Crowning Glory -Smiling for the Camera

Crowning Glory should be about hair I guess but in this case, I didn't have much. I'm not sure why this picture was made wearing the huge hat and I've never asked Mom where the hat came from or why it was used. What I do know is that this picture was taken in early November of 1950 just before my Daddy left for Japan. He didn't return home again until February of 1952. By then I wasn't really a baby anymore. Mom said it took awhile for me to get used to having him around...and having to sleep in my own bed!
Mom entered this photo in the Tulsa Tribune's amateur snapshot contest. It tied for first place in the "Class A, Babies and Children" category.
Published in the newspaper Wednesday July 25, 1951:

"Five Photogs Winner of Lucky 7th
by Winnifred Gillette
Snapshot Contest Director"

"The seventh (and last) week of the Tribune's amateur snapshot contest was a lucky seventh for five Tulsa photographers...........
The judges couldn't decide between two entries in the "Babies and Children" class and photographers Bagby and Brandes will each receive a $5 prize for first place in that class."

"Brandes' check will have a long way to go--the Tulsan, whose home address is 1401 W. Easton pl. is now a pharmacists' mate first class in Japan, where he has been stationed since November 1950: He took his prize-winning photo of daughter Sue Lynn just before he left, and Mrs. Brandes entered it in the Tribune's contest for him."

Harry Brandes in World War I

Harry Carl Brandes (1892-1974) enlisted as a Sergeant August 16, 1917 at Ft. Logan, Colorado. He received training at Ft. Riley, Kansas as part of Field Hospital Co. 16, Second Division Regulars, U.S. Army.

Field Hospital Co. 16 served in the American Expeditionary Forces from January of 1918 to August of 1919. Harry C. Brandes’ discharge papers list his service: Toulon Sector, Aisne Defensive, Chateau-Thierry Sector, Aisne-Marne Offensive, Marbache Sector, St Mihiel Offensive, Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Champagne), Meuse-Argonne and in the Army of Occupation from December 1918-July 1919.

From April 26, 1918 until January 4, 1919 Field Hospital Co. 16 handled over 28,000 patients, traveled over 1,560 kilometers, jumped (moved) 51 times, setting up the field hospital on each move.

They cared for the men of the Second Division which played a part of great military and historic importance in World War I. It served on seven fronts, fought five pitched battles or series of battles, always defeating the enemy, and won the right to have inscribed on its banners the names of the brilliant victories won by it at Chateau-Thierry, Soissons, St. Mihiel, Blanc Mont-Champagne, Meuse-Argonne. Its casualties were 732 officers and 23,653 enlisted men. This was 10 percent of the total casualties of the American Expeditionary Forces. It captured 12,026 prisoners and 343 cannon.

After discharge Harry Brandes returned to his home in Frederick, Oklahoma and married Hester Floy Longwell in August of 1920.