--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One cold night in December 1941 I won a…" description: "\"“One cold night in December 1941 I won a dance contest jitterbugging to “Tuxedo Junction” at the Denver Dance Hall. The next thing I knew I was on a tr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d50/charles-brandt-2101_cold-night_one-cold-night-in-december-1941-i-won-a_2596735.jpg" --- # One cold night in December 1941 I won a dance contest… ![“One cold night in December 1941 I won a dance contest jitterbugging to “Tuxedo Junction” at the Denver Dance Hall. The next thing I knew I was on a troop train at four in the morning heading for the West Coast to defend California. The Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I just turned twenty-one and…” quote by Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d50/charles-brandt-2101_cold-night_one-cold-night-in-december-1941-i-won-a_2596735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d50/charles-brandt-2101_cold-night_one-cold-night-in-december-1941-i-won-a_2596735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d50/charles-brandt-2101_cold-night_one-cold-night-in-december-1941-i-won-a_2596735.jpg) > ““One cold night in December 1941 I won a dance contest jitterbugging to “Tuxedo Junction” at the Denver Dance Hall. The next thing I knew I was on a troop train at four in the morning heading for the West Coast to defend California. The Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I just turned twenty-one and I was 6′2″. Four years later when the war ended I got my discharge one day before I turned twenty-five; I was 6′ 4″. I had grown two inches.”” [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A wartime anecdote showing how sudden events can dramatically change personal circumstances. **In simple terms:** War can abruptly alter life paths. Key Takeaway Embrace change and stay adaptable. Themes war growth unexpected events Mood reflective inspirational Type historical personal narrative When to use this quote - military enlistment - career shifts - personal growth - adjusting to sudden change Key Concepts military service personal development historical context Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when life takes an unexpected turn? - What can you learn from sudden changes? A Different Perspective Personal growth may be limited by external forces beyond control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-night/) [December 1941](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/december-1941-847838/) [Grown Inches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grown-inches-514509/) [Pearl harbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pearl-harbor/) [Turned Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-years-1909895/) [West coast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-coast/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“It was now December 7, 1941; the date that Franklin D. 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It's not even really of our age, either.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hunter/pearl-harbor-is-definitely-about-december-7-1941-but-it-is-not-of/) [Stephen Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hunter/) > [After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, the United States would enter, in a formal way, what had been up to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/after-the-bombing-of-pearl-harbor-december-7-1941-the-united-states/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [“I hadn’t seen him in quite a while and he’d grown at least four inches in the months between our visits. With his perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-simmons/i-hadn-t-seen-him-in-quite-a-while-and-he-d-grown-at-least-four/) [Melissa Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-simmons/) > [“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/yesterday-december-7-1941-a-date-which-will-live-in-infamy-the-united-2/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [December 7, 1941. A date which will live in infamy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/december-7-1941-a-date-which-will-live-in-infamy/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [If it's December 1941 in Casablanca, what time is it in New York?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-it-s-december-1941-in-casablanca-what-time-is-it-in-new-york/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If its December 1941 in Casablanca, what time is it in New York?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-e-koch/if-its-december-1941-in-casablanca-what-time-is-it-in-new-york/) [Howard E. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-e-koch/) > [Unfortunately I put the opening date on the 5th of December 1941 and on the 7th of December the Japanese bombarded Pearl Harbour. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-askin/unfortunately-i-put-the-opening-date-on-the-5th-of-december-1941-and/) [Leon Askin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-askin/) > [Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/yesterday-december-7-1941-a-date-which-will-live-in-infamy-the-united/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [On December 7, 1941, an event took place that had nothing to do with me or my family and yet which had devastating consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/on-december-7-1941-an-event-took-place-that-had-nothing-to-do-with-me/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [“You love me?” he asked quietly. I dipped my face close and answered quietly, “On a cold night, a long time ago, you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/you-love-me-he-asked-quietly-i-dipped-my-face-close-and-answered/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“The dream of her was the glow of a spent fire on a cold night: warm and welcoming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/the-dream-of-her-was-the-glow-of-a-spent-fire-on-a-cold-night-warm/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) ## More by Charles Brandt > [“You fat fuck,” I said and jumped up and decked him. I broke his jaw, and they expelled me permanently on the spot. Naturally,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/you-fat-fuck-i-said-and-jumped-up-and-decked-him-i-broke-his-jaw-and/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Hoffa and Brennan formed a trucking company called Test Fleet. The “brains” and his partner put that company in their wives’ maiden names. Test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/hoffa-and-brennan-formed-a-trucking-company-called-test-fleet-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“People in those days didn’t display affection like they do today. I’m still learning how to be affectionate to my grandchildren. I don’t ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/people-in-those-days-didn-t-display-affection-like-they-do-today-i-m/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Whispers was one of these short Italian guys in his early thirties that you’d see all around South Philly, just trying to get by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/whispers-was-one-of-these-short-italian-guys-in-his-early-thirties/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“And under the contract, management couldn’t fire a Teamster unless they had certain grounds. They had none. Stealing was grounds only if they could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/and-under-the-contract-management-couldn-t-fire-a-teamster-unless/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“But back then we had to amuse ourselves, and fighting seemed to be all we had. Looking back, it was good for us. