Dale County AlArchives News.....News Of Our Men and WOMEN IN UNIFORM December 28, 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, 8:33 pm The Southern Star December 28, 1944 Reprinted from The Southern Star, Dec. 29, 2004 60 Years Ago, Dec. 28, 1944 LIEUT. LOWELL WEEKS RETURNS TO HOSPITAL Lieutenant Marvin L. Weeks, son of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Weeks, has returned to Oliver General HosIpital in Augusta, Ga., after spending the Christmas holidays here. He is a patient in Oliver General, receiVlng treatment for wounds received in the invasion of France. HAROLD J. ROBERSON FINISHED NAVY TRAINING Harold J. Roberson, Aviation Machinist Mate Third Class, USNR of rfd. 2, Newville, Ala., has graduated from the Navy training course for Liberator bomber crews given at the U. S. Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Jacksonville Municipal No. I, Jacksonville, Fla., and is scheduled for combat duty in the Pacific, it was today announced by Commander Carl F. Nieberle, USN, Commanding Officer, of the Station. Roberson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Roberson, of rfd 2, NewIville, Ala.. He attended Dale county high school. JAMES J. PAYNE RECEIVES COMMISSION AND WINGS BLYTHEVILLE ARMY AIRFIELD, BlytheviUe, Arkansas-Lt. James J. Payne, son of Mr. J. Abb Payne, who resides at rfd I, ozark, Ala., was awarded pilot's silver wings and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Forces at graduation exercises held here recently. The winning of his wings marks the successful completion of three Phases of flying training, primary, basic and advanced. Lieut. Payne is at home on leave visiting his father and family. MIDLAND CITY SOLDIER KILLED IN ACTION Sergeant Lloyd Ward, of Midland City route two, previously reported missing in action in France since November 25. was killed in action on that date, his mother, Mrs. Mattie M. Ward, of route two, was notified Saturday by the War Department. Surviving in addition to his mother, are two sisters, Mrs. Carson Riley and Mrs. Lunette Jarvis, both of Midland City route two; and three brothers, Grady, stationed in the Army in France, and Lloyd and Felton Ward, both of Midland City route two. Inducted into service at Camp Blanding, he received his training at Camp Chaffee, Ark., and Camp Cooke, Calif., before going overseas in January. M/SGT. RICHARD E. BAKER AT MIAMI BEACH, FLA. MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Dec. 27-M/Sgt. Richard E. Baker, Jr.,age 26, Skipperville, Ala., has arrived at Army Air Forces Redistribution Station No.2 in Miami Beach for reassignment processing after completing a tour of duty outside the continental United States. Medical examinatjon and classification interviews at this post, pioneer of several redistribution stations operated by the AAF Personnel Distribution Command for AAF returnee officers and enlisted men, will determine his new assignment. He will remain at the redistribution station about two weeks, much Of which will be devoted to rest and recreation. He served as an aircraft instrument repairman during 33 months in the Asiatic- Pacific theater. He joined the AAF Nov. 16, 1939. His father, Richard E. Baker, lives at the same address, while his wife, Helena Marie, lives in Baton Rouge, La. 1st SGT. JACK BYNUM HONOR GUEST AT FAMILY REUNION On Sunday, December 17th, a reunion was held at the home of J. L. Bynum, of Daleville, Ala. It was a delightful occasion given in honor of their son, First Sgt. Jack Bynum, who is attached to the Air Corps, and has been in service for six years, three of these being served overseas in the South west Pacific war zone. This was his first furlough home since being sent to the combat area. He had many interesting experiences to tell about. His furlough ended the 20th of this month, being sent to the Receiving Center in Miami, Fla., awaiting further assignment. Those enjoying the occasion were Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Mauldin and two children, Williree and Roy Emit of Geneva, Mrs. Mattie Mauldin of Geneva, Misses Louise, Mildred and Winonia Bostic of Geneva Mrs. Mildred Royals and baby, Paul,Jr., and Miss Edna Lois Royals of Geneva, Mrs. J. C. Clemons and daughter Edna Mae of Geneva. Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Wright, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wright, of Hartford, Mrs D. L. Bostic of Geneva, Mrs. Maxie Pugh, Clara Bow Williams of Daleville. Afternoon guests were: Mrs. Earl Shirley and son, Charles Eugene, Mrs. O. T. Dykes and daughter, Mary Gwendolyn, Mrs. H. C. Lee of Daleville. SEABEES CELEBRATE 3rd ANNIVERSARY TODAY The Star received the following letter from K. T. Carroll, an Ozark boy, a member of the 126th Naval Construction Battalion, now stationed "Somewhere in the Pacific:" "The third anniversary of the "workingest, fighting bunch of men" in the nation's armed forces, the Navy Seabees, will be observed on December 28th by 240,000 officers and men of the United States Naval Constructlon Battalions. "Born just three weeks after the Pearl Harbor disaster, with an authorized strength of 3,000, the seabees won their spurs at Guadalcanal and have been with the assault troops in every major American amphibious operation. They can now boast that they built the network of air and naval bases in the Pacific that pushed the Japs back 3,000 miles; that they developed amphibious equipment and techniques that helped carry the day on the African, Sicilian, Italian and Normandy beachheads. "Every commissioned Construction Battalion is either currently overseas or has completed a tour of duty; many battalions are on their second tours. Seventy-six per cent of the Beabees are now outside the continental limits of the United States; only 9,000 essential men have never seen foreign service. "As General Douglas MacArthur wrote in a lette to Seabee chief, Vice Admiral Ben Morcell, "The only trouble with you Seabees is that you don't have enough of them!" PFC. JOHN L. GOOLSBY AT FINNEY GENERAL HOSPITAL Pfc. John L. Goolsby, of Ozark, Ala., fields Finney General Hospital a much different place from Casablanca at Christmas time. Goolsby is back from the fighting front of the 5th Army in Italy where he was wounded. He was with the 88th Divf!don. He described the mission he was engaged in when he was wounded as "pretty dangerous." This Alabama soldier and five others went out ahead of the guns into No Man's Land to establish an Observation Post. The "0.P." is an immensely valuable position as their report on the enemy directs the firing. Naturally the German's first aim is to knock out the Post. We were on one of those terraced Italian Mountains in an olive grove but they spotted us and we were all wounded so that we were,forced to discontinue our assignment. Then we saw two German medics running towards us with a stretcher, but instead of coming with First Aid they threw the blanket from the stretcher and revealed a machine-gun and started firing on us. Thanks to some protection we saved ourselves" Goolsby exclaimed. He was severely wounded in his hand. He said that he was proud to be back in the States, also at a great hospital like Finney General. "I'm thinking about my buddies who are still over there this Christmas. Maybe I'll get to read about them when that new army magazine, called 'Outfit' comes out." The parents of Pfc, Goolsby live In Ozark, Ala, PVT, WILLIAM L. FAUST'S BUDDY WRITES PARENTS Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Faust of Ariton, rfd., who were notified by the War Department in JUly that their son, Pvt. William L. Faust, had been killed in action in the invasion of France, recently received a letter from one of Lemmie's friends, concerning his death. Mr. Faust wrote to several of Lemmie's friends, Including the commanding officer of his Battery asking for detalls as to how his son met his death. The following letter gives the heart-breaking details; October 15, 1944, "Somewhere In Germany. Dear Sir. Got your letter and you have my sympathy. I knew your son, Bill, we were pals, and went out together. He was a good boy. We trained together at Fort Bragg, and was together all the time. I do not like to write this but you wanted to know. We both came over on D- Day. He drove a gun truck and it was hit by an 88, and some were killed. But he got away with a head injury. But he got hit again at the Aid Station. It was a couple of months before we learned of his death. About his things, you write to Captain Kinsey, Service Btry., 110 F. A. care of P. M. New York, and I know he will do all he can for you. If you care to write me a line or two I will be only too glad to hear from you and let you in on some news. So far the boys are going strong but we have trouble with the Jerrles sometimes, but not much. The old boy Is worked up now. Keep your chln up. Good luck. Sincerely yours, Pvt. Raymond Wilson, Service Btry. 110 F.A. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/newspapers/gnw345newsofou.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 9.3 Kb