1947

A week after graduation in June, checked into Emory at Oxford(Oxford, GA) to enroll as freshman in pre-med, something my family wanted. After one year I could not see another 10+ years on that track and returned to Kinston. Dad advised me to decide on a vocation to pursue as he wished me to finish college. Worked in Sutton’s store for about 18 months until I was about to be drafted(result of Korean Conflict).

1950

Didn’t wish to be drafted into the Army, so I enlisted in the Air Force, a four-year hitch. Basic training, radar school at Keesler AFB(Biloxi, MS) on graduating I was assigned to a unit at Donaldson AFB(Greenville, SC). On arrival, a Monday, was advised I would be leaving for Germany on the following Friday by ship.

Arrived 12 days later in Bremerhaven, Germany after a pass by the White Cliffs of Dover in the English Channel. We were the first unit assigned by Truman to be stationed in Europe under NATO and there was a lot of fanfare on our arrival. We were the 433rd Troop Carrier Wing to be based just outside Frankfurt, Germany at Rhein Main AFB. Two years later, 1953, we were re-assigned to Neubiberg AFB just south of Munich.

 During my tour I placed my feet down in about 10 different countries. The 433rd Wing was outfitted with C119 aircraft frequently referred to as boxcars. We participated in training missions with the US Army, British and French, dropping paratroopers and equipment. Between missions we hauled a lot of freight in support of military based in Europe and north Africa.

 Off-time, of which there was ample, along with my service buddies, we made side trips throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands and the U.K. Frauleins, mam’selles, lasses, WACs, and expats were about for companionship. Met a lot of nice girls wherever we were based, Frankfurt and Munich and in our travels. You know the expression, “Known many like few, loved one, here’s to you”.

On a trip into Frankfurt with one of my buddies, we met Richard Dawson and George Wells from Kinston. They were in the National Guard which was activated and sent to Germany. Connected with them again for a few side trips and a visit to the hospital in Wiesbaden to see Dan Moseley, he was doctor, not patient. That was in 1952.

Also, 1952, I met a WAC, we called her Tex, at a bar in Frankfurt who had just arrived from the States. That night I was with 3 other guys from our outfit. One, Dick Benner, took a liking to her and they dated her for several months. Not too long after, our unit was transferred to the base in Bavaria. Goodbye Frankfurt. Hello, Munich. A few years ago I received a message via Facebook, “Hey Mickey”, I think I met you in 1952 in Frankfurt, Germany. Tex, a widow(now deceased) lived in Winston-Salem, NC. During a visit by a service pal from Connecticut, the two of us took a drive up to Winston for a brief reunion. She was still her old self, lights up any room she enters. We chatted from time to time prior to her death.

 In 1953 I met a girl, Sally Tobias, from Detroit while on a visit to Paris, she was a summer student at the Sorbonne. We shared a few days together exploring the city. Weeks later she visited her sister in Füssen, Germany whose husband was in the Army. It was about an hour by train from Munich so we were back and forth a bit that summer. Her sister was expecting during that time. After the baby arrived in August, she returned to the States, ending our connection. Think she may have returned to Europe with the USO. Married a serviceman, maybe. Didn't learn her married name, lost touch. Pleasant memories tho'.

 Dated a girl, Ann Knauer, in Munich that I met in the dining car on a train into France, she worked for Radio Free Europe. Graduated from Brown. Spoke four languages fluently. She grew up(teens) in Belgium, parents were in the U.S. Ambassadors office in Brussels. She knew all the great out of the way restaurants in Munich. Enjoyed our time together in 1953.

In early 1954 I received a note from B.C. West advising he and two other Duke med students had been sent to St. Bartholomews Hospital in London as interns. They would be there from late March to May. I took leave and flew over in early April for about 6 days. We did Edinburgh and London together(all 4 of us).

On a ride on the Underground to Piccadilly for dinner one evening we chanced to meet a young(about 16) girl who we learned was running away from home. Her name was Jill Bugler. She tagged along with us to a cafeteria. We had planned to take in a movie which she wanted to see with us. Movie over about 10:30, B.C. and other two headed for their flat. Here I was left with a runaway. There was a coffee house nearby so I went in and spoke to a waiter(owner it turned out to be). Advised him of the situation and he made a phone call. He came back with the address of a nearby B&B and that he had called me a cab. After a short ride we arrived at the B&B where a Mrs. Smith was waiting. She said she would put her up for the night but she would need money for the heater in the room, I obliged and told Mrs. Smith I would return the next morning. When I arrived, Jill was donned with an apron, serving breakfast to roomers. Mrs. Smith advised she would keep her for a few days to try and get her to return home. Jill had agreed to work for her keep. It was the following day B.C. and I caught a train to Edinburgh.

