Letters to our boys
(Editor’s Note: This is another installment of The Express’ “Letter to Our Boys,” written during World War II to let “our boys” know what was happening back in their home towns. The Express will bring the letters to you occasionally, thanks to the efforts of Fred and Anna Snyder, who compiled the letters over several years of research and donated a full copy of them to the Clinton County Historical Society.)
Saturday, February, 17, 1945
Dear…
Cpl. Harry Winters with the Ninth Air Force in Belgium writes: “You are welcome to some of this rain we are getting. We have been in Belgium three months and I will bet the sun has not shone more than nine days in that time.
“It has been very foggy the last five days. Sometimes in the daytime you have to drive with lights on as you can’t see more than 100 feet ahead. It rains quite often and the mud is up to our knees.”
He said he did not need cigarettes as “people back home have trouble getting them and if it were not for those same people working in factories we would be unable to fight a war over here. We are rationed five packs a week and sometimes we don’t even get any for a week or two. But people back home do not even have the chance of getting five packs for sure where there are some on hand.”
Sorry, Harry, but sincere as you may be, you are taking too much pity on the home front. Col O’Corn figures you and the boys at the front should get theirs first. There are a few hogs here who get a lot more than five packs a week, so get yours, boys, for we at home have a lot more of some other things you lads may have little or none of.
Cpl. Freddy Brungard, Avis, has been attending a school in India and met Dick Hartzell there.
“Sure glad to see someone from near home. He had The Express and that is how I met him.”
Enroute to India, Freddy met Sgt. Shuman Bickel, Woolrich, at Cairo, Egypt.
Says Freddy: “Things are a little cheaper here than back in the States — what you can buy. Some things are pretty scarce. For instance, you can get a haircut, shave, hot towel, and face massage for one rupee which is about 30 cents in American money.
“I saw an all-GI stage show last night. It was pretty good. Something different. They have four different movies here a week and I’ve seen them at least once or twice before I go anyhow for something to do.”
Sgt. Bill Maggs is in Germany with a tank battalion and is seeing action as a tank commander. He was in Belgium and it was there his father, Forrest (Ziggy) Maggs, was stationed when the World War I armistice was signed. Young Bill was last heard from seven weeks ago. He would like to have some letters from his friends. His address is on file at Col. O’Corn’s desk and may be had for the asking.
S/Sgt. Archie Shearer received the Air Medal after flying 150 hours “over the hump,” that dangerous trip from Burma-India border to China. The citation noted he flew night and day in severe storms and under bad icing conditions in unarmed transport planes. Archie had been in the CBI theater for 18 months. His wife and two children live at Mill Hall RD 1.
KIA
Killed — F1/c Jay Haugh, 18, in Pacific. Pvt. Parse Breon, Loganton RD, in Germany in last three weeks leaves widow and five children.
WOUNDED
Wounded — Sgt. J. Arlington Young, Mill Hall, wounded in head, face and arm in Italy, improving; brother S. Sgt. Clair Young prisoner in Germany. S1/c Raymond Albright, Pleasant Gap, formerly of Mill Hall, recovering from burns sustained on carrier. Pvt. Tony Leone, Avis, slightly, in Philippines Jan. 20. Sgt. William Hoover, who lived at Woolrich while attending TC, in France. Pvt. Harvey Herlocher, Loganton, slightly, in Belgium Jan. 18. S1/c Charles Johnson, slightly, at Manila, Jan. 26. S/Sgt. Leonard Johnsonis, Mt. Carmel, formerly TC grid great, for second time, seriously, in Belgium Dec. 15. Pvt. Louis Smith, slightly, in Belgium Jan. 21, second time.
missing
Missing — Pfc. Alfred Barrile in Germany, Jan. 30. Pvt. William McKean, Beech Creek, in France Jan. 20.
III — T/5 Thomas Bitting recovering from minor operation in England.
PRISONER
Prisoner — Cpl. Harold Keen in Germany (had been reported missing Dec. 10)
PROMOTED
Promoted — Samuel Weaver, Rote, to corporal in Germany with 29th Infantry. Leonard Rinehart, Jersey Shore R.D. 2, to corporal in Belgium with Field Artillery. Franklin Cree from pfc to sergeant with Infantry in France. Harris Brickley to staff sergeant with AAF in Philippines. Frank Gillott to staff sergeant with Artillery in Germany.
returned
Back — Lawrence Bartholomew, honorably discharged from Navy after exposure in Aleutians. S1/c Jimmy Croak, Sarasota, Fla., formerly of LH, here on part of 30-day leave after 18 months in South Atlantic and Pacific; reports Feb. 20 to Boston. Pvt. Sam Page in Springfield, Mo. hospital for treatment of wounds sustained in France. Pfc. Melvin Heverly here visiting; soon to return to Staunton, Va., for plastic surgery on hand, wounded in Europe in October. Lt. Barbara Devling, honorably discharged after 2 1/2 years service as nurse in Pacific. S1/c Jimmy Boardman here four days after voyage to Europe. Pvt. Orvis Jackson, Flemington, honorably discharged following loss of an eye in Battle of Guam. Lt. Franklin Keen for 30 days after 2 1/2 years in Europe with Artillery.
MARRIAGES
Wed — Lt. Calvin Casselberry, Dale Mabry Field, Fla., to Althelda Parker, Bainbridge, Ga., at Bainbridge, Feb. 10. Sgt. John Pettus, Jackson, Miss., stationed at Wilmington, N.C., to Helene Glossner, Beech Creek, at Wilmington, Feb. 10. Lt. Richard Benson, Huntingdon, L.I., and Lt. Pauline Swisher, Mill Hall, both stationed at Romulus Field, Mich., at Romulus, Jan. 31. Dr. I. M. Goodman, Jersey Shore, to Sgt. Helen Robinson, Jersey Shore R.D. 1, stationed at Stark General Hospital, Charleston, S.C. in Philadelphia, Feb. 14. Pvt. Clifford Randall, Jersey Shore, stationed at Aberdeen, Md., to Mary Ramage, Avis, at Avis, Feb. 11.
Short Takes — Roy Moore’s cafe robbed of $50 and 12 cartons of ciggies. Air raid wardens will cover districts in giving correct data on river in event of flood threat in Spring following 57 inches of snow this Winter. Charlton Gun Club license suspended 30 days for sales to non-members and operations of gambling devices.
Citizens Hose Co. celebrates 36th birthday; letters from boys in service read. Mrs. W. J. Shoemaker succeeds late husband as coroner. Two lads admit $10 robbery of City Beverage Co. Kiwanis Club Ladies’ Night successful event. 150 at Trinity Methodist Boy Scout banquet. 77 second-hand Army Cub planes up for sale. 25th anniversary of Doc Thomas’ becoming chief surgeon of LH Hospital celebrated at Banquet. Doc Hoag home after six weeks in hospital after breaking hip in fall. Judge Hipple and Cal Armstrong unhurt as engine hits Hipple car, caught on track in ice rut. American Legion buys property next (west) to Legion home.
Sports — LHHS 5 loses 55-45 to Williamsport, St. Mary’s. State College nears Central State Crown, beating LH 43-30. LHHS and Williamsport to resume play in basketball next season; football possible in 1947.
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