Oral History Interview: Alice Lain of Urbana

                                    
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Transcript for file: alicelain2008-03-07.mp3

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this interview is for the veterans history project of the Library of Congress 

American Folklife Center and it is with Ellis Lillian water 

Watson Lane Mrs lane with a wave serving from June 1st 19th 

18442 March 819 46th Ave today 

what today is Friday March 7th 2008 my name is Harriet Williams 

William Henry Radcliffe is the director of sound and lighting and is also the videographer 

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also in the studio with Mrs clean husband Lloyd 

Lloyd Chesterland who is a veteran of the United States Navy 

we are in the television studios will in Urbana Illinois 

why on the University of Illinois campus 

plane to start would you like to talk about when and where you were born in 

prep villa Siena little bit on your parents and your background in the 

where you go up and talk about 

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various school that you attend the well I was my father was 

who was the coal miner from Illinois and every spring 

winner they went on strike so that’s why 

why I was born in River Rouge 

sober Detroit Michigan and then 

that’s why I came 

I came right back to know I was just a baby when I came back 

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came back and then my father left my mother 

when I was 18 months old so I 

yeah they got a divorce and twin living at my grandpa 

grandparents sins Andrea Lopez facts 

I was almost adopted this couple the doctor and his way 

Prince wife took me for a while and when they found out my mother of Us 

going to give me up they brought me home right away 

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anyway uh Whittier 

my mother my dance sisters and brothers 

favor from Scotland they came they had migrated 

rated tunes Detroit area and thats why im 

I was born there of a Vera fisting my grandparents 

anyway uh Bayer 

my mother went to Detroit cheapest Abed 

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around Champaign Urbana and she went to Detroit 

to work for real rich people in Grosse Pointe 

anyway she got married to a gentleman of Bulgaria 

Darien whose name was smiling Cisco of Anna 

I was 5 years old I think of a song for when they got the divorce 

mother dead but I was 5 when we went to Detroit 

Detroit to live that was 19280 before the 

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depression head and things for long pretty good 

Milan my stepfather and played in Henry Ford’s fan 

very musical saw I learned a lot about offers 

anyway the presence is heaven 

things went downhill my mother couldn’t she was working at Hudson 

Hudson’s painting a stripe around the cars and then just 

I just got so bad we had to come back to Illinois and my father had lots 

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with my grandparents 12 acres next to my grandparents 

there a nerve Ana so we moved in with my granny 

my grandparents for a while I was 9 years old when did that 

and Grandma was still using a horse and buggy 

did the liver vegetables and things anyway 

Martha Stewart homes and we live there until the room Snow mother 

mother force worked in town by stepfather 

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I’ve been really didn’t hangs from like royalty or something in bulk 

Bulgaria he could a currency going out getting a job 

jobs that and we couldn’t have WPA because they could 

big wooden work for those because we had 12 acres so 

anyway I want to marry at school 

and that I think was a great and then I went Urbana High 

44 years and then I have my first job 

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first job with the union Union building in there dishwasher 

washing room sinks warts still work very good new country 

Anna I Roseville Cayman 

Cayman dedicated to Union Building when I was there in December 

I got to say are they let us all go upstairs in Sayre forget her black clothes 

photos anyway uh what why were her clothes after using 

what are clothes were black nor the stockings were black 

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okay anyway later my mother was working for this 

professor how Robert Howard Lewis have 

House of Franklin Roosevelt’s right hand man in 

canon the wifi off and it was his daughter married 

married to the professor and not another word for earlier but anyway 

anyway alright Rosevelt came and stayed with her Vista the head dinner 

and set the table help set the table in everything anyway 

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where but here after I was out of high school I got married 

proof bar Mesilla station antennas 

Anna I live in Syracuse for a while 

and then I work did General John 

General Electric out of work done the first 10 

pancare units radar used on ships 

and they play Smith number one on the same bloodline 

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just to put a little dream around but I could die help building 

Luminox repair than everything that’s what gave India 

yeah I did I said I wanted to working when I join the circus and then I came home 

home and I got a divorce running around and then 

and then I went back and work in Syracuse that a Crouse Hinds 

painting 

things that they use for identifying weather strips 

00:07:30

f*** friend or foe is khaki 

Megan and I work there 6 months and I went home 

how I got tired of that way home and I thought I saw the answer this 

trying to get women to join this way so I thought that’s a good day 

a good idea in my mother thought it was a good idea to 

so I went into mine and I had to wait that was 

enlarged but I had to wait till May this June 1st 

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actually be called up 

and then I went to the 

New York Central 200 College 

which is now Lehman College and went ahead 

my boot camp there for 6 weeks 

Anna we got one weekend off the Paramount Theater 

Theater studios were the Sun filming 

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movie here come the waves so I got the March too late 

