Abilene/Camp Barkeley was about 180 miles from Altus, Oklahamo, where Mom (Shirley Mae Redway) lived and about 170 miles from where Dad's parents were living at the itme near Blair, Oklahoma.  On December 7th, 1941, Dad was on leave visiting Mom in Altus, Oklahoma.  He, Mom, Myron (Dad's borhter), and  Francis Huling (then just Mryon's girlfriend) were travelling around in car when the radio flashed the news about the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.  The broadcast also relayed that all servcie men were to report to their bases immediately - WWII for the United States officially began the next day with the Declaration of War against Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Corporal Wm. Harold Dickson clowining for the camera with unknown buddy above and proud photo shoot at left.

What War means in Altus College?  Shirley Redway - "I guess I'll get married"   Enlarge the Altus Juniro College newspapers Society page above for this and other references to Shirley Redway.

After graduating from high school in May of 1941, Mom enrolled at Altus Junior College where she sang in different choral groups (College Trio, Octettes, and the Choir).  In fact, the article to the right from the Daily Oklahomian relays how the AJC coed chorus/choir gave two days of concerts to the soldiers of Camp Barkeley in March 1942.

Wedding Picture

On January 18, 1941 Mom (Shirley Mae Redway) and Dad (Wm. Harold Dickson) were married in Abilene, Texas.  Grandmother Redway (Flora Idella) come down from Altus, Oklahoma and attended the wedding.  She also "attended" the Honeymoon as well, so to speak, taking a motel room adjacent to Mom and Dad's...

Jackie Cooper later and earlier years (he was about the same age as Mom at the time. 

~The Day Mom Met Jackie Cooper~

In 1942, Mother worked in an Army Service club, in the cafeteria at Camp Barkley. in Abilene, Texas. "One day, my boss said to me that Jackie Cooper and his manager were coming in to eat. And, he wanted me to serve them at their table. The juke box was going so loud that I could hardly hear their order, but it sounded like Mr. Cooper ordered 'weenies and bananas' for breakfast. So, I went back to the cook and told him to give me an order of 'weenies and bananas'. After a few cuss words, he said, 'Who in the world would be eating weenies and bananas in the morning?! How should I fix something like that?!' I told him, 'Just slice the bananas and slice the weenies and put them on the same plate'. Now, when I took Mr. Cooper his order he took one look at his plate and said, 'What's this?!' 'Your weenies and bananas' I said and with that, Mr. Cooper and his manager broke out into laughter! I was SO embarrassed because I then realized 'weenies' should have been Wheaties and bananas!-of course."