There's 'Chemistry' In The Lab

Pomona Junior College Yearbook 1942 pg 29
Frank should be somewhere in this picture.
Take a look and see if you can find him,
if you do let me know.
Compliments of classmates.com

During the summer of 1941, Frank prepared himself to attend Pomona Junior College, which was an extension of Pomona High School.   They offered a 2 year college program that would prepare you for one of the local 4 year colleges.

That fall, Frank started college with a full course of classes. [The exact classes he took are unknown, but if you remember what your first session of college was like, you'd probably have a pretty good feel for what he was feeling; busy, overwhelmed, exhausted, tense, excited, and hopeful]

There was one class, that stood out from all the others - Chemistry Lab.

While in Chemistry Lab, Frank would quite often find himself in one mess after another.  [Who knows if how explosive the messes were, but it wouldn't surprise me if there were a few.]

One day, one mess, one such extra big mess - the type of mess that even the messiest of people look down on - was created by Frank:

Frank, finishing his lab assignment, looks around the table, and sees the largest mess the chem lab has ever seen!  Papers, bottles, liquid, and lab equipment, were sprawled all over the place.  It was such a huge mess that it took up the entire table even flowing down the sides to the floor.

Frank, being just over six foot, clumsily starts cleaning the mess.  As he'd put one item away, he'd knock over another, spilling and dropping more items then before.  Cleaning this way was getting nothing accomplished.

A gently, petite, kind, caring, beautiful young lady walked around the table, bent down along with Frank and started to help him clean.

Frank lifted his head to catch the individual kneeling next to him, and came in contact with the most delicate, gentle, eyes, he's ever gazed into.  Just then the cause, reason, and why of the mess quickly ran from his mind, only to be replaced by the vision of kneeling next to him.

They both stood to place a few items back on the table, Frank's height looming above her petite five foot frame.  She came only to his chest, but looked directly into his eyes, catching a glimpse into the soul of the real man, Frank.

Frank introduced himself and thanked her for over and over for the extra help.

She introduced herself as, 'Betty, Betty Calkins', and commented with a little giggle that he could use a little help right about now.

Together, this cute little lady, barely 5 feet tall - and this messy, 6 foot tall man cleaned up the chemistry mess.  This moment would forever catapult Frank's life into a new trajectory, one filled with future hope.

Pomona Junior College Yearbook 1942 pg 28
Betty Calkins, I believe is on the front row very far left.
Classmates.com

One would love to know the reason for the extra help.  Was it Betty's generous compassion for the extra large man, attempting to clean an extra large mess, while making more messes as he cleaned?  Or was it the opening she was hoping to come across so she'd get to know this good looking gentleman in lab class?  Unfortunately this will always remain a mystery to us, at least one that we will never know in this lifetime.

Whatever the reason, I thank Betty's generous heart for her willingness to help Frank.  For it was this moment that made it possible for me, and most of you reading this, to be here today.  Thank you Betty, also knows as Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma.

Pomona Junior College Yearbook 1942 pg 54
Betty Calkins asterisk next to name and pic
classmates.com

Frank's Unspoken Dream Comes True

Frank Houser Senior Picture 1941
Page 50 of Pomona High Yearbook
compliments of classmates.com

Let's jump back a few years, and get to to know more of Frank Lambert Houser's earlier days:


While moving from Montana to California, then up and down California following the crops, working side by side his mother for hours on end, future hopes and American dreams were luxurious available for the rich.  


Today, the secret dream he held onto while working as a migrant worker, is coming true: 


Frank, after carefully dressing in his finest attire, walks into the room where his mom stood.  Grace admires the man standing before her, with love and pride in Frank and all that he has become.  She quietly cherishes this moment, marveling at how remarkable both of her son's have turned out in spite of the rough start in California.  


Frank strolls through the house ready to leave, and asks his parents if they too are ready.


