SERVICEMEN WRITE (to Joy Hanson, Editor of the Ellsworth News)
From Judean Brekken
Dear friends:
Some time ago I received a letter that didn’t appear to give much news and almost appeared worthless but to me it was highly treasured. There was a little paragraph at the head of the letter and the rest was filled with seventy-six autographs with an occasional sentence or word thrown in. Some mentioned that they had a salute ready; some wished me the best of luck; others just signed their names. But regardless what was said, I knew that each name was a message in itself. Thanks to all of you.
Miami Beach was a real place to spend the winter (as far as the climate was concerned). We wore summer clothes at all times but there were a few mornings far from a vacation for us as when a jacket felt good. It was they kept us on the go from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Six periods of classes took half a day. Another half a day was spent on the golf course. No not playing golf but either drilling or playing superman running over an obstacle course. The evenings were usually spent attending lectures, classes or meetings. If you had any spare time you were supposed to study.
We covered an algebra book in three days; other large courses were covered the same way. They used a curve system of grading but competition was very stiff, considering that most of them were college men. College and high school professors, lawyers, old army men—in fact, you could find men from almost every profession. Now that everything is over I can say that it was a real experience that was worth the trouble.
Miami Beach is really a city of hotels. Most of them were new and looked like the modernistic ones pictured in magazines. The rooms in most of the hotels used to rent for $10 to $25 a day. But now the government has taken over most of these hotels and the tourist business is almost a thing of the past.
The hotel that I lived in was only three blocks from the ocean. Once a week they took us down in a group so that we could swim. It was a lot of fun but we soon learned to keep our mouths closed while swimming. Try mixing a couple teaspoons of salt in about the same amount of water and will have some idea how ocean water tastes.
I am no authority to judge Idaho, but it seems to be very nice. The climate has been swell since I got here. I can see mountains in any direction from the camp. I guess that if you want to see the country, join the army.—Sincerely, Judean.
(Judean is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Brekken of Randall who also have their twin sons, Burdell and Burdette Brekken, in the armed forces.)
Source: Ellsworth News, May 26, 1943
John ‘J.H.’ and Selma Christine (Dyvig) Brekken’s 3 sons, Judean C., Burdell W., and Burdette G. served in the Army in World War II. Judean ‘Jay’ served in England with the 490th Bomb Group, Burdell was a bombadier with the 100th Bomb Group and Burdette served in Co. A, 3105th Signal Service Battalion.
Son-in-law, Carroll B. Kinseth (husband of Thora Brekken) was in the Air Force and served as a transport pilot in the southwest Pacific area.
His obit - Judean C. ‘Jay’ Brekken
Ames Tribune, Ames, IA - Jan. 6, 2010
Judean (Jay) C. Brekken, 90, died Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, at Bethany Manor in Story City. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at Elim Lutheran Church in Randall. Burial will follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Randall.
Visitation of family and friends will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, at Soderstrum Funeral Home in Story City.
Jay Brekken was born June 28, 1919, in Clear Lake, S.D., to John and Selma (Christine) Brekken. He was a graduate of Randall High School, St. Olaf College, and the University of Iowa Law School. He was a lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corp during World War II and was stationed in England.
Jay married Leone Monahan Aug. 26, 1950. He practiced law in the Randall/Story area for 50 years. He was a member of the Iowa Bar Association, served as mayor of Randall, president of Elim Lutheran Church council, was a board member of Waldorf College and Bethany Manor, and a member of Kiwanis and Sons of Norway. In his free time, Jay enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, golfing, fishing and hunting.
Jay is survived by his daughter, Beth (Dr. Tom) Masterson, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; his son, Todd (Donna) Brekken, of Omaha, Neb.; grandchildren, John Masterson, of Orlando, Fla., Lisa Masterson, of Sioux Falls, Sara Brekken, of Omaha, and Troy Brekken, of Omaha; great-granddaughter, Jerica Morton, of Omaha; his sister, Thora Kinseth, of Story City; two brothers, Burdell (June) Brekken, of Fountain Hills, Ariz., and Burdette (Barbara) Brekken, of Pasadena, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Leone; two infant daughters, Jean and Joan; his sister, Ethel Husmoe; and his granddaughter, Lindsey Ann Masterson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Elim Lutheran Church, Bethany Manor, or Riverside Bible Camp.
Source: ancestry.com