On our return I called Mrs. Smith to check on Jill. Turned out it was April 7th, Jill’s birthday. We decided to take her to an Italian restaurant in the Soho. It was during that time she told us she hoped an aunt who worked at the Waldorf Astoria would sponsor her to the States. The next day I returned to Germany. Not long after B.C. and others returned to Duke. Last they knew, she was still at the B&B.

I contacted Mrs. Smith in late April who advised that Jill was accompanying several students staying at the B&B who were taking in a movie. Apparently police spotted her and took her into custody. The students returned quite upset and confused. Mrs. Smith advised them to say nothing and that she was not reporting anything. That, I thought, was the end of story. Not true.

 My 4-year tour of duty was over in May of 1954 and Staff Sargeant Sutton was scheduled for return to the States. At the time I was NCOIC of 16 radio operators and 16 radio and radar mechanics that serviced electronics on 16 C119 aircraft. My orders put me back in the States for discharge. Although I was about 2 months shy of my 4-year enlistment, they chose to discharge me at lower cost to Uncle Sam.

1955-1960

Back home I immediately made plans to enter NCSU in the Fall in search of an engineering degree. Was accepted and enrolled in August. Annie Edwards and I started dating that summer and by December we wanted to tie the knot. We did but not until Spring break in April of 1955.

 Our daughter, Julie, was born in 1957 while we were living in Vetville. At the end of my junior year I opted to work as an undergrad electrical engineer for a company moving into Selma, NC. We moved to Goldsboro that year. Then resumed studies at State with the understanding my employer, Shallcross Mfg. Company expected me to return. Annie stayed in Kinston with her parents.

1960s

B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in hand, we settled in Smithfield deciding to build for lack of a suitable rentals. This was early 1961 that we built and moved in with a 4-year old and a newborn.

 In the mid-60s I was in Kinston visiting family and my friend, B.C. West. at his parents home. His dad had passed away. Another visitor, a tobacconist, approached B.C. and myself. He had been on a flight to London and chanced to be seated by a young girl returning home to attend a funeral. During their conversations, she learned he was from Kinston. She recalled her meet up with B.C. and me in 1954 and mentioned our names. At the time, he was familiar with West and Sutton as Kinston families, but had not met either of us.

 Story was, Jill Bugler had been sponsored by the aunt who worked at the Waldorf Astoria to come to the States in about 1956. After arrival, worked several office jobs before becoming an airline stewardess for United Airlines based in New York City.

 A year or so later, while attending a trade show at the Coliseum in NYC representing my employer, Shallcross Mfg. Company, I remembered the story. Sure enough, found her listed in the phone book and gave her a call. The girl who answered was her roommate. Jill was on a flight to the west coast, so I explained the reason for my call. She said that Jill had mentioned having met us and knew she would be pleased. Told her I would try again on a future visit.

A couple of years passed before I attended another trade show in the City. Gave Jill a call and connected. We arranged a meeting at her place in the upper sixties before lunch in a nearby restaurant. She had matured into a very attractive young lady and was a delight to visit with. There were additional opportunities to dine together over the following years.

 Worked at Shallcross Mfg. Company from late 1960 until 1968. During that time I was component engineer for the company with responsibilities in engineering, quality and sales. Was project manager for wirewound resistor products supplied for the Minuteman lll Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Program. Travelled extensively throughout the US during that period and served on various industrial committees related to establishing documents for military contracts. It had been a family owned company until 1965 but was acquired by Cutler-Hammer. Things changed.

John Shallcross who had served as president and a major stockholder prior to the sale had left the company and decided to start a new corporation, Shallco Inc. He approached me with an offer to join-in. I began to assist him with the organization and setting up operations working nights and weekends before resigning from Cutler-Hammer. My responsibility at Shallco was vice-President of Marketing and Engineering. We were a small group of about 15 in the beginning.

1970

Into the 70s we had grown our customer base and made several acquisitions of product lines from related industries. My responsibilities for Marketing and Sales required frequent trips around the country, customer visits, conventions, and meetings with industrial groups. Met a lot of interesting people and some became lasting friends.

 There were the occasional business trip to NYC and one in particular in 1973 which included another evening with Jill Bugler. The morning I called, she had just returned from a flight from the west Coast and was headed to bed. She asked that I call her late afternoon about dinner. After the closing of the meeting with the Audio Engineering Society about 4:30, gave Jill a call. She asked if we could make it a foursome. Fine with me and she asked that I show up at her place, 50 Park Avenue, at 6:30.

