Dale County AlArchives News.....News of our Men and Women in Uniform, Apr. 13, 1944 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 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00033.html#0008100 May 29, 2004, 10:10 pm The Southern Star, April 13, 1944 55 years ago, April 13, 1944... Reprinted April 14, 1999. News of Our Men and Women in Uniform S-N/c SAMUEL D. WRIGHT RETURNS TO BOSTON, MASS. S-N/c Samuel D. Wright has just returned to his camp In Boston, Mass., after spending a 7-day furlough visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Wright, Ozark Route 3. He was welcomed on his arrival in Ozark Saturday afternoon by a host of his high school mates. His many friends wish him a speedy return home. S/SGT. JOHN E. HOWELL, JR. COMPLETES 25 MISSIONS S/Sgt. John E. Howell, Jr., crew chief of a B-17 (Flying Fortress) stationed In England, completed 25 bombing missions over Nazi-occupied Europe on March 15th. Sgt. Howell enlisted in the Air Corp in 1941 and has been overseas for the past six months. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Howell of El Dorado, Ark., and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Howell of Ozark. Mr. and Mrs. Howell have one son in the service three grandsons and one granddaughter in the service. M/SGT. MACK J. WHALEY Is HOME ON FURLOUGH M/Sgt. Mack J. Whaley Is at home on furlough and is being warmly welcomed by his host of friends. M/Sgt. Whaley is now stationed at Camp Campbell, Ky., in the Supply Section. His address is Combat Command "B" 20th Armored Division. Sgt. Whaley entered the service Jan. 1940 as a member of the Ozark Tank Co. He spent 12 months In the Pacific area before receiving his present assignment in the states. Lt. LOCKE REDD AT ARMY AIR FORCES PILOT SCHOOL COURTLAND, Ala.-Student Officer 1st Lt. John L. Redd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marion W. Redd, of Ozark, Ala., and husband of Mrs.Wilma Jean Redd, of 723 E. 21st, Terr. Kansas City, Mo., has reported here to the Army Air Forces Pilot School (Basic) for the second stage of his flight training. The BT-I3 which a cadet learns to handle here is a faster and heavier plane than the one which he flew at primary School and, therefore, requires a wider knowledge of all aerial sciences. His varied course of training includes Instrument flying, night soloing, and a thorough study and application of aerial navigation. The Army Air Forces Pilot School(Basic) at Courtland, Alabama, is a part of the Army Air Forces Training Command. Night and day the"Keep 'em flying" for victory. H.O. BRUCE, CM 1/c NAVY HOSPITAL Horace 0. Bruce, CM 1/c, son of Alice Bruce of this city, is in Navy hospital No. 10, somewhere In the Pacific area. Horace has been overseas for several months. His many friends at home wish for him a speedy recovery. LT. AMOS F. OUTLAW NOW IN ENGLAND Mrs. Amos F. Outlaw has received word that her husband, Lt. Outlaw is now somewhere in England and is in the best of health. He expressed the wish to hear from his Dale County friends and gives his address as follows: Lt. Amos F. Outlaw (01895576) 52nd Replacement Bn. Field Force Replacement, Dept. No. 3, A. PO. 873, care of Postmaster New York, N. Y. ARITON PRIVATE KILLED IN ACTION Private first class James W. Edgar, son of Mrs. Mary Bell Young- of Ariton route two, was killed in action March 10 on Bouganville Island in the Southwest Pacific area, relatives reported here yesterday. An Infantryman, he had been In the Army for more than two and a half years and was stationed for thirteen weeks at Camp Croft, S.C., before going overseas. SGT. TOM W. CRUMPLER RECEIVES PROMOTION IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC It has just been announced that Sergeant Tom W. Grumpler, Crew Chief in a famous fifth Air Force P-38 lightning organization actively engaged in combat in the southwest Pacific area, has been promoted from the grade of Sergeant to that of Staff Sergeant. Sergeant Crumpler, who is twenty-three (23) years of age, is the son of Mrs. Ellen Crumpler of Enterprise, Alabama. Sergeant Grumpier enlisted In the Army in October 1941, and has twenty-Six (26) months of overseas service to his credit. A graduate of the Dale County High school, the Sergeant later received his basic training at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. He has trained as an airplane mechanic under combat conditions In Australia and New Guinea. As a member of a unit twice cited for outstanding service in Northern Territory, Australia, and Papua, New Guinea, Sgt. Crumpler has received a Presidential citation device with one oak-leaf cluster. He is also entitled to wear the good conduct ribbon, the American defense ribbon, and the Asiatic-Pa- cific campaign ribbon, with four bronze stars, representing participation in the East Indies, Papuan, Australian Mandated Territory and Huon Peninsula campaigns. T/SGT. JOHN J. PEACOCK KILLED IN MEDITERRANEAN Mr. Fitzhugh Peacock, Midland City, route 1, has received the following letter from Colonel Winslow C. MorSe, headquarters Chinese American Composite Wing, APO 430, care of Postmaster, New York, N. Y. concerning the death of