Ray E. Brim, Salt Lake City, Utah: an interview by Winston P. Erickson, June 25, 2001: Saving the legacy tape no. 109

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RAY E. BRIM June 25,2001 WIN: What were you doing then on December 7 of 1941? RAY: I was in the basement of our home on 15th East; had the radio on. Exactly what I was doing I don't recall. WIN: You were home With the radio? RAY: The radio was on, and they Interrupted the radio broadcast and announced that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor I remember running upstaus and telling my folks that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor, which was almost beyond belief as far as we knew We had been living in a dream world to a great extent. WIN: Dunng the latter part of your high school years Hitler had been making his moves on Austna, Sudetenland, moving across Rhone. Had you been aware of what he was doing? RAY: Oh, yes. My father, having been a teacher, he read penodicals and we had the newspaper every day Frequently, In the evening we would discuss it around the table; what was going on. So I was definitely aware. However, we always kind of felt that It was "over there" WIN: Even when the lend-lease program began? RAY: That came later You know, from the initial time. When the lend-lease program came on, as I recall, my father was definitely for It. I think he had an influence on our judgement at that time. My mother didn't take a position on that, and I think she was very concerned that her little boy might be involved, become involved. She was concerned, but that was about the extent of it. Then, at that time, I met my now Wife when I was a freshman at the U And her folks were very interested In international affmrs. He was on the staff of the Tribune, my father-In-law Wade Condon was his name. So I would 12