Little Italy

In a recent comment about my blog postings my daughter Andrea mentioned writing about my encounter with a young Italian girl during my war-time training at Fort Knox, Ky. She said she probably didn't get it all down correctly. Well, for the record the following is an excerpt about that meeting from my book of WWII correspondence that I published in 1995. My comments in that book were given in the 3rd person as I wanted to tell my story from the perspective of the present day some 50 years after the events.
I had received a 5 day pass which enabled me to travel to Cincinnati, Ohio. At the time I was a very shy youth who had never been farther from Sacramento than Nevada, so every thing around me was a new adventure. Bashful by nature I had great difficulty in approaching any young lady to even say "hello." But on the 2nd day of my pass I ventured across the old bridge that separated Dayton, Ky. from the big city. I attended a dance in two storey building that was completely open (without side walls) to the outside and provided a large dance floor on the top floor. The famous Glen Miller band was providing the music for the night. After awhile I decided to leave as I was not a confidant dancer. As I reached the ground floor I saw that it was empty except for a young lady sitting by a juke box. Curious, I approached and asked her why she wasn't enjoying the music upstairs. She responded that she couldn't dance and had to go home soon anyway. We chatted for a moment and as she started to leave I asked if I could walk her home as it was late in the eve and she should not be walking alone. She accepted my offer and we continued our conversation along the way. When we reached her home I had the temerity to ask her for a date when I next got a pass to Cincy. She agreed and said she had never dated before and I would have to ask her father's permition. Thus the introduction to the following story. It might be added that I found out only a few years ago in an article in the Alantic Monthly that Emelia's home was in the center of a Mafia controlled area at that time, 1940s & 1950s, whose main interest was in the gambling casinos that were operating in Kentucky and the collateral businesses that attend such enterprises. Into the lion's den!
I begin with a typical letter I received from Emilia. From my book:

August 4, 1943
Dearest Ken:
Here I am again, and see that you answer soon. Well, Ken, when you get your leave I will go out with you, and that's a promise, if you come to the house and meet Dad and Mother, because they want to meet you very much.
I hope you didn't get mad 'cause I didn't go out with you that Sunday. But, now I wish I did go with you instead of my cousin. Ken, I didn't even go out with my cousin, believe [me]. I miss you very much, but wish you were here. Gee, Ken, I hope you received my letter.
Oh, by the way, my cousin says hello. Ken, just the other day she said you were a nice boy and meant it. I told her I was proud of you and always will be, Darling. Ken, when I told you I didn't go with boys, I meant every word of it, honest. I’ll be thinking of you always. Don't forget to send me a picture of yourself in your uniform.
All My Love and Kisses,
Emilia S.W.A.K.

