Stutts, Wesley W. - Cpl.

WITH 36th DIVISION - Cpl. Wesley W. Stutts, 24, veteran of the 36th Division is now participating the fighting on the Western Front according to information received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Stutts, Kerens route three. A member of the National Guard when it was mobilized and federalized in November 1940, Cpl. Stutts has participated in all the major engagements which made this division famous.  First landing in North Africa he fought throughout the Italian campaign and later stormed the beaches of Southern France.  A brother, Pvt Marvin O. Stutts, paratrooper, was recently seriously wounded in action in Belgium. [ VIEW CLIPPING ]
Note: Clipping Submitted by Fran Massey

Butler, Billy Clark - s-1c

WRITES PARENTS - Billy Clark Butler, S-1c, signalman U. S. Navy, writes his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Curry Butler, 1418 West First Avenue that his has seen action in the Philippines and has been over most of that territory.  He stated that he was doing fine and was having a better time than he expected.  He wrote of the rumors of sinking of American ships and said that they were generally wrong.  S-1c Butler is a graduate of the Corsicana high school and entered the navy on Dec. 19, 1943 and went to San Diego Cal., for boot and other training.  He has not been home since enlisting. At the time of his enlistment he was an employee of the Whitesele Brick and Lumber Co.  He also carried a Corsicana Daily Sun route for three years.

Lassiter, Wm. C. - Sgt.

WOUNDED IN ACTION - Sgt. William C. Lassiter, 28, U. S. Army, infantry, wounded in action October 24, on Leyte Island, is now in the Hammond General Hospital, Modesta, Calif.   His wife is with him and writes that he is doing fine and is now able to be up on crutches.  A brother, Pfc. Delbert L. Lassiter, stationed at Long Beach, Calif., accompanied by his wife and daughter, recently spent a three day pass visiting the wounded soldier.  This was the first time the brothers had met in two years.  Awarded the Purple Heart Decoration, Sgt. Lassiter entered the service in October 1942 and went overseas in June 1944.  The son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Lassiter, Corsicana route one, he received his training in Oregon and California.

Green, William Wesley - Pvt.

ARRIVES OVERSEAS - Pvt. William Wesley Green, 19, U. S. Army, infantry has arrived safely on an island in the Pacific theater of operations according to information received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Green, 111 North Beaton street.  Entering the service June 22, 1944, he received his training at Camp Robinson, Little Rock, Ark.  He is a 1942 graduate of the Corsicana high school.

Bohn, Wilford J. - Pvt.

WOUNDED IN ACTION - Pvt. Wilford J. Bohn, 23, U. S. Army paratrooper, was wounded in action in Belgium December 20, according to information received from the war department by his mother, Mrs. W. S. Herod, Exall Hights.  A 1939 graduate of the Corsicana high school, he entered the service in June 1942, and has been overseas six months.

McBroom, Billy G. - Pfc.

IN GERMANY - Pfc. Billy G. McBroom, 21, U. S. Army antiaircraft, is now serving somewhere in Germany and getting along fine, according to information in a recent letter received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. R. McBroom, 204 West Fourth avenue.  Previous to entering the service February 22, 1943, he was employed by the Lyon-Gray Lumber Co.   He attended the Corsicana high school and has been overseas since February 1944.

McCulloch, Curtis L. - s-1c

PROMOTED - Curtis L. McCulloch, 26, U. S. Navy, s-2-c, now stationed in the Hawaiian Islands, ahs been promoted to the rating of seaman first class, according to information received by his wife, Mrs. C. L. McCulloch, and son Curtis, 2228 West Twelfth avenue.   Entering the service May 29, 1944, he has been in Hawaii since September 1944.

Knight, Walter V. - Pfc.

SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE - Pfc. Walter V. Knight, 35, U. S. Army, artillery, is now serving somewhere in France and getting along fine, according to a letter recently received by his wife, Mrs. Margie Knight, and their 14 months old daughter, Georgia Ann, 312 North Twelfth street.  Entering the service November 29, 1943, he has been overseas since October 1944.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. G Knight, Corsicana route three.