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/but-back-then-we-had-to-amuse-ourselves-and-fighting-seemed-to-be-all/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Mary liked to arrange picnics with the kids, and we’d take them to the Willow Grove Amusement Park. I wasn’t always running. When they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/mary-liked-to-arrange-picnics-with-the-kids-and-we-d-take-them-to-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“And on the other side of the ledger, unions like the Teamsters often employed their own muscle, their own reigns of terror, including bombings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/and-on-the-other-side-of-the-ledger-unions-like-the-teamsters-often/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Only in the movies or comic books do people say they want you to go and hit somebody. All they ever say is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/only-in-the-movies-or-comic-books-do-people-say-they-want-you-to-go/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“As I learned the ropes I learned that for many good and sound reasons the bosses and the captains sent a guy to whack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/as-i-learned-the-ropes-i-learned-that-for-many-good-and-sound-reasons/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Russell had taken me with him to Cuba just when Castro was starting to kick everybody out and confiscate their casinos and racetracks and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/russell-had-taken-me-with-him-to-cuba-just-when-castro-was-starting/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“You didn’t know who to trust, but you kept taking cabbies aside and persuading them to sign a card. For some reason there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/you-didn-t-know-who-to-trust-but-you-kept-taking-cabbies-aside-and/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Russ quit smoking on a bet with Jimmy Blue Eyes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/russ-quit-smoking-on-a-bet-with-jimmy-blue-eyes/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“they wanted the guy left right there on the sidewalk as a message to those who needed to know the guy did not get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/they-wanted-the-guy-left-right-there-on-the-sidewalk-as-a-message-to/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Carlos Marcello and the war orphans did cross my mind during the drive, and I sat the whole way facing the driver. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/carlos-marcello-and-the-war-orphans-did-cross-my-mind-during-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) [Explore all 185 Charles Brandt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) ## More Cold night quotes > [“The dream of her was the glow of a spent fire on a cold night: warm and welcoming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/the-dream-of-her-was-the-glow-of-a-spent-fire-on-a-cold-night-warm/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [“You love me?” he asked quietly. I dipped my face close and answered quietly, “On a cold night, a long time ago, you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/you-love-me-he-asked-quietly-i-dipped-my-face-close-and-answered/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [Life's Highs... 1. Laughing hysterically 2. Dancing your heart out 3. Star gazing 4. Shopping 5. Going to the beach 6. Listening to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-s-highs-1-laughing-hysterically-2-dancing-your-heart-out-3-star/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [A career is wonderful thing, but you can't snuggle up to it on a cold night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/a-career-is-wonderful-thing-but-you-can-t-snuggle-up-to-it-on-a-cold/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Knowledge without Spirit is like finding yourself on a cold night with all the wood in the world and no flame to ignite it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/knowledge-without-spirit-is-like-finding-yourself-on-a-cold-night/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [It's such a cold night and it's the only time I've actively been grateful for menopause. I've been entirely comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/it-s-such-a-cold-night-and-it-s-the-only-time-i-ve-actively-been/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [I'm standin' on the bridge I'm waitin' in the dark I thought that you'd be here by now There's nothing but the rain No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-standin-on-the-bridge-i-m-waitin-in-the-dark-i-thought-that-you-d/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No, the Boss corrected, I'm not a lawyer. I know some law. ... but I'm not a lawyer. That's why I can see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/no-the-boss-corrected-i-m-not-a-lawyer-i-know-some-law-but-i-m-not-a/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [It's a cold night out tonight. The Padres better warm up real good because it's stiff out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-coleman/it-s-a-cold-night-out-tonight-the-padres-better-warm-up-real-good/) [Jerry Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-coleman/) > [If you are cold at night, let the promise of my love cover you like a warm blanket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-white/if-you-are-cold-at-night-let-the-promise-of-my-love-cover-you-like-a/) [Matthew White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-white/) > [I thought of you with your hair silver as snow all through that cold, slow journey from Sirle. I felt you troubled deep within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-mckillip/i-thought-of-you-with-your-hair-silver-as-snow-all-through-that-cold/) [Patricia A. McKillip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-mckillip/) > [“On that cold night in January it all slipped into place for me and she became my everything and my everyone. My music, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-murphy-side-effects-may-vary/on-that-cold-night-in-january-it-all-slipped-into-place-for-me-and/) [Julie Murphy-Side Effects May Vary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-murphy-side-effects-may-vary/) > [“ You’re…you’re what? Where? ” I stood up and glimpsed myself in the mirror. I was a vision, having changed into satin pajama pants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/you-re-you-re-what-where-i-stood-up-and-glimpsed-myself-in-the-mirror/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [He never wanted love, though. You cannot eat love, nor buy a horse with it, nor warm your halls on a cold night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-never-wanted-love-though-you-cannot-eat-love-nor-buy-a-horse-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Even her footsteps did not seem to belong to her. The night seized and transformed them, just as it transformed the greenhouses they passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-farmer/even-her-footsteps-did-not-seem-to-belong-to-her-the-night-seized-and/) [Penelope Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-farmer/) [Browse all 128 Cold night quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-night/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One cold night in December 1941 I won a dance contest jitterbugging to “Tuxedo Junction” at the Denver Dance Hall. The next thing I knew I was on a troop train at four in the morning heading for the West Coast to defend California. The Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I just turned twenty-one and I was 6′2″. Four years later when the war ended I got my discharge one day before I turned twenty-five; I was 6′ 4″. 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