DeWitt Co., TX - The Cuero Record Newspaper 17-Nov-1943 ******************************************************* This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Debra Hardin USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ******************************************************* The Cuero Record Newspaper 17-Nov-1943 Cuero, DeWitt County, Texas VOL. 49.--NO. 274. (Typed as printed) Major General James Kerr Crain DeWitt County’s Highest Ranking Officer In War Veteran Of World War I Has Been Overseas 18 Months Highest ranking officer in the American armed forces in World War II from DeWitt County is Major General James Kerr Crain, son of the late Congressman and Mrs. William Henry Crain, grandson of James Kerr, founder of Gonzales, and for whom the town of Kerrville was named, and brother of Newton M. Crain of this city. General Crain who is now in the European war theater with the American Forces as an Ordinance Chief, was born at Hallettsville, August 28, 1897, moving to Cuero with his family at the age of 3. He attended Cuero schools, St Edwards University at Austin before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy at WestPoint from which he was graduated in 1904. He has followed an army career. As a young Lieutenant, he with two other young officers, in 1906, built the first fortifications at Corregidor, where the forces of General Wainwright held out against the Japanese hordes until munitions and medical supplies were exhausted. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in World War I seeing active service overseas with the Rainbow Division and for his gallantry was awarded the Dinstinguished Service medal and several others. He served for two years after the Armistice with the American Army of Occupation at Coblenz. Just prior to the present war General Crain was stationed at Fort Sam Houston and had occasion to pay frequent visits to his old home in this city. He was a distinguished guest of the city at the last Turkey Trot staged here in 1940. General Crain is married and the father of two daughters. His wife and one daughter make their home in Washington, D.C. He has been overseas for 18 months, much of this time being spent in England. Second ranking officer in World War II from DeWitt County is S.D. Lackey, Jr., Colonel, Field Artillery, who is attached to General Richard Donovan’s staff at Eighth corps Area Headquarter at Dallas. Col. Lackey is the son of Major Sam C. Lackey of Cuero and saw overseas service in World War I rising to the rank of Major. He held a reserve commission as Colonel when called into service in the summer of 1941. His wife, Betty Weldon Lackey is in Dallas with him. Another DeWitt County man who embarked upon military career soon after completing his high school education in this city is Lt. Colonel John J. Atkinson,, F.A., who fought valiantly with McArthur and Wainwright in defense of Bataan and is now a prisoner of the Japanese in Philippine Military Camp No., I. Colonel Atkinson is a son of the late Mrs. Halla Atkinson of Cuero and a brother of Mrs. W.G. McCampbell of Goliad. Many other DeWitt men hold posts of high rank in the services. Among them is Commander Lewis Wallace, an Annapolis graduate and commander of an American submarine operating in the Pacific. Commander Wallace is the elder son of Mr. And Mrs. H.W. Wallace of this city, whose younger son, Holland W. Wallace, Jr., is a Lieutenant in the Army. Other naval officers of high rang from this county are Commander C.C. Howerton of the U.S. Navy air forces, a son of Mrs. J.C. Howerton of Cuero and husband of the former Ann Ainsmith of Yorktown, and Lt. Commander Norman Douglas McAlister, eldest son of O.T. McAlister. On the army side of the ledger are Lt. Col. Jack Edgar, son of Mr. And