Lancaster, Ezekiel B. - T-4

MISSING IN ACTION - T-4 Ezekiel B. Lancaster, 23, U. S. Army, is reported missing in action in Germany since December 16, according to information received by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Clide Lancaster, and brother James E. Lancaster 429 East Dewey street, Orange, former residents of Kerens.  A 1940 graduate of the Kerens high school, he entered the service August 8, 1942, and has been overseas since October 1944.

Harris, Raymond Earl & Harris J. D., Jr.

IN THE NAVY - Raymond Earl Harris entered the Navy in August and was sent to California where in the unit to which he was assigned, he found his nephew, J. D. Harris, Jr.   Neither of them knew that the other was stationed there.  Raymond Earl is the son of Mrs. D. B. Harris Kerens route three, and J. D. Harris is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Harris, Sr., Italy.  Both men are seamen second class.

Patterson, Frank H. - T-Sgt.

WOUNDED IN ACTION - Tech. Sgt. Frank H. Patterson, 33, U. S. Army, Field Artillery, serving with the Third Army, has been wounded in action in Germany, according to information from the war department received by his wife, Mrs. Gladys Patterson, Eureka.   Prior to entering the service, March 22, 1943, he was employed at the Corsicana Cotton Mills.  He has been overseas ten months.

Thompson, John P., Jr. - Pvt.

ARRIVED OVERSEAS - Pvt. John P. Thompson, Jr., 22, U. S. Army, ordnance, has arrived safely over seas, according to a message received by his wife, Mrs. Edith Thompson Corsicana, Route 5.  He trained at Fort Jackson, S. C., after entering the armed forces, Nov. 4, 1943.  A former student at Corsicana high school, Pvt. Thompson was employed at the Corsicana Cotton Mills when he reported for military duty.  The message said the soldier was doing all right.

Starks, Alford Kelton - Pvt.

ARRIVES OVERSEAS - Pvt. Alford Kelton Starks, 23, U. S. Army, infantry, has arrived safely at his station in the Hawaiian Islands, according to information received by his wife, Mrs. Sue Starks and four month old son, Joey.  Prior to entering the service July 21, 1944, he was employed by the American Well and Prospecting for four years.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Starks, Corsicana, route three.

Whitlock, Charles A. - 1st Lt.

MISSING IN ACTION - Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Whitlock, 2212 West Sixth avenue, have received word from the Adjutant General, stating that their son, First Lieutenant Charles A. Whitlock, age 23 years, has been missing action since August 16.  Lieut. Whitlock, graduated from Corsicana high school in 1938 and received his commission and silver wings in the U. S. Army Air Forces at Lubbock in October 1942.  He participated in the invasion of Sicily and was a pilot of a Liberator bomber.

Roxburgh, Carmen - S-Sgt.

Private First Class Frank S. Marrara, husband of Mrs. Rita Marrara, 1526 South Nineteenth Street, Philadelphia, Pa., and Staff Sergeant Carmen Roxburgh, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. George L. Roxburgh, 1719 North Beaton Street, Corsicana, Texas two reclassified combat veterans now work in a peninsular base section quartermaster typewriter repair shop in Italy a unit of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.  Pfc. Marrara makes parts to rebuild office equipment in the shop supervised by Staff Sergeant Roxburgh.

Warner, Wesley - Pfc.

ARRIVES OVERSEAS - Pfc. Wesley Warner, 25, U. S. Army, has arrived safely overseas according to information received by his wife, Mrs. Lavalter Warner, 405 South Twenty-third and a half street.  Prior to entering the service June 30, 1944, he was employed by the Oil City Iron Works.

Nutt, Edgar W. - s-1c

ON PACIFIC SUPPLY DUTY - Coast Guardsman Edgar W. Nutt, seaman first class, son of Mr. and Mrs. B. H., Nutt of 621 North Twelfth Street, Corsicana, Texas is serving aboard a Coast Guard-manned army freight supply vessel operating in the Pacific.  His ship carries vital war material to American outposts.  He is married to the former Catherine Thompson of Rice, Texas.  They have one daughter, Cathy Ann, who is five months old.

Watkins, Thomas Derwood - Pvt.

IN THE ARMY - Pvt. Thomas Derwood Watkins, U. S. Army, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Watkins, Barry, is now stationed at Camp Van Dorn, Miss.  Entering the service nine months ago he received his basic training at Camp Wolters.  He has qualified as an expert rifleman.  His wife Mrs. Lillian Watkins, is with him at the present.

