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<< Previous   of   Next >> Kevin Nortz / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Army veteran Jack Giseburt, 84, dances with Evangeline Shuler, 102, at a 1940s-style dance held at the Everett Senior Activities Center on Tuesday.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 1940s-style dance brings back memories of good times and bad By David Chircop Herald Writer EVERETT -- Jack Giseburt couldn't have looked sharper in his dress khaki service uniform, beaming as he danced across the parquet floor. A big band belted out Glenn Miller classics as hundreds of revelers of all ages took to the dance floor. "She dances about as good as I do," said the 84-year-old Edmonds man, a comparative kid to the 102-year-old lady he spun and tapped toes with. Giseburt, a World War II Army veteran who fought in Europe, was among 400 people who turned out at the Everett Senior Activities Center for a 1940s-style USO dance. Shawn Conrad, 29, who is based at Naval Station Everett, was among a handful of active duty sailors who also showed up. Conrad was a popular figure at the senior center. He showed several of the ladies to the dance floor and was regaled by retired sailors with their stories of long-ago battles on the high seas. "This is a great idea to have all the military people come together and have a good time," he said. Betty Griffin, 85, of Marysville holds fond memories of USO dances when she was growing up in Vancouver, B.C. During the war, she volunteered with the American Red Cross, sending food and supply packages to American and Allied prisoners of war in Germany and elsewhere. "The young people those days were all involved," said Griffin, who married an American soldier during the war. Lloyd Oczkewicz, who turns 89 today, remembers the great euphoria he felt when he learned that WWII had ended. He also remembers the pain. Oczkewicz, whose wife and infant son were in Everett, had been liberated from a prison camp in Germany, where he lost 40 pounds over the three months he was held. He fought back tears Tuesday, remembering the joy and pain of his experience, which included the loss of seven men when the two squads he commanded were overrun by German defenses. Nola Strecker, a volunteer with the USO, served fresh doughnuts at the dance. The nonprofit organization, known for bringing famous musicians to perform for soldiers overseas, has a USO Club at Sea-Tac airport, which provides the comforts of home for traveling servicemen and women. John Egan of Everett, 63, was an Army sharpshooter who served in Vietnam. He recently started going to the Everett Senior Center and decided to wear his uniform for the dance. "It's mainly a remembrance day," he said of the holiday. "I lost a lot of friends in 'Nam." Owen Lewis, 85, served on a Navy destroyer fighting submarines in the North Atlantic during WWII. His father served in World War I. He wore both of their dog tags on Tuesday. Over the years, he said, he's turned into a peacenik. "I came to the conclusion after all these wars that they accomplish nothing," said Lewis, who is a member of the local chapter of the veterans group Veterans for Peace. Billie Dickinson, 94, of Everett was in Times Square on Aug. 15, 1945, when word burst out of Japan's surrender and the end of the war. She was living in New York with three other Navy brides, all waiting for their husbands to return. "We were elated," Dickinson said. "And much relieved, of course." Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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