Imperial Valley press., 1945-01-22

not find a place for them to live.
A glance at the lobby of some he
the wives are doing who came here
in spite of the housing shortage
they're sleeping on couches or any
place else the hotels will let them.
Other wives, and even babies, are
living in cars, hoping each day they
II find place to live. Many come
here expecting to stay at hotel
until they find a permanent home,
nut it is practically impossible to
get room without reservations well
in advance.
There are those who say wives,
especially those with children,
shouldn't come here until their
! husbands have a place for them to
live That is true, of course. But
many of the service families hear
of others who came here long ago
and found homes. They don't real
ize thousands of marines have since
been added to the air station here.
MEN HAVEN'T TIME
The marines have difficulty hunt
ing a room or apartment or any,
thing else because they cont have
much time and their wives think
if they were only here they'd find
something with no trouble at all.
They can't be blamed for holding
to that old feminine belief that
women are more efficient than
men.
But practical considerations aside,
how would you feel if your husband
had just returned from months or
maybe years of overseas duty, or was
about to go overseas, perhaps for
the third time? You'd want to be
with him, wouldn't you, and nothing
would stop you.
Most of the men stationed at the
El Centre base are in exactly that
position. They are nearly all either
gcing over in the near future Or
nave just returned. And many have
already served one or two tours of
duty in the Pacific.
HUSBANDS OBJECT
Strangely enough, many house
wives who would willingly rent that
extra bedroom have been stopped
by their husbands, who cant be
bothered" Needless to say, those
men We're usually untouched by the
last war and they can't imagine
! how it is to be separated from your
wife and children for months OF
years.
To solve this housing situation,
the Marine Corps has detailed two
men, Staff Sergeant John Channer
and PFC. John Brancheau to can
vass Ell Centro and try to persuaoe e
townspeople to rent.
With headquarters at the Cham
ber of Commerce, these men report
all available space to Chaplain
George F. Pearce of MAG. 35, who
in turn interviews all applicants.
According to the housing detail
there are always about $50 requests
for some place to live. AS requests
are filled, others come in, and will
continue to cCMe.
SERVICE FAMILIES GRATEFUL
These service people will be CRATE
full for NEST any place to live. You'll
find many wives not only willing but
glad to help with the housework.
Their husbands are offering to cut
the lawn and do odd jobs around
the house.
If you've been using your extra
bedroom as a Storeroom, put the
things back where they were when
someone was living in the room. II
you haven't used that apartment in
your garage because you can't get a
maid, clean it up and rent it to a
service couple. And If you're going
away for month or so, some ma
rine family will be eterpally CRATE
full, besides providing some extra
income, if you'll rent your house.
If you want to do war job right
here in Ell Centre, call 146, the
Chamber CT Commerce, and tell
Sergeant Channer you'd like to rent
to some marine couple.