Mrs. J.S. Edgar, Sr., of Cuero, he was recently cited by his commanding officer for extraordinary service on New Georgia. Major Richard J. Jartman, Inf., and Major Robert F. Hartman, sons of Mr. And Mrs. Albert Hartman of Green DeWitt. Major Walter W. Rice, son of the late Mr. And Mrs. William Rice of Yoakum and brother of Harley Rice of Cuero. Major Arthur Middleton Green, Judge Advocate branch, U.S. Army, son of the late District Judge John M. Green, who has been overseas for more than a year. Capt. Francis McAlister, son of O.T. McAlister of this city; Capt. John Herring, Inf., son of Mrs. J. W. erring of Cuero; Capt. Richard Stevens, U.S. Army Air Forces, son of Mr. And Mrs. A.D. Stevens, who was recently cited for his part in the Sicilian campaign; Capt. A.F. Moffitt, Jr., infantry, son of Mr. And Mrs. A.F. Moffitt of Cuero and Capt. William Glass North, Cavalry, son of Mrs. Jennie North of Cuero. Capt. Stuart M. Rohre, Chaplain, son of Mrs. A.T. Rohre of this city. Highest ranking Marine officer from this county is Captain Bill Reid, son of Mr. And Mrs. Jerry Reid of this city. In addition to the above named officers are scores of DeWitt County young men who hold Lieutenant and Ensign ranks with the American armed forces and among the hundreds of non-coms and privates and unrated seamen from this country are many who have figured in the hardest fighting, have won the highest honors and have sacrificed most to kepp their country safe from aggression and to make the post-war world a better and safer place in which to live. DeWitt County Boy Wins Promotion Okla., Nov. 18--William W. Hanson, Okla., Nov. 2--William W. Hanson, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Hanson, Rte. 1. Has been recently promoted from the rank of Corporal to Sergeant at the Altus Army Air Field where he is an aircraft mechanic. Bert E. Cook, Jr. Commissioned CORPUS CHRISTI, Tex., Nov.--Bertram E. Cook, Jr., son of Mr. And Mrs. B.E. Cook of 611 Neuman St., Cuero, Texas, graduated today from the Naval Air Training Center, Corpus Christi, and was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He received his preliminary flight instructions at the Memphis, Tenn., reserve air base. Herbert F. Frels Wins Commission MOODY FIELD, Ga.,-Nov. (UP)--Former Aviation Cadet Herbert F. Frels of Route 4, son of Mr. And Mrs. Charles E. Frels of Cuero, Texas, was recently graduated from the Army Air Forces Pilot School at Moody Field, Fa., and commissioned a Second Lieutenant with the rating of Army Pilot. WRITES FROM PRISON CAMP DeWitt County Boy’s First Thoughts Are For Mother “Don’t worry about me:” is the message received by Mrs. W.E. Carruthers of Yorktown from her soldier son, a prisoner of the Japanese at Camp Shinagawa, Japan. Typical of American boys who are so heroically bearing confinement in a Japanese prison camp, Carruthers’ first thought was of his mother. In a brief card he declared that he had received no mail since November of 1941. The card was written May 22nd its arrival being more than five months later. ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN CHURCH Sends Kindest Regards To Her 71 Boys In The Service Sgt. Clifton W. Afflerbach, Pvt. Willard J. Bade, Sgt. Glenn E. Bauer, Pvt. Louis A. Bauer, Jr., Pfc. Roy E. Binz, A/S C.P. Bluntzer, Lt. W.K. Bluntzer, Pfc. Herbert C. Boehl, S. Sgt. Johnie J. Bowen, Pfc. Elester L. Brewer, Pfc. Curtis E. Brown, Herbert A. Buch, S 2/C, Lt. J.E. Buehrg, Sft. Irvin Buesing, Cpl. John J. Casal, Roscoe R. Chaddock, MM 1/C, Cpl. Virgil C. Fetters, Pfc. Gerhard C.M. Frels, Lt. Herbert F. Frels, S/Sgt. Lawrence Froelich, Cpl. Milton Froelich, Pfc. Walter L. Gerhold, S/Sgt. George A. Glauberg, Pvt. John F. Grabow, Pfc. Herbert T. Haak, Pfc. Andrew L. Hahn, S/Sgt. Fred B. Hamilton, Jerry