On arrival she greeted me with towel about her head and asked that I greet others while she finished dressing. Moments later the door to her apartment buzzed and I proceeded to answer. Opening the door I extended my hand as I grasped his. “Mickey Sutton”. He replied, “Buzz Aldrin” Shocker? Somewhat, Jill had not mentioned names that would make up the foursome. When about that time a young lady arrived, Jean Nightingale , the fourth in our party. Jean too, was a stewardess for United Airlines. There was a flurry of conversation as we introduced ourselves when Jill appeared. Learned that Aldrin had been a passenger in 1st Class on the recent flight from LA to NYC hosted by Jill. He had called Jill after she and I planned dinner. Nightingale was invited to join us.

Jill hurried us out to catch a cab for our dinner reservation in lower Manhattan, the Beatrice Inn, a favored Italian restaurant. It was an interesting evening to say the least. Aldrin was in town to do an interview with “Good Housekeeping” magazine about his recently published book, “Return to Earth”. It was a casual, lengthy meal as we asked and he answered questions about the moon landing and their brief visit. We were the last customers to leave the restaurant and Aldrin wanted us to adjourn to an uptown bar. Once there, he began introducing his to some of his sports pals, including Joe Namath. Things got pretty wild and I had booth duty that morning, it was then about 1:00 AM. Jean had a flight out also. The two of us bailed, leaving Jill and “Buzz” Aldrin.

Over the years traveling around the country I met a number of celebrities, all brief encounters, but Aldrin was the highlight.

 One other memorable event in NYC. As an advertiser with United Technical Publications, I was invited to an off Broadway stage show, “This Was Burlesque “ starring Ann Corio. Corio was second only to Gypsy Rose Lee as a “bump and grind” stripper. It was an entertaining Vaudeville type show, “end men” with their clever antics and jokes. There was no full nudity during the show. After the final curtain, an announcement was made that all guests of UTC should remain in their seats. Once all others had exited the theater, the curtains opened to reveal a 20-foot long smorgasbord of heavy hors d’ oeuvres and beverage across center stage. Lined up behind the display of food and drink was the cast of the show, about 15 still in costume. We were then invited to join everyone on stage. Really was a treat to mingle with cast as many were quite up in their years with decades of performances on Broadway. Ann Corio had an amazing figure and features for a gal in her 70s. She lived to be 90. Bernie Gittelman, of UTC was our host and a longtime friend who assisted us with our company’s advertising.

 Employment at Shallco over the years was up to a high of about 65. We relocated our plant from the old bathhouse location to a plant we built in an industrial park near Interstate-95. I served as President of the company from 1985 to 1994, the year I retired.

During the 70s, on into the mid-80s, I had operated a hobby/business in my spare time, The Village Forge. It was principally a “mail order” proprietorship conducted evenings and weekends. My product was wrought iron lighting of colonial and/or Early American designs. Nationwide interest in the Bicentennial of the US piqued focus on 18th Century decor. Our lighting was widely popular. We shipped items all over the States. Had a lot of fun with the business, met lots of nice folks and much more profitable than golf. As interest in our lighting and sales declined, I eventually sold the business and equipment to others.

 Over the years I took a couple of folk art classes at the John C. Campbell folk art school in Brasstown, NC(near Murphy). A course in blacksmithing and another in tinsmithing. These were one week classes and a couple of the best vacations ever taken. Really fun, great food, fellowship with a cross section of folks from everywhere, States and abroad.

Beginning retirement in 1994, I became interested in the introduction of Tim Berner-Lee’s invention of the World Wide Web technology broadcasting information in both text and graphics over the Internet. Had been using computers since about 1971 and had performed minimal coding using Basic. Was familiar with the Apple computer introduced in the late 70s which were mostly text based. When Apple released the Macintosh computer with its graphical capabilities, I purchased a Mac Plus(about 1985). Began attending workshops in Raleigh related to evolving technology in software and hardware necessary to publish and broadcast information over the Internet. In the following 6 years I designed web sites for companies under the umbrella of Webspinners, Inc. Reaching the point I would need to hire others, I balked. Decided to reduce my involvement, dissolved Webspinners, passed work to others and provided consultation when needed. For the next eight to ten years I was more spectator than participant but continued operating a server to support personal Internet projects, among them “graingerhigh.org”.

The site has been shutdown. I left a prepaid window open for about 3 years to host the few remaining projects which included the Grainger High web site which I published in 2010.

The Grainger High web site is “offline”, https://graingerhigh.org This address was active for about 3 years before final closure. That has expired.

 That’s a thumbnail of my past 70 years. It’s been a fun trip, and met so many people who became lasting friends here and abroad. Have made numerous return trips to Europe since 1985 including an apartment rental in Paris for myself and daughters with their spouses in 2010. Limited travel these days.

