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The Raumas

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Arthur Victor Rauma was born in December of 1902 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, the son of Reverend John Victor and Suzzie Oikemus Rauma, pastor of the local Lutheran church. Arthur Victor was a gifted athlete with considerable musculature. The sixth of seven children, Arthur Victor was the third child born in the United States as well as the third boy. A younger brother died soon after being born resulting in Arthur growing up as the youngest child in the family. As an adult Arthur Victor developed a drinking problem which is the probable cause of the violence he committed against his wife and only child, John Arthur. One time my father, John Arthur was driving through Boston with the three of us in the back when he saw his father on the street. Stopping the car, he crossed the street to speak with him. He informed his father that his grandchildren were across the street in the car and asked if he wanted to meet them. Declining the opportunity he instead asked for money so my fath...
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Aunt Quackie

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Cape Cod Aunt Quackie was an original. Born in 1913 in Fitchburg Massachusetts, the same town where my father would be born 16 years later. She was my grandmother's younger sister, the 5th girl and 8th child in a family of 11. The daughter of Andrew and Johanna Wahtola, she was the 2nd child born in the United States. She was a lot of fun with a great senae of humor. Quackie's father - Andrew I don't recall how she got the name Quackie since she was born Sylvia Maria. She had one child, Nadine, whose birth has been a bit of a mystery. When I knew Aunt Quackie, her name was Sylvia Hamaleinen, although she was a single woman and Nadine's name was White. I found 2 marriages for Aunt Quackie during the same year in different towns on Cape Cod while doing a records search but the man was not listed. My guess is her first husband was a White. We were told was Nadine's father was killed in World War II before she was born so he probably died soon after her concep...
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Things About My Father

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My dad lied about his age in order to enlist. It appears his initial enlistment was in the Navy although after 4 years he transferred to the Army where he served another 4 years.  The Defense Department considers him a veteran of WWII and Korea although he never saw combat. Instead he served as a Military Policeman (MP). Although he never saw combat he did say that in the performance of his duties as an MP on Okinawa he had to kill someone. It bothered him probably until his death.   It's hard to read, but it says US Navy, US Army, WWII, Korea The Defense Department provides these to the families of veterans when they die He spent 4 years in the Navy He also spent 4 years in the Army My father was a diesel mechanic and truck driver who converted to Catholicism from the Lutheran heritage of his youth; both grandfathers having been Lutheran ministers. This conversion was independent of my mother’s influence although she would never have agreed to marry...
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