his son T/SGT. John J. Peacock: Headquarters Chinese-American Composite Wing (Prov.) A. P. 0. No. 430, care Postmaster New York City, N. Y. 8 March, 1944 My Dear Mr. Peacock: It Is with deep regret that I write this letter, for I know that words cannot repay your loss. I wanted to write you sooner but the necessity of military security prevented it until the present time. The ship on which your son was traveling was a part of a convoy which was attacked by German aircraft in the Mediterrranean. The enemy succeeded in sinking one ship but they paid for it,as 16 German Planes were shot down. Your son was on the ship that went down but I want you to know that he was fighting bravely for that cause which we all know is just. Your son served with me at Eglin Field, Florida, and I knew him to be a fine man and an excellent soldier. I had looked forward to having him as a part of this organization in our work in China. Please accept my heart-felt sympathy in your loss. We shall remember him as a fine man and this Knowledge will give us added incentive to avenge him and the other fine Americans who have been lost in this great conflict. Those principles for which he was fighting and in which he firmly believed shall be forever in our minds and hearts. If there is anything that I can do for you. please let me know. Most sincerely. Winslow C. Morse, Colonel, Air Corps, * John J. Peacock b Feb. 16, 1919 d Nov.26, 1943 buried Mt.Carmel Meth. Ch. Cem. (CGT) S-2/c GEORGE FELTON GILLEY WOUNDED IN ACTION S-2/c George Felton Gilley, USNR, son of Mr. John P. Gilley of Newton, has been wounded in action. Mr. Gilley has been notified by the Navy Department that his son has been wounded in action but no particulars or the place of action was given. NEWTON MAN RECEIVES PROMOTION IN NAVY GREAT LAKES, ILL., April 10—Plynie Julian Pilcher. 31, husband of Mrs. Ethel Inez Pilcher, Newton, Alabama, has won an early promotion in the Navy as result of his past civilian training. Because he has had sufficient experience in a trade essential in the Navy, he was advanced to the rating of Fireman first class upon completing his recruit training at the U. S. Naval Training Station here. Now home on leave, he will report back to the Station for reassignment to active duty aboard a naval warship or to some naval shore station. JUDGE DEESE HAS INTERESTING LETTER FROM CPL. BILL ROSS Anzio Beachhead, In Italy March 24, 1944. Dear Judge Deese: My type of writing comes under the head of sending Xmas Cards, as you may soon find out. I see Richardson and Robertson quite a bit. As you know, and So far as I know, we are the only boys from Dale County In this sector. We talk quite a bit about the past; but mostly wishing for the day to soon come when we can see Dale County again. We were in the Cassino area for quite awhile. It really was a rainy season there. I have never seen so much mud in all my days. There would be nights of trying to sleep when the tent would be leaking, or the water coming in from any of five directions. It wasn't very confortable to get up in the morning and put on wet socks and shoes. as you know, after a certain lenght of time, six pairs od dry socks under those conditions would become six pairs of wet socks. Eventually though we had issued to us galoshes; but as It was the good Lord's will about that time the rainy season was over. After thinking though of what the Infantry boys have to go through with we would always have to Smile, no matter how cold our feet got. As we are further back in the artillery, while they have to go right up to the front. I have done quite a bit of traveling since I left home. I saw a great part of Northern Africa, Malta, Island, Sicily, part of South Italy, and now you will see that I am on the "Anzlo Beach Head" After seeing these war torn countries at close range, I can truthfully say I would rather be here fighting than to be back In the states and have the war come to us. Another reason Is I know that my people are not going through what these people over here are having to endure. The climate here In Italy never gets so very hot the temperature goes as high as 80 degrees here In the summer. Even though the trees have not started to budding yet, it begins to look a little like spring with its warm days and a few rainy days along. I have spent the past winter without having so much as a bad cold. I am praying for this war to be over in the very near future, so that I will get to see you folks again. Please give Mrs. Deese my regards. Your friend, Bill Ross. (Note: Richardson and Roberson referred to In the above letter are Pfc. "Hank" Richardson of near Echo and Sgt. Dalmon Roberson of near Midland City. These three boys—Richardson, Roberson and Ross—the three R's—are all Dale County boys and all belong to the same outfit overseas. Recently I have had letters from all of them and they tell me they have been occupying the same foxhole together much of the time that they have been at Anzlo Beach Head. This is rather unusual. Corporal Ross is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cy Ross of Grimes.) F. 0. D. 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