June 25, 1939 – Mother was operated on for appendicitis at the Soda Springs, Idaho hospital. This was on my 13th birthday.
July 22, 1940 – Dad got his citizenship papers at Paris, Idaho

The rest of my school days were spent in Montpelier, Idaho where I graduated from High School in May of 1944 in the top 10% of my class. I had a lot of nice memorable days spent in that period of time.
During Junior High and High School, the main sport I excelled in was track. I received my High School letter “M” in track. I also received a medal in this event, in the state track meet. Our team traveled to various places to compete in track meets. The minor sports I participated in was basketball and tumbling.
The highlight of my tumbling was when Harold Sorenson and I put on a tumbling exhibition for the American Legion members and their wives at Montpelier. My tumbling days were rather limited later when I hurt my knee and received a very severe sprain to my ankle. I was limited to lifting other members of the tumbling class in presenting our stunts.
Other activities I enjoyed doing was skiing and sledding during our rather severe winter months. I can remember riding my bike to school when it was 41 degrees below zero.
A group of us kids would also do a lot of ice skating at an ice rink that was built about 4 miles up Montpelier Canyon. We would spend hours skating and then get together for a chili feed and dance at one of the cabins at the ice rink.

June 18, 1941 – I got my first driver’s license from Ross Porter, state police. My license number was 21334.
June 21, 1941 – I started working at my first job at the Standard Bottling Company at Montpelier washing bottles. My social security number is 518-20-3458.
July 18, 1941 – From the first money I earned from The Standard Bottling company, I bought a wrist watch for $4.95. Its make was a Brewster.
July 21, 1941 – I started my first bank account at the First Security Bank in Montpelier, Idaho with fifteen dollars.
August 4, 1941 – I bought my first camera. An AFGA Chief from Montgomery Ward at Chicago, Illinois.
August 31, 1941 – I was baptized in the Baptist church at Rupert, Idaho. I was 15 years of age.
October 31, 1941 – I had my first date. I went to a Halloween party with Florence E. Campbell.
January 16, 1942 – I went to the music clinic held at Pocatello, Idaho. Went with Warren, Barbara, Joyce, Anne, Bob, Lyman, Odell, and Betty J.
February 18, 1942 – At 8:30 a.m. it was 30 degrees below zero when I rode my bicycle to school at Montpelier, Idaho.
June 1, 1942 – I started to work in the Standard Bottling Company again at Montpelier, Idaho.
July 17, 1942 – I quit my job at the Standard Bottling Co. I made $13.60.
July 18, 1942 – I bought my first U.S. savings bond for $18.75.
July 25, 1942 – I started to work at J.C. Penney Co. at Montpelier.
December 7, 1942 – The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor 7:*** a.m. starting a second world war. I was 15 years of age.

During my high school days, I attended Montpelier High School and also had nice memorable years. My main athletic participation was being a track runner. My special distance running was 220 yards in relays. I was the fastest runner in that distance. Glenn Irving who was also a track runner claimed he could beat me, so the coach told us to run that 220 yards and see who could win. Guess what, I won. Our coach’s name was Keith Trane and through his training, we were tracksters in the district track and field meet at McCammon, Idaho. Our whole team ended third place, with 23 points. Malad was first with 43 points and Pocatello second with 41 points. Our team, called “The Bears” took 3 firsts, 2 seconds, and 2 fourths. The ones running a quartet of sprinters, were G. Irving, G. Thornock, E. Rogalsky (me), and K. Wallentine ran the 880 yard relay in 1 minute and 42 seconds to account for First Place. We received a medal. I received my letter “M” for my school sweater. Was proud to wear it.
I also took training and participated in tumbling. While trying to learn how to flip over backwards by so called pump handles. I ended up on the floor at a wrong angle and sprained my ankle. This unfortunate thing happened on October 27, 1943. This really didn’t bother me for a long time. In about one and a half weeks, I was able to do a tumbling act which was put on by a few students. Under the direction of coach pitcher. Surely was glad I overcame the sprain and was able to be one of the actors, if that is what a person is called who has the ability to tumble.