Jackson, L. L. - Capt.

IN INDIA - Captain L. L. Jackson, U. S. Army, with a veterinary company, has arrived safely in India, according to a letter received by his wife Mrs. L. L. Jackson, 621 West Park avenue.  A graduate of Texas A. & M. College, Capt. Jackson has been in the service two years.

Flynn, Eugene L. - Capt.

BOMBER PILOT BRINGS BADLY DAMAGED PLANE TO SAFE LANDING
Fifteenth AAF in Italy -- Reeling from a shower of fragmentation bombs that had been released on his plane by a lucky flak hit on a B-24 above his own formation with some of the bombs embedded in the wing and in danger of momentary explosion, Capt. Eugene L. Flynn, 28, pilot of 2408 Park Row, Corsicana, Texas, after having been previously attacked by Me-109s that riddled his plane with 20 mm. shells and wounded two gunners, brought his bomber and crew back to base today in a performance which rivaled the most sensational Hollywood super-thriller.
Crew Members Wounded
Capt. Flynn and his crew had not quite arrived at the start of the bomb run over the target of La Chanoines airdrome, France, when five Me-105s attacked their plane viciously.   The left waist gunner, S-Sgt. James F. Anderman, 20, of 609 Couth Main, Rockport, Mo., was severely wounded in the thigh by a 20-mm shell coming through the tail turret, knocking out the inter-phones and electrical system and breaking the control cables at the left waist position.  Sgt. Anderman did not know how badly hurt he was at the time.   But to have called for first aid then would have meant  that one or more of the other gunners would have to leave their posts while Mc-109s were still hovering around.  He propped himself up as best he could and kept on firing at the attackers, and was rewarded by seeing one of the enemy planes in his sights nose over and go down in flames.
Shower of Bombs
The formation was now over the target and the enemy fighters left as the German ack-ack started reaching for the Liberators.  At this point the plane above  Capt. Flynn's received a freak hit in the bomb bay, which released some of its fragmentation bombs.  Capt. Flynn looked up in time to see the shower of bombs descending in his direction and threw his rudder hard over and dove sharply to the right.  But he was not able to evade all of the falling bombs which thudded upon the wings, some rolling off and others embedding themselves in the plane.  A few penetrated both wings and went all the way through with the noses of the bombs sticking out the undersides.
Part of the leading edge of the left wing was torn off and a portion of the right wing had been ripped and  one of the bombs was sticking through it.  Although the plane's response to the controls was sometimes extremely sluggish and at other times a series of jerks, it could still be flown after a fashion.
Plane Badly Damaged
Capt. Flynn made a rapid survey of the possibilities.  The men were still at their turrets because the plane had not yet passed out of the fighter zone.  The interphone was not working so Capt. Flynn sent the engineer back to tell the crew the facts.   The plane was in precarious shape; the controls might go at any time and what would happen to the bombs embedded in the wings and fuselage was anybody's guess.  No one could say whether the spinners on the bombs had revolved enough to "arm" them.   If they had, the slightest bump might cause them to detonate.  The men said Capt. Flynn, were at perfect liberty to bail out if they wanted to.  He would stay with the plane and attempt to land it with the wounded gunners.
No one jumped.  As soon as they passed out of the fighting area, first aid was given to the wounded gunner by the navigator and tail turret gunner.  Not until then was it discovered that the right waist gunner, Sgt. Henry S. Lambert, 19, of Kenora, W. Va., was also wounded in the right arm by the Me-109 attackers.
Jettisoned Equipment
To keep the plane level and to reduce weight as much as possible the crew was ordered to jettison all loose equipment overboard except their flak suits.  They were to put these on as a measure of protection against the possibility of the bombs exploding.   The navigator now in the nose charted a course for the island of Corsica, but after a conference with Capt. Flynn decided the plane could not clear the mountains and that immediate medical care was needed for the two injured waist gunners.  Added to this was the difficulty in piloting.  An increase in speed  caused the wings and tail surfaces to vibrate and the grab bomb might shift enough to tear out holes or even to detonate.  But slowing down increased the plane's tendency to roll over on its back, right wing over.  The pilot and co-pilot kept nursing the plane along, trying to hold a middle course.
Sticks to Plane
Over Corsica, Capt. Flynn again told his crew they could, if they want, "hit the silk."  It was all or none, they said.  So they stuck and headed for the Italian mainland and the nearest hospital.  They passed up their last opportunity to abandon the plane when they were over an airdrome in Southern Italy.  Instead, they rearranged their flak suits about themselves and the wounded and huddled down as close as possible to the sides of the fuselage.  Even rolling down the runway was going to be extremely dangerous, provided the plane survived the initial shock of landing.  But with a frag bomb lodged in the left rudder fin and the control cables in the left wing cut by 20 mm shells and all controls in the waist damaged or cut, Capt. Flynn landed the plane without bounce or shock.  The crew cleared the plane while still wearing their flak suits and shielding the wounded gunners, who were immediately shipped off to the base hospital.
Capt Flynn played football on Corsicana High school team of 1936.  He enlisted in the Air Corps in December, 1937, and after cadet training was an instructor at Randolph Field, Texas, and later was director of ground firing at Harlingen gunnery school.  Since joining the Fifteenth AAF in Italy, he has flown 49 combat missions over Southern and Central Europe.  On his Air Medal are four Oak Leaf Cluster.

