Newspaper, Home News World War II August 1945, East Baton Rouge, LA submitted by Sherry Sanford ****************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ****************************************************************** Submitted by Sherry (Westbrook) Sanford HOME NEWS, Vol. IV, Baton Rouge, La., August 1945, No. 4 CITATIONS AND AWARDS For "extraordinary achievements" with the 15th Air force, 1st Lt. Oscar L. Clement (Washington, La.) has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. In addition to previous award of the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Cluster, both 1st Lt. Alban F. Varnado, lead navigator (LSU '41, who also served with the engineers in the Aleutians), and 1st Lt. James T. LeBlanc (Port Barre), have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for service in the ETO as navigators. For gallantry in action, especially in taking a German road block, Capt. John A. Moore,Jr. (LSU '36) has received the Silver Star, in additon to previous awards of the Croix de Guerre (twice) and Purple Heart. Maj. John Mire Jolissaint (LSU '40) Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation, wearing 7 battle stars, has also been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary achievements" in the ETO. For services in the ETO the Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to T/S Albert Hebert (Brusly Hi grad), already wearer of the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. 1st Lt. Wagner Wayne Dick (Kentwood) Air Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, has been awarded the Silver Star for beating off repeated Jap attacks on his Superfortress, and with two engines out and all navigation equipment and gun turrets shot away, for "superb flying skill in piloting his shattered aircraft 1250 miles to his home base." For gallantry in the ETO, Lt. Col. C. Melancon (Oscar) has been awarded the Croix de Guerre, Bronze Star with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Silver Star and Purple Heart. For gallantry in the five campaigns in the ETO, Pfc. Hilton P. Ponthier (Hessmer), has been awarded the Bronze Star, Silver Star, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. For services during 23 missions over Japan, M/S Johnnie Hughlen Chambers (Cleveland Hi grad), has been awarded the Legion of Merit for outstanding services in the Southwest Pacific in increasing the effectiveness of the operational air forces. He wears 4 battle stars. Pfc. Lurie L. Berteau, (Prairieville), with the 101st Airborne Division, has been awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Cpl. Edward F. Ward has received the Silver Star and Purple Heart in the ETO. For services during 30 months with the 5th Airforce, as ball turret gunner of a B-17, S/S Darrell E. Hatchell, (Denham Springs), was awarded the Air Medal, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and Distinguished Flying Cross. Cpl. E. A. Foster, in addition to the Silver Star, has received awards of Bronze Star and Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Unit Citation and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. Pfc. Earl Watson, (Plaquemine), for courage in rescuing wounded in the PTO has been awarded the Silver Star. Pfc. Jameal C. Michael, (BR Hi boxing and golf champion), has been awarded for services in the ETO the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION HAS BEEN AWARDED TO: S/S Nolan J. "Country" Ruiz, (Plaquemine), Good Conduct Medal, ball turret gunner on a B-17, in the first daylight raid on Berlin, and wears 4 Battle Stars. Sgt. Freddie A. Heath, (Galvez, St. Amant Hi grad.), with Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, wears four Battle Stars in the PTO. Capt. William M. Mitchell, (Ponchatoula), whose company iin the 383rd regiment fought on Okinawa, where he was the only officer along with 20 of his company of 147 to survive. THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN'S BADGE HAS BEEN AWARDED TO: Lionel L. Watson, Purple Heart, wears two Battle Stars for services in the PTO. T/5 Oneil P. Naquin, (Chenal), for services with the 103rd Division in ETO. Pfc. James Roy Corbett (BR Hi grad., duPont), with the "Cactus" Division. Sgt. Edward Murphy Miscar, "Timberwolves" Division ETO. Pvt. James R. Curtis, (Denham Springs), Purple Heart, in ETO. Pvt. William B. Kelly,Jr. (Denham Springs), in the PTO. Pvt. Clarence J. Crocket,(White Castle), with the "Red Arrow" Division, Luzon, P.I. S/S Charley R. Smith (Livingston), with the 7th Division at Saipan and Okinawa. Pfc. David R. Michelli, Purple Heart in the ETO. THE AIR MEDAL HAS BEEN AWARDED TO: S/S Armand J. Hetherwick, (Jacoby), aerial gunner on a B-24, based in Italy. 