Dale County AlArchives News.....News Of Our Men and WOMEN IN UNIFORM August 1944 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Christine Thacker CGT714@AOL.com March 11, 2005, 8:25 pm The Southern Star August 1944 Reprinted from The Southern Star, August 5, 2004-page 4 B (Abstracted very blurred CGT.) 60 Years Ago, August 3, 1944 LT. JOE MERCER KILLED IN NORMANDY INVASION Son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Mercer. Died June 6, 1944, in France. PFC. OREN B. THARPE WOUNDED IN SAIPAN Son of Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Tharpe of Skipperville, wounded June 28th, 1944. PVT. WILLIAM L. FAUST KILLED IN FRANCE Son of Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Faust of Ariton. He was known as Limmie. Has Three brothers in the service; J.P. Faust ,Navy, Raymond Faust, Army, and Randall Faust. SKIPPERVILLE CAPTAIN WINS SILVER STAR Captain Ernest F. Mills of Skipperville. Mentions wife Virginia lives in Skipperville. SGT. EONIS STUBBS AT AAF REDISTRIBUTION STATION IN MIAMI, FLORIDA Sgt. Stubbs, age 27, son of J.S. Stubbs. HIRAM A. NORTON SPENDS WEEK END AT HOME Son of Mr. and Mrs. N.T. Norton, another son Harry T. Norton. Jr., is in France. CPL. EMERSON VALENTINE AT HOME ON FURLOUGH Son of Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Valentine. Lt. CECIL B. BRANTLEY NATIVE OF ECHO, AWARDED D.F,C. AND AIR MEDAL Lt. Brantley age 23,was born and reared in Dale Co., near Echo, the son of Mr.and Mrs. J.R. Brantley and grandson of the late J.E. Brantley and Mrs Tallete Brantley. of Echo. About 11 years ago he moved to Winter Haven, Fla. with his parents. PFC. HAROLD D. ATKINSON IS WOUNDED IN ACTION Son of Mr. and Mrs David Adkinson of Ariton. He was wounded in France July 9, 1944. PROMOTED TO CPL. WILMER RAY PATRICK Son of Mr. and Mrs. Danny N. Patrick of route 2, Ozark, Ala. ~~~~ Reprinted from The Southern Star August 7, 2004 pg 4B. News Of Our Men and WOMEN IN UNIFORM 60 Years ago, August 10, 1944 RECEIVES WINGS AND COMMISSION AT SPENCE FIELD, GA. Kells Chilton Carroll, age 20, son of Mr.And Mrs. Sam J. Carroll, of this city was awarded the silver wings of a Pilot and appointed a Second Lieutenant in the Army of the United States, Air Corps, at graduation exerciscs August 4th at the AAF Pilot School [Advanced Single Engine], Spence Field, Moultrie, Ga. Lt. Carroll is a graduate of Staunton Military Academy and attended the University of Alabama before enlisting in the Air Corps. He is spending a few days at home With his parents before reporting for his new assignment. 1S SGT. THOMAS SALIBA RETURNS HOME FROM 32 MONTHS IN PACIFIC FirSt Sergeant Thomas Saliba arrived home this week after 32 months service in the Southwest Pacific, and is being warmly welcomed by his host of friends. Sgt. Saliba entered the service in January 1941, a member of Co. B, 193rd Tank Bn., training for a year at Fort Benning, Ga., with the Ozark Company. He left the States in December 1941. Sgt. Saliba spoke to the Kiwanis Club Tuesday night and stated that three other Ozark boys remain in the unit he left, Sgt. Taylor Thomas, son of Mr. And Mrs. Ross H. Thomas, Bill Warrick, Sgt. Strickland and Sgt. Carr. He praised the courage and valor of his comrades and brought an encouraging message from them. Sgt. Thomas was recently awarded the Bronze Star for gallantry and action against the enemy. At the expiration of his fudough he will report to Fort. Benning, Ga. for reassignment. LOCAL SOLDIERS AWARDED COMBAT DECORATION FOR FIGHTING IN ITALY With the Fifth Army in Italy - Private First Class Albert Atkinson, son of Mrs. Sarah Atkinson, who lives at Newton, Ala., and Private First Class Hugh M. Carr, son of Mr. Calvin Carr, who lives on Route 3, Ozark have been cited by their regiment of the 36th Texas Infantry Division, and awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for actual participation in combat with the enemy while serving on the Fifth Army front in Italy. Standards for the Badge are high. The decoration, which was recently authorized by the War Department, is awarded to the infantry soldier who has proved his fighting ability in combat. The handsome badge consists of a rifle set against a background of infantry blue, enclosed in a silver wreath. LANIER OZBOLT KILLED IN PLANE ACCIDENT Mrs. Lola Ozbolt of Tallahassee, Fla., received a message Sunday that her son, Lanier, Was killed in an airplane crash July 20th in Cavendish, England. He was a grandson of Mrs. Nancy Grace, Ozark route one. KILLED IN FRANCE Mr. And Mrs. J. Oscar Snellgrove have been notified by the War Department that their son, Pfc. William Lamar Snellgrove had been killed in France on June 13th. Previously the War Department had advised Mr. And Mrs. Snellgrove that their son was missing in action. His widow and a nine-month old son survive William besides his