Transcript Shore Leave July and August, 1941 Long Beach, California As soon as the Helena left Pearl Harbor on July 2, 1941 for.

Shore Leave
July and August, 1941
Long Beach, California
As soon as the Helena left Pearl Harbor on July 2, 1941 for repairs at the San Pedro Shipyard
outside Los Angeles, Wanda left Brooklyn to meet Adrian. His leave, according to his naval
records, was from July 15 until August 12. Wanda mentioned in some later documents that she
and Adrian were together for only 28 days during the entire year of 1941, so this trip to California
must have been the only time they were together that year.
Wanda boarded a bus along with a Polish girlfriend named Sophie Bronikowski. Sophie
was engaged to George Yellak, a fellow fire controlman on the Helena, and they were to get
married in California. The route they traveled took them across the country by way of Route
66. Wanda sometimes talked to her children about this trip. Having grown up in New York, the
deserts she traveled through made a huge impression on her, especially the Painted Desert in
Arizona.
Two early 1940s pictures (not
taken by Wanda) of Route 66
going through the deserts of the
southwest.
On July 23, 1941, Adrian and Wanda were the attendants for the wedding of their friends,
Sophie and George. Notice that the dresses are the same pattern. Like Wanda, Sophie
was a seamstress. They probably got together before the trip to make the dresses.
Wanda hand-colored the photo so I did not do any adjustments to the image.
After the wedding, the two couples went to
the Army Navy Club in Long Beach to
celebrate. This is the front cover and inside
cover of the souvenir photograph. The
handwriting below belongs to Wanda and
was written following the event.
Dinner at the Army Navy Club. What a grand picture!
The two couples
spent time
together at the
beach. It is
obvious from
their faces that
everyone was
enjoying life and
having fun!
Late July, 1941
The rollercoaster in back of
Adrian was called the Cyclone
Racer and was very dangerous.
Wanda hated roller coasters so it
is not likely that they rode it.
When the tide came in, there
would be water under the
coaster.
Wanda was never a
fan of the beach but
was probably happy
to be anyplace with
Adrian.
George, Sophie, and Adrian
Sophie Yellak and Wanda Fortenberry
Long Beach, California
July, 1941
This picture was probably
taken the same day as the
trip to the beach. Wanda
has on her bathing suit and
white shorts.
Adrian and George
In this photograph,
Adrian has on a baseball
cap and a flowery shirt,
both out of character for
him. The location
appears to be near the
same place as the
previous picture of
Wanda.
Adrian and Wanda left Long Beach to visit Sacramento. The reason and
length of their visit is unknown. They visited the area around the state
capitol building and William Land Park. The only reason we know the
pictures were taken in William Land Park is that Wanda had the foresight
to label the backs of several pictures. The park looks very different
today so locations within the park could not be matched with the
pictures.
The WPA built a rock garden
in the park; and knowing
Wanda, they would have
visited.
William Land Park, Sacramento, California
August, 1941
William Land State Park – Sacramento, California
This photo had no information
on the back. After I realized that
they were visiting Sacramento, I
went looking for a building that
matched the ones in their
photographs. I finally
discovered this statue and was
able to exactly place where
Adrian was standing.
This building was built in 1928
and served as home for the 3rd
District Court of Appeal and
State Library and is located near
the capitol building. This statue
represents California’s “climatic
wealth.”
View of the same entrance using Google Earth.
Picture of the building taken in the 1940s located on the
government of California website. In front of the statue on the
left is where Adrian was standing.
Looking at what Wanda has on in
this picture and the following one,
they were taken on the same day.
The streaks in the picture were
probably caused by the lighting or
the lens when the photo was taken.
It appears that Wanda must have
developed blisters on her feet since
she is wearing dark socks with her
open-toed shoes.
Wanda is standing in front of the
California State Capitol Building –
photo taken by Adrian. The above
photo was located online and
helped identify the building and
location of the picture with Wanda.
This entry is about Adrian’s leave that began on Tuesday, July 15, 1941 and
ended Tuesday, August 12, 1941. It had been 10 months since they had
last seen each other (September, 1940). These 28 days were the only ones
during 1941 that Adrian and Wanda were together. It must have both joyful
and poignant with the realization that their time was limited. When Adrian
rejoined the Helena on August 12, 1941, the ship returned to Pearl Harbor.
It would be six months and World War II would begin before they saw each
other again.
Untitled poem written between 1939 and 1945 by Wanda Werbicki Fortenberry
Darling how I’m missing you
The days are cold and blue,
My life seems so empty and bare
My heart so wants you near.
Sighing in my room alone
Knowing my heart is not my own,
Dreaming of your gay happy laughter;
Then crying the tears that come after.
Enduring the tears and the sorrow
Hoping and praying for a better tomorrow;
Dreaming of your sweet tender caress
Wanting to share the love we possess.
What a happy, magic world it will be,
When you once more will return to me,
Filling my heart with an unbearable delight,
Making my life so happy and bright.
I love you not only for what you are
But for what I am when I’m with you
I love you not only for what you have made of yourself
But for what you are making of me.
I love you for the part of me that you bring out
I love you for putting your hand into my heaped up heart
And passing over all the foolish weak things that you can’t help dimly seeing there,
And drawing out into the light all the beautiful.