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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | AUGUST 2019 7 By Dick Roppé, Resident This year's recollections of and by the D-Day heroes on June 6, 1944 had me looking back to my younger days growing up in San Diego. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 - the date still living "in infamy" - I was just a little over 2 ½ years old. My own recollections during the war are varied and few, but do stand out quite vividly, even to this day. I recall driving on Pacific Highway past Consolidated Aircraft where the B-24, Liberator and the PBY Seaplane were assembled (see photo). Overhead, I remember camouflage-netting covering the street. Listen up ladies! At the outbreak of the war, with young men going off to fight, Consolidated tried an experiment hiring 40 women to work in the San Diego plant. The plan was an immediate success. Can you say Rosie the Riveter? Eventually, 40% of the Consolidated work force was women (see photo). When the war began my dad was San Diego City Fire Marshall. Presumably because of his familiarity with the city, he received a commission in the Navy Reserves and was appointed Security Officer for the Eleventh Naval District headquartered in San Diego. One of his perks was a jeep. That's me in the back seat with a neighborhood pal. At home, I remember my dad putting up cut-to-fit plywood sheets to cover the windows during blackouts. The sheets were secured with butterfly fasteners attached to the sills. At the time, I don't think I realized the enormity of this global conflict. I do recall the end of the war and being in our kitchen standing next to our 20 pound portable radio, hearing the broadcaster reporting on the jubilant scene as revelers paraded in front of the White House. After the war, dad resumed his career in the fire department. Then, Korea! Once again he was called to active duty. This time we packed up and moved to Arlington, Virginia where dad was stationed at the Pentagon. After one year and the only move our family ever had to make, it was back to San Diego to pick up where we left off. Dad stayed in the Naval Reserves, retiring as a Captain. He died in 1981. D-Day and Father's Day share the same month… Thank you for your service, Pops! D is for D-Day and Dad By Dick Roppé, Resident Do you think you have a unique talent? Do you dream of performing on stage? Is it time for you to release that inner star? Now's your chance, but time is running out. Your Solera Performing Arts Society is staging Showtime X on October 11 and 12 here at the Lodge. We are still waiting for you to sign-up and impress your Solera neighbors with that special talent. Just sign up in the CLUB section of the binder at the front desk at the Lodge. Break a leg! Casting Call!

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