Dale County AlArchives News.....News of Our Men and Women in uniform, Mar. 23. 1944 February 23 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 30, 2004, 10:18 pm The Southern Star 55 Years Ago, March 23, 1944... Reprinted Mar. 17, 1999 PFC. HARVEY WHITTINGTON LANDS SAFELY IN ENGLAND- Mr. and Mrs. H. G. .VVhIttington, received the news Monday, March 20, from their son, Harvey, that he had landed safely somewhere in England. He cabled that he was in good health and liking England fine. PVT. ARTHUR L. BRANNON ARRIVES IN ITALY- Pvt. Arthur Lee Branhon, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Brannon of Newton, has arrived safely in Italy his parents reported today, Pvt. Brannon Us serving with the Infantry and entered the Army in May of last year. CADET PAYNE GETS PISTOL MEDAL Aviation Cadet James J. Payne, son of James A. Payne, of Ozark route one, has been awarded an expert's medal for proficiency in firing the .45 calibre automatic pistol at Maxwell Field, an Installation of the AAF Training Command, where he is completing nine weeks of intensive preflight training in military physical fitness and academic subJects. Cadet Payne at present is spending a few days at home with his parents. SGT. JAKE B. LEVY AT HOME WEEK-END Sgt. Jake R. Levy spent the weekend at home with his father, Hon. J. R. Levy. Sgt. Levy is stationed at the New York Port of Embarkation. He was accompanied home by his wife who is with the American Red Cross. JAMES HUGH BYRD SEEING ACTION IN SOUTH PACIFIC Petty Officer James H. Byrd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Byrd writes home from the Southwest Pacific that he is in the best of health and enjoying life. Since he has been in the Pacific he has been in several engagements with the Japs. ARRIVES OVERSEAS Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Brannon have recently received word that their son, Pvt. Arthur Lee Brannon had landed safely somewhere in Italy. Pvt. Brannon is in the Infantry. He entered the service in May, 1943. THREE JOHNSON BROTHERS SERVING IN ARMED FORCES Sons of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Johnson, of Ariton, Ala., route three serving in the Armed Forces. Sergeant Judge H. Johnson was inducted into the Army August 19,1942 at Fort McPherson, Ga. He took his basic training at St. Petersburg, Fla., and was sent from there to Harlingen, Texas, where he is, stationed with the 816t Base Hq. and A. B. Sqdn. Harlingen Army Air Force.He is ass't.Clerk in the Fieldlighting Dept... a graduate of Ozark High School of 1941. Pfc. Charlie H. Johnson was inducted into the Army at Fort McClellan, Ala., December 26, 1942. He was sent to Fort McPherson, Ga..for 3 weeks. From there to Fort Bragg, N. C., where he was Stationed with 698th Field Artillery for a year. Then he was assigned overseas duty. He has been In North Africa and is now in Italy with the 5th Army. He likes the Army, but will be glad when he can come back home. Hillie D. Johnson, Seaman second Class was inducted in the Navy October 20, 1943 and was sent to Great Lakes, ILLs., where he received his boot training, upon completing his boot training he received a furlough home and returned back to Great Lakes, ILL., for a specialized training couse. A graduate of Ozark High School class of 1942. All three brothers would appreciate letters from their friends back home. SGT;NOEL ANDREWS Jr, HOME ON FIRST FURLOUGH Sgt. Noel Andrews,Jr, arrived home the past week to spend a few days with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Noel Q. Andrews, this being his first furlough since entering the army fifteen months ago Sgt. Andrews is stationed at Laredo Air Field, Laredo,. ..Texas. which is one of the largest Gunnery Schools in the U. S. Here he Is an instructor in Skeet Shooting, wears the Wings of an Aerial Gunner, and holds the coveted honor of being the outstanding shot at the Laredo Field. PFC. RALPH VALENTINE WINS PARATROOPER WINGS FORT BENNING, Ga., .March 17 1944—Pfc. Ralph Valentine, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Valentine, of 75 South Union Ave., Ozark, Alabama, has won the right to wear the world-famous Wings and boots of the United States Army Volunteer Paratrooper, World War II's most feared warrior. He made his fifth and qualifying jump, a night tactical leap indentlcal to actual combat work in Sicily, which completed his four weeks of Jumping. Jumping at The Parachute School has been steadily developed to a recognized war science. There is but one per cent chance of suffering injury while jumping at the School. In addition to producing jumpers for combat, Parachute Specialist training is given to qualified men in Communication, Demolition, Riggers, and Sewing Machine Maintenance, vital skills for the new and better Infantry coming in by air today. PVT. ROBERT A. CHALKER NOW IN ENGLAND Mr. and Mrs. Ben Chalker of Daleville have received a letter from their son, Adolph, that he recently landed safely somewhere in England. Pvt. Chalker expressed the wish to hear from his friends back home. He will appreciate a letter and his address is: Pvt. R. A. Chalker, ASN. 14045536, Cannon Co., 29th Inf. Regt., A. P. 0. 