My mother was born circa, 1904. She was Polly Myrtle McDaniel the third child of David Prince McDaniel and Minerva (Saunders) McDaniel. She was sibling to 5 brothers and sisters.
My Grandparents had residence in the heart of what is now called Vander, N. C.
After high school, my mother enrolled at the Pineland School for Girls. She attended one year.
I learned about this later.
At age 34, seven months pregnant, having suffering an accidental slip and fall on a hot summer August afternoon, was frantically rushed to the hospital where a valiant effort was made to halt bleeding. She expired in the early hours of the following day. It was a shock that reverberated throughout the entire community.
It changed my life. I was 12 years old.
My sister and I took up residence with our Grandparents who were empty nesting in a large eight bedroom home roughly four hundred yards from where we were then living in our own modest two bedroom catalog plan bungalow.
No later than two week after my mother's unfortunate demise; I entered high school at Stedman, N. C., just a few short miles southwest, as the crow flies from EMI, on the Clinton Highway, east, out of Fayetteville.
The following year as I approached my 14th birthday, I was told to prepare for private school. It was my introduction to EMI. I was overjoyed. I looked forward to this new adventure. A couple days before my birthday, I was packed and ready.
Sister was to attend Pineland's school for young girls. (Annie Kate School for Little Girls)
In November, not too cold, late fall afternoon, Sunday, my Dad and I drove and unloaded in front of the entrance to EMI barracks. Entering between the two rampart crested towers to the office of Major Sloop, My Dad held a quick parley with the Major. My father was an artilleryman with the 'Wildcat' 81st Division, having served overseas in France. He was a match for the equally military-minded Major Sloop. It was short and to the point. I was shown my new quarters. My father patted my shoulder and departed. I was alone. Major Sloop was unsmiling.
It was the beginning.
I was entering roughly six weeks after the school year was in session. That became the first disadvantage. The second surprise, as I quickly found I was going to work for partial payment of tuition... dining room...waiting on tables...server. The third upset, that I was to be outfitted with a collection of new and partly used uniforms. While all above the waist was new, below the waist was well worn. Expediency was the order of the day. The entire Cadet body was in preparation to march in the upcoming 20th Anniversary World War I parade held in Clinton the following weekend. I was hastily outfitted, introduced to the kitchen bunch, and marched/walked to chapel. Put in class, and learned quickly how to respond to the call of the bugle. It was a fast and furious week. I was learning double time... getting my fill of adventure...becoming a vet. The parade in Clinton went great. Major Sloop was happy. I was the youngest Cadet at EMI. I was happy. In a couple weeks I would be going home on break for Thanksgiving, and shortly Christmas and New Year.
Before the year ended, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, my Grandmother died.
I know now what I did not know then, that the unexpected death of my mother, and the sending off of her grands (grandchildren) proved too much. She died of a broken heart.
She never knew that I would in time look back upon the experience at Edwards Military Institute as among the most positive engaging episodes of my life.
LT Cmdr. Alfred L. Dyson, Jr. USN Ret. Edwards Military Institute 1938/39