DECORATED - Capt. Eugene L. Flynn, 26, pilot whose parents reside at 2408 Park Row, Corsicana, Texas, has been awarded the fourth Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal, it was announced by 15th Army Air Force Headquarters.   Capt. Flynn received the award in the words of the citation "for meritorious achievement in aerial flight while participating in sustained operational activities against the enemy." He is stationed in Italy with a 15th AAF B-24 Liberator Heavy Bombardment Group which has been bombing German-held targets in Austria, Romania and France.  Capt. Flynn was an instructor at Randolph Field, Texas for one year and a half and Director of Ground Firing at Harlingen Gunnery School for one year after that.   He has two brothers, Jack E. and Paul T., in the service.

Notes:

• Obituary for Eugene Flynn - Dec 2006

Curry, Alton A. - Lt.

RECEIVES OVERSEAS ORDERS - Lieut. Alton A. Curry, U. S. Army Air Forces, first pilot on a B-24 bomber, pictured above with his wife, Mrs. Maglien Curry, 658 West Fifth avenue, has received his overseas assignment and is enroute to the battle front.  Commissioned Feb. 17, 1943 at Camp Hood after attending officers candidate school, he received his wings at Ellington Field May 23, 1944.  He has previously been stationed at Jones Field, Majors Field, Westover Field, Springfield, Mass., and Mitchell Field, Long Island, N. Y. Mrs Curry left her husband last Tuesday at Mitchell Field.  Lieut. Curry is the son of Mr. and Mrs. V. A. Curry, Tallulah, La.  He entered the service April 9, 1941.

Garlington, John W. - Sgt.

WOUNDED IN ACTION - Sgt. John W. Garlington, 22, U. S. Army Infantry, was wounded in action on Leyte island in the Philippines December 8, according to information received from the war department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Garlington, 1562 West Fifth, avenue.  Entering the service October 1942, he has been overseas since June 1944.   He attended the Mildred high school.

Gibson, James - Sgt.

TWICE WOUNDED - Sergeant James Gibson, an infantryman of Corsicana, was wounded twice while serving overseas with the fighting 96th Infantry Division once by a Jap ambush.   He was in combat for 30 days on Leyte.  Shown as Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, he has been in the Army since October 17, 1942.

Merrell, Howard - Pvt.

ARRIVES OVERSEAS - Pvt. Howard Merrell, 29, U. S. Army, Combat Engineers has arrived safely in the Philippines according to information received by his wife and two children, Rice.

Nevill, Dariel B. - Pfc.

WOUNDED - Pfc. Dariel B. Nevill, 24, anti-aircraft, U. S. Army, was slightly wounded in action in Italy, May 18, a telegram received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Nevill, Corsicana, Route 2, recently revealed.  He had served in Tunesia Sicily and Italy, and prior to entering the army was in the CCC Camp.  He landed in North Africa, Nov 15, 1942 after being in the army almost a year.  He has sent $1,200 in U. S. Bonds and $212 in money to his father who has placed them in a bank for his son on his return from the war.

