ONE:

THE RISE

WE WON THE WAR AND MADE THE WORLD SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY

​

The USS Wakefield pulled into New York Harbor in November 1945, filled with returning United States servicemen. They had won the war, VE Day had come and gone, VJ Day had also come and gone, and now they were free. Cameron MacAlpine and Harold Bergen rode the train home west to Saint Paul, Minnesota, Harold’s hometown. Cameron grew up in Big Piney, Wyoming, an orphan who had enlisted as soon as war was declared. The two young men were paratroopers together in the 101st Airborne Division and best friends.

 

Now Harold had an idea. He was tired of destroying things, he wanted to create home, build houses and create home. He could imagine communities being developed and he wanted to be part of that. He wanted to be a builder.

 

“You know, Harold, that’s brilliant,” Cameron told him on the long ride. “I have nothing waiting for me in Wyoming. I would love to build with you. Let’s do that together.”

 

Cameron MacAlpine, though totally alone in the world, was a man of enterprise, a seeker, willing to roll the dice to get what he wanted. The idea of starting a business with a solid, hard-working guy like Harold was a dream to him. He could already see their success.

​