Gutsy and Gussied Up

Fred Chancellor Harwell
"WWI Hero"
by, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

My Grandpa was born on February 15, 1894 in
"The Cherokee Nation," Indian Territory.
He attended A&M College, in Oklahoma.
On February 25, 1917,
he and my Grandma, "Nancy," were married in
"Webber's Falls, Oklahoma.

That same year, on April 6,1917
the U.S. entered WWI.
Soon he was on a ship bound for the
"Argonne" offensive, in France.

Nancy Harwell
"Grandma wearing Grandpa's WWI Uniform."

Grandpa in his WWI Uniform

"Grandma gave birth to their first child,
on January 23, 1918.
Sadly, baby "Mary" died in March.
"Grandpa" never met his first child.
Can you imagine learning your baby girl had died,
while fighting across the sea, in the trenches of WWI?

Just 6 months later, Grandma received a telegram,
with the worst possible news.
On September 26, 1918, "Grandpa" had been
"killed in action."

First her baby girl, now her brave soldier.
She anxiously hoped his body would be returned home.
Two months after the memorial service, she was still waiting.
One beautiful autumn afternoon,
she was baking and thinking about, how sad this "Thanksgiving Day" would be,
when she heard the screen door slam.
She continued to prepare the apple cobbler.
Suddenly, from behind her, a familiar voice whispered,

"Nancy,"

as she lost all consciousness.

He was back, not in a "pine box" but from the dead.
Wounded warrior yes, but very much alive.
Such a romantic true story!

They continued to live in "Webber's Falls" area,
near Muskogee, Oklahoma.
While there, they had 3 boys and 2 girls.

"Mule Skinner!"

Grandpa drove freight.
Driving a team of 20 (sometimes more) mules on his own,
with nothing but a whip and muscle.

With a flick of his wrist,
the razor sharp whip skinned the hide right off
any of the stubborn,
as his team moved in unison as one,
to accomplish the impossible.
Having a "Grandpa," with this kind of "fire,"
makes me feel like I can do anything,
anytime, anywhere!

They moved "West," to Buckeye, Arizona in 1927.
Could any town in the U.S.A. sound more "COWBOY?"
"Buckeye!"
Yes, this is where 5 more boy's were born.
With a growing family, he put his mechanical knowledge
and education from A&M to use.
He started working as head mechanic at
"Ford Motor Company."