
I’m gonna just go ahead and backdate this, so it looks like I posted it in a semi-timely manner
Latest Entries »
From a letter written home to Kaye, while Bud was stationed at Camp Croft, SC. This is one page of several, from a box of saved letters from 1942 and 1943. The notes are written on large (10 x 14 ?) thin translucent sheets, like vellum or tracing paper, folded and stuffed into small envelopes, sent nearly daily from the soldier to his wife.
From Better Living Magazine, July – Aug 1952 issue
Show Business
World’s Fair Demonstrators Now Handle Variety of Du Pont Jobs
Most coveted of all summer jobs for college students in 1939 were at the New York World’s Fair. Whether it was demonstrating television or electronic cooking, just to be a part of the vast extravaganza was an exciting experience.
At Du Pont’s “Wonder World of Chemistry,” 24 college boys and girls were engaged for those glorious months before the clouds of war darkened New York’s brightest scene. For gaping crowds they demonstrated chemistry’s new miracles.
September, 1939, sent some back to the campuses; war soon scattered others around the globe. But today, 13 years later, eight of these people have found opportunities and careers with Du Pont. Their pictures as demonstrators in 1939 contrast slnaxply with their onthe-job portraits today, seen here.
[Photo Caption] WORLD’S FAIR SHOWGIRL Katherine Mitten, now married to Artist Bud Brubaker of the Du Pont Atlantic City Exhibit, is an aide at the Boardwalk Exhibit.
This image was photographed, cropped, and posted using only my iPhone. Last year, with my meager little flip phone, that would not have been possible. Now, that’s what I call progress.
In contrast, the original artwork was painstakingly assembled using watercolors, ink and cut paper. I wonder what sort of images my grandfather could have created with the technology we have today. I think he would have embraced the progress in his process.
Here’s a photo of Bud, from the World War II days. I believe this would have been taken in Santa Monica, CA, where he was stationed with the 1030th AAFBU. Written on the back is some info about the surrounding buildings, and the date, 1941 (the last digit is half obscured, but I’m fairly certain it is “1″…)

The Palisades. The hotel on Bud's left is the Grand Hotel, where he works. The building at his head is an amusement place where they play chess and checkers. The other building on the left of the picture is the trolley stop or a restaurant. 8/21/41
I’m down at the beach house in Ventnor, visiting the shore with the family. As always, I’m enjoying poking around the house and looking at various photos, clippings, and artwork stashed away in the closets and drawers. It always provides a nice boost of inspiration to add some content to this website. I’m going to try to add a post here for each day we stay. This is our 2nd day, and just my 1st post, so I’d better get crackin’!

Kathy, Kaye, and Mitty pose on the steps of the Ventnor house. Kathy is 6 months old. (Nice mohawk!)
I was doing some research for a Veterans Day post and came across this great story about Uncle George on the Delaware National Guard website. I never ended up completing the Veterans Day post I had in mind but, like Kathy said, there’s always next year!
Read the full story at delawarenationalguard.com >
Wherever he goes, Eucharist is home for Delaware Guard Chaplain
By Jane Harriman, Staff reporter
Jan 11, 2005 – 7:11:28 AM
MILFORD — Father George Brubaker is a man of many ministries, ones that lead beyond the rectory and into worlds and experiences unknown by the average priest.
His work has taken him to Catholic Relief Services projects in Africa and Central America, from refugee camps in Rwanda to combat areas of Kuwait, and from a military hospital in Germany to the U.S. air base in Kyrgyzstan.
But no matter how foreign the location, Father Brubaker brings with him the home of all Catholics, the Eucharist.
No doubts about faith
Like many priests, George Brubaker began to test his vocation as a small boy playing at a make believe altar on the front porch of his parents’ house. He was born in 1947 in Ventnor, N.J., an oceanfront town near Atlantic City, where his parents worked for the Du Pont Co. exhibit on the boardwalk.
His mother, a Catholic, made sure he and his two sisters were raised in the church; their father, Amos Brubaker, a Mennonite originally from Lancaster, Pa. helped. “He didn’t talk about his Mennonite background very often,” says Father Brubaker. “He would test us on our catechism questions, though. I’m sure my mother put him up to that, but he did it. I think he enjoyed what we were learning and was very strict about it.”
In 1955, Du Pont closed its boardwalk exhibit and transferred the Brubakers to Wilmington; George entered Christ Our King School.
Read the full story at delawarenationalguard.com >

AAFBU logo by Brubaker
“First asked to create a humorous logo for a Naval Reserve Squadron stationed at Floyd Bennett Field in New York, the Disney Studios quickly found itself inundated with requests to draw emblems for other military units as well.”

“Before the war had ended, Disney had created some 1,200 cartoon insignias for all of the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as for many Allied troops. Reflecting the esprit de corps and bravado of the unit, the cartoon character patches were worn with pride. With the exception of Bambi, virtually every Disney character appeared at least once on a logo. The most requested character was Donald Duck, beloved by troops for his quick temper and fighting spirit. Pluto and Goofy and even Grumpy of the Seven Dwarfs appeared on decals. Mickey Mouse was never linked to a combat unit. His affable, nice guy image made him better suited for the home front defense industry.”