 Annie and I were blessed to have shared so much together and children are all comfortably settled in their lives. Three grandchildren and two great grands.

A granddaughter asked me to jot down a bit of my past.

Updates:

In August of 2019, I received an email from a young woman who said, “I think you know of my grandmother, Jill Bugler”. She went on to introduce herself as Brooke Mattson who was researching the biological parents of her mother. She was using Ancestry.com and other online resources, Google etc. She went on to explain that her mother had been adopted by an Indianapolis couple in 1961 though a Catholic organization. The records of the adoption had been sealed(private) until law changes in recent years. The records of her mother’s adoption listed Eileen J. Bugler and a guy from somewhere in the mid-west, a football player at the time. Baby was born out of wedlock. Brooke had determined through “Bugler” family research that roots traced back to Ireland and England.

A search on Google by Mattson located an article I had posted about my chance meeting with a Jill Bugler. She believes that my Jill is one and the same as Eileen J. Bugler. A Bugler relative in Ireland had confirmed that a cousin had moved to England in the 1930s who had a daughter, Eileen J. Bugler that was called by her middle name, Jill. Further, she was born on April 7, 1938. She would have been 16 years old in 1954, when I met Jill.

The problem that I had was that Jill never mentioned an out-of-wedlock birth during the time after we were reconnected in the 60s and 70s. I do recall she spoke of a sister who lived in Canada that she visited who had children. My last conversation with Jill was in 1979 when she was still living in NYC. At that time she had just become engaged with plans to marry in about a year.

Mattson’s search revealed a marriage of an Eileen J. Bugler in 1981 that took place in Las Vegas. Also, a divorce of the same some years later, again, Las Vegas.

At this point, October of 2019, I agreed that “my Jill” was her grandmother. Just after that Brooke emailed me that the contact in Ireland had learned that one Jill’s sisters was in contact with Jill who is living in Freeport, NY. Unfortunately, Jill is with advance Alzheimer’s and has little memory of her past. Jill does acknowledge her sister but little beyond that. We have no knowledge of how long Jill has been memory challenged.

Several months ago, I received a telephone call from an Annie Phippard in Warminster, England. She identified herself as Jill’s younger sister. There were 4 siblings: Jill, two sisters and a brother. Annie was only 10 when Jill ran away from home. These 3 never knew what happened at the time and worshipped their older sister. Annie is the one that lived in Canada for a short time and was visited by Jill.

She stated the reason for her call was to thank me for the kindness and care given Jill the day she ran away from home. It kept her off the streets of London. It also answered questions for them about her disappearance from their home. After my brief meet up with Jill in London, her stay at the B&B, the pickup by the police, Jill was placed in a home for runaways after which she was sponsored by the aunt in NYC.

To date Jill continues live out her life in Freeport. Her sister keeps me posted. Sad ending for Jill, an attractive, charming young lady that captured the hearts and friendships of many.

More....

In this same time frame, mid-September 2019, we received a phone call early evening originating with a Charlotte area code. We’ve a granddaughter living over there so I thought I should answer. Following my hello, a man asked if I was Mickey Sutton which I acknowledged.

“Do you remember meeting a girl by the name of Sally Tobias in Paris in 1953”?

My answer, “Sure do, very well.”

“Sally is a next door neighbor of ours and is frequently a guest for dinner. She is with us now. Would you like to speak to her?”

“Sure! Put her on”. I replied.

There was a scurry of conversation between us and email addresses exchanged.

Following my return to the States in 1954 and discharge from Air Force we had one telephone conversation. I explained that I would be enrolling at NCSU in search of an engineering degree which would be at least a four year commitment. She was a resident of Detroit so we shared goodbyes.

After that call, she later advised that she did join the USO service organization in late 1954 and returned to Europe(Germany) for an assignment on a US Army base. During that assignment she met and married a guy from Charlotte. They raised 3 children. Her husband is deceased. She is 92, same as my Annie. We continue to swap occasional emails and memories of 66 years ago when we were in our mid-20s. Appreciated her reaching out, nice to be remembered.

The end, I think.

P.S.

Regarding the two military base locations where I served in the early 50s.

Rhein Main AFB was turned back over to Germany in about 1995. All structures were demolished and lands became an expansion of the Frankfurt Gateway Airport to Europe.

The Neubiberg AFB, just south of Munich, was returned to Germany in about 1958 and is now the campus for a small college.

Appendix:

My wife, Annie, passed away December 8, 2020. Earlier in the year she suffered two bad falls. No bones broken either time but there were ongoing complications and a mini stroke. After the stroke she was never able to walk without assistance. It was bed or wheelchair. She passed away in the local Hospice House of pneumonia. Not the closure we had hoped for.