Joseph Randolph Garner life after "The War"

Joseph Randolph Garner

Joe, one of Bill's older brothers, who was mentioned in Bill's "Letters To Mary" was always in trouble. Having been dishonorably discharged from both the United States Marines and The United States Army: he just could not fit in.
After the war in 1945, he set up residence in the state of Florida. He resided in St. Petersburg and was estranged from the family until late in life. He was absent in family gathering photos.

Garner Family 1949 (Absent Joe Randolph Garner)
From Left to right standing back row: Bernard Shelbourne Garner, Jane Durding Garner,
Souil William Garner, Gwendoline Rosa Wilkins Garner, Jessie Mae Kimpton,
Harriett Kimpton Garner, Mary Willis Garner, Wilbur Cecil Garner.
1st seated woman Eva May Stansbury Kimpton, Seated 2nd from left Phoebe Emma Biggs Garner, 3 rd from left, Kate Hudman Wilkins, 4th from left Anna Catherine Durding,  Boy on man's lap, Bernard Shelbourne Garner, Jr, and man Benjamin Francis Durding, Man in chair, Souil Wade Garner, holding Wilbur Cecil Garner Jr. and Carol Ann Garner

 He took random jobs such as driving taxi cabs and school buses. There are no pictures of Joe in either of his military uniforms from his "service" in the Marines or The Army Reserve. His service in the The Army was represented on his Mothers Service Star Flag.

Joe fathered one child from his marriage with Alice Barham Garner, Joseph Randolph Garner, Jr.
His wife Alice Barham Garner divorced, remarried and moved away to Massachusetts. Her second husband with the sir name of Rushton, adopted Joseph Randolph Garner Jr. and he assumed the last name of Rushton. Joseph Randolph Garner Rushton fathered three children.

Joeseph Randall Garner, Sr. passed away in 1993 at the age of 81 and was laid to rest next to his parents in the Garner family burial plot in Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore, Md.

Letter #80 from Joseph Randolph Garner 9 April 1945

This letter from Joseph R Garner, while not addressed to Mary, instead Mary and Joe's mother, was saved by Mary and found among the other "Letters To Mary."

J.R. Garner
6500 29th St. South
St. Petersburg. Fla.

Mrs. S. Wade Garner
2425 Calverton Heights Ave.
Baltimore 16 Maryland 

April 9, 1945 10:45P.M.

Dear Mumzo,

Neither of my two recent letters have been intended to hurt you or Dad in any way. As you well know, I've always been a very poor hand to express myself on paper. Many things have an entirely different sound when spoken. I do want you & Dad both to know & believe me when I say that I deeply appreciate any & all efforts that you have made to aid & assist me in the many jams I've gotten myself into.
 
As I've said however, there is nothing that you could do in this case. I am sure and you would only cause more embarrassment for yourselves, there's been too much of that over me in the past. I have no information as yet as to what action is to be taken but will keep in touch with you.

If it is not too much trouble you might when you have time, put any of my clothes that are there into a box & express them to Souil at home, so all of my things will be together once more. 

Send them C.O.D. There's no rush about that. 
I'll say good night & thanks for everything.
Love, Joe

Letter #78 from East Coast Processing Center 6 April 1945

 

Joe was once again in Dutch!!

HEADQUARTERS EAST COAST PROCESSING CENTER
Service Command Unit No. 1114
Camp Edwards, Massachusetts

6 April 1945

Mary W. Garner, SK1c, USNR
Supply Depot, U.S. Naval Air Station,
Minneapolis, 6, Minnesota

Dear Miss Garner:

Your letter dated the 31st of March 1945 is acknowledged.
Your brother is presently in confinement at this center because of his recent absence without official leave. He was examined by competent medical officers and was found unfit for further military service. He will be discharged from service in the very near future.
For additional information we suggest you write him at the following address:
Pvt. Joseph R. Garner
20 343 522
ECPC SCU1114
Camp Edwards, Mass.

Very truly yours,

Charles Johnson
WOJG USA
Asst Adjutant
E.C.P.C.

Letter #75 from Joseph Randolph Garner to Mrs. Souil Wade Garner 3 April 1945

This letter while not addressed to Mary was in the collection of letters Mary saved, it was important to her, so I have included it here as the date flows in sequence with the other letters to Mary. Bill, in his "Letters to Mary", makes reference to Joe on occasion. It certainly enhances the readers understanding of Joseph Randolph Garner, Mary and Bill's brother who seemed to always be in trouble, especially when in the military. It is the second letter from Joe, among the letters Mary saved, since his last "Letter To Mary" dated October 13, 1930, which was recorded on this blog on December 24, 2013.

Pvt. J.R. Garner, 20343522
Co#2 E.C.P.C.
Camp Edwards, Mass

Mrs. S.Wade Garner
2425 Calverton Heights Ave
Baltimore-16

Maryland April 3, 1945 12:00 Noon

Mother,

Your second letter has just reached me & I feel compelled to answer it immediately. I wish to state right here & now, that the Red Cross happens to be in my opinion the biggest bunch of first class liars & graftus in existence & they are bearing that out. 