1st Lt. John J. Capdeville, field artillery laison and observation pilot with the 89th Division. S/S Woodrow F. Zachariah with Oak Leaf Cluster for services in the PTO. Lt.(j.g.) NAC Leo A. Bird, (LSU Varsity Star), in the ETO, which is in addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross. 1st Lt. Willough P. Truxillo, (Port Allen Hi grad.) in the ETO. THE PURPLE HEART HAS BEEN AWARDED TO: Pfc. Howard J. Langlois, (New Roads), wounded in MTO. Capt. Oliver L. Stone, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star, wounded in Germany. Pfc. John A. Payne, (Jackson), blown up by a time bomb in Naples. Pfc. Lionel L. Watson, Combat Infantryman's Badge, wounded in Luzon. S 1/c Earl A. Tate, (Walker Hi grad.), wounded on Luzon. Sgt. Clyde V. Lomax, wounded on Attu. Pfc. Joseph Milton Pairque, (Posthumously). Cpl. Eugene V. Cothern, (Catholic Hi grad.) (ETO). Ph M 2/c Chester Joseph LeSage, (St. Gabriel), (PTO). Pvt. James R. Curtis, (Denham Springs)Combat Infantryman's Badge, in ETO. S/S Norwood S. Graham, (Denham Springs), with Oak Leaf Cluster. Pfc. David R. Mitchell, Combat Infantryman's Badge, in the ETO. 1st Lt. George K. Wood, with Oak Leaf Cluster (University Hi grad) Combat Infantryman's Badge. THE BRONZE STAR HAS BEEN AWARDED TO: Pfc. Joseph Farley Day,Jr., (Catholic Hi grad and football star), for bravery on Luzon where his regiment wiped out 45 tanks and 700 Japs. Capt. Oliver L. Stone, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Purple Heart, "for materially aiding in the capture of Saarlautern, Germany". Capt. Gerard Thomas Armstrong, 600 Canal St. S/S Herman Thomas Landry (White Castle). S/S Patrick J. Richard (561 Moore St.), for services in Germany. Cpl. Andrew Striplin, Good Conduct Medal, for services in PTO. Maj. Hollis H. Tate,Sr., (SO Co), 628 Glenmore Ave. S/S James E. Owens, with Oak Leaf Cluster and Distinguished Unit Citation, for bravery in France and Germany. Capt. John Jacob Selp, for meritorious services in ETO. Cpl. Jake B. Tate, for bravery with the "Winged Victory" division on Luzon. 1st Sgt. Leonard P. Daigle for services in Germany. Pfc. Warren McCoy (Catholic Hi honor grad.), Distinguished Unit Citation, for "heroic action" against the Germans. Col. USA Alfred V. Ednie, "for bravery and daring leadership of his regiment during the break through at St. Lo, Normandy," which is in addition to previous awards of the Expert Combat Infantryman's Badge, Silver Star and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. T/5 Tonido G. Larusa (Port Allen), for delivery of mail under fire, ETO. Pfc. Richard Vicknair (Springfield) for bravery in rescuing fellow crewmen from a damaged tank in Germany. Capt. Frank Rinaudo (New Roads) for services in combat, Italy. Sgt. Joseph Catanzaro (Sunshine), for bravery and expert judgement as tank driver in the ETO. Capt. FA, Paul A. Bourgeois (Plaquemine, LSU '40), for services in combat with the 7th Armored Division, which swept through France to Germany, making 600 miles in 21 days, which is claimed as a record for speed against a resisting enemy. 1st. Lt. Walter Glenn Thomas (Plaquemine, LSU grad.), for "heroic achievements" with the 559th F.A. battalion, ETO. ____________________________ TALK OF THE TOWN Well, the danger of your folks being bombed is officially over, for Gov. Davis has disbanded the OCD which for the past year has valiantly protected Louisiana - to the tune of $20,000 per year. Automobile engineers have developed a type of steering wheel that will enable amputees to drive a car as well as anyone else. The crepe myrtles that Miss Katherine Hill has planted along our streets are in full bloom and make a wonderful sight. We don't want to make your mouth water, but this year's crop of figs is bigger and better than usual. This year, for the first time in 82 years, Vicksburg celebrated the 4th of July -- it's back in the Union again ! During June, Baton Rouge landlords refunded tenants nearly $800 of rental overcharge. A shortage of fats has put soap on the scarcity list, and large and continued strikes in Ohio tire plants have moved into the distant future the time when "A" card motorists can get tires. Baton Rouge has 75 qualified private airplane pilots. For selling whiskey over ceiling prices, two New Orleans