lace which was really hot girls 

girl fainted but anyway we got all we got from Paramount was 

what’s the next weekend in New York City so then 

I didn’t pass the test to go to her school 

so they just sent me to Mercer field facility 

fill in the Trenton New Jersey which is better in ass 

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San Diego and I got my 

girlfriend ever News said its 

set a sink in San Diego 

but I was lucky I got radio radar what side s4 

s4 and I put the 

the first day I had to make coffee cuz the 13th was real 

really mad cuz we came in first what is saline made of 

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latest make coffee so that’s what we’re going to do it anyway 

anyway he got shipped out in about a week and we put 

but the radio radar in the TVM 

Easter date TV F by Graham invent the TV 

General Orders and not say Avenger in the wild 

ok whats is fm2 and then dies 

picti FF gear on the course 

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Corsair and one time smoke was coming out of it 

playing in iPhoto my guys and it was about a million 

vine but it wasn’t 

call in the radio and tell him that says OK 

and while I was so one day a big torpedo bra motor came 

UK man that was the cause of the pregnant and had all of they 

they had round the clock dirty little sweeties 

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it had always so underneath the radar 

all kinds of that I don’t know what it was anyway I was Quietus 

excitement little saying failed to protect and while I was there too 

where to once in awhile the Marines wear at the gate 

did it once in awhile we had to go to bed in 

escort people back to their planes hangers 

and one day this fellow that aren’t you throw a bandana into headband like 

00:11:35

my teacher is later he was head of the ship someplace 

life anyway that was interesting but if 

it and I play basketball for the ways 

is today we had our instructor of coach was a Harvard professor 

batter the same one that taught me how to get my rate 

anyway we didn’t live when when a game is foot the way had fun 

can I back up for a minute I want to go to a couple of questions when 

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when you were at Hunter in bootcamp what was the tree 

training that you receive their will 

just out of actin in a VIN 

 

wake up and shots im ever Busta 

web presses everyday were the classes about technical things 

cool things are worthy oh not really I don’t I don’t really care what they say 

00:12:45

what they were once you got some Mercer field and you were involved in install 

installing this read or what what was the purpose of the radar in the airplane 

airplane foot powder how did the radar function what’s in it what was the purpose of it for the love 

pilot longest to say where are the planes for 

in another thing 

 

what time is this admission 

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radio in radio man with all up 

with a mechanic but this time they had to go back up solavei 

so they didn’t have to have it ready I am in so they let me go up 

right after I ate lunch and live full out over the ocean 

the ocean and I got sick really sick 

must have been an exciting experience letter E in LA 

in the plane old was I just in this one supply line 

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buy lobster cheaper in a braclet everyday she got sicker 

well I didn’t have a period 

the parachute didn’t get with parachutes 

what is it hard to 50 radar into the plane or 

or what was the tight quarters in there for a little then is pretty good size 

tits size but I had to climb up a lip Lions 

wings to get in them 

00:14:30

the back you know where they put the ready already there so the radar was in 

NORAD radar was in the back of the phone is in the roses 

have a walkway of Mexico 

it’s all up to the pilot 

they were there in the Gunners uniwar up above 

but there was the plank oriental wok up 

The Westin steps for anything its just how many planes would you work on 

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each day I don’t remember would it be 

you know a couple or would it be wrong with Leah stuff and 11 

Oregon on the plants when it was raining out limit of paint 

Haley paint inside the haters so what were you were you planning 

painting the planes as well no just think there’s a hair in which they are 

they also let us go to class 

this Harvard professor she is 

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Utada Scioto all about the electrodes 

Andale Andale Lexus sedan 

so you were learning more about the night then I finally got my rate 

when the a heads there was a compliment in the 

Anna on the station so many of a Cartesian 

Gino’s in the after the war of sulfur they started shipping in Mass 

getting that out so that’s why I got the right but I had I had the march of 

00:16:15

metropolitan in strip of 44 so what was your Altima 

ultimate rank them when you were in the way of Zen where you at Willow Bend 

interprete killer squadron or division 

adjust Mercerville okay it was a 

Aviation radio technicians made a change that 

just before I got out of surgery just performed 46 ideas 

say it was a change that the aviation electronics technician 

00:16:50

nations made third class at the beginning when you get to Mercer 

field you were sent off to make coffee do you feel that 

while you were in the wave that people that you were working with 

appreciated in recognize the value of having women in the mills located 

did the phrase s*** cuz that meant they had to go overseas 

so they say there was a lot of house still there 

I mean so much to me not all over 

00:17:25

that was just a few of the sailors that they knew that the 

they would have to leave you know yes sir we were in the service 

so did you feel that you received for treatment by the 

buy those people no not really the things that were said 

Ben 10 and then after the war 

I think of a sentence September I once they send us 

Sara luvv bus to Jacksonville for a week 

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trying to figure out where to send this from there so we’re 