March 31, 1943 – I started Military Training given by the American Legion every Monday and Wednesday
May 27, 1943 – I quit my job at J.C. Penney Co.
June 3, 1943 – I started to work as a section man on the Union Pacific Railroad Co. I worked on my father’s gang.
July 29, 1943 – I laid off from work because I hurt my back while working on the section.
August 27, 1943 – I quit working as a section man for the Union Pacific Railroad Co. at Montpelier, Idaho.
September 18, 1943 – I started to work for the J.C. Penney Co. again.
October 7, 1943 – I was nominated for President of the Senior Class by Helen Seewer. I won in the Primary Election bust lost in finals.
October 27, 1943 – I sprained my ankle while doing the pump handles in tumbling.
November 5, 1943 – I was in a tumbling act put on by a few students of the M.H.S. under the direction of coach pitcher.
December 23, 1943 – I was in my first real play at the Montpelier High School auditorium. I played part of the father in “One Gift Above Another”. Mary K. Sorgatz was my daughter. John Barett was my son.
March 2, 1944 – I was in a play “Mrs. Miniver” put on for the High School students. I played the part of Vin engaged to Helen, played by Mary Kay Sorgatz.
March 3, 1944 – We put “Mrs. Miniver” on for the public.
March 5, 1944 – Sang in the Glee Club for Conference held in the tabernacle at Montpelier, Idaho.
March 11, 1944 – I quit working for the J.C. Penney Co. at Montpelier, Idaho.