---

Walker, James M.

JOINS HUSBAND - Mrs. James M. Walker, the former Dot Barnes, has joined her husband J. M. Walker, AOM 3-3 Navy Postoffice Department, in Seattle, Washington.  Walker has been in the service about two years.

Jones, Julia McConnico

WOMEN IN UNIFORM Kerens Woman One Of Many Female Veterans To Serve Country
Corsicana Daily Sun Monday May 31, 1999

Memorial Day conjures visions of soldiers in uniform. Some soldiers filled out their uniforms better than others. Women in uniform numbered over 500,000 during World War II.
Kerens native Julia McConnico Jones joined the Navy Waves in 1944. The Waves were a division of the Navy for its female volunteers. Although  the Navy had a policy of not sending its women overseas, Jones served a vital role in the war effort. "I was an instructor in aerial gunnery," said Jones. "At the time it was a kind of new thing." After training at Hunter College in Queens, N. Y. Jones went to Pensacola, Fla. and then on to Corpus Christi to teach flyers how to identify the enemy and calculate their fire.
Though she rarely went up in the planes, she worked extensively with flight simulators. "They had to judge if they were shooting the enemy or us. They used this bean of light to figure out if they would hit the target. They would have to figure out to go a little ahead of it, according to how fast the plane was going," she said. "It was hard."
Jones said she was chosen for the assignment due to her education, having just completed two years at Baylor University. She took all of her math to get it out of the way. The War Department utilized Jones' skills as a mathematician to help train the pilots. Jones had also taken Spanish courses which came in handy. "I ended up teaching some cadets from Argentina and Chile," she said. "They would teach me a little Spanish every day before I taught them. That was fun."
According to Jones, all the pilots were very respectful and treated her well. She said there were many female instructors in Corpus Christi, so the pilots were accustomed to dealing with women. "It was scary time, but a very pleasant adventure," said Jones. Most men were on the military installations. For Jones, that meant a full social schedule.
"There were plenty of dates," she said. "You dated the sailors and the officers. We could go into town. We had lounges where you could sit and talk. We had a big swimming pool. There was also a restaurant beside the mess hall. There were plenty of things to do."
The decision to join the military came easily for the Baylor sophomore. "It was really spooky. During that time, you just felt like you needed to be doing something, not just going to school," said Jones. "It was different then, everybody was in the service and you didn't know how long it was going to last. I think people our age at that time were very patriotic."
D-Day finally came. According to Jones, it was a little anticlimactic. "You knew that it was coming. It wasn't just a sudden end," she said. "I missed everybody. I missed the excitement. I missed it a lot." Jones remained in Corpus Christi training pilots until the end of the war. After the war ended in 1946, Jones went to the University of Houston to complete her education. She saw a familiar face around campus and recognized him from the naval base. "He just looked kind of familiar to me. He did the same job I did for a while, then he went on to officer's school, then to be a navigator," she said. The young coed began dating the former naval pilot named Bob Jones. After getting her degree in 1948, Jones married in 1951. The couple went on to have two children. Jones has three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. "I'm glad women veterans are getting some recognition now," she said. "I taught them (the pilots). They fought the war, but they had to go through my class."
[Submitted by Bob Jones, son of Julia McConnico Jones - Aug 1999]

Farmer, Denton

TEXAS SERGEANT KILLED IN FRANCE

PURDON, Oct 26 (Spl) Staff Sgt. Denton Farmer, son of Mrs. Ruth Farmer and husband of Mrs. Joyce Farmer, Abilene, was killed in France June 12.  His Purple Heart has been received by his widow.  He was a 90th Division infantry man.
[View Clipping]
[Submitted by      - Aug 1999]

Tally, Glen W

WOUNDED IN ACTION - Pfc Glen W. Tally, 21, U. S. Army Infantry has been wounded in action in Germany, according to a letter received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Tally, here.   Pfc. Tally wrote from a hospital in England and stated that he was getting along nicely.  He did not give the date of his injuries. He has been in the armed service nearly two years and overseas since October 1.  He is a graduate of the Corsicana high school and was employed by the Trinity Motor Lines before entering the armed services.  A message received later from the war department stated that Pfc. Tally was wounded on Dec. 3.
[View Clipping]
[Submitted by - Aug 1999]

WWII Vets Get CHS Sheepskins
Corsicana Daily Sun 12/22/2001

By LOYD COOK/Daily Sun Staff

It was a lot of years in coming, but Marvin Hanks and Troy Allison got their high school diplomas Thursday night.

