DB32691 Elsie Hornbacher: Rosalie Crosbie of 617 West Front Street, Traverse City, Michigan, zip code 49684, telephone 946-8711, is recording her experiences during WWII. Rosalie was with the Red Cross. [00:25] Is that right, Rosalie? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. Elsie Hornbacher: This is June 20, 1984. Elsie Hornbacher is the interviewer for the Lansing Unit of the Women's Overseas Service League. [00:40] Rosalie, you're no longer connected with WOSL in Traverse City, are you? Rosalie Crosbie: No, there's no, uh, a club or organization out there. Elsie Hornbacher: I see. Rosalie Crosbie: Mm-hm. Elsie Hornbacher: Well, we were real happy to see you the other night at our patio party after all these years apart. [00:57] Um, you were with the Red Cross? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm, go 'head. Rosalie Crosbie: Um, I joined the Red Cross in, uh, uh, June of 19, uh, 45 – think of it. Elsie Hornbacher: [01:09] 1945? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. Um, and, uh, had the training in Washington, DC, and, uh, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and went overseas, uh, early in July 1945. Elsie Hornbacher: 1945? Rosalie Crosbie: And the war had ended. Elsie Hornbacher: [01:26] Well, that was toward the end of the war? Rosalie Crosbie: That was, yes. It was towards the end of the war. Um, the war had ended in Europe, but it was still, uh, in – going on in the Pacific. And, um, well, I went over on the, um, Queen Elizabeth. Um, uh, we, uh, were, uh, went up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland and crossed over in England. Um, then we took an [Exchequer 01:53] across to, uh, uh, France and, uh, uh, Le Havre. It was a – uh, we had – they held us, uh, almost in – oh, ov-, over a day in the, um, before they let us go ashore because there were still mines in the, uh, water there in the, in the… Elsie Hornbacher: [02:15] In the English Channel? Rosalie Crosbie: …in the English Channel, right. And, um, we, uh, were a few days at, uh, Le Havre. They put us on a night – all-night train, uh, to Paris. And, uh, we were there, um – well, let's see. It was the celebration of the…um, hm [chuckle]. Elsie Hornbacher: What month? Rosalie Crosbie: This was July yet. Elsie Hornbacher: Oh, July. Rosalie Crosbie: Uh-huh. Elsie Hornbacher: Then wouldn't that… Rosalie Crosbie: [Inaudible 02:40] it… Elsie Hornbacher: …be comparable to our American Revolution? Their, uh… Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, um… Elsie Hornbacher: Oh, what is that name? Do you remember it? Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, this slips my mind. [Inaudible 02:51]… Elsie Hornbacher: Bastille Day. Rosalie Crosbie: Bastille Day, that's right. Elsie Hornbacher: That's right. Rosalie Crosbie: Right. Uh-huh. Elsie Hornbacher: Uh-huh. Rosalie Crosbie: I was there for that. Elsie Hornbacher: I was over there during it. That's how I happened to remember. A few years ago. Rosalie Crosbie: Right. Mm-hm. Elsie Hornbacher: Go 'head. Rosalie Crosbie: And, um, from there, uh, we were assigned our different, uh, [where 03:04] were different ones who couldn't go. I was sent to southern France at, um, Marseilles and, um, then, uh, I was on the staging areas we had. Uh, but, but first they were sending the soldiers, um, over to, to, uh, Japan and, you know, our Pacific [inaudible 03:23]. And, uh, but the war ended in August and then they sent them home, of course, from the – there. And, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: Uh, this wasn't an occupation country like Japan or Germany. [03:41] Um, and I suppose the boys stayed in France for some reason? Rosalie Crosbie: Well, they were stationed there at, uh, there was, at this, uh, staging area. Elsie Hornbacher: [03:48] Oh, but it wasn't an occu-, occupied then? Rosalie Crosbie: Not yet. Uh-uh. Elsie Hornbacher: Uh-uh. Uh-uh. Rosalie Crosbie: No. Unh-unh. No, no. Elsie Hornbacher: [03:53] It never was? Rosalie Crosbie: No, but it never was, no. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: And, uh, there were five Red Cross, um – well, they were just wooden frame structures, you know… Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: …set up in a hurry. Uh, and thousands of soldiers, of course. Um, we just couldn't do very much in the way of recreation just more or less giving them doughnuts and coffee and, uh, uh, because there were so many of them. And I was there that summer and fall until, um…almost, almost Christmas, and they closed out the staging areas pretty much [inaudible 04:38]. Elsie Hornbacher: [04:38] This would be 1946 then or 1945? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. This was, um, '45. Elsie Hornbacher: '45. Yeah, uh-huh. [04:46] How long did you stay there then, Rosalie? Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, I was…hm. It was still in 1946 and then… Elsie Hornbacher: [05:00] You came home in '46? Rosalie Crosbie: No, no. I was – from there, uh, after the staging areas closed out, I was on the, uh, they did- – were beginning to send the depen-, the new, the soldiers over for occupation… Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: …forces. I was put on, uh, the dependent trains, uh, where they met the, the soldiers' wives and children at Bremerhaven in Bremen and, uh, then we took them, uh, on the, on the trains to five different, uh, areas all over Europe. Uh, one train went to Berlin, one to Paris, one to Heidelberg, uh, Vienna, uh…and I just can't recall the fi-, fifth train. Uh, then we would pick up – or take the, the, uh, brides and, uh, or their wives, children to these, to the soldiers that were stationed there and they had decided to stay awhile over in Europe. And then we would pick up the war brides and take them back so they could go back to the States. And, uh, so we, I was a train hostess and for six months, I did that. Elsie Hornbacher: [06:14] You mean you rode on the train? Rosalie Crosbie: I rode the trains and we rotated as to, uh, which train you would ride. And I rode the first, I met the first boatload of, uh, women, uh, um, that came over. Elsie Hornbacher: [06:28] Were there any particular memorable experiences you had during, uh, these train rides to the different cities with the war brides and so forth? Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, the first train, um, that I rode was the Berlin r-, ride. Uh, it was, uh, and we met the first boatload of, um, women and children that were coming from the States for the soldiers. Uh, this was, um, written up all over the United States and there were reporters there and photographers from, uh, all the leading, uh, newspapers and magazines and, uh, Life magazine. A couple of reporters from Life magazine were there on our train, took all kinds of pictures and, uh, we – they met the, the, uh, women, of course, with, with a lotta fanfare and the, uh, there were bands playing and they gave'm corsages and, of course, the children're all sick and they were crying and we, we Red Cross girls. There were five of us – no, there were more than that at first because there were three girls to a train. Uh, later on, they reduced it to just one girl per train so this, um…these women, of course, were all tired and everything so we had all kinds of things to give them at first, you know? Uh, Kleenex and toothpaste and, uh, pop and all kinds of, um… Elsie Hornbacher: [07:54] These products weren't available on the European markets, were they? Rosalie Crosbie: No, so they were happy to have them, mm-hm. Elsie Hornbacher: 'Cause I remember we couldn't even buy a bobby pin in Japan. Rosalie Crosbie: Right. So, uh, and, uh, so we had – rode this train to Berlin. We had to go through the, uh, Russian zone. Uh, it was about before you went into Berlin, and they slowed the trains down to about 15 miles an hour, uh, and the, and the Russian soldiers came on the trains, walked through it. Uh, I don't know what they were inspecting, but, uh, so we were late for about, um, oh, maybe s-, 6 to 10 hours, real late the train getting into Berlin. And the soldiers, of course, were all waiting in the station there. And with one voice, they all, “Where have you been?” You could almost hear [it 08:39]. [chuckle] And they pi-, they didn't even wait for the women to get off the train. They just piled onto the train. I was crushed up against – it was real exciting and, uh, uh, you know, they were so happy to see their wives. Elsie Hornbacher: [08:53] In 19-, in 1945, we were still friends with the Russians. Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, but they were still, um, quite suspicious more or less and, uh, as I say, they had to inspect the train. Elsie Hornbacher: Oh. Rosalie Crosbie: They walked through it, you know. They got on the train. That's why it was stopped and the, and, um, they were very… Elsie Hornbacher: Yeah, that's right. [09:13] A part of Berlin was assigned to the Russians. Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, right. And, uh, I had three days in, uh, Berlin then to look around before the train went back and, uh, so… Elsie Hornbacher: [09:22] Was there a great deal of rubble there? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, mm-hm. Elsie Hornbacher: [09:26] Uh, what would you say? Rosalie Crosbie: Well… Elsie Hornbacher: A, a fourth of it was, uh, just destroyed or less or, uh, just a rough estimate? Rosalie Crosbie: At least, least a fourth. Uh-huh. Elsie Hornbacher: At least a fourth of it was destroyed? Rosalie Crosbie: Yeah. And, uh, you s-, saw the women in the streets kind of cleaning, trying to clean up all the rubble, you know, and picking up. Elsie Hornbacher: [09:48] Do you think the people had enough to eat there? Rosalie Crosbie: I… Elsie Hornbacher: That is the Germans? Rosalie Crosbie: …I think it was Ge-, yes. Um, no. I think they had trouble getting food very much. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. [10:02] Uh, did you notice any, um, effort, uh, by the Germans to get out of Berlin at this time? Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, not so much. I, of course, wasn't there… Elsie Hornbacher: In the city, yes. Rosalie Crosbie: …right in the city very long. Elsie Hornbacher: I can understand this. Rosalie Crosbie: Um, and they seemed to be dazed, uh, more, uh, shocked, [yeah 10:21], you know, [type 10:21] and, and the looks on their faces [as well 10:23]. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. [10:25] Did they make any effort to contact you verbally or, uh? Rosalie Crosbie: No. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. [10:31] They were [inaudible 10:31]? Rosalie Crosbie: Mm-hm. Um, of course, uh, Frankfurt was also, uh, badly damaged and, uh, who-, whole sides of the building were off and everything and even, uh, it – 'cause I was there in '46 you see, and that was nearly a year later and, uh, still, uh, sometimes you could smell, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: Human. Rosalie Crosbie: Mm-hm. Elsie Hornbacher: Uh… Rosalie Crosbie: They, they were tryin' to… Elsie Hornbacher: …human corpses. Rosalie Crosbie: … clean it up, right? Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: Um, so I was able to travel all over Europe where our men were stationed, our soldiers were stationed during that six months on the trains. Uh, they kept, uh, reducing the, um, number of girls that worked on the, so that by the end in October – we had started this in, early in the spring. Elsie Hornbacher: [11:25] Uh, '45? Rosalie Crosbie: Yeah. This is '46. Elsie Hornbacher: '46, okay. Rosalie Crosbie: And, um, um, by the end, there was only one girl to a train and we didn't have any supplies to give'm. [chuckle] You know, the… Elsie Hornbacher: No Kleenex? Rosalie Crosbie: No, nothing. [laughter] Elsie Hornbacher: Back in those days… Rosalie Crosbie: And, uh, it got to be kind of a… Elsie Hornbacher: …uh, there's a shortage of toiletries… Rosalie Crosbie: Yeah, right. Elsie Hornbacher: …where a Kleenex came in handy. Rosalie Crosbie: Then after a while, they took the Red Cross girls off completely… Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: …and, uh, they could fare the best way they could getting [there 11:53]. [chuckle] Elsie Hornbacher: [Obviously 11:54]. Rosalie Crosbie: [Inaudible 11:54]. Um, I was assigned from there to, uh, Salzburg, Austria to a Red Cross club, and there's where I really did much more recreation and planning [of 12:08] that. Elsie Hornbacher: [12:08] What did you do before you were in the service? Rosalie Crosbie: I, uh, was always interested in recreation. I, uh, started planning, uh, ga-, uh, collecting games and planning parties from the age of 14. And, um, worked, uh, I was sent – when I was 17 the church to a national recreation, uh, training for a few weeks. And, um, I started a business on my own, uh, for, uh, in planning parties and evenings and advertised in a local paper, uh, wo-, uh, just more or less did it on, from my own experience. Uh, I was always interested in dramatics, uh, and was in several of the Lansing City plays and in the – took a course in radio drama at the college, Michigan State University. Uh, I, I had… Elsie Hornbacher: [13:07] That's in East Lansing? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, in East Lansing. They, uh, when I was interviewed for Red Cross, they thought that I had sufficient background in recreation so that, uh, I was taken in… Elsie Hornbacher: [13:23] Do you happen to remember what your pay was overseas? Rosalie Crosbie: I was paid $150 a month plus expenses. Elsie Hornbacher: I see. Rosalie Crosbie: And, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: [13:34] And where did you sleep? Did you have a, uh, hotel to stay in or? Rosalie Crosbie: Some places we had hotels and, uh, given rooms. Um…the accommodations were pretty good. Elsie Hornbacher: [13:46] Uh, did you have a home base? What was your home base? Rosalie Crosbie: It depended on where I worked. I, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: [13:53] It varied from month to month? Is that it? Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, well. Yes, I was changed from month – when I first went to, uh, France and so-, to southern [Spain 14:02], I think I changed two or three – well, we were, at Aigues, France. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Aigues, France. [14:10] Is that near, uh, so-, is that in southern France? Rosalie Crosbie: Southern France, um, but we had to ride 20 miles to the staging areas every day, back and forth on trucks. Elsie Hornbacher: [14:20] How did you ride – in trucks? Rosalie Crosbie: Mm-hm. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: And we rattled around in the truck. And, um, then when I was sent to work inland off the staging area, I was living in a hotel for a while. And, uh, we had a little, little club, uh, for the, um…the, the so-, the officers at first. And, um…then – I, anyway, I moved about three times at the time I was, uh, in southern France. Uh, when I was sent on the trains, they first, uh, had us, uh, uh, they gave us a nice, all five – all of the Red Cross girls in a, kind of a house. You know, we had the place. We didn't have that very long. They decided that was too expensive, I guess, so they set us up in Frankfurt and that was our, we had just rooms in the hotel there. And, um, but, of course, we were riding trains back and forth all the time. When I was in Salzburg, Austria, uh, we were, uh, set up in, uh, a hotel by room and also there were others that were around. My roommate was a girl who was, uh…she was not in Red Cross. She was, um, she was a librarian. She worked on a, uh, a mobile, uh, li-, libr-, a truck, you know, that w-, went around to all the different small towns. Uh, she'd go with the truck and had to – was tryin' to think what she was – must've been [the wax 15:55] or something. I don't know just what her – I saw that we were billed with other, uh, services not only just our own. Elsie Hornbacher: She was probably, uh, Department of Army Civilians. Rosalie Crosbie: That's what she was, right. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Right, yeah. Rosalie Crosbie: Couldn't quite think. Um, then, uh, and, and, of course, in Salzburg, uh, the, the actual Red Cross club was, had been a, uh, former gambling casino. It was a beautiful building, had three floors, a re-, big ballroom. And, uh, then, uh, we serviced, uh, men, uh, that were coming over there in the occupational – the – many of them much, were much younger because they were 18-19-year-olds and most of them hadn't had any, uh, war experience. They hadn't been [inaudible 16:42]. Uh, but, uh, we had all kinds of facilities for them. They had – there was a barbershop there, uh, and, uh, there was, uh, game rooms of ping pong and there was reading rooms where they could be quiet. And we had a, a program going constantly, of, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: Different activities. Rosalie Crosbie: …activities. Mm-hm. Elsie Hornbacher: [17:05] Back in 19-, uh, '45 and 1946, $150 a month was a pretty good salary, wasn't it? Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, well, it… Elsie Hornbacher: [17:13] Maybe a little above average? Rosalie Crosbie: …yes, it was in the – it was average. Elsie Hornbacher: Average. Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, some of the girls that went into Red Cross had to take cuts in pay because they were getting… Elsie Hornbacher: [17:22] 'Cause they'd get more at home? Rosalie Crosbie: …much more at home. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, with me, it wasn't so bad, uh, and, uh, with your, with your, uh, you know, board and room taken care of… Elsie Hornbacher: Yeah. Oh, yes. Rosalie Crosbie: …you had extra money. I sent… Elsie Hornbacher: Considerable. Rosalie Crosbie: …money home, and, uh, to my mother [for her 17:40]. Elsie Hornbacher: [17:41] Actually, uh, [throat clearing] all of your personal, uh, um, belongings could probably have been put in a foot locker over there, couldn't have they? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. We traveled around with, mm-hm. Elsie Hornbacher: [17:53] And uh, uh, traveling… Rosalie Crosbie: Uh-huh, uh-huh. Elsie Hornbacher: …uh, to that extent? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. Yes. Um…see, I was trying to think. Elsie Hornbacher: [18:00] Did you have any funny experiences over there? Rosalie Crosbie: Well, I jumped off a moving train. Uh, [laughter] I was on the wrong train. When it started out, we were talking to one of the other girls and, uh, so it just started very slow but I thought I could get off in a hurry and I took a flying leap and sprawled on the pavement [all over 18:20]. Didn't hurt myself too much except my pride, of course, but, um, and, uh, but I got off that train in a hurry. So then, uh, another time, we had these potbellied stoves in the Red, in Red Cross clubs and the, while this was… Elsie Hornbacher: [18:39] Don't have the central heating systems over there? Rosalie Crosbie: Not in those clubs on, uh, in southern France. They're just little wooden shacks build up, you know, set up. So this was, uh, and I was cold and I had the, you know, kind of a raincoat-type, uh, on and, uh, buttoned up real good and had, uh, my purse over my shoulder so it kinda and I was leaning to, or sitting, standing too close to the stove anyway and I felt pretty warm. And of course, I did the thing you shouldn't do, I started [chuckle] running. Someone grabbed me and beat the flame out. Ruined the coat but I was saved. [chuckle] And, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: [19:23] Did you hafta pay for your clothing over there? Rosalie Crosbie: We had, I remember I drew $500 out to go into Red Cross. We had to buy our uniforms, yes. Elsie Hornbacher: [19:35] Oh, you did buy them? Rosalie Crosbie: And, uh, uh-huh. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: And, uh, of course, Red Cross didn't get any, uh, we were civilian. We weren't, uh, considered the army so, uh, we weren't, uh, when we got home, we weren't given any special benefits like the – um, so some of'm, you know, thought that it was a little underpaid or something they didn't get so much but… Elsie Hornbacher: [20:00] Had Salzburg been bombed? Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, no. No. It was intact and very nice and, uh, a very picturesque place. And, uh, often saw them wearing their native costumes and, and we had… Elsie Hornbacher: [20:19] The lederhosen? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. Uh-huh, uh-huh. And we had, uh, entertainment all the time in the Salzburg club and we had these folk dances and, uh, that's where I first saw folk dancing and… Elsie Hornbacher: [20:33] Uh, you utilized… Rosalie Crosbie: …the, uh, native dances. Elsie Hornbacher: …you utilized the talent of the Austrians… Rosalie Crosbie: We did. Elsie Hornbacher: ...didn't you then? Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, yes and, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: Good musicians? Rosalie Crosbie: …we had 150 Austrians… Elsie Hornbacher: Dancers? Rosalie Crosbie: …working for us. The five girls are running the club but 150 staff took care of it. Did the cooking and the serving and the – in fact and, of course, there was one man who was the head over these. He was very, very bright and, uh, most of these… Elsie Hornbacher: [21:02] An Austrian supervisor for the entertainers? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: And, um, all you had to do was tell him what you wanted and he just had it done. We could cha-, every week we changed a, a theme for our dance or something. Uh, you know, we'd have a western or a New York City or something or Hawaii or some, uh, theme, uh, we wanted. Uh, they would just – they had artists and, um, working for them and, uh, next thing you know, you had a whole stage set. I mean, they just had it all beautiful for you. Elsie Hornbacher: [21:36] Did the Austrians seem to appreciate you Americans being there? Rosalie Crosbie: Well, yes, they acted as if they did. Um, they were having a very rough time, uh, getting food so that every so often we would have to shake down the, um, staff 'cause they were naturally sneaking out food to their families who were, who were havin' a hard time. And, um, I didn't blame them. I might've done the same thing, you know. You can't – you could – they could have food themselves but they weren't to take it home and, um, that was rough when you to see your [own 22:08] family. And, but they, uh, had to be strict or we'd have lost – [chuckle] you know, you can't run things with them just taking it blind. Elsie Hornbacher: Yes. Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, also the black market was rampant, of course, and, um, uh, they would get – there was nothing to buy in the stores. You couldn't see anything, uh, just paper goods. And, you know, I don't – I didn't see how they ate. Uh, you know, there was no food, no clothing. Uh, all of it black market. Elsie Hornbacher: [22:36] Did they appear – they, they had shoes, didn't they? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. Elsie Hornbacher: [22:41] Most of them, uh, and, uh, were they warm? Did they have enough clothes to keep them warm? Rosalie Crosbie: Well, I don't know. I know they wanted blankets badly and, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: [22:48] Oh, they wanted blankets? Rosalie Crosbie: Uh-huh. Elsie Hornbacher: [22:50] Coats, any old clothes you had? Rosalie Crosbie: Anything, anything. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: Oh, they were having, uh, troubles. And, um… Elsie Hornbacher: [22:56] This is the Austrians? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, and the Germans, of course, too. Elsie Hornbacher: [Inaudible 22:59]. Mm-hm, yes. They're right across the border from Bavaria there… Rosalie Crosbie: Mm-hm, mm-hm. Elsie Hornbacher: …in Austria. Rosalie Crosbie: Uh…uh, when I was – after the soldiers were, were pretty well sent back home in, um, in December of 1945, then I was assigned from then until spring to a unit of, of soldiers who were investigating the graves and the identities of the, uh, soldiers that had died overseas, killed. And, um, so that was the, about three or four or five months that I was there when we were – had just small, little small Red Cross club. Uh, there was only two of us girls working, uh, on that. Elsie Hornbacher: [23:53] Where is this again? What city? Rosalie Crosbie: This is in southern France, Aigues. Elsie Hornbacher: Aigues. Rosalie Crosbie: And, uh, Aigues, France. And, um, so when – then we didn't have any, of course, girls for the dances, uh, for the soldiers so, um, we went to the town, uh, mayor and, um, interviewed and head of the, of the college there and we had an interpreter. We, um, asked them to, if they would, we could, you know, send their girls, uh, who were interested to those dances with our soldiers and they were very happy. So, um, we recruited about 100 girls a week. Uh, they would bring them in, uh, their own buses and, um, many of them couldn't speak English but, uh, they managed to have a good time at the dance. [chuckle] And so, in that way, we, uh, worked with the community and, uh, they were very – they always sent chaperones and, and we had a lotta nice dances that, uh, winter and, and the spring, in the spring. Elsie Hornbacher: [24:58] You bussed the girls then back home, didn't you? The men… Rosalie Crosbie: Yes… Elsie Hornbacher: …didn't take them home? Rosalie Crosbie: …we always got them back and there always had to be, um, a lotta supervision, you know, several people coming with them. Um, we had an assigned, a young man assigned to us anyway who was our interpreter for anything we wanted in the town. Uh, the, uh, I got to see the Mardis Gras in, uh, Aigues, France, which is, uh, the, um, father, I guess, of the Mardis Gras here, you know? I mean, it, uh, they took, patterned it from, in New Orleans after this one that they had there, which they carry on the celebration. That's in the spring and they carry it on for several days and that was a lotta fun. In, um, in the – during the fall of 1945 while we were – still had the fellas there waiting to, to go over, to go home, they were so restless and so unhappy, uh, and the process was very slow. Uh, but, uh, we couldn't do much of anything to make them happy. We had, uh, I remember, uh, the World Series in, in October and, uh, so we decide-, we had one little, little radio, uh, or at least one electrical outlet for it. And, um, we had that set up in the club with, uh, some speakers on it in some way to make it, uh, so more could hear. Um, but the club got filled up so that another soldier couldn't even squeeze in there and they were standing outside the window. We had it in a window. Um…and, oh, so many of'm outside, of course, didn't hear anything. One of the fellas, uh, decided that, uh, told me that maybe we could move that radio a little bit so they could hear outside. And, uh, so we went to the trouble of doing it all and, well, the soldiers outside could hear but then the ones [laughter] on the inside couldn't and they were so angry and, uh, so – I – the – I knew I couldn't try to please'm anymore so I went