soñar una transitional place 

which was a big year were most of the Devils train in Jacksonville 

Tamela Mann worth 

tool of Opa Locka this is my voice call 

call the Miami area station what’s the slogan miles out of stuff 

Miami and the first night we stayed alcapones 

00:18:35

Casino Animas skaters gay men 

Damian Marley it was old fashioned wooden windows 

mosquitoes came in the liver terrible 

the boy for the gonna be like this but I never saw another 

 

full of roaches what what were you doing when you were in Florida what was your first 

first wife of state of Ivory soap in administration 

00:19:10

I typed with the time 9 happens 

Brian koppes tunes to send a sailor’s back 

back to the ships they would come into the hospital and we would have 

does it have to type papers to send it back to the ship 

while you were typing that was that something did you learn kind of the story about that person 

person and what happened to hit no no no I never know it was just pretty much 

how long are 6 month huh do you want because I had that rating 

00:19:45

rating I got out earlier if I live in a human sex 

sex for months now what’s up towards the end of the war in Europe 

when your looking forward to after the war ok so after you lose thigh muscle 

the Florida because the war was over well maybe I should go back in 

bad to the chronology when you left you cancel into Mercer field how many 

how many months were you there in Lafayette IN 

in then in 45 you were at Mercer field 44 2 

00:20:20

September 45 to 1st July 

Tamiya the middle of July till 

how old was just a little over here I guess it can you 

can you talk it all about the may be any of the feeling that 

surrounded you while you were at Mercer filled with her sense of urgency or 

or anything like that because of the war and the fact that you were working 

working on the plane yes 

00:20:55

12 

it was for you know but we never got papers for women 

Deneve know how much you know how it was going really 

I didn’t even know D Day was cuz I was traveling 

I want to be in a Hunter College windy day 

so I didn’t know much about that but the 

hell no I don’t you wish you were filled you wanted to 

00:21:30

wanted to mention one of the very well known people that you worked with singer that wall 

that was all Harry Guggenheim he was hurt Harry what time was 

when was her commanding officer I love to play tennis 

pendant Eve toys want to play with the man tennis player 

thing in life anyway 

the best uratic you but I guess before it and it was a war war 

105 s pilot 

00:22:05

pretty nice guy when I was there Mercer feel we went you 

when is to going to New York City in 

Philadelphia cuz we’re 90 miles from New York City in 60 miles 

miles from Philadelphia and we were right near me 

Washington’s crossing in which they took his phone a picnic therapy 

where Washington crossed the Delaware and we used to build 

hunting son’s baby 

00:22:40

the Asbury Park when is the hitch height 

this berry park in those they said it was a lot longer 

longer if you took the bus terminal 

and we even headshots in New York City one time Cyril of us 

how do you feel about the time that you spend at work 

Matt Mercer field was it a good experience for you 

very good I really enjoyed the work I did 

00:23:15

one time I had to wells River 

putting something together and they asked me to go and I help them 

what is it really 

it really I thought was really enjoyable 

was there any danger involved in the work that you were doing not really 

no how long would live 

would let those planes be at Mercer fuel before they took off and were just a few days 

00:23:50

today’s youth so they didn’t they test for them 

right away and then put them in the Hat 

hangers we had a lot of 

what is there working supplies 

Apartments for those playing man flown to other 

naval bases or to Aurora Florence of California in apt 2 

aircraft carriers and I was supposed to come one 

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one time to champagne I don’t wear with a phone 

unobtainium but it was winter and I was 

I had to leave to come home and it snowed in Ohio 

I am sorry I didn’t get this guy had to come by on train but you 

usually they went the southern route special in winter 

and one night this marine 

she’s kind of smoothies she slept above me in the bug and the next day they’re playing 