Corsicana Independent School District Board of Trustees awarded the duo their sheepskins, part of a government program allowing their issuance to those veterans who missed the completion of their high school years because they served their nation.

Board president Donna Ralston presented the diplomas.

"I want to tell you what an honor it is for this board to present you with this diplomas," she said. "And what an honor it is to recognize you both for the sacrifices you made."

Hanks served in the Navy during the end of World War II, then re-enlisted in the Air Force for the Korean conflict. He said he was pleased with the new program.

"I've waited a long time to get this and have always regretted not getting it," he said of his high school diploma. "I don't consider what I did to be a sacrifice."

Allison, who entered the service at age 17, was a part of the first-day invasion force at Normandy Beach and fought at the Battle of the Bulge.

"I didn't get a scratch on me because I can run," said Allison, drawing general laughter from the board and those in attendance.

Hanks joked that if he hadn't been too old, he probably would have re-enlisted for service in Vietnam.

The Corsicana High School Choir sang "The Star Spangled Banner" in their honor, then added a Christmas carol in the spirit of the season. An ensemble from the high school's band performed three carols as part of the ceremonies.

Both groups gathered to perform even though the CISD had already let out for the holidays that afternoon.

Allison summed up the pair's feelings about the awarding of diplomas as he addressed the students.

"This (diploma) is worth a bucket of gold to me," he said, holding the blue-encased diploma high in the air. "Stay in school."

Loyd Cook may be contacted via e-mail at lcook@corsicanadailysun.com

Former Corsicanans Now in Armed Service of United States

Major and Mrs. John E. Weiler, and children, John, Jr. and Louis, were spend-the-night guests in the home of their aunt, Mrs. W. D. Fountain, on Thursday en route from Austin where they visited in the home of Major Weiler's parents, Col. and Mrs. Harold Weiler, of Ft. Knox, Ky. where Major Weiler has been stationed as executive officer of the 87th Armored Field Artillery Battalion since April.

Prior to his Kentucky assignment, Major Weiler had spent 15 months with the armed forces in Panama.

Lieut Harold J. Weiler of the U.S.N. Air Service, and until recently a fighter pilot on an aircraft carried in the African theater of war, is now on duty in Ordnance Procurement headquarters in Washington, D.C.  Mrs. Weiler has joined her husband in the capital city.

Major John E. Weiler and Lieut. Harold J. Weiler, Jr. are native Corsicanans, and are both the sons of Col. and Mrs. Harold J. Weiler of Austin.

Notes:

• Corsicana Daily Sun - June 26, 1943

Man Trained at Corsicana Field Raids Germany

Corsicanans were interested in the recent dispatches from the fighting front which told of the experiences of Lieut. Lyster Brumley of Georgetown, Texas, who has been piloting Flying Fortresses over Germany recently.  An article in Friday's Dallas News told in detail of his recent participation in Tuesday's raid on Huls.

Local interest in Lieut. Brumley comes from the fact that he received a part of his training for combat at the Corsicana Field and has many friends here who are wishing for him the best of luck.

Lieut. Brumley served as best man in the wedding of Lieut and Mrs. C. J. Adams at the First Baptist church last spring, and was associated with Lieut. Adams in schools at Waco, Corsicana, Ellington Field, and in Florida and Idaho.

Mrs. Adams it will be remembered is the former Miss Sara Pearson who now resides in Boise Idaho, where Lieut. Adams in an instructor in the Air Forces.

Notes:

• Corsicana Daily Sun - June 26, 1943

IN UNIFORM - CLIPPINGS - June 26, 1943

11/26/2003 INSIDE NAVARRO COUNTY: Mildred School honors Vets (w/list of Veterans)

From Staff Reports

We like to think of it as honoring those who serve our country by presenting themselves at our country's beck and call.

