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After hearing Norman Livingston’s story (told in last week’s history column), I decided to go back to copies of The Llano News from 1942 to see how those remaining in Llano handled the entrance of the U.S. into World War II. I found that, while the war affected everyone in many different ways, life went on, and Llano prospered in the months following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Headlines on January 1, 1942, told how donations for the Red Cross were 50 percent higher than the goal which had been set for Llano County. W.W.Watkins was the county chairman who announced the good news. Another story reported that sales for war bonds (not including defense savings stamps) had totaled more than $93,000 in the previous eight months. J. Ray Moss, commander of the Frank Griggs Post of the American Legion, called a meeting of ex-servicemen to discuss civilian defense needs, and an ad told high school graduates that they could become aviation cadets. After 41 weeks of training, including 200 hours of flying time, cadets could become 2nd Lieutenants in the Army Air Corps, earning $205-$245 per month.

The political season was starting, and all four commissioners were running for re-election. They were: H.G. Osbourn, Luther Nobles, F.M. Cassaday, and Neal Wood. Also seeking another term in office were County Treasurer Mrs. T.P. Vest, County Attorney Bill S. Watkins and County Judge Andy P. Box, who also served as superintendent of schools and (with Mayor T.J. Watkins) chaired the civil defense organization in Llano. The paper announced that Llano had received 32.66 inches of rain in 1941.

Five young men from Llano joined the U.S. Army the first week of 1942. They were: J.R. Decker, Edwin Dahl, F.M. Slaughter, James Baldwin, and Clarence Andrew Mouser. A Tire Rationing Board was formed, and quotas were set; Llano County was allowed 14 new passenger car tires that month, and 34 new truck tires. In the interest of national defense, it was decreed that the post office would be locked each night. J.B. Mayes, the registrar of vital statistics, announced that there had been 108 live births in Llano county the previous year, and only 49 deaths. That proportion was considered very normal in 1942. Carlos Ashley, Sr. was honored for his poetry, and some of his poems were included in that year’s Southwestern Anthology of Verse, which was circulated around the nation. On the night of January 8, the temperature dropped to 15 degrees.

The family of Monroe Bush, from Pontotoc, was overjoyed to hear on January 12 that he was alive and well. He had been in stationed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked, and his family had not heard from him since December 6. Edwin Dalrymple got his commission as 2nd Lieutenant, and was awarded his wings at Brooks Field, near San Antonio. Llano County’s 1942 goal for defense bonds was set at $180,500. A column called “This week in Defense” told how President Roosevelt had set goals of tripling the number of workers employed in war production and building 60,000 war planes in 1942 and 125,000 in 1943. Production of army tanks was to be 45,000 in 1942 and 75,000 in 1943. Roosevelt’s 60th birthday was celebrated all around the country.

The Llano County Rodeo, on the other hand, was cancelled for the duration of the war, and the tire quota was cut in half for the month of February. Road work was “to be curtailed” during the war. Will Collins and Allen S. Johnson were appointed as Llano’s air raid wardens, and O.H. Newton was hired as Llano High School’s new athletic coach.

The Red Cross announced that it would be holding a First Aid course, and an editorial called for donations of books for service men. Llano County bought an average of $1,000 in defense bonds each day in January. Howard Moore was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and the county commissioners were appointed air raid wardens for their precincts.

A headline on February 12 announced that “Warm weather continues to favor Llano County,” and another reported that “Parkhill Dairy has a modern new plant.” The county began purchasing right-of-way along the south bank of the Llano River to widen the Castell road and eliminate some of the curves. A February 12 headline said, “Hogs reach top of $11.90 in Llano today,” and Llano Sales Co. (Pat Marschall) advertised “Wanted! Hogs and Mules!”

Bruhl’s Drug Store pronounced itself the “Veterinary headquarters for the Hill Country since 1900,” and Harrison Motor Co. (Chevrolet) announced that it was moving to the Donop Building on the northwest corner of the square. Robinson Bus Lines advertised fares of 30 cents to Buchanan Lake, 55 cents to Burnet and $1.65 to Austin. Other advertisers included Piggly Wiggly, Roy’s Café & Market, Gulf Café, Spencer-Sauer Lumber, Rockwell Bros. & Co., the Miss Beveridge Shoppe, Dan Hackworth Garage, Littlepage Hatchery, Fry Motor Co. (Dodge), Scott’s Wrecking Yard and Red & White Grocery. Hogs reached a record high price of $12.50 in February. The new fire hall, with room for four trucks, was scheduled for completion before May 1, and work was about to begin on a new building for the Church of Christ.

A small plane crashed about 25 miles south of Llano, killing an instructor and a cadet from Kelly Field. The Llano News was asking for addresses to send free copies of the paper to service men; 18 young men left Llano for Fort Bliss the first week of March, and 18 more just two weeks later. Roger Barnett of Kingsland became the first Llano County casualty when his ship, the U.S.S. Houston, was sunk. He was 23.