649, care of Postmaster, New York, N Y. HARVEY C. DOWLING, SPECIALIST, USCGR SPENDS WEEK-END AT HOME Harvey C. Dowling, Specialist, United States Coast Guard Reserve, stationed at New Orleans was at home for the week-end. Specialist Dowling recently completed a specialized training course at the Naval Training School at William and Mary and has been assigned to the office of the Chaplain, USCG, New Orleans, La. M/SGT. DAVID PETTIS AWARDED GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL BAINBRIDGE. G,a., Mar. 22—Master-Sgt. David Pettis, son of Mr.and Mrs. D. A. Pettis, Skipperville, Ala., has been awarded the "Good Conduct Medal at the Bainbrldge Army Air Field. The decoration, a red and white ribbon designed to conserve valuable metal, is authorize for soldiers who have been cited by their organization commander for character fidelity, efficiency, exemplary behavior, and who have served in the army for more than a year. SGT. CURTIS F. BOWMAN RETURNS TO FT. RILEY, KAN. Sgt. and Mrs. Curtis F. Bowman and little daughter, Nyoka have returned to Fort Riley, Kansas, after spending his furlough here with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Williams, of Ozark and Mrs. R, A. Bowman of Ozark route 2. SGT. MAJOR D. WRIGHT RETURNS TO MONROE, LA. Tech. Sgt. and Mrs. Major D. WRIGHT and baby have returned to Monroe, La., where he is stationed, after spending his furlough here with home folks. SGT. DEAN H. BYRD BACK AT EDGEWOOD ARSENAL Sgt. Dean H. Byrd spent Monday at home with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Byrd. Sgt. Byrd was accompanied back to his station at Edgewood ArSenal, Md., by his wife and baby. PFC. ALVIE CHILDREE IN NORTH AFRICA Word has been received by Mr.and Mrs. J. A. Chlldree that their son, pfc. Alvie Childree has safely landed in North Africa. Pfc. Childree entered the army in May, 1942 and received his basic training at Camp Shelby, Miss. S-SGT, ROBERT B. SCHRIMSHER AWARDED AIR MEDAL AN, EIGHTH AAF BOMBER STATION, England—Staff Sergeant Robert B. Schrimsher, 19, of Gadsden, Alabama, has been awarded the Air Medal. The presentation was made by his group commander Colonel Hunter, Harris,, Jr. He is the top turret gunner on the ship "Hey Mabel" at this Eighth AAP Flying Fortress base in England. Sgt, Schrimsher is the son of Mr. and, Mrs. R. B. Schrimsher of 1001 Chestnut St.. Gadsden.Prior to entering .the AAP In November, 1942 Sgt. Schrimsher was employed by the Republic Steel Corporation, Gadsden. He was graduated from the Dale County High School, Ozark Alabama, He received his gunner's wings in February, 1943. The citation read, "For exceptionally meritorious achievement, while participating in five separate bomber combat missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe. The courage, coolness and skill displayed by Sgt. Schrimsher upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States." S-SGT. CULLEN SHIRAH LANDS IN ENGLAND Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Shirah have recently received word that their son, S-Sgt. Cullen Shirah has landed safely somewhere In England. S-Sgt. Shirah entered the services in 1937 as a member of the 31st Tank Co. He was transferred into the Regular army at Ft. Benning, Ga.., January 1940 and was among the first to leave the States after Pearl Harbor. After Serving 16 months in Hawaii he was stationed at Camp Cooke, Calif., with the Trains Headquarters Co. S-Sgt. Shirah also has a brother Pvt. Denzil Shirah in the Army Air Force. His current assignment is with the N A W A T C at Grenier Field, New Hampshire. PVT. JOHN P. CLEMENTS ASSIGNED TO RADIQ SCHOOL Pvt. John Pruitt Clements, of Pinckard route one, has been assigned to the AAP Training Command Radio School at the Sioux, Falls, S. D. Army Air Field, for training as a radio operator-mechanic. He is a 1943 graduate of Midland City high school and was inducted into the Army August 19, 1943 at Ft. McClellan. PFC. SANSBURY COMPLETES ELECTRONICS TRAINING Pfc. John A, Sansbury, son of Mrs. George C. Sansbury, of Daleville, Ala. ha6 recently completed an intensive training course in Radio Electronics at the Technical School, Army Air Forces Training Command, Truax Field, Madison, Wis- consin. In addition to attending school,He went through a rigid drilling and physical training program in order to be fully prepared to take over an assignment in a combat area,if necessary. He is now prepared to Join a Base Operating group or any other duties to which the AAF Training Command may assign him. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 10.0 Kb