This is Episode 45 of the Love Sweetie Podcast.  Please note that this episode deals with letters recounting the loss of a loved one.  The Demaree family experienced a tragic loss in early April 1946.  There are three letters in this episode, all from Sweetie to either her parents, or her sister, Jeanne, in Iowa, or both.  

My heart goes out to all those who are grieving the loss of close friends or family.  As indicated in the special introduction of this episode, it is my privilege and my honor, as Sweetie's granddaughter, to share Sweetie's heart with you.

One additional note: the version of "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" ("the Navy Hymn") that plays at the end of this video as a memorial can be found on the official website of the United States Navy.  That service branch provides the mp3 of that particular version for free on that site.  This particular version is listed as the version "Chorus without words."

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This is Episode 44 of the Love Sweetie Podcast!  This episode is the Season Two premiere of the podcast, and features nine documents from January - March 1946.  Six of the documents are from Sweetie, herself (most of which were written in Lacona, Iowa), two of the letters are from her husband, Lew (who is writing from Pennsylvania), and one letter is from Sweetie's sister-in-law, Florence (who is writing to Sweetie from Kansas).  

Season One had ended with the remaining letters from 1945 and Sweetie giving birth to her son, Lewis, in Des Moines, in September.  Now we fast forward to 1946, and while it might be thought that things should be easier in the post-war days, we are immediately brought into the reality that nothing is ever simple - that life and relationships remain complex no matter what day, month, or year it is.  In this case, Sweetie spends these three months apart from her husband, Lew.  He attempts to coax her to join him in Pennsylvania; her preference is to stay as long as she can in Iowa with the rest of her family, and especially, her sister, Jeanne.  The question for this episode is whether or not Sweetie will finally make the move, and take the long trip to Pennsylvania with her son.

For more information, please go to www.lovesweetiepodcast.com.  This podcast is also available on YouTube - please like, share, and subscribe there.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on X at @lovesweetieshow.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on Instagram at love_sweetie_podcast

This is episode 43 of the Love Sweetie Podcast!  This episode is the Season One finale of the podcast, and features four letters from late summer and early fall 1945.  Three of the four letters are from Sweetie's husband, Lew Graham, and the other letter is the last letter that survives from the end of 1945 from Sweetie herself.  At this point in the story, Lew is hoping to get back to Iowa to be with Sweetie - he hopes to arrive before she gives birth to their first child. 

Note - Season Two of the Love Sweetie Podcast will begin on Sunday, 02/23/2025 with letters from 1946!

For more information, please go to www.lovesweetiepodcast.com.  This podcast is also available on YouTube - please like, share, and subscribe there.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on X at @lovesweetieshow.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on Instagram at love_sweetie_podcast

This is a special bonus episode in which Alison and Jamie discuss the history of the Office of Price Administration (OPA) which oversaw price ceilings for consumer goods and the rationing system during World War II.  The top leadership of this federal government agency are reviewed, as well as the complex logistics that retailers were expected to follow to ensure the success of the rationing system in particular.  Finally, historical documentation is shown indicating how coffee was seriously rationed during this time period, and the logistics of that operation both from the retailers and the consumers perspective.

For more information, please go to www.lovesweetiepodcast.com.  This podcast is also available on YouTube - please like, share, and subscribe there.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on X at @lovesweetieshow.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on Instagram at love_sweetie_podcast

This is episode 42 of the Love Sweetie Podcast!  This episode features three letters from July 1945, two from Sweetie, and the third from her father, Chester Demaree, M.D.  Sweetie is staying with her parents during her pregnancy in Lacona, Iowa, and describes her day-to-day activities. She writes to her sister, Jeanne, regarding how much she appreciates her during this time.  Dr. Demaree writes to Jeanne from Lacona, Iowa as well, providing medical advice about burn treatments (as Jeanne is an RN in Des Moines), and then reflects on the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Additionally, during this episode we discuss Truman's decision to use the atomic bombs against Japan, and discuss Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  We also discuss the end of World War II, and note the formal surrender of the Japanese to the American forces.

For more information on this subject, it is strongly suggested to refer to David McCullough's book, "Truman," to check out the Harry S. Truman Library (www.trumanlibrary.gov), and finally, the version of TAPS that plays at the end of this video in dedication to those who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during World War II can be found on the official website of the United States Marines.  That service branch provides both the sheet music and the mp3 of that particular version for free on that site.  The mp3 recording is of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band.