M. Hanys S 1/C, George W. Hartman S 1/C, Major R.F. Hartman, Major R.H. Hartman, Sgt. Bill Hartman, Pvt. Albert F. Heider, S/Sgt. Norman Lloyd Henneke, Lt. Lawrence E. Henneke, S/Sgt. Perishing Hiller, Herbert F. Hoehne, Ph. M 2/C, Thomas H. Hotz A/S, Pvt. Leo T. Jahn, C/WO Alvin N. Jutz, Howard W. Kleinecke S 1/C, Pvt. LeRoy Koenig, Cpl. Leon T. Kruse, Pfc. J.B. Kuehl, Gilmore W. Lassman S 2/C, Sgt. George Lewis, S/Sgt. Edwin H. Markowsky, Pvt. Leonel C. Meyer, Cpl. Elmo L. Moeller, Albert F. Mueller, Sgt. Edward W. Mueller, Pfc. Gerhard J. Mueller, S/Sgt. Emil A. Mueller, Pvt. LeRoy H. Mueller, Pfc. Sterling G. Mueller, Pfc. Wiley Pridgen, A/S Ernest Regner, A/S Henry Schaefer, Sgt. Walter C. Schaefer, Pvt. Anton H.G. Schmidt, Pfc. Alvin W. Schaeffner, Lt. Norris E. Schroeter, Alfred W. Schueneman SK 1/C, Wallace W. Stahl E. M. 2/C, Pvt. Jewel R. Thieme, Alton Wachtendorf S 2/C, Albert E. Wasserman S 2/C, Glenn Wasserman, royal W. Zengerle A.S., Harry r. Zunker S 2/C FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CUERO, TEXAS Honors its 51 young men and women in the Nation’s Armed Forces Louise Boothe, WAC, Sterling P. Boothe, Frank Boothe, Rollie Brantley, Floyd Buchel, Carl J. Bohne, Jr., Wiley Cheatham, Ben Cook, Pat Dunn, W.E. Eckles, Eugene L. Finney, James Arthur Fowler, Lloyd Fritz, Kenneth Fritz, Arthur M. Green, J.C. (Pete) Howerton, Wm. E. Harwood, Thomas M. Hensley, Jr., Wilburn Jackson, Clarence Kennedy, Herbert F. Leonardt, S.C. Lackey, Jr., Salim Milkie, Clifton Mauer, Oscar W. Mueller, A.F. Moffitt, Jr., Walter B. McClung, Annie M. McCurdy, J.F. McCrabb, Roy Leighton McWilliams, William Nami, James Baker North, James Burke Newman, John Graves Otts, John Freeman Pettus, Jr., John William Phillips, Stuart McC. Rohre, Walter Reeves Rohre, Frank M. Stockton, Robert Schmitter, Charles Schorre, Thomas Shults, Robert S. Shults, Wilbur Clifford Shults, W. Irvin Wallis, David White, Carl Wagner, Norman Wilden, Elo Wilden, Glen Davis Young, Raymond Mundt.. DESTROYER ESCORT NAMED IN HONOR OF CUERO NEGRO WHO DIED HERO ABOARD COURAGEOUS U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO Leonard Harmon, First Negro in United States So Honored The spirit of Leonard Roy Harmon, Cuero Negro youth, who gallantly gave his life aboard the battleship U.S.S. San Francisco, in an effort to save the lives of two superior officer and a shipmate, is today riding the swells of the broad Atlantic. In the naming by the Navy Department of the U.S.S. Harmon in honor of the late Cuero youth, Harmon was accorded a tribute never before paid a Negro seaman. The escort ship, launched on Aug. 31st, 1943, at the Fore River Plant of the Bethlehem Steel Co. in Quincy, Massachusetts, was rightfully christened by Harmon’s mother Naunita Harmon Carroll, of Cuero. Born and educated in Cuero, where he was active in sports at Daule High School, Harmon was engaged in livestock production when he decided in 1939 to enlist in the Navy. He volunteered his services at the San Antonio Recruiting Station where he was rejected due to a minor hear ailment. Harmon was not to be denied, however. He returned to Cuero and sought medical treatment to remedy the ailment and on June 9th, 1939, reported once more to the recruiting station and was accepted. Following training at New Port News, VA., he was placed aboard the Cruiser San Francisco as a mess attendant and was so serving during the battle with the Japanese fleet in which he lost his life. Harmon was cited for bravery and was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously on March 4, 1943, by Honorable Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, acting for President Roosevelt. Secretary Knox announced shortly thereafter that a destroyer escort will be named the U.S.S. Harmon