and hid because they were having – they weren't about to be happy about what I had done and, uh, I was afraid I was might get hung or something. Elsie Hornbacher: [27:16] Can you account for the reason, uh, for their only having one radio? Rosalie Crosbie: We may have had more. I don't think they had any more outlets in that that they could connect it. Elsie Hornbacher: I see. Rosalie Crosbie: And, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: [27:27] And no batteries? Rosalie Crosbie: …there weren't any batteries available, you know, that type of battery. And, uh, so that we only had one radio in the club. Now, I don't know whether some of the soldiers might've had something. But, uh, it was hard for them to get any news, of course, from home that, you know, [inaudible 27:42]. They came – they had a strike at one time. Uh, early in December, I can recall them… Elsie Hornbacher: [27:50] What year is this? Rosalie Crosbie: …coming down the…'45, the winter or the fall of '45 and into, uh, while they're waiting to be sent home after the war has – had ended [everywhere 27:58]. Elsie Hornbacher: [27:58] They had a strike? What did they do? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, they walked down the – and about 20, uh, across, uh, and rows and rows of them. They came – I don't know, they were gonna tear up the, the headquarters there where they were assigning'm or something. I didn't think they were… Elsie Hornbacher: [28:15] Because they weren't going home? Rosalie Crosbie: …they weren't goin' home fast enough and they thought they were – somebody was draggin' their feet or something but, um, somebody, uh, they had quite a time, uh, quieting them down and, uh, I don't know. Elsie Hornbacher: [28:26] There were hundreds or thousands of them? Rosalie Crosbie: It, well, it seemed like there were hundreds of them and, well, of course, there was thousands on the staging area but a lotta of'm. Elsie Hornbacher: [28:36] What is the staging area? Rosalie Crosbie: It is where, uh, the boys are sent to, uh, after they've finished one assignment or through with their – and they're waiting for the next, um, wherever they're gonna be sent, uh, next. And, uh, the staging area on, uh, Marseilles, of course, they were, it was – the, they just had tents all around and waiting for their, uh, to be assigned, to be sent. Elsie Hornbacher: [29:05] The men were sleeping in tents? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. And, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: [29:08] Was this in the summertime or winter? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes and, of course, it's warmer there anyway all winter but, uh, and, uh, it's – there was no – it was just kinda red dust all, uh, you know, the sand. It wasn't – it's kinda like a clay, just clung to everything. It was hot. Um, no trees or anything. It was, it wasn't, uh – they sent us Red Cross girls, uh, a few times to Nice, France for three days. There was an American, uh, well she was an American woman and an Englishwoman that owned this castle on the, in the Mediterranean and, uh, for kind of a relief on the – but, of course, the soldiers didn't get any such, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: Treatment. Rosalie Crosbie: …treatment, [chuckle] no. Uh, but a staging area is where – when I first went there, they were being sent, uh, being processed to go to the Pacific because the war was over in Europe. And, uh, when the war ended in the Pacific that summer and August, they were sending them home from there. They just, they just had to sit there and there was nothing to do for them and wait until, of course, and they were so sick of war and…wanted to get home so badly. So, um, I don't know if that was a term they used… Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: …as an area where they – but there were thousands and thousands of soldiers. And as I say, we couldn't do anything – they couldn't even sit down in the clubs. They just went through and, um, stood up and drank their coffee and ate their doughnuts and went on so somebody else could have it. It was that crowded. Elsie Hornbacher: [30:47] What kind of, uh, work were the soldiers doing at this time or were they just waiting? Rosalie Crosbie: Just waiting. And they know waiting is awfully hard to do. [laughter] Elsie Hornbacher: Well, yes. Uh, hurry up and wait… Rosalie Crosbie: Yeah, right. Elsie Hornbacher: …is the old army phrase. Rosalie Crosbie: No, they were not, uh – oh, some of the fellas were helping us, you know, the – felt like it and, uh, we had, we had a lotta of [inaudible 31:06]. Elsie Hornbacher: [31:06] Uh, there were no activities planned for them other than, uh, at the club? Rosalie Crosbie: No. Elsie Hornbacher: [31:12] Did they wander around town and, uh, whoop it up? Rosalie Crosbie: Well, they were pretty well… Elsie Hornbacher: [31:17] Wasn't anything to… Rosalie Crosbie: …they weren't… Elsie Hornbacher: …whoop up downtown, was there? Rosalie Crosbie: …no. And, uh, you know, they weren't allowed, uh, too much to wander around. Elsie Hornbacher: [31:24] Oh, they weren't? Oh, they had to stay more or less within a… Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, uh-huh. Elsie Hornbacher: …certain given area? Rosalie Crosbie: Yeah, well they didn't want'm, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: [31:30] And they didn't have a Jeep? Rosalie Crosbie: …all over the place. Elsie Hornbacher: They couldn't travel? Rosalie Crosbie: No. Elsie Hornbacher: Well, this is a… Rosalie Crosbie: We had, um, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: …distressful… Rosalie Crosbie: …we had some – on the staging – I was given – they, they, as they came, uh, uh – we were given, us Red Cross girls – they couldn't take a lotta things on the boat. I was given a Jeep and, um, uh, a type-, three typewriters and, uh, um, guns. I think a couple guns. And, uh, so, you know, they had, uh – one fella was – I remember quite, uh, [chuckle] he took his Jeep apart and sent it in pieces [over 32:03] [laughter] something. Elsie Hornbacher: Oh. Rosalie Crosbie: And, uh, the – but they couldn't take these things with'm on the boat and they didn't know what to do with'm so they gave'm as gifts to us Red Cross girls. [chuckle] Well, I had this Jeep for a while but, of course, after a while, they came, the army… Elsie Hornbacher: [32:16] Did you drive it? Rosalie Crosbie: …came and picked it up. [laughter] Elsie Hornbacher: Oh. [laughter] Rosalie Crosbie: Well, they didn't – the men had taken all these things from, uh, the army and from the, uh – when they went through Germany, of course, they just ransacked the homes and took all kinds of things. Elsie Hornbacher: [32:30] Uh, we were – oh, they ransacked homes? Rosalie Crosbie: Oh, yeah. Elsie Hornbacher: [32:33] Well, we were wondering before, when you were saying about the men waiting, how long did they hafta wait? Rosalie Crosbie: Some of them waited for months from, you know, from, uh, in the fall or early summer or something to – and then, uh – they were given, you know, they had to wait their turn. Those who had been there the longest g-, went first or something but there was all kinds of red tape and holdups and, uh, some of'm were there for months with nothing to do and so they got pretty stir crazy. Elsie Hornbacher: I can understand that. Rosalie Crosbie: Um, they were very upset there. Um…the, I…did I repeat? Did I s-, it was at the Mardis Gras and the… Elsie Hornbacher: Yes. Rosalie Crosbie: …yeah, I said that. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: Um…skipping back to, um, the Red Cross in, uh, Salzburg, Austria. I s-, I met General Eisenhower. He visited our club in the Red Cross and he and, uh, several other generals with lesser stars. Um, most of the girls, uh, staff, were following the general around, you know, and sticking quite close to him, so I kinda entertained one of the young-, one of the not younger but lesser generals. He had three star on his cloak and, um, so when we were standing outside, it was quite chilly, uh, and he took his cloak off and put it on my shoulders. So afterwards, the soldiers, uh, kidded me a lot and called me general. [chuckle] And, uh, then I also met the Duke of Windsor when – that was when I was in southern France. Uh, he went through with his, um, troop. [Boy 34:12], he had a lot of cars and – along traveling with him. They stopped there to get gas and, and supplies. And, um, I was quite a little ways – I was sitting on the porch of the, the hotel there. One of the soldiers, uh, said he knew him. [I wouldn't dare 34:30] but he took me. He said – and I had a little camera, a little box camera and, um, he said, “Do you wanna take his picture?” And I said, “Sure.” So he took me right up there and I asked if I could take his picture, and he said, “I would be very pleased.” [chuckle] He was very, uh, [chuckle] you know, charming and polite. I could see, uh, um, the Duke of – the Duchess of Windsor. She was in the car and she – I had, got her in the picture. She was looking out the little car window. Uh, but this fella that took me up there wanted his picture with the Duke, so he was standing and he – you know, that's the reason he took me there. He, uh, knew I had a camera so he was standing there, uh, with him and, but when the pictures were developed, I, I wasn't very good at aiming it and I had kinda left him out. [laughter] Well, he wasn't happy with me at the end. Oh, dear. Elsie Hornbacher: Oh, great. Rosalie Crosbie: Well, then, um, also I visited the, Nuremberg – had the good fortune to visit the Nuremberg trials, uh, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: [35:32] We-, were… Rosalie Crosbie: …one time. This was… Elsie Hornbacher: ….you there when a trial was actually in proc-… Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, they were – actually, it was in process. Elsie Hornbacher: Hm, I've seen the building. Rosalie Crosbie: And this was during the, uh, times I was riding the trains… Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: …and I guess I went to Nuremberg and was there for a day or so. So, um, yes, I went in and that was very interesting. Of course, uh, they do that all the time but this was done in so many different languages and so we each could, uh, we had earphones and, uh, you heard – and these interpreters were standing right or sitting right up there and, uh, you heard the whole process in your language. You know, and, of course, I heard it in English. And, um, because it was a, a – so and that amazed me, those interpreters. They could interpret so fast right along with it. Um… Elsie Hornbacher: [36:14] You don't remember who was interviewed at the time? Anyone – it wasn't anyone as prominent as Klaus Barbie or any – oh no, he wasn't. That's right, he was… Rosalie Crosbie: Well, it was one of the… Elsie Hornbacher: …protected by the Americans, wasn't he? Rosalie Crosbie: Yeah. Elsie Hornbacher: Because he knew too, he knew a lotta things we wanted. Rosalie Crosbie: Right. Uh, it was one of those and I have…that, had charge of publicity or something with the, uh, in the, with the young people that – who was on trial at the time. And, um, he was one of the bigger shots in the… Elsie Hornbacher: German. Rosalie Crosbie: …German Reich, uh-huh. And, uh, I don't re-, just, we were only there one afternoon, you know, and watched, listened to it. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: But I thought that was very interesting. Elsie Hornbacher: [37:01] The building itself is rather austere, isn't it? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. Uh-huh, uh-huh. Elsie Hornbacher: Uh, I was surprised. We-, as I remember, wooden floors. Rosalie Crosbie: Mm-hm. Elsie Hornbacher: No carpeting. Rosalie Crosbie: Right, mm-hm. Yeah. And, uh, I can remember [during 37:14] sitting in the – you know, they had all the ones that were on trial just sitting there waiting for their turn or something and I can remember seeing him in the box there and waiting for the – so, um… Elsie Hornbacher: [37:31] Was – what was the atmosphere? Very solemn, was it not? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, I would say it was. Mm-hm. And, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: I can understand [it was 37:39]. Rosalie Crosbie: …mm-hm. [Mm-hm 37:40], different. And the lawyers were trying to get them off but I think this particular one that I – and I'm just sorry I can't remember his name, um, was convicted, you know, at the end 'cause I followed that up. Uh, then – and while I was in Salzburg, I know that we gave, uh, a party for the, um, children of the dependents, one Halloween party in our club. And by this time you see the teachers were over there and, uh, they enjoyed that. We had a party of probably about 20 children. And, uh, they really, uh, these are the American children, of course. On Christmastime at the, uh, club, we gave a party for the Austrian children and children of the, those that worked there. We had a party for 500 youngsters, uh, in, in the club. Um, of course, they couldn't speak English, uh, but, um, they enjoyed themselves. And we – one of the fellas dressed up as Santa Claus and [chuckle] had the children on his lap and [chuckle] it, that was fun. Elsie Hornbacher: [38:48] Did you find one big enough to be Santa Claus? I mean rotund? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, we kinda fixed him up. [laughter] Elsie Hornbacher: [38:53] You didn't hafta use [inaudible 38:54]? Rosalie Crosbie: Well, I think did, yeah, somewhat. Elsie Hornbacher: Oh. [laughter] The army keeps the men pretty… Rosalie Crosbie: Yeah, pretty thin, uh, but, uh... Elsie Hornbacher: …it keeps'm thin. Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: …they, of course, had their, uh, like I remember on the 6th of December is a… Elsie Hornbacher: Saint Nicholas comes. Rosalie Crosbie: Yes and, well, they had a… Elsie Hornbacher: And he tells the children they better be good or they're gonna be thrown in the river. Rosalie Crosbie: And they came through with a – one of'm had a switch. It wasn't Saint Nicholas. Elsie Hornbacher: Oh, yeah. Rosalie Crosbie: That was the… Elsie Hornbacher: The children were scared of him. Rosalie Crosbie: …getting out the, uh – this was, um, somebody driving out the, the spirits, the bad spirits. And they were runnin' through the club with a switch and… Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. And he comes in… Rosalie Crosbie: …uh-huh. They had, uh, quite of the few of their native customs at Christmas, which're different than ours. Elsie Hornbacher: As I remember, he'd come – he dresses in white, doesn't he? Rosalie Crosbie: Well… Elsie Hornbacher: And he tells the children he'll put'm in a sack and throw'm in the river. And I understand this custom is, uh, uh, being frowned upon today. Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. Elsie Hornbacher: Even back 30 years ago, uh, they were trying to discourage it because the children were scared stiff. Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, they were. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: Uh-huh. Yeah, they did that and, uh, that was interesting for me, of course. Um, the other, uh, thing that, of course, the black market was so rampant at the time. And, um, our – we didn't have to worry about, uh, especially if you didn't smoke and we could g-, we were allowed a carton of cigarettes a week and, um, so you could use that for tipping. A, a just a few cigarettes, you could get a whole lot done. Bags carried or anything, uh, for a, a carton of cigarettes. I had my laundry done and, uh, every week and, uh, did a beautiful job. Um, and fixed, cleaned up your room a little bit. And, uh, and then, of course, you could turn your cigarettes into, um, the local money, marks, and then turn that, uh, in turn to, um, the scrip that they had and turn that and go back and – into America – send it back home as a money order. And for – a carton of cigarettes turned into several hundred dollars [by the 41:07] time you got it home if you wanted to. That went on for several months before the army could get ahold, control of that. And, uh, everything was – the black market was played heavily over there. Elsie Hornbacher: [41:21] Uh, now is it about time for you to come home from overseas? Rosalie Crosbie: I'd been over there at this time, uh, over two years, um, and it was 1947, uh, in the spring when they changed, uh, the clubs. They were slowly changing'm over to, uh, civilian, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: Clubs? Rosalie Crosbie: …uh USO or I guess it was called over there. Elsie Hornbacher: Yes, I remember going to this club in Austria… Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. Elsie Hornbacher: …too. Rosalie Crosbie: Uh-huh. Elsie Hornbacher: Uh, we met there and had dinner there. I think we could stay overnight there. This is when the, uh, uh, teachers from, uh, Trieste were, uh, transferred from Trieste to… Rosalie Crosbie: Mm-hm. Elsie Hornbacher: …some other, uh, assignment. Rosalie Crosbie: And so it – well and for me, of course, I was ready to come home. My, my mother died in July of – the 7th of 1947. And, uh, in the meantime, um, they had – I, they, I, they couldn't get me home, the Red Cross, even though I was in Red Cross, in time for the funeral. So then I wasn't in such a big hurry. I mean, I couldn't get home for the funeral so, uh, but they were already, uh, changing over the clubs [to the 42:32]… Elsie Hornbacher: [42:32] Did you get your notice immediately of her death? Rosalie Crosbie: Well, I knew that she was dying and that I talked to someone… Elsie Hornbacher: Oh, we knew by letter. Right. Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. Uh, and I talked to one… Elsie Hornbacher: [42:41] Were you able to call home long distance? Rosalie Crosbie: I called – well, someone – yes, I called home then. I had called earlier. I talked to my mother in March. Uh, we had that – by that time, they had set up long distance so that we could do that. Elsie Hornbacher: [42:52] Oh, you could telephone? Rosalie Crosbie: So I could telephone. Uh, they knew that I was gonna call and they're waiting for it. I mean, it had all been arranged and, and I think I talked several minutes. Elsie Hornbacher: We didn't have these facilities when my brother died in 1949 in Tokyo. Rosalie Crosbie: Uh-huh. Elsie Hornbacher: In fact, I didn't get the message. Uh, it was 1952, uh, I believe. I didn't get the message for five days after he had died. Rosalie Crosbie: Hm. Well, well I knew. As I say, I talked to my mother in March of 1947 and, uh, my mother – and I had talked with, uh, my mother's friend who, you know, let me know how serious it was. And, but then – and I tried to get permission to get home but I – they couldn't do the thing fast enough and, and she passed away on the 7th. Uh, so I had had telephone communications. Then, uh, uh, by this time, they were changing over in the, the clubs so I had put in my to go home but I didn't really get home until September of '47 'cause all summer, uh, I don't know, slowly processing to get, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: [44:04] Had your assignment terminated or had you decided to leave? Rosalie Crosbie: I asked more or less to leave. Elsie Hornbacher: [44:09] You asked to leave? Rosalie Crosbie: Uh-huh. But I, I, I still had a choice. Uh, some of them went to Vienna, a little club. I could've stayed a little longer but they were pretty much winding down and I had been over there enough time and I wanted to get home, of course, for personal… Elsie Hornbacher: [44:25] There were men still over there waiting to go home in 1947… Rosalie Crosbie: Well, no. They had re-enlisted and… Elsie Hornbacher: …and still [inaudible 44:28]. Rosalie Crosbie: …and they were staying there… Elsie Hornbacher: I see. Rosalie Crosbie: …because of that. No, they were – had sent all of those home that really wanted to go home long before that. Elsie Hornbacher: I see. Rosalie Crosbie: No. It was the re-enlistments by this time. Elsie Hornbacher: [44:39] Now, when you went home, what did you do then? Rosalie Crosbie: Um, well, I came home on the Washington. Uh, that was the name of a little tugboat. I mean, [chuckle] [it's 44:47] much smaller than, than the Queen Elizabeth. [laughter] Took two weeks coming home. Elsie Hornbacher: [44:53] Two weeks? Rosalie Crosbie: On the boat coming home... Elsie Hornbacher: From