For more information, please go to www.lovesweetiepodcast.com.  This podcast is also available on YouTube - please like, share, and subscribe there.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on X at @lovesweetieshow.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on Instagram at love_sweetie_podcast

This is episode 41 of the Love Sweetie Podcast!  This episode features three letters from summer 1945, and the first letter is from Sweetie's husband, Lew, who is writing from England as he is stationed there as part of his service in the United States Navy during World War II.  The other two letters are from Sweetie in Lacona, Iowa.  She is staying with her parents during her pregnancy, and describes the day-to-day activities of what is occurring at home that summer and how she feels.  She becomes increasingly self-conscious of her appearance as her due date approaches, and starts to become anxious of Lew's return to the United States to see her on an upcoming leave.  Meanwhile, her sister, Jeanne, in Des Moines, increasingly becomes invaluable to her as her biggest source of strength during this time period.

Additionally, during this episode we discuss the Potsdam Conference (the Conference of Truman, Churchill, and Stalin), as that occurs during the time period of these particular letters.

For more information, please go to www.lovesweetiepodcast.com.  This podcast is also available on YouTube - please like, share, and subscribe there.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on X at @lovesweetieshow.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on Instagram at love_sweetie_podcast

This is episode 40 of the Love Sweetie Podcast!  This episode features four letters from summer 1945, and the first letter is from Sweetie's husband, Lew, who is writing from England as he is stationed there as part of his service in the United States Navy during World War II.  The other three letters are all from Sweetie in Lacona, Iowa.  She is staying with her parents during her pregnancy, and describes the day-to-day activities of what is occurring at home that summer and how she feels.  In one of the letters, she indicates what she will name her baby when they are born, assuming that the baby is a boy.

Additionally, during this episode we discuss the Battle of Okinawa, as that concludes during the time period of these particular letters.

For more information, please go to www.lovesweetiepodcast.com.  This podcast is also available on YouTube - please like, share, and subscribe there.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on X at @lovesweetieshow.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on Instagram at love_sweetie_podcast

This is episode 39 of the Love Sweetie Podcast!  This episode features three letters from late spring and early summer 1945, two of which Sweetie wrote to her sister Jeanne from New York and Iowa, and the third is from Sweetie's husband, Lew, who writes from England.  While Sweetie plans to return with her brother, Bob, and his wife, Florence, as she intends to have her baby in Iowa (she is at this point four months pregnant), Lew indicates that he had a good trip to England.  Finally, the German army surrenders to General Dwight David Eisenhower in France on May 7, 1945, and Victory in Europe is declared on May 8, 1945.

Additionally, at the beginning of this episode, the video from 1945 from United News of President Franklin Roosevelt's funeral procession can be heard.  This is a public domain video, and is made available to the public by the Harry S. Truman Library.  That institution has indicated that it should be credited to the Office of War Information, Harry S. Truman Library.  As this is an excerpt from the full video, and some background music and static has been edited out, it is encouraged that those who want to review this subject more explore the link to their video - the Harry S. Truman Library has a YouTube channel where it can be found.  Also check out www.trumanlibrary.gov for more information about the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri.  

For those listeners that would like to skip ahead in this video to the first letter from Sweetie for this episode, that begins about 15 minutes into the episode, and is the letter from April 20, 1945 that she wrote in Brooklyn, New York, after Lew has departed for Europe.

For more information, please go to www.lovesweetiepodcast.com.  This podcast is also available on YouTube - please like, share, and subscribe there.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on X at @lovesweetieshow.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on Instagram at love_sweetie_podcast

This is episode 38 of the Love Sweetie Podcast!  This episode features three letters from spring 1945 that Sweetie wrote to her sister Jeanne from Pennsylvania and New York.  Sweetie, who is now pregnant, is dealing with the reality that her husband, Lew, is about to be sent overseas during World War II.  However, she is able to stay with him until the point of his departure, and meet up with other family members who are in New York.

Additionally, some historical context is provided regarding the course of World War II during this time period, and at the end we discuss the death of President Roosevelt which occurred on April 12, 1945, and Harry Truman becoming the President of the United States.

For more information, please go to www.lovesweetiepodcast.com.  This podcast is also available on YouTube - please like, share, and subscribe there.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on X at @lovesweetieshow.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on Instagram at love_sweetie_podcast

This is a special bonus episode in which Alison and Jamie discuss the history of Naval Air Station (NAS) Hutchinson.  This base was built in 1942 and was operational for World War II until 1946.  (Lew served at this base from July 1944 - March 1945).  There are some special stories from this base to tell, and we can see how the history can be pieced together to provide a good overview.  

The image of Jiminy Cricket in the plane was the official mascot image of NAS Hutchinson and this particular image appears on an old matchbook cover from World War II (one of the artifacts that remains from this base).

If you are interested in more information on the history of Naval Air Stations in the midwest, it is strongly encouraged check out more about NAS Ottumwa at www.nasottumwa.org.  

For more information, please go to www.lovesweetiepodcast.com.  This podcast is also available on YouTube - please like, share, and subscribe there.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on X at @lovesweetieshow.  Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on Instagram at love_sweetie_podcast