Mildred's Veterans Day Ceremony was held on Asby Field last Tuesday and the program began with a flyover by Bobby Grantham. Mr. Grantham flew his P-19 Fairchild over Asby Field raising cheers from entire student body, faculty, and visitors. Shawn Skaggs played "Star Spangled Banner" as a trumpet solo as J.P. Nichols and Josh McCracken raised the nation's flag. J.P. is an Eagle Scout, and Josh is a Star Scout.

The elementary students sang beautiful versions of "God Bless America" and "God Bless the USA."

The guest speaker was J.P. Nichols, student council senior class representative. J. P.'s speech was a very moving and dramatic speech that spoke of veterans. He especially honored the veterans by telling them they were all soldiers once, and are still soldiers now.

Each veteran in attendance was recognized by having his or her name called out, with branch of service, and time served during war or peacetime. The student council presented each veteran with a personalized "certificate of appreciation," and the elementary students made each veteran a handprint with the inscription, "Because of You we are Free."

The audience was given a background on the bugle call TAPS. A moment of silence, followed by the playing of TAPS by Shawn Skaggs, ended the ceremony.

Red, white and blue balloons were released to honor the veterans, along with a single black balloon to honor and remember the Missing in Action and Prisoners of War. As "America the Beautiful" played, the veterans were escorted by the student council to the library, where a reception was held in their honor. The veterans were given a chance to visit with each other, and all seemed to really enjoy the time they were able to spend with each other.

xxx

On Nov. 11, Mildred ISD honored over 42 veterans in attendance at its Veterans Day Ceremony. Veterans in attendance included veterans from World War II to Desert Storm to Service Veterans. In attendance were the following:

Charles Bancroft, service veteran, Navy doctor; Rodney Bancroft, Vietnam War, Army; George Baechtle, service veteran, Marine Corp; Jim Bonner, World War II, Marine Corp; Robert Boyd, World War II, Army; Vernon Boyd, service veteran, Air Force; Franklin Boyte, Korean War, Army; Lois Bradford for Ira Bradford, World War II; Bill Brown, World War II, Navy; Louis Cobb, World War II, Army; Robert Conger, Desert Storm, Marine Corp; Pat Craddock, Vietnam War, Air Force; Jeffery Scott Faltys, Desert Storm, Air Force; P.D. Fullwood, World War II, Navy; Wayne Godsey, World War II, Navy; Bobby Grantham, service veteran, Army and National Guard; Charles Harris, World War II, Air Force; Floyd Henderson, service veteran, Navy; Buck Hodge, World War II, Army; Willie Hodge, World War II, Coast Guard; Lynn Heugatter, Vietnam War, Army; Tommy Hulsey, Vietnam War, Army; Donald Jock, Vietnam conflict, Air Force; Calvin Knauth, Korean War, Army; Charles McCarter, World War II, Army; Doyle McKanna, World War II, Army; W. M. Montgomery, World War II, Army; Bill Olsen, World War II, Japan & Philippines, Army; Robert Pope, Desert Storm, Navy

Bill Rascoe, World War II; Jerry Reeder, Korean War; Charles Reynolds, service veteran, Navy; Teresa Roper, service veteran, Air Force; Clayton Smith, service veteran, Air Force; Eben D. Stover, service veteran, National Guard; Eben E. Stover, service veteran, Air Force; Rick Thompson, Vietnam conflict, Army; Bruce Venable, Desert Storm, Air Force and Air Force Reserves; James Venable, Vietnam, Air Force; C. T. Vinson, World War II, Army; Keith Weaver, service veteran, Vietnam conflict, Air Force; Mike Wisdom, Vietnam, Army

Raymond Earl Harris

IN THE NAVY - Raymond Earl Harris (right) entered the Navy in August and was sent to California where in the unit to which he was assigned he fund his nephew, J. D. Harris, Jr. (left(.  Neither of them knew that the other was stationed there.  Raymond Earl is the son of Mrs. D. B. Harris, Kerens route three and J. D. is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Harris, Sr., Italy.  Both men are seamen second class.  [ VIEW CLIPPING ]
Note: Clipping Submitted by Fran Massey

Henry J. Paul - PROMOTED

Among the best liked and most diligent worker in the service battery at Camp Blanding is Corporal Henry J. Paul of Kerens, according [to] the public relations officer for the battery.

