Central Commercial High School - Hour Glass Yearbook (New York, NY)

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7'oo ate I was an American of Italian parents and thought a lot of myself and I thought no one could put a thing over on me. Wlrerr the war started, I decided I'd join up and make myself a hero. A hero, that's a laugh. Well, I joined the navy. Join the navy and see the world, that's what they told me. I went to camp and boy! was the training tough, and I, Iimmy De Petro, working in a kitchen. My own Ma couldn't get me to peel a potato, and when they gave me KP. I could have . . . well, let's not mention it. Before I knew it, I was on a beautiful gray battleship-destination unknown. I guess I wasn't too friendly with the other guys, too busy figuring out how to be a hero. I had to turn to thinking because I wouldn't talk to the Chinese, Iewish, and Negro guys. The fellows of my own kind didn't want to talk to me because of the way I acted toward these fellows, but I had a few on my side at first. I guess they couldnlt quarrel with me because I acted as though I knew it all. So I just got to thinking of one thing and another. All of us were jumpy, wanting action, with eyes peering out to sea, or in the air waiting with tense nerves for the words, Man your battle sta- tions! These words came soon enough. We all ran to our posts. There I sat with my gun's nose in the air and thought how many Iap planes I was going to shoot down. I didn't have much time for thought for before I knew it the planes were overhead and all guns were firing. The fight seemed hours long but it was only a matter of minutes, and I, the great hero who was 16

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Though M an Ervtlaerlwvd Did you ever sit down and try to reason out things with yourself? Did you ever try to realize what freedom means? This is not to force you to think or to change your mind. What I'm trying to do is to explain what freedom means to hungry, underclothed, and starved human beings. It doesn't necessarily have to mean one group of people, it means people of different creeds, colors, and races. They are not only in Europe, but also in our own freedom loving country, America. Yes, this is the land of the free and the home of the brave. I think this country is tops in the World. In my heart I realize what that means. And I think I am expressing the feelings of all the underprivileged and fortunate people. How many of you ever thought of how the people became displaced persons? Do you realize that almost the Whole population of Europe was wiped out? Do you realize what aid these helpless people need? It's true that there are agencies helping these people. There are also people who don't receive any help. These people don't have any friends or relatives to help. These are the people that we are sony about, and these are the people that We, in America, have to help. Not only We in America must help, but the fortunate people of the big and little countries, that are back on their feet and can afford to help, must do so, too. This is the question: What can We do, We, who are fed and clothed properly? We can send clothing and food abroad through certain charities. We can help by working in the charitable agencies. There are many Ways to help. Why can't We in America help the unfortunate people to achieve our kind of freedom, freedom that they can enjoy in a permanently peaceful World? Let us people of the freedom loving countries pray to God, thanking Him for our country in which we can enjoy the Four Freedoms no matter who We are. We must, we will, with the Grace of God, win this peace! BY HENRY BERMAN-SDI I 5

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going to shoot down so many planes, didn't even get one. The Negro fellow to the far side of me shot down four planes and the Chinese guy on the other side shot down three and two ran for home. That burned me up and the fellows kidded me because I said I was going to shoot down so many planes. That burned me up more. I sulked, and one of the Negro guys tried to talk to me but I pushed him away. Yes, I pushed him away, I pushed a friend away. The laps weren't so easy to get rid of. They came back at dawn. This time they got close enough to lay some of their eggs. One fell near my gun and I felt myself flying into the air, then came the hard impact of the water, and all went black. I was sub-conscious as I lay in bed and heard the phar- maeist's mate telling the doctor what had happened to me. It seems that after I had fallen into the water the Negro I had pushed away had jumped over- board and rescued me. The doctor said he didn't think I'd live for I was pretty much burned from the explosion, with bones broken from the impact with the water. The thought rushed in my mind . . . I was going to die. I couldn't let that happen, I wanted to thank the guy for rescuing me. A funny feeling came over me and pain shot through my body. I was going to die! I wanted to shout out, God, don't make me die now. lust let me live long enough to thank that Negro fellow! Another pain shot through me and grabbed at my heart. I gasped and choked and my life was over on earth. l'm dead now and I guess I sound pretty bitter to you. VVcll, I am. I feel I have been given a raw deal. XVhen I lay dying I saw what I should have done and God took me away before I could square myself with at least one guy. My only wish now is that the guys who discriminate unwisely will wake up before it's too late. I feel better now that I have told you my story. Maybe now my soul can rest. SYDELL BERCIXIAN 14 Strange Sv:-t of Prayer Well, God, here we are. You up there, I down here, with a burning enthusiasm for all believers in brotherly love and the kinship of all humanity. I Oh, God, how nice it would be if all men were brothers and all could be free to worship as they pleased. VVith the war over and the boys all done with the lighting, must they come home to fight among themselves? VVas this really meant to be? Tomorrow, and more tomorrows, I'll still want freedom for my children and my children's children. If I must struggle alone my dreams will never become realities. Well, no hard feelings, I'll go wherever you say, and do whatever you want me to, for You know what's best for me, but Dear God, maybe if You could get the people to understand the meaning of All for one, and one for all, regardless of their beliefs and the color of their skin, maybe then we'd achieve a better world. You see, God, that's the sort of world all men will want to live in. YVONNE SHELBY 17