Readers Remember

I was in the Army Infantry, Camp Robinson, Little Rock, Ark., when the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. My first thought was that Japan would retaliate and that atomic warfare would be the end to this wonderful world. But my greatest fear became my greatest joy when a peace agreement was announced. I then, for the first time in many years, felt a need to find a church and give my thanks for having mankind saved.

PETE SUMMERS

Santa Monica

For me, a young girl, the Great Depression was horror. I wore a woman’s worn-out shoes. My father was bankrupt. He was able to rent a basement apartment. The living room became the shop in which he did tailoring, repairing and dry cleaning. The rest of the apartment was our home. He had no cash register; instead, he put the day’s transactions into an old cigar box which he kept in the bedroom dresser drawer.

My mother asked me to get groceries. “The money is in the cigar box,” she said. I did as she told me. I quickly returned, saying, “Momma, there’s no money.” She turned to me and said, “We’ll have to wait.”

EMMA GOTTLIEB

Seal Beach

What do you recall most about the 20th century? In 200 words or less, send us your memories, comments or eyewitness accounts. We will publish as many as we can on this page until the end of the year. Write to Century, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or e-mail century@latimes.com. We regret we cannot acknowledge individual submissions. Letters may be edited for space.