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(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, March 3, 1945
Dear……..
A news dispatch says: "The 4th Infantry Division not only withstood the enemy (during the German counter-offensive) but attacked, fighting on the southern flank of the salient. This division has been in the Hurtgen Forest action on the Aachen front.
"When the German drive started, the enemy sent over shells, containing leaflets which read: 'Hello, 4th Infantry. You were cut to pieces in the Hurtgen Forest and when you were relived by the 83rd Division you were sent down here to rest. How do you like your rest?'
"This leaflet cost the Germans many lives, for the 4th Division promptly attacked."
A member of the 4th is Pfc. Joe Rizzo, once the pepperpot of the champion St. Agnes Church softball team and now a radio man in the Infantry.
Says Joe: "Sending you one of our Ivy Leafs (division's daily newspaper) to show you what the Germans tried to pull on us. Imagine the krauts trying to shove us back when they broke through. Colonel, I'm telling you their dead were piled on top of each other. It was a terrible sight. They got what they asked for."
Joe, who sent his divisional shoulder patch to Col. O'Corn's collection, adds: "As far as I know there are only a few local boys in the outfit. I saw (T/5 Harold E.) Englert (Lockport) several times before he got hit. I inquired about him and it is not serious. Several weeks ago we were only a block away from Francis Wismeth but I did not get to see him. Might get to see him later on."
Three others sent Col. O'Corn some insignia for his collection. The naval amphibious emblem came from F1/c Sam Walker, Norfolk, Va. PhM3/c Bob Harvey, Camp Packs, Cal., sent the colorful Seabee shoulder patch. M. W. Condo, Orviston, honorably discharged veteran, gave me the 31st or Dixie Division emblem.
A heart ailment put Condo out of the Army after he had trained at Camp Shelby, Miss. He has looked up the history of the division and it goes back quite a ways. He says the Dixie Division "got hell knocked out of them in the Civil War." The group was reorganized April 25, 1917, and served in France. When he entered the division Oct. 15, 1942, he was the oldest soldier, being 42 then.
KILLED
Pfc. Alfred Barrile, Reynoldsville, formerly of LH, in Germany Jan. 30; had been listed missing. S/Sgt. Lee Rogers on Luzon, Feb. 1; had been reported missing. Pvt. John Esenwine, 20, Island, on Luzon Feb. 2. Pvt. Salvatore Ferrara, taken prisoner by Japs on Corregidor at start of war, died last August; could have died during ill treatment on Jap prison ship or in subsequent sinking by Allied torpedo or by enemy fire on those who swam from ship; 750 prisoners on board including many dead from suffocation and lack of food.
Wounded
Lt. Woodrow Rohrbaugh, slightly, in Germany; hit in left shoulder; now in hospital in England. Pvt. Clifford Heverly, slightly, in France, Feb. 2. Pvt. Stanley Wetzel, Mackeyville, slightly, in Germany, Feb. 11; his brother Ivan killed in France Sept. 19.
ILL
S2/c Ira Carpenter recovers from scarlet fever following attack of cat fever; now at school at Bainbridge, Md. Sgt. Vaughn Rickard, Patients Section, War II, Darnall General Hospital, Danville, Ky., recovering from yellow jaundice after nearly year in Africa, Italy, France.
Prisoner
Pfc. Elmer Weaver, Tylersville, missing since Dec. 21, reported prisoner of Germany; served two years in Caribbean before going over last November.
RETURNED
S1/c Arthur Seymour for 15 days after worldwide service as Liberty ship gunner. S1/c Bob Lindsey, Blanchard, for 30 days after serving as cargo ship signalman in Pacific. Pfc. Harold Boyee from Camp Howze, Texas, for ten days, his first furlough after 2 1/2 years in service. S1/c Elwood Heivly for 21 days after ten months in South Atlantic. Cpl. Russell Donahay, who was at Hickam Field when it all began after 46 long months overseas; fought on Gilberts, Marshalls, Tarawa and Saipan. Pvt. Guy Tressler, Beech Creek, for 15 days after being wounded in France Sept. 22. Cpl. Henry Zerby, Lamar, for 21 days after 2 1/2 years service in Africa, Sicily, Italy and France; wounded in November.
Discharged
Pvt. David Ohlander after six months in Army; now employed in Baltimore in aircraft plant.
Promoted
Frederick Bowman, Mill Hall, to pfc; also received Good Conduct Medal in 14 months in Pacific; Fritz' brother, S2/c Bob, is also serving in the Pacific. Glenn Bierly, Loganton RD2, to staff sergeant as B-25 armorer-gunner in Mediterranean. Bill Grier to sergeant on New Caledonia. H. J. Krupa, Avis, to first looey as B-25 pilot in Burma; also received Air Medal. Lewis Gibb and Albert Poorman to second lieutenants as new Army Air Forces officers at Ellington Field, Tex. Paul Mack to second lieutenant; has one of freak records of war, having been discharged three times before getting commission; now with armored division in Germany. Joe Hamilton to first looey in India with AAF Signal Corps unit. Norris Fearson to second lieutenant as fighter pilot at Napier Field, Ala.
Wed - Lt. (jg) Frank Dalrymple to Dorothy Fornoff; now residing in New York. S2/c Thomas Croce, New York, stationed at Norfolk, Va., to Santa Giminiani at South Mills, N.C., Nov. 12. Lt. Tom Heffner, stationed at Bartow Field, Fla., to Flo-Adele King, Cleveland, at Bartow, Feb. 17.
Born -- Son to PO 2c and Mrs. Frank Campana, Avis, here Feb. 27. Daughter to S/Sgt. and Mrs. Lee Cunningham at Belleville, Ill., Feb. 1; Pop's at Scott Field, Ill.
Short Takes
Michael Cohick, Salladasburg, unhurt, as 300-pound ball of ice speeds down mountainside and hits truck side near Baker's Run. Mrs. Florence Feeley, of McElhattan, held for court on charge of point and discharging deadly weapon following alleged shooting Samuel Wood in leg. Mrs. Thomas Mougey, former Margaret Ann Thomas, joins Red Cross staff to do her bit; her husband, a lieutenant, killed in Italy last year. Threat passes after ice goes out on 20.5 foot flood, about 2 feet below level required to take river into city; local warning system works perfectly as committee meets at 2 a.m. and decides not to sound alarm; crest passes 3 1/2 hours later. Lancaster County man and woman companion rescued from top of truck cab as flood surrounds vehicle on Renovo road; Renovo rescue crew rows from near Hyner three-quarters of mile in boat to take them to safety. Mrs. Mabel Reid Carlson, former Renovoite, high school principal in Philippines, released from Santo Tomas Jap prison camp after losing 30 pounds. 25 Lock Haven Draft Board Area men inducted yesterday. Piper Aircraft resumes 48-hour week after receiving new service contracts.