I'm now in the process of getting an old case together with a lot of old pens which I'm going to present to the High Museum. Interviewer: Wonderful. Light: We're going to put…they have said they would love to have them. Interviewer: Is [inaudible] that you have? Light: Old gold [inaudible]. And an old case. So they said they would be more than happy to have t. Interviewer: Well, I'm proud that you're doing that. They're treasures. Light: Treasures. Um-hmm. Interviewer: That's neat. So you've got…you're busy. Light: I'm busy. Oh, I think…I have a home in Florida that I go to. In fact, I'm leaving October eleventh and I stay there until May. Interviewer: Oh really. You stay there all winter? Light: All winter. Interviewer: Cool. Glad we got you interviewed. Light: I'll have to give you my phone number down there so that you…if you have any questions you'll… Interviewer: Yes. Absolutely. So I'll have it. Light: [inaudible] Interviewer: This is at Glen Eagle, Delray Beach. Light: Delray. Right. Um-hmm. Interviewer: Well, I'll keep this. I'm glad we got this interview in before you took off for Florida. Light: Well, that's… Interviewer: There are a few more pictures here. I want to see if…I don't want us to miss anything. I really don't want to miss anything. Now here you are in June of nineteen forty, entering the bar of the Hotel Pennsylvania. That's in New York. Light: New York. Interviewer: So this is before the war. Light: Well, that was just before I…that was in forty. And I went into service in forty-three. Interviewer: Okay. Forty-three then [inaudible]. And notice there's something… Light: That's in Anniston, Alabama. Interviewer: Oh, this is in Anniston. Could you…this is interesting to me. You have on civilian clothes. Could you… Light: Well, we lived in Anniston when I was discharged. Interviewer: Oh, I see. This is… Light: So we lived in… Interviewer: This is after you got discharged. Light: Uh-huh. After the war, you could go out wearing it. During wartime you couldn't put on civilian clothes. Interviewer: I didn't think so. Light: No. Interviewer: During the war you had to keep your uniform on all the time. Light: Uh-huh. But this was after the war. Interviewer: It's after the war. Light: Right. Interviewer: In Anniston. Wonderful picture. We'll get a copy of that, if we may. Light: Yeah, sure. Interviewer: Did you keep a diary or anything like that? Light: No. Interviewer: You just…well, you know it all. Light: I wish I could. No, I don't. Interviewer: You probably [inaudible]. Light: That was where I lived in New York. That was the house there. An apartment. Interviewer: So these are before the war. Light: I call it a house, but it's really an apartment. Interviewer: Right. Pretty girl. And this was… Light: My mom. Interviewer: This is your mother? Oh, how sweet. Light: I was home on leave that time. That was taken on Riverside Drive. Interviewer: And you have on your uniform. Light: Had on my uniform. That was during wartime. Interviewer: What were you telling us in the other room before we came in here about…you were telling me and somebody else about the George Washington Bridge and seeing the lights go on again. Light: Oh, well the lights went off when the war started. They turned the lights out. Interviewer: Blackout. Light: Blackout. Interviewer: Was it a blackout? Light: Um-hmm. And then they went back on. I remember being at my mom's place and seeing the lights light up on the bridge. Interviewer: When they first went back on? Light: Um-hmm. Interviewer: That must have been exciting. Light: Right. We lived right on Riverside Drive, so we faced the bridge. It was very nice. Interviewer: Did you know they were going to go on and… Light: Go on? Yes. Uh-huh. They did tell us. Interviewer: You knew. Light: We knew. Interviewer: To be on the lookout [inaudible]. Light: Uh-huh. Waiting for it. Uh-huh. Interviewer: Was the whole city blacked out mostly during the war? Light: No. No. Interviewer: I wasn't in New York. Light: The city wasn't blacked out. I don't think so. No. Interviewer: My mother was [inaudible] born in Atlanta. And at certain times she had to walk around and be sure that…I don't know when it was cause I don't remember, but she had to walk around and be sure that everybody had their blackout curtains drawn and that kind of thing. This is during World War Two in Atlanta. Light: I don't remember New York. Interviewer: The whole city of New York wasn't blacked out. Light: No. No. But I was in New