Dale County AlArchives News.....News Of Our Men and WOMEN IN UNIFORM January 1945 ************************************************ 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, 8:42 pm The Southern Star January 1945 Reprinted from The Southern Star, January 12, 2005 60 Years Ago, January 4, 1945 HUGHIE G. McCALL RECEIVES COMMISSION KIRTLAND FIELD, Albuquerque, N. M., Dec. 30 - Aviation cadet Hughie G. McCall, 1101 Linwood Boulevard, Columbus, Ga., a recent graduate of the Army Air Forces bombardier school here has been commissioned as a second lieutenant and awarded the silver "wings" of the aerial bombardier, supplementing previously won aerial gunner's insignia. Lieut. McCall is the son of Mr. O.H. McCall and husband of former Helen B. Strickland of Savannah, Ga. He is a graduate of Ozark, Ala., High School, class of 1934 and later attended State Teachers College, Troy. Ala. As an undergraduate at high school he played basketball and baseball. In civilian life he was employed as a railroad trainman. Prior to his successful completion of 18 weeks of flight and combat training in high level precision bombing and navigation at Kirtland Field, Lieut. McCall was stationed at Kingman, Arizona, where he graduated from the Army Air Forces flexible gunnery school as an aerial gunner. Now ready for active duty, his destination is not disclosed. CPL. BILL JOHNSTON AT DAYTONA BEACH. FLA. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Dec. 30 -Cpl. Bill Johnston, who formerly lived In Ozark, has recently arrived at Welch Convalescent Hospital, the Army's new reconditioning center in Daytona Beach. The son of Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Johnston, rfd 3, Ozark, the Welch soldier served for five months in the European theatre before his return to the States and his assignment here. Mrs. Eldora Johnston and son Bill, are also residents of Ozark. Cpl. Johnston entered the service in June, 1940, at Fort Benning, Ga. PVT. DAVID V. GASKIN GETS COMBAT BADGE Pvt. David V. Gaskin, rt. 1, Daleville, Ala., son of Mrs. Lou Gaskin Whose present address is Charleston, S. C., a member of the 8lst Wildcat Infantry Division, has been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. The Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded for exemplary conduct and skill in action against the enemy. The Wildcat Division recently invaded the Southern Islands of the Japanese- held Palau group, 500 miles east of the Philippines. PFC.JAS.THORNTON COMPLETES TRAINING AN AIR SERVICE COMMAND STATION, England - Pfc. James. Thornton, son of Mrs. Roberta Tolver of rt. 2, Ozark, Ala., has just completed a course in bomb handling and vehicle maintenance at the Combat Support Wing, the Air Service Command's crack trucking organization. The school gives members of the combat Support Wing a better understanding of the bombs they handle and also of the trucks they use to haul the missles to advanced bases. Pfc. Thornton was employed by the U.S. Engineers before he joined the Army in October, 1942. SGT. MORRIS PATTERSON RETURNING HOME Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Patterson received a message from their son, S/Sgt. Morris Patterson that he had completed his missions and was enroute home. Sgt. Patterson has been overseas for several months and was only recently awarded a medal for meritorious service. He is in the Air Corps. T/SGT. BARTLETT GOES BACK TO CALIFORNIA T/Sgt. Judge H. Bartlett has returned to Fresno, Calif., after spending Christmas holidays with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Bartlett. Midland City. Sgt. Bartlett has been stationed at Fresno, Calif., since returned from overseas last June. S/SGT. ALPHA B. FLOWERS AT MIAMI BEACH. FLA. MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Jan. 1-S/Sgt. Alpha B. Flowers, 28, rt. 2, Newton, 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 examinations 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 auto mechanic during 34 months In the China-Burma-India theater. He attended Alabama Polytechnfh Institute in 1937, and farmed for his father, Dr. J. A. Flowers, Newton, Ala., before joining the AAF Nov. 28, 1940. PVT. JAMES M. BAKER AT CAMP ROBINSON, ARK. Pvt. James M. Baker, .son of Mrs. Ida Baker, Ariton, is now stationed in Camp Robinson, Ark. He is the husband of Mrs. Cloie Baker who before her marrage was Cloie Hines. Pvt. Baker says he likes the Army fine but is in the hospital now. He will take his basic training at Camp Robinson. His present address is Pvt. James M. Baker, Regional Hospital, Camp Robinson, Arkansas. CPL. MARVIN CARTER AT HOME AFTER 23 MONTHS IN EUROPEAN THEATER Cpl. Marvin Carter, 40 mm. Gunner is now at his home at Ozark, rt. 3, after 23 months with the Coast