Family HIstory interview Dan Hall 02.12.12

Family History Interview

Name of Ancestor: Dan Hall

Relationship to me: Parent

My name: Amy Anderson

Date of Interview: 02.12.2012

On Skype

1.      Describe the first time you were behind the wheel of a car.

a.       15 years old in his Dad’s car – a 1951 Ford – red 2 door.  He drove the length of the driveway about 20 to 30 feet.  Tried to shift from first gear to second.  On another day he went down the block and turned around.

b.      The first car he drove was a 1952 Nash.  It had bad alignment.  He fixed it himself.  The first car he ever worked on. (And thus began a lifetime of fixing cars – added by Amy.)

2.      What animals did you have when you were first married?

a.       Miranda, Zimmy, Bonzai and Lazarus.

b.      Bonsai was named that because he would run down the hall and crash into the wall.  Like the pilots – Bonzai bombers.

c.       Lazarus was named after he fell from the 3^rd story apartment they lived in and lived.

3.      Did you have an army experience?

a.       I was drafted in to the army for one day.  I went through the physical and passed.  Then the officer asked him if he had anything else they should know.  I said there was something with his heart.  The specialist came in and could hear his murmur.  He was given a 1Y deferment which basically said the army would take women and children before they would take him.  He went back to the University of Utah Hospital that had all his records and they said he would be fine to serve.  He asked them if he should go back and get back in.  They said no.

b.      It was a good thing he didn’t go.  It was 1967 and the boys that went to war were part of a Tet offensive which many didn’t come home.  ( Here is a reference to what a Tet offensive was http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1862.html )

c.       In fulfillment of a prophecy by Grandpa Ross that stated none of his grandsons or sons would not see combat, Dan and others in his family including his father, and uncles did not see combat.  (This is not recorded anywhere and is the family folklore.  Until someone finds it recorded.)

4.      Other memories or thoughts that Dan brought up.

a.       Has no memories of living in Little Rock, Arkansas.  But his brother does.  Dan would have been around 2 years old.  Norman Hall (his father) was in basic training and his mom and the boys were there.

b.      First memory was of the house on 17^th East and 17^th South in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Dan would have been around 3 years old.

c.       Dan remembers party lines on phones as a kid.  People shared phone lines and would have to check to see if anyone was on the line before you could dial.