My letter of Friday was the first correspondence I've even attempted with you since as you say, July 3, 43. As for forgiveness in my opinion I've not done anything to be forgiven for. I'd greatly appreciate it if you & dad would keep strictly out of this affair now. After all I am about 32 years old now & if I am not capable of managing my own affairs by this time in life I'll never be. Please don't waste any time on worry over me. I've no need or desire for any outside interference or assistance at present & don't anticipate any in the future. Regarding the letter you have addressed to me from 43 I'd rather not have it at the present time.
I don't mean for this letter to sound nasty or smart so please don't take it that way. It does I believe express exactly how I feel' 

Joe

October 13, 1930 Letter #2 From Joe to Mary

A few notes about Joe. In 1923 Joe was withdrawn from Public School #63, located at Westwood Avenue and Rosedale Street in Baltimore, unable to finish his grade school education and sent to vocational school. In the summer of 1924 Joe ran away from home at the age of twelve and drove a "borrowed" automobile to Alexandria, Virgina. He was caught when police became suspicious noticing his youthfulness and the fact that he was not keeping an entirely straight course. The police, after learning his identity contacted his father Souil Wade Garner, who then traveled to Alexandria, picked him up and brought him home. In 1929 Joe left home at 17 to join the Navy.  

Photo provided by Joseph Randolph Garner, Jr January 12, 2015

He was characterized by Wilbur Cecil Garner, his younger brother as "a handsome boy and quite personable but at an early age developed into an individualist and adventurer."

 

U.S.S. Lexington Click here for information on the U.S.S. Lexington

U.S.S Lexington                                                      San Pedro, California

Postmaster, San Pedro, California                           October 13, 1930                                        

Miss Mary W. Garner

3001 Windsor Avenue

Baltimore, Md

Dear Sis,

   Just a few lines to let you know that I am well and getting along fine. I am out of the brig and am expecting a transfer to San Diego this week, about Wednesday, I think.

Say, why don't you write a fellow once in a while huh? I sure would be glad to hear from you at any time. 

   A friend of mine and I shifted uniforms last Saturday and we took some pictures, we are up on what is known as sky forward they turned out pretty good. If I can talk him out of one I will send it to you. I must say that I would make a better looking sailor than he does a Marine, but as that were neither one so hot. 

   Say, kid, if I can't get a transfer to the East coast before the eighteenth of next month I am likely to be sent to China and that is a long way from home. I am afraid I could never get back from there, besides I never did like the looks of those Chinks. 

   I am trying to get a transfer to Washington, D.C. Annapolis, Indian Head, Philadelphia or Brooklyn, New York. If I don't get it I am going to get leave and beat my way across country and turn in at Washington time. I will have to knock off now because a fellow want's this typewriter.

Your loving brother,

                                                                    Joe

  

A bit of background on the family and Letter#1 to Mary dated October 3, 1930.

Souil Wade Garner and Phoebe Emma Biggs started their family in 1906 in Baltimore. Souil was a milk delivery man and Phoebe a homemaker. Mary Willis Garner was the only girl born into a family of four boys. She was born at 1004 Bloomingdale Road in Baltimore, Maryland, September 20, 1909. Souil William Garner preceeded her as the oldest child born on July 4, 1906 at the home of his maternal grandparents, 2246 Annapolis Road, Westport, Baltimore, Maryland. Joseph Randall Garner was the third child born on December 20, 1912 in Baltimore, Md. Dad, Wilbur Cecil Garner was born the fourth child on September 14, 1920 in Baltimore, Md. and Bernard Shelbourne Garner was the last child born on September 20, 1923. In the early years they all led a simple lifestyle as a family of faith trying to keep food on the table and a roof over their head. Times were not easy then as the economy of the country was fragile, recovering from World War I which ended in 1918 and headed toward The Great Depression of the 1930's.
Souil married in 1925, Mary never married, Joseph, the black sheep of the family, married in 1935, Wilbur (dad) married Elizabeth Ann Sutton, Betty, in 1941, and Bernard married in 1943.
The letters to Mary actually start with a short letter from Joseph dated October 3, 1930.
Joe never finished high school and enlisted in the Marines and was stationed in Bremerton, Washington.

He wrote from the U.S.S. Lexington
Miss Mary W. Garner
3001 Windsor Avenue
Baltimore, Md

Dear Sis,

   Just a few lines to let you know that I am still here and would like to hear from you once in a while. I know you are busy but can't you find a little time to scratch a couple lines to a fellow? I get awfully homesick and blue Sis, gosh you don't know what it means to be 3000 miles from home and know that there are very few of the fellows around you, your friends, maybe one or two real pals are about all you have in this outfit. The rest are fair weather friends, and it helps a lot to hear from some one who you know really cares about you.
   Sis, don't mention this to Mother but I feel as though I have to tell someone and I don't want her to know or worry about it. Don't you worry over it either but I left my post last Thursday a week ago while we were underway and I got caught, well, I was put on report to the Captain of the ship and I got another Deck Court martial. I have been tried and I had to plead guilty so I was sentenced to 12 days solitary confinement on bread and water with full meals every third day and a $14.00 dollar fine. The confinement had been reduced to 5 days and I am now a prisoner at large waiting to get locked up as soon as they have a room in the brig.
   Gosh Sis, I can't keep out of trouble on this darn ship. I do my darnedest to go straight but I am always in dutch.

   I hope you had a very Happy Birthday and are getting along nicely with your work.
Your loving brother,
Joe

P.S. Write real soon. Send some pictures of yourself and family.