Before offering the next letter, the editor feels compelled to comment on all those sent to Ken by Miss Emilia Manocchi. This is so there may be a fair picture presented of both the girl herself, and the relationship between her and Ken that really existed. It is apparent that she was not comfortable in expressing herself in writing. This is a drawback for most persons. She was repetitious and excessive in her choice of language. There were often gaps in what she put on paper and what she actually intended to say. When there are such problems for one in reading or writing, it is often because of Dyslexia, a handicap that should be treated and approached sympathetically. I am sure there are many forms and levels of severity to this disability, and that it is quite common.
Emilia did not speak or behave in a manner that might be indicated by her letters. She was, on the contrary, a very shy and demure young lady when with Ken. She spoke intelligently and knowingly about a wide variety of subjects. Her home was in a very close-knit community, where everyone knew the other's affairs. Her family was the archetypical European Italian family. The parents were extremely protective of their daughter, and eager to see that she married a decent man. And, in true "old country" fashion, they hoped that would happen sooner rather than later. Ken's letters impressed them mightily. Compared to the local youths, he came out far ahead. The environment of Cincy's "little Italy," across the river, did not provide a fertile ground for scholars or professional men. Fishermen, dock workers, laborers, and poor tradesmen were the common positions of endeavor awaiting the youngsters. The girls looked ahead only to find a good marriage. Competition for the eligible male was keen and strong. In this atmosphere, Emilia found a possible answer to her childlike dreams. A young and acceptably handsome soldier, who spoke with a different, educated voice, had taken a fancy to her. He told her, in passing, of his family, his hopes for his future, his interests. These things were far different from anything she had heard of before. He was from the enchanted land of California, as well. She could not believe that this meeting had happened to her. She was overwhelmed by her emotions and determined to make certain that this man would be hers. She fought with the only weapon she had at hand, the repeated declaration of her love.
At the date of the following letter, Ken had only seen her once. However, he had written her regularly. With what must have seemed great eloquence, he had stated that he found her beautiful and liked her very much. He wanted to see her again and proposed a date. This young lady of only sixteen had never had a proper date. Her father would not permit it. Eventually, Ken's offer to take her to a dance or movie was found acceptable by her parents, with the provision that he personally ask permission from her father. Ken had no idea or conception of the protocol that was involved in the courtship practiced by these people. The fact that he was permitted to speak to the father about escorting Emilia out for an evening's entertainment held no special significance for Ken. He was nervous about such a meeting, but unaware that it meant much more to the family. In effect, he was asking permission to court Emilia with the eventual idea of marriage, if all went well. Completely oblivious of all this, Ken walked jauntily into the web of local custom, and soon found himself entangled in a situation he could not understand.
The meeting with Papa was scary at first. Like a Mafia chief, Papa sat behind a table in the kitchen, alone, and bade Ken to stand before him while he asked him some questions. He sternly inquired as to Ken's upbringing, and his plans to make a living after the war. He warned the young man that he knew about soldiers, as he had been in the Italian Army, himself. He stated that he expected his daughter to be delivered safely home before midnight, without fail, and that he would be waiting up for her return. Then he proffered his hand and expressed the wish that they would have a good time!
Somewhat baffled by the formality of all this, Ken was relieved that he had been granted permission to take Emilia to a nearby dance. They proceeded to that affair, and happened to meet Emilia's older brother with his own date. Bored with the dance, the brother asked Emilia and Ken to go with them to a movie and a treat at the local ice-cream parlour afterwards. Ken then explained that he felt he would face execution if he did not take Emilia home by midnight. The brother laughed and said that, as long as the two were with him, everything was O.K.
Following the movie, the ice cream, and a cruise through "little Italy" in the brother's car, Ken and Emilia were returned to her home. And it was with some trepidation that Ken found the entire house lit up like a Christmas tree. There was no doubt that Papa was up, and expecting an explanation for the tardy return. However, the brother shouted from the street for his father, who soon appeared at the second storey window, and told him that Emilia and Ken had been chaperoned by him, personally. He pulled his own date from the car and yelled: "What do you think of this, Pop?" After exchanging a few pleasantries, big brother drove off and Ken was invited in. In spite of the lateness of the hour, Papa brought forth picture albums and scrapbooks and insisted that the young man enjoy a glass of wine, while listening to a short history of the family and of Papa's service in the Army.
Mr. Manocchi owned a green grocery and was able to provide a good middle class living for his family. He now decided that, since big brother liked Ken, Mama liked him, and the lad had made a favorable impression upon his own mind, he would approve of the possibility of adding him to the family. It was also nice that Emilia seemed taken with the boy. He thereupon hinted that it would be nice for a young fellow to think of the rewards to be made in the grocery business. After further pleasant conversation, Ken was embraced by all and permitted to leave.
Ken saw Emilia once more, and perhaps twice. Each time it became more obvious to him that his dating this young lady was a family affair of much greater significance than he would have imagined. He was incredulous that this was so. However, he deemed it prudent to announce that he had received his shipping orders and would now be sent overseas. He said his final goodbyes at a bus stop one evening, amid the crying and wailing (yes, wailing!) of Mama, and the tears of Emilia. It was a wrenching experience for Ken, as he really did care for Emilia. But he had no idea how to extricate himself from the situation without causing terrible hurt. So he just ran. In retrospect, he should and could have done many things; however, he was naive, inexperienced, and confused. But for the pressure of family and the desperate letters of Emilia, there might have been a different ending to this story. He found Emilia enchantingly beautiful, quiet and appealing. He would have happily spent many hours with her had he not been pursued so strongly by the family, and disturbed by the intensity of her letters. Emilia tried so hard, in fact too hard, to secure her position permanently in Ken's heart. The result was a "turn-off." He had never mentioned marriage, taken a liberty, or indicated a serious love for the girl. Now he was frightened to let his affection grow. He had blundered into a culture that made no allowances for strangers. He may have been the right boy, but he was there at the wrong time in his life.
The very redundancy and childish simplicity of Emilia's letters speak with a great eloquence of their own. It is hoped that the reader can, somehow, see beyond the words and feel the anxiety and emotion that gripped her; and, most of all, withhold a too critical judgment. Later Ken had time to reflect on his own part in this event; he found that he did not come out with honor. They say that "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." In this case, it was ignorance of the custom. He cannot be excused for not seeking out the "what fors?, whys?, and how comes?" staring him in the face. In his desire to date a beautiful young lady, he had acted in a cavalier manner.


Given the circumstances of that time and the place I have often wondered if interested family members of the Mafia had ever thought of seeking my whereabouts? Just sayin'.