It's late spring of 1941, Grace grabs her handbag, tucks a tissue inside, and sets off with Frank Sr, and Frank Jr.  (James unable to attend since he was (most likely) pursuing his dream - crossing the ocean and on his way to the South Pacific.  If he were here he wouldn't miss watching his young brother for anything.)   

Pomona High School

They arrive at Pomona High School, Frank Jr, parts from his parents and lines up with his class mates.  Today he becomes a high school graduate, a dream that seemed highly unlikely several years ago.  


Frank in anticipation, like most young graduate boys, straighten up a bit taller.  It could be from the formality of this American ritual, pride over his accomplishment, or merely so their parents could easily find them in the crowd. 


Grace finds Frank easily in the sea of graduates.  He didn't need to straighten up, he naturally stood taller then most his age.  


Today IS a good day.


Frank steps up to receive his diploma.  As he takes his diploma from his Principal, Principal Johnston E. Walker, gratitude and happiness start welling up in his heart.

Frank Houser is identified in red asterisk.
 Page 50 of Pomona High yearbook.
compliments of classmates.com

Grace, elated, watches him from the crowd, as he receives his diploma,   Grace's heart swells, both of her boys graduated, overcoming extenuating and difficult circumstances earlier in their life. 


Frank, on his way back to his seat, catches Grace's eyes.  They they smile at each other across the distance.  Frank quickly looks away in fear of the tears welling up.  They've been through a lot together, looking at her face beaming with pride while dabbing away her tears.  He knew he too would be overcome with emotions that he'd rather not reveal, and looking away was the only way out.


Frank takes his seat, brushes away the feelings that threaten to surface.  He couldn't imagine having his friends and classmates see him overcome with feeling, feelings he has kept buried deep inside.  As the procession of graduates come to an end, Frank and his classmates stand.  They ceremonially move their tassels from one side of their cap to the other - symbolizing their entrance into adulthood. 

Yearbook cover from Frank's senior year

Today, is for celebration and happiness - as one door closes and another opens.


Today is a good day, the future is bright, one could dream their dreams - even in dire circumstances.  Frank's future is encouraged, even celebrated.  He knew that if he received an education and worked hard, he would find his way out of poverty.


This fall, Frank had a lot to look forward to - a future. 

Financial Recovery, Selling the Houser Ranch, Oceans and Continents Apart

James graduated college in 1938 or possibly 1939, the date isn't what this story is about, so the exact year won't be known, since the memory is only an approximation.

America was just starting her financial recovery from the Great Depression, and the unemployment rate was slowly getting better, which helped in the selling of the Houser ranch. After almost ten years - ten long years of desperate, starvation, and survival Frank Morrison joins his wife and two sons in sunny California.

Even with all the success that America has created, the American dream however, was reluctantly starting to fracture - again. Germany's, Adolph Hitler, was on a path to turn all of Europe into the Nazi, Aryan Nation.  The American Society, along with her defensive allies, were reluctant to get involved in another expensive war. They decided instead to sit back and maintain neutrality in fear of another financial tail spin that they experienced after WWI.

American military defenses kept a militant eye on Japan, a small nation under militia control, which also happened to be close to American soil.   They watch the Japanese military strike and take control over the Chinese borders and other various islands in the South Pacific Sea. American military couldn't sit idly by without implementing some kind of military action plan. American military determines that they had to somehow create a 'secure, meandering, stealthy' path through the South Pacific islands to Japan.



James learns (through the newspaper and other media like, radio) about the wars going on around Japan and Europe. He learns of Hitler's deliberate actions that willingly defy the Treaty of Versailles, as well as the suppression being imposed on our allies, and the other unbelievable grotesque war crimes. His compassionate desire to end the suffering of innocent people, combined with; American pride, the need for a job, and the desire to remove the lethal dictatorships of the world - motivates him to sign up for the Army.

After finishing basic training, James is assigned to active duty in the Philippines. He's to help create the secure and safe path that would meander through the South Pacific islands to Japan.