Artillery Corps in European Theater of Operations. Cpl. Carter is visiting his wife and family while at home. His wife is the former Miss Eleanor Gamble of Ozark. Cpl. Carter is now wearing the, European Theater and Good Conduct Ribbons and 1st Class Gunner Medal. He passed through the Ft. McPherson Reception Station on his way home. To the extent that shipping space is available; the War Department will increasingly endeavor to return to this country under a rotation furlough plan men and women who, have already served long tours of duty overseas. HARRIS L. CHARLES AT GREAT LAKES. ILL. Harris L. Charles, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Charles of Ozark rt. 1 is now at Great Lakes, Ill., Naval Training Base for his boot training. He entered the Navy shortly after he became 18 ,and left Dec. 18th. When he completes his boot training he will go to Basic Engineers school for further training. RETURNS TO SCHOOL William A. Cutchen, A/S. V-12 Unit, Navy, has returned to Howard College, Birmingham, after spendIng nine days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Cutchen. ~~~~~ Reprinted from THE SOUTHERN STAR Wednesday, JANUARY 26, 2005-4B 60 Years Ago, Jan. 26, 1945... T/SGT. WM. Z. FRALISH AWARDED SILVER STAR WITH THIRD ARMY T/Sgt, William Z.Fralish of Ariton, has been awarded a certificate of merit and also a Silver Star by Maj. Gen. R. W. Grow. commanding otf1cer of the USA, 6th Armored Division, for gallantry in action in France. While extracting tanks from a stream crossing Sgt. Fralish observed enemy infantrymen firing from fox holes near the crossing. He organized his maintenance crew and armed with grenades he attacked the enemy positions, killing and capturing enemy troops as he drove them from their fox holes. His action elim1nated a threat to our troops annd made possible the construction of a crossing for our tank force. His aggressiveness courage reflects great credit upon himself and the military service. He entered the service in Augtust, 1940. He was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. Several months later he took a special course in tank mastry at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was sent from Camp Chaffee, Ark., overseas and saw two months action in North Africa. He was return tb the States and served in Ark., and California until a year ago when he was sent to England. Soon after the invasion began he went to France and has been in regular action since that time. Sgt. Fralish is the son of C. R. Fralish of Ariton rt. 1. LT. JOHN W. DAVIS, JR. AT HOME AFTER 10 MOS. IN CHINA-BURMA-INDIA MIAMI,Fla., Jan. 24-0n his way home after 10 months overseas in the China-Burma- India theater Lt. John W. Davis. Jr., of Ozark Ala., now clearing Air Transport Command's MiamI Army Air Field following a transocean flight to Miami aboard a giant ATC tranport plane. Lt. Davis, 30, has been flying on a B-29 superfortress as an observer over China and Burma. The former electrical engineer is the son of John W. Davis. Sr., 304 Grove St. Charleston, S.C. Lieut. and Mrs. Davis reside at 103 N. Merrick Ave., Ozark. S/SGT. GEO. W.ATTAWAY AWARDED BRONZE STAR Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Attaway, Sr., have recently received news that their son, Staff Sgt. G. W. Attaway has been awarded the Bronze Star medal. Sgt. Attaway is in service in the European area. He was inducted into the service Jan. 18, 1943. He sailed for overseas in June, 1944. SGT. WAYNE A. TARTER AWARDED AIR MEDAL AN EIGHTH AIR FORCE BOMBER STATION, England-Sergeant Wayne A. Tarter, 19 year old waist gunner from Ozark, Ala., has been awarded the Air Medal for "meritorions achievement." The presentation was made by Lt. Col. William S. Boyd, of Butler, Pa. The official citation accompanying the award commented on the "courage, coolness and skill displayed by Sgt. Tarter upon these occasions" as reflecting "great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States." As a member of the 447th Bomb Group, a unit of the Third Air Division, the division that was cited by the President for the now historic England-Africa shuttle bombing attack on the Messerschmitt factories at Regensburg, Germany, Sgt. Tarter has flown numerous missions in this toughest theatre of aerial warfare. The son of William B. Tarter of route 3, Ozark, Sgt. Tarter before entering the Army AIr Forces in July, 1943, was employed by the Bakers Brothers Drug Co. He received his gunner's wings in May, 1944, at Harlingen, Tex. HIs wife, Mrs. Billie E. Tarter, lives at 310 South Spring'St., Manchester, Tenn. GRADY H. GAMBLE AT RADIO TRAINING SCHOOL Grady H. Gamble, Jr., 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Gamble. 