parents. PVT. RICHARD S. PARKER WOUNDED IN FRANCE Mr. And Mrs. Henry R. Parker of Midland City were notified this week by the War Department that their son, PVt. Richard Stough Parker was seriously wounded in France on July 15th. PVt. Parker enlisted in the Army in 1942. He has been in England since April and took part in the invasion of Normandy in June. GUADALCANAL VETERAN HOME ON FURLOUGH Sgt. Aubrey W. Dean, son of Rev. and Mrs. M. Dean. arrived home last night after two years service overseas with the First Marine Division. Sgt. Dean joined the Marines in 1941. went to Guadalcanal in August 1942 for the first invasion and was there for about six months. He was sent from Guadalcanal to Australia for a rest 09 Dec. 26. he was in the invasion of New Berlin. He is in fine health and many friends are proud to see him on his much deserved leave. He will report to his post at Camp LeJune. N.C., as an instructor. His brother James M. Dean Cox. is in the Navy in the South Pacific at the base hospital. He writes that as soon as transponation is available he hopes to return home. SGT. HINES AWARDED BRONZE STAR IN ENGLAND EIGHTH AIR FORCE LIBERATOR STATION IN ENGLAND - Sergeant Roy E. Hines. son of Mr. And Mrs. D. R. Hines of Ozark, has been awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement. Sergeant Hines is maintenance crew chief of the B-24 Liberator "Howdy" which has completed consecutive missions without returning to its base because of mechanical failure. Hines and his able crew have worked tirelessly in order to keep their ship ready to participate in the heavy bombardment of fortress Europe. Many of the bombers have returned from actions badly battered with flak and with many of its intricate mechanisms in need of repair but each time the new chief and his skillful assistants worked day and night and soon had the ship ready to go again. Sergeant Hines was so conscientious in his work that he repeatedly refused his weekly pass in orderio keep close check on his plane. His endless devotion to duty finally began to exhaust his energy so he was directly ordered to take a pass and enjoy some, well-earned relaxation. Before enlisting in the Air Forces, Sergeant Hines, was attending Dale County high school in Ozark Ala. Prior to his entrance into the, Armed Forces he had obtained basic knowledge and skill in mechanics by spending many hours in his father's used car lot working on the automobiles. He received his training as an aerial mechanic at Keesler Field, Mississippi and advanced trainlng at the Ford Aircraft plant willow Run, Mich. He had further training at variqus fields in the United States before reporting for overseas duty with this B-24 Group in December of 1943. Sergeant Hines is the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal, the E.T.O. Ribbon and the Bronze Star, his most recent decoration, the citation fOr which reads in part: For meritorious achievement as maintenance crew chief of heavy bombardment aircraft in connection PFC. JNO. T. GOOLSBY GETS COMBAT INF. BADGE WITH THE FIFTH ARMY IN ITALY-Private First ,Class John T. Goolsby, whose home is on route two, Ozark, Alabama has been cited by his regiment of the 88th Infantry Division and awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for actual participation in combat with the enemy on the Fifth Army front in Italy. Standards for the Badge are high. The decoration, which was recently authorized by the War Department is awarded to the infantry soldier who has proved his fighting ability in combat. The handsome badge consists of a silver rifle set against a background of infantry blue, enclosed in a silver wreath. CORBIE L. ANDREWS WRITES FROM AUSTRALIA Mr. and Mrs. Grover. Andrews recently received a letter from their son, Corbie Lewis Andrews who is stationed in Australia that was very optimistic and Mr. and Mrs. Andrews are hopeful their son will soon be home again. Corbie write that things are looking good in the Pacific and that he is in the best of health, SEAMAN McFADDEN AT HOME ON FURLOUGH Mr. M. A. McFadden and son, Seaman McFadden were visitors here yesterday. Seaman McFadden, is at home on furlough from the Pacific where he has seen plenty of action. He was in the Saipan invasion and states that he is very glad to be back home. PVT. R. B. ROBERSON RETURNS TO STATION Pvt. R. B. Roberson has returned to Florence, S. C., after visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Roberson of Newville. HAROLD J. ROBERSON RETURNS TO NAVY BASE Harold J. Roberson (AMM) 3-c, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Roberson, of Newville, route 2, has returned to the Naval AIr Base at HUtchinson, Kansas after spending an 18 day leave at home. OSCAR CARROLL AT HOME FROM MARYLAND BASE Machinist Mate 3rd Class Oscar Carroll arrived home this week to spend a few