Brother Al

Throughout the drought and depression, Al stayed in school and graduated from the eighth grade.

There was no work away from home and there was nothing to harvest. Al and Elmer Vander Burg went bumming on the railroads. They lived from day to day on handouts, garden thefts, or small odd jobs. They went as far as California and many other states.

Elmer got so thin he could fold his hands behind his back. He did have long arms! He later died in the “Death March” from the Philippines by the Japanese captors. 

After Al’s railroad experiences, he left home at about age twenty to work in California. After Al came back he bought a truck which he used to haul things for farmers.

He spent some time working on Jimmy Heinz’ farm. He rented a farm from Dave Hiester and married Elsie soon after that. Ted worked for Al not long after he came back from Alaska.