Dec 8th, 1941 around 4:30am, James is awakened from an exhausted sleepless sleep, by his commander's direct urgent tone. He's required for an important military briefing  ASAP.  James, jumps out of bed runs out of his barracks, ready for anything - confident that his training would serve him well.

James along with his fellow soldiers stand at ease waiting for the briefing to start. He stands there listening as his commander explains that he was just notified by General McCarther that American blood has been spilled on American soil. Two hours prior (the Philippines are about 16 hours ahead of Hawaii), the Japanese slaughtered thousand's of Americans by their sneak attack on Pearl Harbor.

It's Dec 8th, 1941, a day that James, in tragic disbelief, lowers his head, and wipes the tear pooling at the corner of his eye. Another day in James' life where indescribable emotions swirl around him, wanting to consume his every cell, causing time to stand still. He stands with weak knees, slowly attempts to soak in the depth of this new reality- thousands of fellow troops died in a sneak attack - troops that were struck in the morning light, under secrecy and surprise, dying without the ability to strike back.

Tragedy has struck America - the land of the wealthy, populated, and un-impenetrable.

Standing there feeling alone in a crowded Army briefing in the middle of the Philippine coastline thousands of miles from home, he awaits in uncertainty the impending orders:

Exist & Survive - You Do What You Have To Do

Grace, James, and Frank Lambert head west, west to dreams of new beginnings, happier times.

Grace desperately needing to find somewhere to live, takes some advice and heads to Northern California.  She was told that the agriculture needs were high and she could get a job easily there.

The boys, compared to most ranchers, were pretty well off, however life was still hard on the ranch filled with lots of physical and mental challenges. These challenges served only to be a preparation for what was to come with life in California.  The boys, in a strange land, with no money, food, or house have found their lives turned upside down.  Survival and existence is the name of the game.

California was being inundated
with unemployed workers looking
for a  job in the dream land.

Grace, faces the grim reality - life in California is a vicious cycle that one is unable to leave.  The number of people pouring into California, based on a hope and dream, were more then the state could handle.  Grace saw Mexican immigrants willingly head back to Mexico, where life was better off.

The family learn that the sell of the ranch has fallen through.  Dad, Frank Morrison, will not be able to join the family in California as early as they thought.  He stays behind to care for the ranch in hopes of selling it soon.

As Grace gets a bit more accustom to California, she learns that small family farms don't last here.  The competition with large-scale agriculture businesses causes family farms to fail.  Another 'dream' crushed in the wake of the Great Depression.  She had to succumb to the conclusion that their only hope for their imminent survival was to work as crop picker, following the harvests from the north to the southern part of California.

This is a sample of what some
families had to live in during
the Great Depression

In order to be as mobile as possible the Houser family lived in a tent, most likely with other poor white migrant families in the same situation.  These tent 'cities' became known as ditch cities.  To help ensure their survival, all three had to help harvest the crops.  Yes, that included young Frank.

Frank, being between the ages of 9-11, works side by side with his mother, Grace, and brother, James.  He's surrounded by other women, men, and children picking hops in the north and working their way down the state and ending with the picking of cotton.  Frank was use to hard work, however even on the ranch he could still sneak away and play, here he was expected to work from sun up to sun down.  He was too young, way too young to live the life of child labor.

Migrant Mother: Dorothea Lange's
famous photograph from the Great
Depression features Florence
Owens Thompson, 32, a
mother-of-three who had just
sold the family's tent to buy food

Around 1937, life began to change for the 3 Houser's in California.  James Buster found a 'real' job working as a janitor at Smith Jones Smiths and College in Southern California (I couldn't understand the college name).  It was during this time that they were able to find a real place to live, settle down, and have James attend college for free (as long as he worked as a janitor there). His college dream took several years to come true, but it's finally time.

Life was finally turning around, getting a bit easier, more stable, secure, and calm.