Europe? Oh. Rosalie Crosbie: …and we went over in five days on the Queen Elizabeth. Elsie Hornbacher: Uh-huh. Rosalie Crosbie: And, uh, yeah. Uh, it was a leisurely trip home. [laughter] Elsie Hornbacher: [45:04] Well, uh, did it rock and roll? The little ships, uh… Rosalie Crosbie: Yeah, right. Elsie Hornbacher: …they make you seasick much, uh, easier than the larger ships. Rosalie Crosbie: Right. Um, so I, I visited in, in Washington, DC. I was in no hurry exactly to, you know, get home. I knew there was a lot waiting for me to do [by that time 45:24] and there was quite a, a – I had [sighing] a lot of adjustment to make, I'll say. And, um, some of the girls had, had been over there a year and wanted to go home. You know, there was a – and, um, then when they got home, they found things weren't like they thought they might be and they wanted to go back. So some of those re-enlisted and got sent to the Pacific or something. But, I mean, I had decided to stay over there 'til I got it outta my system. I mean, that's it. I did everything that I thought I could do and, and, um, so when I was, went home, I was ready and, uh, I… Elsie Hornbacher: [46:02] Home was Lansing? Rosalie Crosbie: And home was Lansing. Uh… Elsie Hornbacher: [46:05] Lansing, Michigan. Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. And, um, when I got here, my brother was, uh – he had been in the Pacific, uh, but he had gotten home months ahead of me. Of course, a whole year, I guess. Uh, but, uh, Mother was very ill and, and died. Uh, he had – didn't – hadn't done a thing to the house. They hadn't put away her clothes or, you know, or anything. So when I got home, I had all that. And also, the house was in poor condition. We had – yeah, on St. Joe in Lansing. And, um, they were remodeling it but, uh, on the phone when I called my brother – I was in the States, of course, then and, and I said, “Well, I suppose there's a lotta dishes waiting and everything in the sink?” And he said, “Well, there's no sink.” And, uh, [chuckle] so that's how – it, it really was a sad house. [chuckle] Much to do, which in a way, was very good for me because, um, when I did get home and I had to go through Mother's things. It's just as if she had left to go on… Elsie Hornbacher: On a trip. Rosalie Crosbie: …and – on a trip or something and, yes. And, uh, he hadn't touched anything. I had to go through everything and it took months. And, um, and also he was working on the house and getting [it 47:20]. Um, I – the next – I don't think I worked for 6 or 7 months and then I, uh, applied at the, uh, Howard Silvers, which was a trucking, um, and, uh, and worked there, uh, two years, I believe, before I, uh, got married and went to Wichita, Kansas. [chuckle] Elsie Hornbacher: [47:44] Rosalie, did you have any problems readjusting yourself, uh, when you came back to the States? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes, and I, uh, I think all of the girls that were overseas did. Uh, some of them had, uh, far more maybe adjustment to make than I did. Uh, as I say, I had so much to do and kept me busy and, um, some of them didn't have all those maybe problems to meet when they got home and, uh, they just had a very rough time. Uh, when I got home, the thing that, uh, bothered me, nobody wanted to listen to me to hear any of my wonderful experiences. [chuckle] And, um, you know, I wanted to talk. Uh, they were, uh, the war had been over two years and, uh, long gone for most people [they were 48:30] – when I come home, I was still in my uniform. The uniforms we had were short around the knee and, uh, we were – had, um, uh, their dresses were longer then, much longer. Uh, I couldn't get outta my uniform fast enough because, uh, you know, I just wasn't, uh, didn't get all the respect that I'd had when I first went over. [chuckle] Um, and as I say, no one, uh, was really interested in anything that, uh, happened over there and that was a long, you know. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: So I never got it outta my system, really. I'm, uh – being asked now to repeat [chuckle] all this, you know, is p-, one of the first times anyone has really, uh, been interested, that much interested in what, uh, went on in those days. Elsie Hornbacher: [49:13] So we were sort of left out when we came home because we didn't, uh, know about the, uh, little gossip next door, so we couldn't contribute there. Nobody was interested in what we had to say, which was such a part of our background that it took some time to build a repertoire of new experiences. Rosalie Crosbie: That's very true and, uh, I don't think anyone that did serve overseas or, or the soldiers too, of course, all went through that adjustment. But, um, uh, that is, uh, is quite traumatic. And, uh, it's a shame that more people aren't willing maybe to listen or at least pretend they're listening to [this 49:55] because it's hard. Elsie Hornbacher: Thank you, Rosalie, so much for this interview. We really appreciate it. By the way, before you, uh, uh – we put a stop to this tape. [50:04] Uh, you are a charter member of the Lansing Unit of WOSL, aren't you? Rosalie Crosbie: Yes. [chuckle] Elsie Hornbacher: [50:09] Uh, do you happen to remember the year that we were established? Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, when I first got home from overseas, I was called. They were, they were organizing it then, so this was in 1947. Would've been, um, probably, uh, probably that winter of '47 or, no, that would be '48 then, wouldn't it? Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Rosalie Crosbie: I might've been called in the, in the fall of '47. Got home in September. Uh, they had a small, little small organization, maybe 6 or 7 girls and, um, so I was a member until I got married, uh, uh, which was a year about later. Went to Wichita, Kansas, was gone for a couple years from Lansing. When I came back, uh, by this time, the, uh, group had, uh, you know… Elsie Hornbacher: Grown? Rosalie Crosbie: …got – grown a good deal and, um, I joined again and, uh… Elsie Hornbacher: [51:00] Then, uh, when did you leave Lansing? What year? Rosalie Crosbie: I left, this the second time? Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Yes, uh-huh. Rosalie Crosbie: Yeah. Elsie Hornbacher: [51:10] When you left permanently. Rosalie Crosbie: Uh… Elsie Hornbacher: I wouldn't say you left permanently. You return once in a while but… Rosalie Crosbie: Uh, oh, when I went to Traverse. Elsie Hornbacher: …we don't see you. Rosalie Crosbie: I left – I went up there in, uh, uh, '68. Elsie Hornbacher: 1968. Rosalie Crosbie: Spring of 1968, spring of '68. Elsie Hornbacher: [51:21] So you have been gone for 16 years. Rosalie Crosbie: Sixteen years. Elsie Hornbacher: Mm-hm. Right. Thank you, Rosalie. Rosalie Crosbie: You're welcome. Thank you for having me. /dd