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Apr 29 Sunday We went over to Mike & Evelyn's with Sam & Molly. Mike came home about 6 O'clock. The kids played a number of games and ended up playing with guns. In between, they played the piano. We started home at 7:15 and arrived at 10 O'clock! A cloudburst flooded the subway Lightning hit a power station holding us up a long time. Finally we had to get out at 59th st. The I.R.T. line was too crowded so we went outside and tired to get a bus or taxi but failed. We finally went back into the subway and took the Broadway Line home. John Allen [Alden] Carpenter is dead at 75.

Apr 30 Gen. Van Fleet made a surprise decision to defend Seoul and end the Allied defeat. It was claimed the Chinese have lost 70,000 men since the offensive began. Robt. A Vogeler, released from a Hungarian prison after serving 17 months of a 15 year sentence for spying, called for unity to destroy the enemies of freedom.

Presumably, Dad meant "end the Allied retreat", but the writing is clear. 

May 1 Mother came over for lunch on my birthday. I got pyjamas and a strap from Lil and the kids and $5. from Mom. Sylvia picked out an athletic card to give me. The Board of Higher Ed. banned City College from the 'Garden' The Supreme Court OKd loyalty discharges for gov't employees but invalidated 'subversive' listings for the JAFRC, American Soviet Council and IWO. The Giants pre-season favorites beat the Dodgers 8-5 after losing eleven in a row.

May 2 Kefauver's report criticized O'Dwyer and Dewey over crime. Estimates of the May Day parade ranged from 6 to 75 thousand marchers. Some eggs were thrown.

May 3 Gen Van Fleet claimed a great U.N. victory in Korea but warned of harder blows to come. A secret report of the Wake Island meeting of Truman and MacArthur was releasing [sic] showing that MacA assured the President China would not come in. Joe Louis won his fifth straight comeback win over Omelio Agramonte in 10 rounds. It was dull.

May 4 Syria and Israel ignored a UN truce order to duel with big guns. MacArthur, in the first day of Senate hearings on his dismissal, charged Truman's 'appeasement' jeopardized the nation. He demanded an all-out air war on China.

May 5 Lillian woke at 3AM with abdominal pains and suffered with pain and nausea till 11AM. We could not get Dr Holzman but had Dr Jacob Levine over. He had a blood count taken and diagnosed a probable appendicitis. We got in touch with Dr Kahane who told us to be at the Bronx Hospital at 1PM. The doctor examined her and decided on an immediate operation. Lillian went to the operating room at 3:30 and returned at 5 P.M. Dr Kahane told me she had the largest appendix he had ever seen (9 inches) with the last three inches inflamed. A longer delay might have resulted in a serious case. Lillian was barely out of the ether when mom, pop and I left at 8P.M. Madeline fed the kids. MacArthur declared that communism anywhere is our main enemy and called for unity to destroy it. Witnesses stated J.J. Moran received at least 96 visits in his office from a Brooklyn racketeer. The charge was made at Moran's perjury trial. 

I remember well that I was playing ball in the Aqueduct park when Dad came by to tell me that Mom was going to the hospital. I remember him getting very upset when I acknowledged the news, but kept playing ball.