Volume 15 , Issue 7

NW Okie's Corner

Back during the beginning of World War II lots of young men and ladies were getting married just before the men were sent overseas to war. Lots of those marriages did not last, and many ended in divorce after World War II. Just another casualty of war, you ask? Probably! My Uncle Bob McGill was one of those young people getting married.

The Soper-McGill, WWII Wedding took place, June 1, 1944, between Helen Louise Soper and Captain Robert Lee McGill. The wedding Announcement read: "Capt. Robert L. McGill and Helen Louise Soper (Bob's 1st wife) were married 1 June 1944. Helen Louise Soper's parents were Dr. & Mrs. E. M. Soper of Enid, Oklahoma. The marriage was solemnized the first of June in home of the bride-elect's sister, Mrs. W. E. Hackett, Alva.

"Miss Soper attended the Enid schools and was graduated from Enid High School. She was active in dramatics, appearing in several of the school's dramatic productions, and during her senior year was May Queen of Enid High School. She attended the University of Oklahoma where she was an art major. She also attended Hill's Business College, Oklahoma City, and Enid Business College. She was a member of Delta Theta Sorority and while at OU pledged Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. For the fifteen months before the wedding she had been employed at the Enid Army Air Field in the medical department.

"Capt. McGill was graduated from Alva high school, Kemper Military Junior College, Boonville, Mo., and received his degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky. While at Kemper as a member of a small dance orchestra he was given a trip and toured Europe. He is a member of the Scabbard and Blade and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Capt. McGill was a reserve officer and was called into the army as a second lieutenant four years ago. He has served sixteen months overseas and is now stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The couple made their home at Fort Sam Houston."

Uncle Bob got to spend 5 months with Helen Soper-McGill until he was shipped overseas during war during WWII.

Helen Louise Soper and Uncle Bob McGill were divorced 22 June 1948. These are a few of the letters Bob wrote to Helen in 1945:

April 1945, Letter to Helen (Wife), postmarked 24 April '45 but written earlier before 19 April 1945. "You know, honey, I haven't the faintest idea what the date is but I'm sure that it doesn't matter. I'm all relaxed in a very nice cozy place. Honey you should see it. Really "snozy". Radio and everything. Although, I did have to call the electrician over to make a few adjustments on the radio so it would work. I am down south of the Ruhr now up in the mountains and darling it is simply beautiful. Of course we have the most comfortable place in the countryside and really it is pretty swell -- of course yours truly got his thumb in on one of the nicest of the bunch."

15 April 1945, V-Mail, Germany, To: Mrs. Robt. McGill, Alva, Okla. From: Capt. Robert L. McGill, 75 Div HQ APO 451. "I'm having lots and lots of hard work where I expected a rest, but that's the way it usually goes. Well maybe the darn thing will be over within the next four or five years and I can relax for awhile. Really its not as bad as I imply, honey. Nothing that you couldn't cure in just a few days, or actually just a few moments...."

19 April 1945, Letter to Helen, also postmarked 24 April 1945, Germany.

20 April 1945, V-Mail, Germany, To: Mrs. Robt. McGill, Alva, Okla. From: Capt. Robert L. McGill, 75 Div HQ APO 451. He writes, "Well honey, it looks like your husband is going to _____ in a big way for awhile. In fact I'm as far behind the front lines now. I'm almost in communication zone. All the fighting is over here now as you must already know and the Ruhr is all over...."

23 April 1945, V-Mail, Germany, To: Mrs. Robt. McGill, Alva, Okla. From: Capt. Robert L. McGill, 75 Div HQ APO 451. "Lots of excitement around here. I guess the place wasn't as dull as I expected when I first arrived. I suppose by now all you are getting are bunches of my letters telling you to go to work etc. Well, honey, I still mean it, because I'm quite sure you won't be seeing me for a good long time yet. I've reaching the point when I occasionally wonder if I will be able to make the next anniversary that we will have on June 1946."

Five years after World War II had ended, Uncle Bob married a second time after his divorce in June, 1948, to Dr. Felicia Monfort, 21 June 1950, and remained married until Bob's death, 21 February 1954, at the age of almost 38 years, give or take a few months. You can read more about Captain Robert McGill and is WWII Timeline by clicking the link.

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