00:25:00

Pinecrest and she was killed soul brother 

BMX crash ya say anything naked 

Deb constantly people were coming in flying out the proposed 

poster what I guess that goes to Ben going to California that’s why we have 

I wish I had it when we did guard do day we had to escorts 

to be able to fit hangers wholesale everything is confidential 

Airport they didn’t want people you 

00:25:35

going into the hangers how many waves for Mercer 

Mercer to do you have a feeling for how many women were there at the time 

propofol 111 

it’s not that many Facebook I have 

this not that many ways in a metal door 

cold out where in your boot camp at Hunter 

oar hey babe also been tried in Lillian al them know you don’t know any of them 

00:26:10

so there wasn’t a lot of inter mixing of people 

no and I when home one time days 

2 Syracuse weather what is and that I said let’s go 

clover Tula procyons and just visit 

set for the factory was Anna they live 

they would let me and I said its a different plant 

Eunice and what I said I used to work here and I said only 

00:26:45

NFL giving me a 2500 bond in Athens 

prescription subscription to a magazine for several Harrison die 

I never knew that when I left I didn’t know why anal 

realize I was going to be joining the service 

food that was supposed to surprise and I got to go 

to go up to Boston one time what’s up 

one of the girls in Long Island winter wedding outfit 

00:27:20

Long Island so I got this 

epic plot in those little over here 

what what was the date on when you left the service Merced 

but that’s 1946 and what happened to you after you left 

do you left a server and I was the most the mustard out and I 

Great Lakes I went to beauty school 

on the GI Bill of an iPhone 

00:27:55

iPhone. I would have been accused the right ear for years 

away in and then I got married mid for children 

how did you meet your husband well we were at this night 

nightclub my girlfriends sister where’s celebrate 

celebrating birthday and 

cars with her sisters car wouldn’t start so Lloydminster 

just friends were sitting there Lyris so they took my home 

00:28:30

so that’s how I meant it know your husband you and your husband are both 

are both in the Navy did any of your children toiletry 

I tried to get him to trust me how do you think the experience 

has influenced your life Las Vegas 

is it supposed influenced my life quite a bit I really enjoyed 

what I didn experience and I was recently talking to her 

the girl I talked into going in inthevip 

00:29:05

what is it baby and she said that was the best thing that ever happened to her 

she read she’s been active in the American Legion in the Bible 

im a lifetime member of the VFW 

Annabella 

I don’t feel very often are there people that you have kept in touch with 

through the year for several years I did 

but I don’t love one girl but I play basketball shoes for sale 

00:29:40

Cedar Rapids Iowa Sister Sister 

turn sikm is this is us 

there’s no ins and I think she must have died haven’t heard from her 

informed her for a couple years neglected I ask you a little bit more 

lil bit more about the basketball experience when you were in the military with Madden 

that an important activity for people on the base in did you play other 

at other bases are travel around or the play the camp 

00:30:15

app killer is wherever they are made in the winter 

went out of the when they went over say wave in them 

and then we found out why later 

is there star player was playing at night any way that they had been dating for 

furlong to the way played mostly just 

the citizens the band played we went on 

man on the bus with them in fires. And they said they would though we would play 

00:30:50

how to play first and then they would play replay 

Easton Pennsylvania member and federal 

Brookston ana brenda Trenton Isleta 

women’s team in the ass like that 

we didn’t have those around here we didn’t have the best 

basketball but they call call me red 

read my girlfriend make all the circles 

00:31:25

twins without it important activities for people at that time 

yeah well we I spend a lot of time shooting baskets direct 

rec hall was right across the street they had that 

the mens barracks for one side of the tennis court 

little side was us and I tried Tenison at 1 hour 

real early in the morning and night men to hang out the window laugh 

so I like to play in we saw a lot of ice a lot 

00:32:00

movies are there in direct snakehead 

I had church every Sunday is there anything else 

elephant you would like to mention during this interview that something anything that we did not 

he did not talk about what is important to you that you would like to say 

I have 44 Billy Ray children 

when will is enough Menifee California Inland live 

SpringHill just south of Nashville Tennessee Anna Sun 

00:32:35

listen listen Urbana daughter 

Joyce and champagne Steve lives in Urbana and Roger listen 

California and Gladys listen Tennessee Seoul weather 

who is this legal to California in the winter 

go to Tennessee when you are with your children do they ever ask 

ask you about your experiences or have they ever ask you about your experiences during the war 

war yeah I think fast and I work to almost 20 

00:33:10

23 years at the school Urbana school district 

I typed my husband went to business college after the war 

true or after we got married I typed letters for a man 

crime and I got interested in typing so I bought a typewriter 

anti for students for 10 years number 1 on the LA 

Illini so I did a lot of typing on this old man 

man it was all my goodness and then I went to work at their Banos school district in 

00:33:45

in the 6 day 1 and I work for the Droid 

director of personnel specialist at first and then I was director 

personal secretary 4 

about 20 years in the last 3 years my boss Wilson 

is director of personnel anyway and he was made super dentist soul I was 

I was his name is administrative assistant career this 

why would a school that was really in charge of so I know a lot of teachers 

00:34:20

I’ve been there a lot of people who over there 

degrees to you for all the typing that you do but I type 

30 thesis I have a record of all of these is that it 

but if that was the hardest what state is nowadays it wasn’t there 

is there a problem at all is there anything 

anything you might like to make sure we add to this interview 

 

00:34:55

 

irola scared of my husband 

iPod touch 

clubbutts we did everything 

ice skating in New York Syracuse New York City Trenton 

Chicago to translate you are very athletic love some more 

sports well thank you very very 

00:35:30

very very much for your time today and reenter that you can 

came into this interview thank you 

very much