John Finn

JOHN FINN

Aside from my admiration for the brave and heroic, why do I particularly remember John Finn (1909-2010) ? His exploits at Pearl Harbor are well documented and led to his receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was a not too distant relative of mine.
See if you can follow the genealogy. He was the son of my maternal grandmother’s brother.( Second cousin maybe)

I first heard of him through my great aunt, Teresa Finn, John’s aunt and sister
of my grandmother. Aunt Teresa was a spinster who lived in Saint Louis in a fine part of
town ( Now a bombed out slum). She had doted on John and became very emotional
when she spoke of him to me around (1942 or 43) so although I never met him I knew a little about him. I did not know he had a wife, Alice ( Not much information about her anywhere on the internet) and a son, Joseph (Cannot find anything about him either)

Brother Lee and I were sent off the Western Military Academy around 1942. Lee needed the disciplined life of the military, or so thought my Dad, and I was sent along as an afterthought. This Academy was in Alton, Ill, a delightful town then ( Not so hot now) and just across the river from Saint Louis. Sometimes , on weekends we would visit Aunt Teresa. She lived in a fine apartment building called The Winston Churchill ( we called it the WC.) We were always reluctant to be there as there was not much to do but we listened attentively to her stories.

My brother Dean and Anne visited John , probably 10 or 15 years ago. They found him living on a small ranch in southern California. They found him interesting and talkative.

MORE MEMORIES ( Continuation)

My part in the story

About 1930 or 31 my mother ,Amy, bundled me and 4 brothers and sister and took us to stay with Grandpa Dean in Highland Park, an upscale suburb of Chicago. The situation in Mexico was so serious that we left, fully expecting all out revolution to break out.
We returned home when things had calmed down. Home at that time was a stately mansion in Colonia del Valle in what was a dying fancy part of Mexico City. At that time 6 or 8 beautiful homes with enormous gardens still existed in that area. Alas, they were soon all gone and replaced by tiny little dumps.
My mother, Amy, was an avid bridge player and two of her regulars were the Countess Polionac (Sp) and the Marquesa de Mazwel (Sp), two plump and pleasant remnants of failed European royalty ( French ? Polish ? from the Balkans ? I don't know) living parsimoniously on whatever they had been able to salvage from the royal treasuries.
At his time there were no functioning Catholic churches (1930/31). My brother Lee and I were spirited away to the home of either the Countess or the Maquesa ( I can't remember which ) and received our first communion in a
clandestine chapel in the basement which one of these ladies had bravely and daringly set up in her home. A brave and stalwart priest was there to administer the sacrament.
That was my tiny part in the history of the Mexican revolution. The countess and the Marquesa died Long ago. I doubt if there is anyone who even remembers that they existed. My sister Virginia lived through this time but was too young to actually remember . If she does, I would be glad to hear from her about this. No one else is left to confirm my story.

MORE MEMORIES

I do not remember things that happened in 1924 since I was not born until 1925 but the story begins at that time when Plutarco Elias Calles seized the presidency of Mexico, an office he held until 1928. He then appointed Alvaro Obregon to be his successor but he was assassinated before he even took office.
Calles then appointed a succession of presidents during the next 3 or 4 years.
These were , in no particular order,Ortiz Rubio, Abelardo Rodrigez, and Emilio PorteS Gil. Finally ,in 1934, he selected Lazaro Cardenas, his friend and protege.
Cardenas served the constitutionally allowed 6 year term. He turned on Calles and had him and many of his cohorts exiled. Cardenas is principally remembered for having expropriated all foreign oil companies.
Calles, during his presidency and through 1935 is largely remembered for his ruthless persecution of the Catholic Church. All church properties were seized, Catholic schools ( The only schools in Mexico at the time) weRe closed, and priests and nuns were hunted and often actually killed. The Cristeros revolt, centered in Guadalajara was ruthlessly put down. When Calles took office, there were about 3000 priests. When the persecution was largely over there were scarcely 300. (About 1939 ). At that time masses were allowed to be held in the now government owned churches.( Suggested reading,THE POWER AND THE GLORY by Graham Greene)
TO BE CONTINUED

MEMORUES

As I grow older, memories of my youth keep popping up unbidden but not unwelcome. Almost all of these reminisces are pleasant enough but they are accompanied by a tinge of sadness. Why is that ? They are almost all known to no one but me.

This was brought forcibly to mind when I told a simple tale to the surprise of daughter, granddaughter, and even wife.

STORY
Back in 1940 or 41, King Carol 2nd of Romania was deposed and exiled. He first arrived in Mexico for perhaps 6 month or so. He was asked to leave and went to Brazil. He was accompanied by his most beautiful mistress, Madam Magda Lupescu.

While in Mexico he rented a house just one block from my family home
(Historic residence known as Los Naranjos). Across the street from his Majesties house was the home of Tom and Ethel Miller (Famous historical Casa Alvarado, built by Cortes' second in command), best friends of my parents. We often spent Saturdays or Sundays at cookouts at Casa Alvarado where his Majesty and Madam were usually present. We Schmidts also entertained King Carol from time to time. On one occasion, Madam Lupescu kindly agreed to play a few hands of gin rummy with me. I estimate that I was 15 or 16 years old.

King Carol was asked to leave Mexico and went to Brazil where he married
Madam Lupescu on her deathbed. He was asked to leave Brazil and was allowed to go to Portugal where he spent the rest of his life.

I could find no reference on my computer that he was ever in Mexico. All the people involved in this story are dead.

EYE DUE KNOT NO WHAT TWO DUE

I am mystified by my liberal family, friends and other admirers. They refuse to hear the conservative radio and TV commentators. "THEY LIE" screams one seemingly intelligent liberal. They actually stick close to the truth and have done their homework. They back up their points with videos of radical liberals ( Now being called progressives, socialists, or even communists ) actually saying the crazy things they have been accused of,

Fox News has a great group of wonderful reporters. I suggest you tune in once in a while