in momery of the youth, the U.S.S. Harmon being the first United States warship named after a Negro seaman. Following the launching at Quincy, Massachusetts, Captain L.L. Reed and his one hundred and eighty-six officers and men took to the high seas to carry on the cause in memory of the Cuero youth. And so Leonard Roy Harmon has once more gone to sea in the being of a sleek and elusive destroyer escort which is expected to claim its toll of enemy shipping during the course of the great conflict raging on the seas today. DEWITT BOY LOST AT SEA Randolph Goebel, United States Merchant Marine, son of Mrs. Ida Goebel of Meyersville has been reported missing in action. The Navy announcement gave no details and merely stated that Goebel was reported missing or lost at sea. The DeWitt county boy who only a few weeks ago was home on leave, is believed to have been lost on his first trip. He was 22 years of age. Six DeWitt Boys Pay Supreme Sacrifice; Twelve in Jap Prison Camps Harold Thigpen Green First DeWitt Casualty Of World War 2 Six gold stars gleam today in DeWitt County’s World War Two Service flag. Those six stars represent the six DeWitt county boys who have paid the supreme sacrifice. For twelve other DeWitt County lads, life is but a nightmare of torture as they lanquish behind the barbed wrie of Japanese prison camps. Harold Thigpen Green, Fireman 1/C. United States navy, son of the late Mrs. Ethel Lambert and brother of Bill Green, United States Marines, was DeWitt county’s first casualty. Young Green went down with his ship, the U.S.S. Sturtevant, on April 26, 1942, after the ship had struck an undersea mine. Second to pay the supreme sacrifice was Joseph Peter Zaiontz, Coxswain, United States navy, who lost his life aboard the U.S.S. Ingraham, sent to the bottom by enemy action. Coxswain Zaiontz was the son of Mr. And Mrs. Walter Zaiontz of Cuero, and is survived by his parents and two brothers. He was lost at sea on August 23rd, 1942. A Negro youth who stands out among the heroes of world War 2, Leonard Harmon, Mess Attendant, U.S. Navy, is also represented by a gold star. Harmon died aboard the U.S.S. San Francisco while attempting to shield two superior officers and a shipmate from enemy gunfire. He has been awarded the Navy Cross, posthumously, and a destroyer escort has been named in his honor. A Navy communique of only a few days ago brought the sad news to Mrs. Ida Goebel if Meyersville that her son, Randolph Goebel, United States Merchant Marine, was missing or lost at sea.. Goebel was 22 years of age and was on his first trip when the vessel was sunk. From the European theater of war on October 19th, came announcement that Lt. Henry Dick Morisse, United States Army Air Corps, and son of Mr. And Mrs. Henry Morrisse of Nordheim, had been killed in action. Lt. Morisse was a navigator aboard one of Uncle Sam’s bombing planes. James Huff, Cuero Negro youth was the sixth to die in the service. Huff died at Camp Lee, Virginia, following a short illness. He is the son of Annie Huff of Cuero Rte.3. Twelve DeWitt County boys are today believed to be prisoners of the Japs. Of the twelve at least eight are definitely known to be in Jap prison camps. The remaining four were last heard from on either Bataan or Corrigidor and are presumed to be prisoners. The group includes: Lt. Floyd Buchel, son of Mrs. Floyd Buchel of Cuero. Herbert Tieken, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Ticken of Lindenau, now interned near Tokyo. Charles Tolbert, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.V. Tolbert of Cuero, now interned in the Philippine Military Prison. Arvon Caruthers, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Caruthers, Rte. 4, Yorktown, Gunners Mate 2/C U.S. Navy. Denton Hoefling of