Elaine Westblade talked about how she and her husband, the late Maynard Westblade, promised to keep in touch by writing letters to each other every day he was overseas fighting in World War II.
They met when Elaine attended Denver South High School and Maynard was studying at the University of Denver.
Their romance was put on hold. Maynard was part of the 42nd Infantry’s “Rainbow” Division. The artilleryman helped liberate prisoners in the infamous Dachau Nazi concentration camp in Germany.
Despite the horrific human toll of the war, Elaine was convinced that her beau would return home. They’d gotten engaged before Maynard left.
“I couldn’t find a wedding dress because they were using fabrics for dresses for things in the war,” Elaine said.
At home, Elaine had to get creative in the face of wartime rations. She recalled that people were on rations — everything from sugar to gas — and were only allowed to purchase one new pair of shoes per year.
“I was going to several of the stores in Denver down on 16th Street before it became a mall,” Elaine said. “I couldn’t find anything, so a friend of mine offered for me to wear hers, but it was too big so I took it to another friend who altered it. My sister had a veil I could use.”
Just months after Maynard returned home in 1946, the two got married.
Karry Frame was drafted and served in the Vietnam War when he was 18. He was stationed as a Marine in that country after completing about a year of boot camp and specialized training. He told students that Vietnam was one of the most controversial wars in U.S. history.
“When I got home, there was a lot of animosity nationwide, and especially in L.A. – there were people demonstrating against the war,” Frame said. “It felt like, ‘Are they supporting us or not? We’re just doing what we’re supposed to be doing for our country.’ There was apprehension about protesters. There were instances where people in our group were spit on when in uniform.”
Dr. Walter Ordelheide, a South alum, was drafted in 1943. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and his job was to care for injured seamen. He was trained at the San Diego Naval Hospital and stationed at the Coco Solo Naval Base Hospital in Panama. After the war, he returned home and started a private practice.
“There’s nowhere better than Denver, Colorado,” the 102-year-old Ordelheide said.
Westblade, Frame and Ordelheide are residents of the Clermont Park Life Plan Community in University Hills. They traveled to South on March 2 to give a Living History Lessons presentation to about 150 ninth and 10th grade history students.
Four Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps students served as chaperones for the veterans.
The event “brings history to life for these students,” said Col. Marvin Meek, who leads South’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or JROTC, program.
A lot of the residents at Clermont Park are South alumni, said Chuck Montera, Clermont Park community relations representative.
The presentation lets students hear from those who helped shape history and experienced tumultuous times. This is the 11th year that Clermont Park veterans presented to the students, Montera said. He expects the program to continue, though WWII veterans and civilians from that era are dwindling in numbers.
“It’s super rewarding to be able to offer this opportunity to students,” said Diana Bustamante, a social studies teacher who helps organize the event. “It’s powerful for students to hear from people who are wanting to share their stories. They learn (history) is not too disconnected from our experiences today.”
— Bryn Phinney Webster contributed some of the quotes by Elaine Westblade and Karry Frame that are used in this article. They were gathered in preparation for the presentations.
