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Cowgills in ww2

Bill, Orris and Palmer Cowgill c.a. 1925

A story of the three brothers. It was the 1930's and times in the US were better than the great depression. America was growing but protectionism seemed often more popular than a possible conflict in Europe.

Uncertainty surrounded the fate of Europe as Hitler's blitzkrieg shocked and worried many. There were two sides with many in the US turning a blind eye to the aggression and others preparing for the worst.

Back home in Alabama, I think people knew war was inevitable sooner or later. As for the brothers, they had all three graduated from High School, were of age and were all employed.

Their father, Mr. WA Cowgill, b.1886 was a successful grocer in Lewisburg (current day, Fultondale), Al. The family store served the community and nearby coal mines and had been in operation since before the great depression.

Cowgill Grocery, Lewisburg, Al. c.a 1935

Cowgill Grocery, Lewisburg, Al. c.a 1915

Maggie Cowgill b.1891, their mother (my grandmother) was the matriarch of the family and was a charitable, christian woman. The lived in a large house adjacent to the store. She took in relatives, boarders and had rental properties from their home

Poland falls to the Germans in December of 1939 and the war officially begins in Europe with the UK standing behind Poland. When this happened I can only assume they figured it might be a good idea to get some training for what was coming. The three brothers all enlisted in the late 1930's and were willing to sacrifice.

Three weeks before the infamy of Pearl Harbor, Mr. WA Cowgill, their father, unexpectedly passed away from a ruptured appendicitis. His passing was mourned by many. This placed a great burden on his wife Maggie (Momma Cowgill as we called her). She managed as well as she could. Properties were sold off, the store was closed and she even sold war bonds to support the effort capping off the Red Cross drive in the Fultondale area at 175% sales.

Supporting the war effort by selling War Bonds

Article from The Merchants Journal. Dated: November, 1942

The brothers were cast to the wind. Daddy went to the European theatre, his brother Bill was in the Philippines and brother George Palmer was stationed somewhere in Africa. Daddy told me many stories about the D-Day landing at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France.

All three men lived thru the war and returned to raise family and prosper here in the Southeast US.

Bill, Orris and Palmer Cowgill c.a. 1945

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