Corporal Paul is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Monroe Paul of the Rural Shade community, and entered federal service as a member of the Kerens unit in the National Guard, which entered federal service in November 1940.  Upon the formation of the service battery he transferred and has been in the battery and through hard work recently received a promotion to Corporal.

He is now working in the motor maintenance section.

Other Kerens boys in the service Battery are Merrill Sherrill, Joe Baker, John R. Allen, Vernon <???>.  [ VIEW CLIPPING ]
Note: Clipping Submitted by Fran Massey

• Submitted by Dana Stubb

• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII From Navarro County Texas

• Submitted by Dana Stubbs

• The Blooming Grove Times, Friday February 26, 1943

Ethon Melton

Sgt. Ethon Melton, of Columbia, S.C. is at home on Furlough.

• Submitted by Dana Stubbs

• The Blooming Grove Times, Friday February 26, 1943

• Submitted by Dana Stubbs

• The Blooming Grove Times, Friday February 26, 1943

   

• Submitted by Dana Stubbs

• Robert B. Smith Biography in The Men and Women in WWII From Navarro County Texas

Joe Dean Huffstutler

Lt. Joe Dean Huffstutler, of San Antonio, visited here first of the week with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Huffstutler. He was in route to Shawnee, Oklahoma where he is to serve on the Administration Staff Ground Corps Training School.
The Blooming Grove Times, Friday February 19, 1943
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Sgt. W. E. Huffstutler, of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, is expected to arrive here Friday for a week end visit.
The Blooming Grove Times, Friday February 19, 1943

• Submitted by Dana Stubbs

Ray Russell

Sergeant Ray Russell, a member of the United States Marines, appeared before the school assembly Wednesday afternoon, giving a few of the thrilling and breathtaking experiences of his ship, the Boise which played a dramatic part in the present war crisis. The famous Boise was Christened, not with the traditional champagne but with water from the Snake River in Idaho. Sergeant Russell concluded talk with an explanation of the Marine uniform.

Notes:

• Submitted by Dana Stubbs
• The Blooming Grove Times, Friday February 19, 1943

James Edwyn Hinkle

Letter From James Edwyn Hinkle

A letter from James Edwyn Hinkle, who is in a Japanese prison camp near Shanghai, China, has been received by his parents Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hinkle.

He stated in his letter that he was enjoying good health and was being treated much better than he expected he would be. All he said concerning the food was that the Japs feed the best they can and the prisoners also receive medicine and medical care.

He stated that they get the Shanghai Daily Post and have a Post exchange in camp.

This is the first direct news Mr. and Mrs. Hinkle have received from their son since he was taken prisoner Dec. 7, 1941, in North China.

Notes:

• Submitted by Dana Stubbs
• The Blooming Grove Times, Friday October 2, 1942
• Obituary of James Edwyn Hinkle

John Sidney Moore

Pvt. John Sidney Moore, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanford Moore, is now stationed somewhere in Alaska. He states in a letter to his parents that he has been promoted to First Class Private and has transferred to the machine gun squadron.

Notes:

• Submitted by Dana Stubbs
• The Blooming Grove Times, Friday November 13, 1942
• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII From Navarro County Texas

Notes:

• Submitted by Dana Stubbs

• The Blooming Grove Times, Friday November 13, 1942

George William Patterson

Notes:

• The Blooming Grove Times, Friday February 12, 1943

• Submitted by Dana Stubbs

• Obituary for George William Patterson

Jack Smith Griffin

The Blooming Grove Times, Friday February 19, 1943

Capt. Jack Griffin, who has been home several days left Wednesday afternoon for Oklahoma City. He was accompanied as far as Dallas by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Griffin.
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The Blooming Grove Times, Friday February 19, 1943

Captain Jack Giffin, former graduate of the Blooming Grove High School, addressed the students and faculty members of the local high school last Friday, February 12, at the assembly hour. The subject of his address was “A Bombing Raid.”

He named the men who were members of a bombing crew, listing the respective duties if each man. Then Captain Griffin, in an interesting manner, gave the details of a bombing raid until the men landed from their return trip with a report trip with a report if the raid for their superior officers. Captain Griffin’s address was not only interesting but it was very educational. It was a real thrill just to look at one who has seen active service for Uncle Sam.

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