WORLD WAR II - CLAUDE O. DITMORE, JR. - Coke County, TX

***************************************************************** 
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be 
reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other 
organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use 
this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, 
or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the 
listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter 
has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file 
permanently for free access.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ 

Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
20 Sep 2000
*****************************************************************

The Observer/Enterprise, 5 Nov 1999, Robert Lee, TX

REFLECTIONS OF THE PAST

CLAUDE O. DITMORE JR.

Claude O. Ditmore Jr was born February 13, 1924.  He graduated from 
Bronte High School as Valedictorian with the class of 1939-1940.  He
attended John Tarleton College two years in Stephenville, Texas.  He
went into the Air Force in 1942, training as a cadet at Ellington
Field.

Ditmore was reported missing in action over the Island of Leyte in
November 1944 and officially declared dead November 1945.

Claude O. Ditmore Jr. was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Claude O. Ditmore Sr
of Tennyson.  His father Claude Sr. was a veteran of W.W.I.

A memorial in his name may be found in Bronte Fairview Cemetery.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

CONQUEST OF LEYTE, SAMAR ISLANDS IS "WITHIN SIGHT"

(This artilce is take from a Nov. 1944 issue of the San Angelo
Standard Times at the Porter Henderson Library.)

By Ray Cronin, Associated Press War Editor

The end of the American liberation campaign on Leyte and Samar Islands
in the central Philippines "is in sight" Gen. Douglas MacArthur 
reported as victorious Yank forces pushed in Carigara, strategic enemy
position on Leyte's north coast, after liquidating more than 30,000
Japanese troops in two weeks.

Final Japanese delaying opposition in northwestern Leyte valley was
overcome by 24th Division troops who shoved through to Carigara town 
to join dismounted units of the First Calvary Division, which had 
driven in from the east.

Remnants of the Japanese Leyte garrison, which included the Nippon 
16th Division that was charged with the atrocities of Bataan, were 
being backed into a trap.

The general said they "are being driven into the small end confined 
Ormoc sectors (on the west central coast) where they are enveloped on
all three land sides by our ground forces."

On the southern end of the trap were doughboys of the 7th Division.  
They slashed across lower Leyte and hold positions on the west coast
26 miles south of the port of Ormac.


Permission granted by Enterpriser/Observer for publication in the
Coke County TXGenWeb Archives.  Permission has also been granted from
the San Angelo Standard-Times.