[Granville-Hough] 2 Nov 2009 - Kinfolks at Thule

[Trustees for Granville W. Hough]

Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:44:09 -0800
From: Granville W Hough <gwhough at oakapple.net>
Subject: Kinfolks at Thule - 3 Dec 2009

     One of the great surprises of my life after I got to Thule was that
there was another Hough at Thule in Delta battery and that he was from
Texas.  Then after meeting him, I found he was my first cousin, once
removed, Lloyd Hough, grandson of Uncle Rufus Hough and son of Homer. He
was on the latter part of his tour, but we got to meet several times and
discuss our family and Smith County experiences.  Here we were in Thule,
Greenland, discussing things about Smith County, MS, more than a quarter
of the way around the earth.  Something was always happening in Thule,
and Lloyd was there when things happened I did not know about.
    Jack Neville asked what special types of arctic clothing we were
issued, and I could say for base or normal duty, we had a parka, a cap,
and a pair of gloves.  I truly cannot remember if we had special
clothing for some outdoor activities, such as going out with the tractor
train to the Engineering center under the ice.
    We wore the normal woolen uniforms for winter wear, though most of
us got thermal underwear and heavy woolen socks.  These were suitable
for working inside somewhat heated buildings.  Once we stepped outside,
we were in another world, and the parka was indispensable.  We added
reflective stripes to ours to make us visible to drivers in the
darkness.  Then we had gloves which we tied together with a long cord
and wore around our neck and on our hands.  For many activities, you had
to take off a glove and work with your bare hand, no matter how cold it
was.  If it were snowing or if we were in a phase condition, your glove
could blow away and never be seen again.  We called snow and ice
crystal the "great white thief."  Anything you dropped, you had to feel
for in the darkness and blowing particles.  So we copied the Eskimo and
tied our
gloves together and wore them around our neck.  Now as to the woolen
cap, I cannot remember its shape or appearance.
    I feel sure we had some special equipment issued for unusual
missions, but I do not remember what it was or how it looked.  The term
mukluk comes to mind as arctic footwear, but I cannot picture it in my
memory.  In old war movies, I have seen Soviet or Norwegian arctic
troops  in all white uniforms, equipped with skis or snowshoes.  That
was not for us.  We were desperately trying not to be camoflaged.  We
had to be seen in phases or whiteouts or get run over or blown away and
lost to view.  We did not have suitable terrain for skiing, and the ice
crystal on the surface did not react like snow.  You could get killed,
as I noted with bobsleds.  I do not remember any skis.  Now, snow shoes
may have been around for some special missions, but I do not remember
seeing them, either.
    My cousin, Lloyd Hough, was there with me, and he may remember the
articles of clothing better than I do. Lloyd does remember the cap and
its ear flaps as quite comfortable, but the Arctic overshoes as heavy
and cumbersome enough to wear you out quite quickly.
    I can say that we had to keep our vehicle engines warm, or they
would not start.  So, whereever you went, you found a parking space with
an electrical outlet and plugged in.  This kept your engine warm, but it
did nothing for the other parts of the vehicle.  The constant freezing
and then using the vehicle caused metallic fatigue, and we all sorts of
axle and brake failures.  Vehicle maintenance was a constant problem.
    It seems strange I remember so little, but after 48 years; I should
probably be thankful I remember as much as I do.  Love to all, Grampa.