December 8, 1941
December 8, 1941
This morning we got our first telephone call at five-thirty, telling us of what had happened at Pearl Harbor, Aparri and Baguio. To confirm this
Lucy Hardee Olsen
(April 23, 1896 – June 24, 1985), former schoolteacher, interned at Santo Tomas with her husband and two children.
Tuesday, December 9, 1941
December 9, 1941
Up at six o’clock this morning so as to see Carl off, getting an early start on the return trip after a nice breakfast on
Wednesday, December 10, 1941
December 10, 1941
After breakfast this morning Ada, the children and I went down to the store and bought twenty yards of black material. As there is to
Thursday, December 11, 1941
December 11, 1941
It took all morning to get the guest house rearranged so as to take care of the two families. That house contains two big bedrooms,
Friday, December 12, 1941
December 12, 1941
All are jubilant over our successes today. Eleven planes downed without any losses and two of the Jap’s capital ships sent to the bottom. A
Saturday, December 13, 1941
December 13, 1941
Nothing of importance up to noon. John returned to Manila after breakfast, not feeling too well, and at 10:45 Oscar came over from the factory
Sunday, December 14, 1941
December 14, 1941
We all awakened fresh after a restful night’s sleep. Carl was a different person, calm and collected. Everybody was hungry for breakfast, and how Ada’s
Monday, December 15, 1941
December 15, 1941
Thank Heavens!! The morning paper brought word that the bombing of Nichols Field and the fires started there did not get our houses. We are
Tuesday, December 16, 1941
December 16, 1941
Today the children have dug ant hills all day long until they have blisters in their hands!! We told them that they could have five
Wednesday, December 17, 1941
December 17, 1941
John and George returned to the city soon after breekfast and they said that George and Carl will come up Saturday afternoon — I hope
Thursday, December 18, 1941
December 18, 1941
Nichols Field had another raid. The city of Iloilo was raided and so was Carde — some damage to all. In lloilo the people on
Friday, December 19, 1941
December 19, 1941
Headache all day, have not kept up with the news, but I know there is not anything special. Bob brought in the refrigerator from Pagsanjan,
Saturday, December 20, 1941
December 20, 1941
Up this morning, after still another miserable night. My amah is making a house dress which we bought here. It will be our Christmas gift
Sunday, December 21, 1941
December 21, 1941
Carl and George spent the day Sunday, and what a time we had! Bob promoted a bridge game and right after breakfast we started, playing
Monday, December 22, 1941
December 22, 1941
This is my week to superzise the preparation of food. So as Carl and George were returning to Manila, leaving with the first rays of
Tuesday night, December 23, 1941
December 23, 1941
Christmas is in the air. Everybody is doing their part. The children’s play room (the basement) at the guest house is being dressed out in
Wednesday, December 24, 1941
December 24, 1941
John left early this morning, and as there was a chance of getting to the city before Carl and George left for Lusacan Bob went
Thursday, December 25, 1941
December 25, 1941
Day dawned bright and clear, end as I was in charge I went immediately to the kitchen but Ada had beat me to it and
Friday, December 26, 1941
December 26, 1941
Unfortunately, in the rush of Christmas things, I had forgotten to give Esten a needed treatment of Castoria, and the little dear was nauseated and
Saturday, December 27, 1941
December 27, 1941
Manila is declared an open city. Jane, Bill and Carl go to work. I take over the housekeeping. Spent the day with the Ivorys end
Sunday, December 28, 1941
December 28, 1941
Bill and Carl are such restless mortals!! Now at this particular time Carl just must have a hair cut, so to the Elks Club they
Monday, December 29, 1941
December 29, 1941
All are at work today. The children and I spent the day with Ada and the Ivorys. Ada spent the most of the day shopping.
Tuesday, December 30, 1941
December 30, 1941
The Ivorys have returned to their Pasay home. Today is a holiday (Rizal Day). Carl and Bill played golf. They would not let anything in
Wednesday, December 31, 1941
December 31, 1941
Manila must fall. Ail day long military supplies and objectives have been blasted till the air reverberated with the boom of dynamite. Smoke in the
Thursday, January 1, 1942
January 1, 1942
New Year’s Day. Manila has fallen! All Americans must stay close to homes, but we can still see Oscar and Ada — they are so
Friday, January 2, 1942
January 2, 1942
Oscar says that we must keep our sense of humor and so find many little ways of playing jokes on each other and in that
Saturday, January 3, 1942
January 3, 1942
The High Commissioner, Mr. Sayre, ran a notice in the paper saying that all American places of business must open and operate as usual. Carl
Sunday, January 4, 1942
January 4, 1942
Many of our friends have been taken into concentration for questionings. They are all interned in one of the lovely big universities here near New
Monday, January 5, 1942
January 5, 1942
All stay home. It i perfectly all right for the servants to come and go, so the Captain who was here yesterday said for us
Tuesday, January 6, 1942
January 6, 1942
Auntie Florence was exempted because of age and so she is home. Plenty of rest, and Carl certainly has a golden opportunity to catch up