days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Carroll and other relatives. He Is being' warmly greeted by his many friends here. MAJ. D. T. THOMPSON NOW OVERSEAS Friends of Major D. T. Thompson have received change of address cards from the former Adjutant at Camp Rucker and he is now overseas. Major Thompson servedd as Post Adjutant for about two years and during his assignment at Camp Rucker made his home in Ozark. MASON K. ANDREWS AT CAMP BOWIE, TEXAS Pvt. Mason K. Andrews, of Co. C, 24th Tank Bn. has been transferred to Camp Bowie, Texas. Mason is a Dale County boy who has been in the Tank troops for quite a while. SGT. JAMES H. JERNIGAN AT HOME WITH FAMILY Sgt. James H. Jernigan, has recently returned from 30 months service in the South West Pacific ,theatre of operations. He will spend his furlough visiting his family at Ozark. PHM. l-c J.A. WEED RETURNS TO NORFOLK J. A. Weed, Phm. l-c. has returned to Norfolk, Va., where his present assignment is with the Naval Air Station Dispensary. He spent a few days at home with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Weed and with Mrs. Weed's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W, Ziglar. Mr. and Mrs. Weed were married at the Naval Air Station chapel in Norfolk on July 2nd. Mrs. Weed was before her marriage Miss Ruth Ziglar. SGT. M. E. PATTERSON IN AAF IN ENGLAND AN AIR SERVICE COMMAND STATION IN ENGLAND-S/Sgt. Maurice E. Patterson. the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Patterson of Merrick Ave. Ozark, Alabama, recently completed an orientation course designed to bridge the gap between training in the States and combat soldiering against the enemy in France. At this Air Service Command Station Sgt. Patterson attended a series of lectures given bY battle wise veterans which included instructions on chemical warfare defense and pertinent tips on staying healthy in a combat theatre. His next station will be one from which America's fighting planes cover our liberation of occupied Europe. Before entering the Army Air Forces. he was Supply Sergeant of Service Company, 193rd Tank Bn., in Honolulu, Hawaii. PFC. RANDOLPH SNELL RETURNS TO FT. DIX Pfc. Randolph Snell has returned to Fort Dix, New Jersey. where he is now stationed after a visit with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Snell of Midland City. ~~~~~ Reprinted from The Southern Star, Aug. 18, 2004 News Of Our Men and WOMEN IN UNIFORM 60 years Ago, August 17, 1944... Sgt. Julius E. Kelley Back In States After29 Months In Pacific MIAMI BEACH, FLA,AUG. 17 - Sgt. Julius E. Kelly, age 26, of Ozark, returned from service outside the Continental United States, and is being processed through the AAF Redistribution Station No.2 at Miami Beach, where his next assignment will be determined. This is one of the Redistribution. Stations within the AAF Personnel Distribution Command. At an AAF Redistribution Station, AAF returnees from theatres of operation are examined by specially selected medical and classification officers whose joint findings are used in recommending new assignments. The scheme of the AAF Redistribution program is designation of each man to duty for which he is best fitted. Returnees live at a Redistribution Station under conditions that encourage natural response to processing the greater part of their two-week stay being directed to rest and recreation. Sgt. Kelley was a cook during his 29 months in New Guinea. His parents, Mr. And Mrs. E. T. Kelley, reside in Ozark. Mitchell B. McGill Is Killed In Action Mrs. Lelia McGill of Midland City, Route 1, has been notified by the War Department that her son, Cpt. Mitchell B. McGill was killed in action in France July 21. Cpl. McGill entered the Army in June 1936. He served two years in the Panama Canal Zone and 20 months in Iceland before being sent to England and then on to France June 6, 1944. His brother Melvin E. McGill, who is in the Navy, has also seen overseas service. SGT Hawkins Back From Four Years in Pacific Sgt. Edwin C. Hawkins of the Army Air Corps, son of Mr. And Mrs. C. H. Hawkins of Midland City, Route 2, left last week to report to the Redistribution Center at Miami Beach, Fla., After spending his, furlough with his parents. Sgt. Hawkins has been in the Pacific more than four years. He was cited for "gallantry in action" during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He participated in the Guadalcanal, Munda and Admiral Islands campaign. Four From Dale Enlist In Navy Lt. C. S. Carroll, officer in charge of Navy recruiting and induction in Alabama, will visit the Navy Recruiter Station in Dothan on August 23 on an official tour of inspection over the state. In connection with recruiting, Lt. Carroll said that all young men of 17 should apply for the Navy now because of the probability of reduced quotas next month. He