Acting is something I attempted to do in High School. I was on the stage during my first play at the Montpelier High School Auditorium. I was a member of The Thespian Club. We put on several plays for the public. I played the part of the father in “One Gift Above Another. This first play I acted in occurred on December 23, 1943. My acting daughter was Mary Kay Sorgats and my son was John Barrett.
The play I enjoyed most was entitled “Mrs. Miniver”. I played the part of the soldier boy son, named Vin. Vin was engaged to a girl named Helen who was played by Mary Kay Sorgats (The same person who was my daughter in the play “One Gift Above Another”. Mary was a very nice person. This play was put on for the high school students on March 2, 1944 and then for the public the following day. Had a lot of fun times rehearsing and putting on that play also.
In 1942, I started a money paying job. Ithel Fredricks and I started working for the Standard Bottling Co. We washed the pop bottles that were used to refill them to be delivered to business places which sold pop. Was not a very pleasant job. I quit after working for one and a half months. I made only $13.60. Seven days later, I started working for J.C. Penney Co. I worked many days after getting out of school each day. I also worked a full day on Saturdays. I made a really big hourly wage. That amount was 25 cents per hour. I surely became rich and saved a lot of money – HA HA.
During the school summer vacation of 1943, I quit my job at J.C. Penney Co. I then started working as a section man for the Union Pacific Railroad which my father was the section foreman. I really had my wages increased. I was then making 54 cents per hour. Two other boys, Bob Einzinger and Don **** which were in
the same high school grade as I was in, also started doing the same job.
I was in the Glee club and we would put on operettas for the public. One memorable operetta was when I had a spearing part of Dean Longwood (The Absent Minded Professor) in “Words and Music” (May 4, 1944..May 5th for the public of Montpelier). I had a lot of fun doing that. Being in the Glee Club, we presented many songs to the public to hear. We received many compliments from them. My experience in doing these things are very memorable.
During this summer and even during our last year of school, we were close friends and spent time with some girls which were close friends. We all went together to dances at Bear Lake. We had picnics and went swimming there. We went ice skating at an ice rink up the canyon and then at times, we would cook up good chili. We had lots of good times. Each of us had a special friendly girl which sometimes we went with to church dances and dances held at the Paris High School. The nice girl I spent time with was Joyce Burgoyne. She was the sister of Roger Burgoyne who was a very good friend of mine. He was also in the same grade as me. We had a very good clean, pleasant relationship which she certainly lived according to the teachings of the Mormon Church. We had good compliments from her parents showing that they appreciated our pleasant relationship.
During the starting of my senior year in Montpelier High School, I became active in the student body. I was nominated for the President of the Senior Class by Helen Seewer. I won in the primary election, but I did not succeed to become the President. The one that was elected was Allen Stephens. I was more or less considered the Vice President because I helped a lot and we decided things together.
The American Legion gave our class a military type of training for those interested. I was interested in learning the ability to read the sending of code letters that would help to qualify as a radioman if that is what I would like to do. Well, when I went to boot camp training at Farragut, Idaho, I took the test given on code reading. I passed it. This gave me approval of going to a radio school when I completed boot camp training. The American Legion gave us this training every Monday and Wednesday.
It was now close to graduation. The week before that, was a busy one. Monday and Tuesday included final exams. Thursday evening was the night of the Senior Banquet. I was honored to sit at the head table along with my parents and grandparents.
I gave a speech on behalf of the graduating boys of our class. I was honored that they had enough confidence in me to give such a speech. The Speech I gave was the following:
At this time, I consider it a great honor in having the opportunity to speak for the Senior Class of 1944 in giving their farewell to the good old Montpelier High School. I believe I speak true the thoughts and feelings of every senior boy and girl here when I say that the four years we have spent in the Montpelier High School has been a time filled with happiness and contentment. I also believe everyone will agree that our Senior Year has been the happiest of any other year of our school days.
Because of the serious situations that are present today, we should consider ourselves lucky in having been presented with all of the social events we have had this year. The football games, basketball games, the track meet, all the school dances and parties. And thanks to Mrs. Price and Mr. Baker, our annual operetta which we were deprived of last year. These social activities have helped a great deal in making this year very pleasant for everyone.
It is true, this is the smallest senior class to graduate for several years. Especially as far as the boys are concerned. Although we few here have been very fortunate in being able to continue throughout this school year, we regret that not all the boys that started out with us as Freshmen, have been as fortunate. We have certainly missed them after our association with them in our prior school days. I believe that the memories of the days spent in the good old Montpelier High School will live with us throughout the long journey of our future life to come.
On Friday, May 26, 1944, I graduated from high school. The graduation was held at the Montpelier Stake Tabernacle at 8:00 pm. On this day, I received some awards. A medal for track which I was also given a letter “M” earlier to wear on my sweater which I got from my activities in track. I was also awarded with a certificate of membership of the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools. It certified that I was elected a member of the Montpelier High School Chapter of the national Honor Society of Secondary Schools which is based on scholarship, leadership, service and character. I felt a little proud when my name was read along with a few other students as being on the honor roll. I was also a member of the Dramatic Honor Society. During our entrance for our graduation Hazel Dawn Ream was my partner.
Since I had been a member of a singing quartet for some performances during my school years, I also sang the tenor part of the quartet when we sang during the graduation ceremony.
Lt. Colonel John E. Walsh, who was a former superintendent of school at Nampa, Idaho and was now commandant at Fort Douglas, Utah delivered the commencement address.
After the graduation ceremonies, everyone was invited to attend the dance and performances held in the basketball court. A few of us put on a dance routine for the students and parents. My part in the performances, was when my graduating entrance partner Hazel Dawn Ream and three other partners had certain type of dancing together which I hoped the people watching it enjoyed it. I certainly did. Many of the parents made good comments. “Yes, the parents were invited to our graduation dance” and all had a good time. What a nice evening of graduation.

March 27, 1944 – Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa gave me a Welsbro wrist watch for my graduation present. It cost $59.75
May 13, 1944 – I went to McCammon to the district track meet. We came in first in the 880 yard relay. I ran the second leg.
May 15, 1944 – I went to Pocatello, Idaho to enlist in the United States Naval Reserve.
May 16, 1944 – I was sworn into the United States Naval Reserve at 2:25 p.m. My number is 554-41-80
May 26, 1944 – I graduated from the Montpelier High School. We had Bill Liday’s 10 piece orchestra for our commencement ball. Got in at 4:30 a.m.
June 5, 1944 – I left for Boise, Idaho enroute to Farragut Naval Training station.