dealers have been fined $18,000 and suits charging the same offenses have been filed against Joe Fasulla of Club 71, for $28,569 and against Joe Hannie of the Crescent Cove for $18,000. A double daily bus service each way has been started between Baton Rouge and Darrow via Gardere and Carville. LSU's plans have been changed, and the new men's dormitory to hold 1,000 will be built east of the stadium and south of the Alumni Building. Parker Hall will be used to house men seniors and enlarged facilities for co-eds will be built around Evangeline Hall. Each month over 100,000,000 pieces of mail are handled by the San Francisco Fleet Post Office. To help provide sleeping cars for returning soldiers, Pullmans on runs of less than 450 miles have been withdrawn and reservations on remaining Pullmans can be made only 5 days ahead. We who have stayed in the U.S. have had an easy time compared to what you have had to take. Maj. McCoy, associate professor of journalism, Dr. Rutt, professor of mathmatics and Dr. Cox, head of the Dept. of Hydraulic Engineering, all of LSU, have been sent to England to teach in army centers there. Two untried charges against former Gov. Leche have been dropped, but the "hot oil" indictment still stands. Plans for postwar construction Government. "Super highways" will be built in East Baton Rouge, As in Louisiana of $350,000,000 of highways are being made, most of the funds to be supplied by the Federal cension, St. Landry, Tangipahoa and 16 other parishes. When a ship dropped anchor in the Mississippi, just below New Orleans, the anchor was grabbed by a fish, which, when landed by the ship's winch, proved to be a fin-back whale 20 feet long, weighing about 4 tons. Now you tell yours. Three of the four "Idea" awards of the SO Co. for '44 were won by employees of the local plant, who have won 9 out of 16 awards since '41. C.N. Achord (deceased) received the maxium, $500.00. With the hunting season only a few months away, hunters are wondering whether anyshells will be available since there has been no official statement on the subject. A mens' clothing chain with a store on 3rd street closed for two weeks as it had nothing to sell. All railway passenger cars and two-thirds of the Pullmans are now under control of the ODT to provide adequate accommodations to service men under orders; even race horses can't be shipped any more. Taxes collected by the state for the fiscal year just ended showed that Louisianans bought more, smoked less, drove farther, drank less soft drinks and paid more income tax than in the previous fiscal period. ____________________________ WOMEN IN THE WAR NAVY Where They Are Y 3/c Marie Dorothy Roubique, Penscola. PhM 3/c Roberta Frances McNall Griggs, (St. Francisville), Memphis. HA 1/c Mary Louise Davis, (Natalbany), Hawaii A/S Frances Lucille Rackley, Hunter College, New York City. S 1/c Jeanne Bonnett, Norman, Okla. PROMOTIONS To Lt.; Blanche May,(Ruston, SO Co), at Alameda, Calif. To Sp (G) 2/c: Annie Whitaker Wall, at Newport, R.I. To Sp I 3/c: Doris F. Lewin at Washington. To S 2/c: Dorothy A. Salario (LSU Staff), and sister, To S 2/c: Josephine F. Salario, (Dept. Pub. Wks.), at Washington. To PR 3/c: Mary Carrie Kleinpeter, at Norman, Okla. NAVAL NURSING CORPS Lt.(j.g.) Daisy Spurlock, (BR General Hospital grad), PTO. ARMY Where They Are Pvt. Gertrude Pequet, (W. Baton Rouge), Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. Cpl. Anne N. Fondren, (3835 Nakomis St.), PTO Pvt. Mary Belle Gauthier, (Erwinville), Longview, Tex. S/S Elizabeth Fugler McBeath, (PTO 74). Cpl. Alma C. Kirkley (Walker), (PTO 72). Cpl. Marjorie Lynn Jackson, (Denham Springs, LSU '42), Bowman Field, Ky. PROMOTIONS To Cpl.L Beulah A. Dunn, at Washington. ARMY NURSING CORPS Where They Are 1st Lt. Iris Hillard Smith, Ft. Sam Houston, Tex. Lt. Addie Mae Guitreau, (French Settlement, BR Gen. Hos. grad), Camp Livingston, La. Lt. Dorothy L. Merrill, (Doyle), Beaumont Hospital, El Paso, Tex. 1st Lt. Hilda Amacker (Ponchatoula), (ETO, theatre correction). 1st Lt. Goldie A. Roberts, (Ponchatoula, BR Gen. Hospital grad.), (E 635). PROMOTIONS To 1st Lt.: Ellen Babin (P 513). To 1st Lt.: Eloise A. Herring, (New Roads, Touro grad.), (E 427). To 1st Lt.: Anna Mae Spillman, (St. Francisville, Charity Hospital grad), Bronze Star, Ashburn Hospital, McKinney, Tex. RED CROSS Mary Mahaffey, (Port Allen), ETO. Elsie M. Burroughs,(BR Hi grad.,Gulf States), Alaska. ________ Louise Conner, OWI in China. ____________________________