York recently. In fact, I was in downtown Manhattan when the blackout…oh, the next… Interviewer: [inaudible] Light: We didn't know. We went to a party in New York and we left there at about seven thirty, eight o'clock. It was eight. And the next day we left to come back to Atlanta and we heard on the radio there was a blackout after we left. Interviewer: You missed it. Light: So we just missed it. Interviewer: You were very lucky. Light: Just missed it. Interviewer: Very. Light: Yeah. Interviewer: Well, Estelle, is there anything else? Light: Let me see if there is. [paper rattling] Interviewer: You certainly had an exciting time. Light: Well, I told about the farm. Interviewer: You don't want to miss anything. Light: No, I don't think so. A picture of my five grandchildren. Interviewer: Ah, aren't they cute? Oh, they're handsome. Light: Yeah, they're cute. Interviewer: Very handsome. Light: Well, I could tell you that I'm very active with the City of Hope, which is a cancer organization. And Arthur and I were honored in Atlanta by the City of Hope. They gave us a trip out to Drawty [phonetic], California. And we raised quite a bit of money at the [inaudible]. Interviewer: For the City of Hope? Light: For the City of Hope. Um-hmm. Interviewer: Wonderful. Just great. You keep busy. Light: Oh, I keep busy. I'm always… Interviewer: You keep very, very, very, very busy. Light: Yeah, uh-huh. I'm very active still with the City of Hope. Interviewer: Good. And it raises money for research. Light: Right. Uh-huh. Raising money. Interviewer: Well, I wouldn't say you were retired. I'd say you're a busy lady. Light: Oh, you have to keep busy, right? Interviewer: Exactly. Light: You are too. Interviewer: Yeah. But I'm so thankful that you…[voice off mike]. We're about done. But I'm just so thankful that you responded to the plea in the newspaper to come for interviews because [inaudible]... Light: Well, I think it's wonderful. Interviewer: …been missed hearing about your experiences. Light: I think it's a wonderful project that you all are doing. You take the time to do it. Interviewer: It's exciting. Light: Volunteers? Interviewer: We need it. Light: All volunteers? Interviewer: All volunteers except Frances and [inaudible] are professionals here. The rest of us are volunteers. Light: I have to come back and go through the building. Interviewer: Oh, you must. Light: Beautiful. Interviewer: Oh, you just must [inaudible]. Light: Yeah. I will. Definitely. Interviewer: Good. Light: Definitely. Interviewer: Good. Well, is there anything else you think that… Light: No, [inaudible] got to say. Interviewer: Well, I just think that we're grateful to you for telling us about your very exciting [inaudible] and we're proud of your service in World War Two. And we think you for that. Light: Thank you very much. I know that the [inaudible]. Aren't they doing some kind of a project. Interviewer: Aren't they a wonderful museum? I've been there several times. And I don't know what they're doing about World War Two. I've been there several times. Light: I know I had my…I have a uniform from the service. Interviewer: You do? A WAC uniform. Light: A WAC uniform. Um-hmm. Interviewer: Would you consider letting us borrow it for an exhibit that we're going to have this fall here? Light: Sure. Um-hmm. Interviewer: Well, I'll get Frances to write that down. Light: Yeah. If you want… Interviewer: We'd love to borrow that. Light: You want me to drop it [inaudible]. The uniform…the waist is like that. Interviewer: Oh, I know. Light: I'm half of it. Interviewer: Oh, I know. Me, too. At least I tell myself that. Light: No, I'd be more than happy to… Interviewer: Oh, we'd love that. Light: …let them have it. Interviewer: Thank you. Thank you very much. Light: You're welcome. Interviewer: But that would be exciting to borrow your uniform and I'm gonna ask Frances to copy these pictures. Light: Okay. Sure. Interviewer: They're treasures and part of your thing and we may have some more things we need you to sign. Light: Okay. [end of tape] - External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/245
- Additional Rights Information:
- This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.
- Extent:
- 43:01
- Original Collection:
- Veterans History Project oral history recordings
Veterans History Project collection, MSS 1010, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center - Holding Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
- Rights:
-
