Growing Bolder Community

At the urging of my eldest daughter, I will try to write something that makes sense. Born in Long Beach, Calif., my parents, Al & Emma Pallas, moved to Catalina Island, Ca. in 1930. I was five at the time. It was at the tail end of the depression and life for my parents was rather tough, but we survived those days when my father got a job with the Santa Catalina Island Co.. William Wrigley...

When we last visited my life, I was growing up on Catalina Island, where I graduated from High School in 1942 from Avalon High School. There where 13 of us in my class. I was 18 years old at that time and with the U.S. in war with Germany, I was required to register for the draft. I spent the summer of '42 on the Island and not too long after that, my number came up in the draft. I was sent...

i left off the previous blog with me arriving at Camp Shanks, NY.. Shorly after that, our division was loaded on the good ship General J.R. Brooks. After 14 days in a convoy and joining many sea sick buddies in rough north Atlantic seas, we landed in Marseille, France. Over the side of the ship, down a rope net, with full gear on our back and into a landing craft. Scared, you bet. Once on...

When the Act 3 saga ended, I had returned from war to my friends and family. While I was away, my parents had moved from Catalina to a little town called Hemet, Ca.. Several months later, after spending time working on Catalina Island, I moved to Hemet. It was a very small town at that time, dealing in growing Apricots, Walnuts, Olives and Peaches. There was also a lot of chicken and turkey...

I was asked to write about my early years involving Baseball on Catalina Island and after. All I can say is, it was a great life for any one that grew up there. Once a year, during spring training, the Chicago Cubs would come to the Island for spring training. There is no resemblance to the ball players then and the ones today. They were always approachable to us kids and our families. We...

Happy Birthday to Katy, one super granddaughter. A special young lady that is loved very much. Grandpa Al & Judy