said that during July many young men were turned away from the recruiting station because quotas were filled. Enlistment quotas are unlimited right now, he said, but there is no assurance that this will continue in September. R. G. MacDonaJd, petty officer in charge at Dothan announced that thirty enlistments have been completed in the first two weeks of August. Among those enlisted are Edward Cotton Newman, Cyrus G. Helms of Ozark, Jean L Weed, Ariton, and Eldred V. Medley of Skipperville. ~~~~~ Reprinted from The Southern Star August 24, 2004 News Of Our Men and WOMEN IN UNIFORM 60 Years Ago, August 24, 1944 PVT. BILL HOLLAND AT HOME ON FURLOUGH Private Bill Holland, who is stationed at Camp stewart, Ga. will return to his post tomorrow after spending several days here with his wife and baby. S/SGT HOWARD PETERS AT HOME ON FURLOUGH S/Sgt. Howard Peters, who has been stationed at Dyersburg, Tenn., is spending a few days with his mother, Mrs. A. D. Peters. PFC. HOUSTON BROWN LANDS IN INDIA The friends and relatives will be interested to know that P.F.C. Houston Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ordie Brown of Dothan Rt.1, has safely arrived somewhere in India. He writes home that he is doing fine but Is praying that if it is the Lords will that this awful War will soon be over and all the boys can come back home, where we can go to church as he always did before in the army. Says mother we have church over here but nothing like at home. He all so says mother I Just wish the people could release the prayer that this world needs that we need to pray more than ever before. LT. EDDIE LOWELL, Jr., NOW IN ITALY Mrs. Eddie Lowell, Jr., of Auburn, Maine has received word from her husband, Lieut. Eddie Lowell, Jr., that he is now In Italy. Lt. Lowell has been in the Army 18 months. Lt. and Mrs. Lowell were married in Ozark last Fall. Mrs. Lowell was before her marriage Miss Nell Sammons of AritOn. While her husband is overseas she is making her home with her mother-in-law, Mrs. Edith Coates at 555 Court St., Auburn, Maine. JAMES EDWARD TONEY PROMOTED TO SEAMAN 1-c. c. T. Toney of Ozark route 4, one of the Star's colored friends was in the office several days ago with a letter from' his sons commanding officer advising him of his sons promotion from seaman second class to seaman first class. James Edward Toney is stationed at Portsmouth, Va., Naval Ammunition St. Juliens Creek Depot. His Commanding Officer's letter follows: "The Commanding Officer takes ,great pleasure in informing you that your son, James, Edward Toney, was this date promoted from SeamanSecond Class to Seaman First Class. "In order to warrant promotion a man must be patriotic, loyal, trustworthy, proficient in his duties and have a good conduct record. "Your son has exhibited the above traits and it is hoped that he will merit further promotions in due course." EDGAR GALLOWAY, AMM2/c AT HOME ON FURLOUGH Edgar R. Galloway, AMM 2/c, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Galloway ,of Skippervllle, arrived home Tuesday for a 28-day furlough. This is his first visIt home since February, 1942 and he is being warmly welcomed by his friends and loved ones. Edgar recently completed a three months training at a naval installation in Chicago and will report to San Francisco following his furlough. He enlisted in the Navy in August 1941, received his boot training at Norfolk, Va., and at Penslcola, Fla., where he received special training as an aviation mechanic. He spent 26 months at Pearl Harbor, arriving there about three months after the sneak Jap attack. Lieut. A.L Benefield Missing In Action Over Germany Since July 29 Mr. And Mrs. A. L. Benefield of Ozark were notified last Friday by the War Department that their son, First Lieut. A. L. Benefield, has been missing in action over Germany since July 29. Lieut. Benefield volunteered in the Anny Air Corps in June 1942 and was an Air Cadet. He was called to report for duty on January 9, 1943. He received his basic training at Maxwell Field and was sent to Avon Park, Fla., for his primary training, and to Cochran Field, Macon, Ga., for his basic flying. He received his wings and commission at Blytheville, Ark., and his bomber training at Seibring,. Fla. He has been in England since early spring of this year, and was promoted to First Lieutenant about two months ago. He has many bombing missions over Germany to his credit. Sgt. Martin Price At Home On Furlough Sgt. Martin Price arrived home last week to spend a few days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Price. Sgt. Price is stationed at Camp Gruber, Okla. He is looking well and is being warmly welcomed by his friends and loved ones. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/newspapers/gnw343newsofou.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 19.5 Kb