11 Dowling St., Ozark, Ala., was enrOlled recently in an intensive course at the Radio Naval Training School located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. Selection to attend the specialty school was made on the basis of his recruit training aptitude tests. The course includes the operation, function and maintenance of radio transmitting and receiving equipment and the sending and receiving of messages in international code. Successful completion of the course will see the Bluejacket graduate as a qualified radio operator with the fleet. M/SGT. FREDERICK LEWIS RETURNS FROM OVERSEAS M/Sgt. Frederick L. Lewis of 150 Reynolds' St., has returned home after serving overseas for two years. He was awarded the Service Star, Purple Heart and the French Star. He was engaged in four major battles. CPL. MASON K. ANDREWS WRITES FROM "SOME WHERE IN GERMANY" Below is published a very interestlng letter from Cpl, Mason K. Andrews to Mr. Elmer Maund, Ozark, rt, 3: "Somewhere In Germany" December 21, 1944. Dear Elmer: I guess you'll be surprised to hear from me, but it seems that for the past few days I've had some spare time left on my hands and I'm trying to take advantage of the opportunity to write all the letters I can. Its not often that I get the chance and time to write. Boy,oh boy,there's been times in the past that I was an awful busy character. My job is "Gunner" so there's no use for any further explanation. I've seen plenty of action so far. In fact, I have been in two majOr battles since I've been in Europe. Maybe you read or heard in the news of the battle of Metz. Well, I helped spearhead the attack. And I can tell you that there was plenty of lead flying. Its an experience that I'll never forget. Also I was in some real tight spots and close places but Ive always managed to come out of it untouched. How would you like to sleep four houses away from the Germans? I don't think you would like it and neither did I, but I did anyway. That's the closest I've ever been to the enemy, but brother,that's close enough. So if you hear any of the people griping because they can't get tires or an extra 5 gallon of gasoline just remind them of the guys who are at the front lines fighting men who are out to kill you the moment you stick your head up. And another thing You can do. Give them a punch in the nose for me. There are people who still don't know that there's a war going on. If they could see just a little of what I've been through well maybe they would wake up. I have often heard the expression "War is hell." Well its nothing short of that. It sure would be nice to sit down to Mom's table and eat a meal without the thought of some guy trying to shoot you or some of your buddies. I've been shot at so much until it isn't even funny. I guess I've got a charmed life. LuckilY I'Ve never even been scratched yet. The main thing I'm sweating out and looking forward to is a 3-day pass to Paris. I passed through the city coming up to the front, but didn't have time to look around any. I don't know how much of this the censor will cut out, but any way how about writing me a line sometime in the near future on the activities around home. I hope you enjoy this letter, I tried, to tell you as much as possible. As I write now I can hear the rumble of artillery shells in the distance. Write soon, YOur cousin, Mason. PVT. OBIE D. BAXLEY'S UNIT COMMENDED PENINSULAR BASE HEAD.QUARTERS, ITALY-Pvt. Obie D..Baxley, of route 2, Midland City, Alabama, is a member of an Engineer Boat Regiment which has recently been inactivated in the Italian theater but prior to its disbandlng achieved a superb record which won it the following commendation from Colonel Francis H. OXX, commanding officer of this Base section, which Is the vital supply and services organization for the Fifth Army: "The splendid record that has been achieved and the traditions and espirt which have been built in the twenty-eight months of the organization's existance are an example to all in this united effort to defeat our enemies, The Regiment has operated in twenty-five ports in the British Isles, Africa, or on the European continent and its islands. The task,under such conditions of dispersal has been exceptionally difficult operationally, administrativelY, and particularly in regard to the welding of an espirt and pride of organization which every man of the Regiment possesses. The personnel of this command will go forward to join other units and carry on new missions, but they may all know that their former unit stands out among combat and service regiments alikes having performed an exceptionally meritorious service to its country and the Allied cause. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/newspapers/gnw346newsofou.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 14.9 Kb