Conflict Because of a Conflict
Malcolm McLeod was born July 12, 1900 in Bruce, Ontario, Canada to John and Sarah (Liggett) McLeod. His family immigrated in 1902 and settled in San Bernardino, California. He didn’t have much education; he didn’t continue with school after 7th grade. Malcolm enlisted in the army May 20, 1917. The 1920 census documents that while serving in World War I, Malcolm was in the field artillery and worked as a cannoneer. According to information handed down in the family, as part of his combat experience, Malcolm was gassed. This had become a routine feature of trench warfare. Malcolm’s regiment, Battery B 18th FA, was transported back to America on the ship, Manchurian, on April 23, 1918. Malcolm was discharged from the army on July 20, 1919.
Anna (Annie) Agnes Anthony was born to John and Gertrude (Schmidt) Anthony on July 25, 1905 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The family moved to San Bernardino, California shortly after Annie was born.
Malcolm and Annie got married in 1923 when Malcolm was 23 and Annie was 18 in San Bernardino, California. At first as they settled into married life, they were very happy. Their son William was born in 1930 and their daughter Geraldine (my mother) was born in 1938.
Unfortunately, they did not remain a happy family; conflict ensued. By 1938, the family was living in Vallejo, California where my mother was born. My grandfather was a welder at Mare Naval Base. My grandmother once told me that after the war, my grandfather was a different person than the one she married. I knew that my grandfather was in World War I and as a child just assumed that this is the war she was talking about. However, the dates certainly don’t make sense; she must have been referring to World War II.
It’s likely that things changed for Malcolm after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 as American entered the war. This may have triggered lingering PTSD from WWI. Working at the naval base may have brought its own stresses. In 1942, Malcolm filled out a registration card for WWII. On the back of the registration card, it states that he had a limp due to an injury. The injury itself may have traumatic.
Regardless, Malcolm became an alcoholic who occasionally became violent. When it became too much, Annie left him. She was totally unprepared to raise two children on her own and had no skills to support them. She began to work as a waitress in bars and restaurants and moved frequently. They descended into poverty and struggled to survive. Despite this bleak situation, Annie managed to maintain an optimistic world view.
Jacque, that is very heart-felt first-hand information from your grandmother.