When Freddie completed his Boot Camp training, he was assigned by the Army to a base in Germany, even though half of his regiment was sent to Korea as part of the US force fighting North Korea.It was the early 1950’s, and I had already had two brothers, Bernie and John, that had served overseas during World War II. I was aware of the dangers faced by US military personnel, regardless of where they were stationed. Many uncivilized, radical groups, in Korea and in some of the European countries, would shoot at US servicemen because of what they represented…freedom.

I understood that the US had good intentions when our leaders joined the conflict in Korea, to stop the spread of communism. But the South Boston community suffered dearly: several kids never came home (20 in all)…two kids from Gates Street, our neighborhood, were killed in action. It really hit home. I mean, these were kids! And we didn’t have nightly coverage on TV like we have now, so families were left to wonder what was going on. We received our news by letters from those serving abroad.

The D Street Housing Development was built to offer housing to those veterans that were returning from World War II, and eventually Korea. The price to build the development, however, was very steep: the destruction of 10 square blocks of homes, including ours. Families were uprooted and lost touch with many, many friends. Some of the older folks were never the same. Was it worth it? At the time it seemed very unfair to me and my family. Ironically, many of the small streets and squares that were created by the development were eventually named after South Boston men who were killed in action…a small reward for such a supreme sacrifice!

While Fred continued to serve his “hitch” in Germany, I was working at the Carney Hospital in Dorchester and enjoying the first two grandchildren in the Corliss Family. It was not difficult to get attached to “Little Evie” Corliss and “Little Tommy” O’Toole. The kids came fast and furious after that: Francis and Gerard in the O’Toole Family and Michael Corliss III and twin brothers, John and Jimmy. Then Maureen and Francis O’Connor (born 18 months apart) just before my sister, Jose, and her husband, Franna, moved to their new house on Mt. Ida Road in the Fields Corner section of Dorchester. Whenever possible I would babysit for my nieces and nephews.

Even though my brother and two of my sisters (the Corliss’, O’Connors and O’Tooles) were now living in Dorchester, it did not stop me from getting over to visit them. My brother, John, and his wife, Evie, decided to stay in South Boston, just around the corner with “little Evie” so that was only walking distance. Our family had grown quite a bit during this period of time and as each baby came along I realized how fortunate I was to have my brothers and sisters, and had a much greater understanding of how important family is!

Freddie returned home from the Army in 1953 and lived with his Grandmother, “Nana” Curran. His parents, Veronica and Fred, had moved to a suburb north of Boston (Reading, Ma) with their other children (two sons and three daughters) while Freddie was serving in the military. Having been born and raised in the South Boston neighborhood, he didn’t find the move to a suburb very appealing. Nana Curran was a very “special” person in Fred’s life. It was easy to figure out why after meeting her. She was warm and caring. She adored Freddie! He was now enjoying civilian life and started working immediately for F. W. Rooney Motor Transportation Co. owned by his Father. I was very happy to have Freddie back home now as our courtship “took off”!

As the saying goes, “stay tuned”!