A Sailor's Story, Part 1

AJ Cotten (Eldest of Joseph and Lola Cotten) answered duty's call and served our country in World War II.  Like his father before him, he enlisted with the US Navy. This account, taken from Lola Cotten's book, shows the fears and frustrations that face mothers and wives who wait for the safe return of their men from the battlefield:

September 1943 Albert and Jo came to see us.  It was the first time Jo had been to our place.  I just couldn't get a letter from A.J.  I said, "Something has happened to A.J."  Albert said, "No news is good news.  Lola, it's not like you to be that way.  You have always taken everything."

The second of September, Luella, Joe, and the children went to the mailbox.  They said, "We bring you a letter!"  and when they came back the horn was blowing and all were hollering.  They had gotten a letter.  It was Jo's birthday the Second, and I was cooking her a dinner.  I tore open the letter.    He started, "Dear Mom.  I have been wounded.  I wanted you to know.  I expect I'll be sent home on a hospital ship."  Who ate the birthday dinner.  I don't know.  I just took off and didn't return for quite a while - -for I knew they don't ship people back unless they were hurt bad.  We didn't get a letter from the Navy for two months.  The letter said, " Your son has been wounded but he's alive and will recover."