Yorktown. Denton Hasdorff of Yorktown, Antonio Villa, son of Raymond Villa, Rte. 1, Cuero. Rowland K. Towry, brother of Dr. W.E. Towry of Cuero. Joe Chilek of Hochheim. Edward W. French of Yaokum. Jake Gallia, Rte. 2, Yoakum. Albert Williams of Terryville. Louis G. Bailey and Elliott E. Bailey, brothers of Mrs. Jesse Parks of Cuero. Lt. Col. John Atkkinson, formerly of Cuero and son of Mrs. Halla Atkinson. Lt. Col Atkinson was in command of a Field Artillery unit in the Phillipines when the Japs overwhelmed the island. The Home Front Honor Roll Cuero Chamber of commerce & Agriculture members for the year 1943-1944 Adickes, Wm. & Sons Afflerbach, L. Alamo Lumber Company All Cash Lumber Co. American Café Arnecke Drug Store Anders Auto Supplies Bass Shoe Store Bates Hardware Store Benton, Findley Berning, John H. Bohman, Rr. A.J. Bohne, Floyd Bohne Meat Market Bowen, Red Brayton Flying Service Breeden, P. Fielding Bridges, J.P. Buchel, Dr. F.W. Buchel Milling Company Buchel National Bank Buchel, T.O. Buehrig, L.A. Buehrig, R.H. Burns, Dr. J.G. Buttery, L.L. Callander Tire company Carney’s Food Market Carter, L.A. Christian, Clyde Coca-Cola Bottling Company Cook, Raymond C. Coppedge Service Station Combs, Courtney Cozy Nook Confectinery Crain, N.M. Crescent Valley Creamery Cudahy Packing Co. Cuero & Trucker’s Cafes Cuero Compress & Whse. Co. Cuero Cotton Oil & Mfg. Company Cuero Gin & Feed Company Cuero Federal Savings & Loan Cuero Livestock Commission Co. Cuero Lumber Co. Cuero Machinery & Hardware Co. Cuero Daily & Weekly Record Cuero Standard Cuero Body Works DeWitt County Implement Company Dietze Dairy Dippel & Dietze Dobbs, Dr. J.C. Doll House, The Dornbluth, Paul Duckworth & Douthit, Drs. Edgar, Maggie Edgar, J. Hadley Edgerton Airport Eichholz & Young Elite Beauty Shop Evers Brothers Farmers State Bank & Trust Co. Ferguson’s Ten Cent Store Fischer, J.J. Flick Auto Co. Fowler, Z.W. Frances’ Beauty Shop Freund Funeral Home Garrett Abstract Co. (R.I. Wilkes) Gaida, Victor Gohlke, Mrs. Helen Gohmert Furniture Company Graves, T.A. Guadalupe Valley Cotton Mills Green, Judge Howard Groce-Parrish Company Goldfish Club Green Garden Gulf Oil Corporation Haak’s Flower Shop Hahn, Rev. A.A. Hancock, W.F. Hartman, Albert Hebert, S.P. Hiller’s Service Station Herring, Mrs. J.W. Henson’s Place Hogan Studios, Thomas Hesse Humble Station Harris Service Station Hansen, Fred L. Hartman, Wayne H & F Barber Shop Humble Oil & Refining Company Joseph’s Grocery & Market Kasper’s Conoco Station Kimbell-Wendt Company King, Dr. Gerald A. Klecka Drug Company Kleinecke, Dr. L.C. Koehler Dry Goods Company Koenig, Henry J. Kunitz Drug Store Lackey, Sam C. Ladner, Nic L. LeVand Department Store Ley Food Market Marie, Archie Mayer’s Red & White Grocery Means, A.L. McLarty Grocery McClung Grocery McWilliams, R.S. Miller, Clarence Muenter, Theo. Mugge, E. Muti Hotel Newman, John Nami, George Newman’s Tailor Shop Newman, J.T. & Sons Nielsen 7-Up Bottling Company Peavy, Mrs. C.D., Sr. Parks cleaners Penney, J.C. Company Perry Bros. Store Piggly-Wiggly Store Pliskal, P.E. Poth, DeWitt Rialto Theatre Riegschlager, Frank J. Richter, Ernest Richter, Walter Reuss Drug Store Rath, John River Tavern, The Snapp, A. Jack Schorre, Fritz A. Shirar, E.E. Sheppard, H.D. Smart Shop Smith Motor Company Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. Southwest Natural Gas Company Stevens Grocery Stucco Hut Stowers Furniture Company Tarkington, P.F. Tarkington, S.G., Jr. Thamm, Arthur The Fair Thieme, Frank Thorn, B.B. Thigpen Shoe Shop Tower Inn Towry, Dr. W.R. Vanity Fair Beauty Shop Vela’s Red & White Grocery Wallace, E.M. Warner, C.J. Wasserman, E.R. Weber Motor Company Williams Hatchery Woodworth & Dent Wyatt Hatchery Western Auto Associate Store Zimmerman, O.A. ---