Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume], February 08, 1945, SECTION B, Page 9, Image 17

About Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1931-1948

Image provided by: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC

                
I | An Episode at Cape Gloucester, New Britain
1.^ Drawings by MTSgt. Vie Donahue
Story by. StfSgt. Art Mielke
During the fight for Hill 660 at Cape
Gloucester, New Britain — shortly
after Marines landed there on De
cember 26, 1943 — two Leathernecks
hitched a ride on a jeep headed for
the front lines. Two other Marines,
members of one of the units up
ahead, held down the front seats.
They were hauling supplies to the
front. Ahead was nothing but tangled
jungle and swamp, relieved only by
the meandering track over which
the jeep traveled. Rounding a bend,
the jouncing vehicle was stopped by
a Piarine wearing an MP band.
“The woods Is folia snipers,” he warned.
“Some guys just ‘got it’ goin’ along the
road.” Four pairs of anxious eyes scanned
the blasted apd seared wreckage that was
ahead. “Well, we gotta get these supplies
up,” the driver decided—
Auto racers had nothing on the driver,
for he set a pace seemingly calculated to
outspeed any bullets. More by luck than
for any other reason the Marines managed
to stay on the swaying, bumping vehicle
for some 500 yards of mud when ...
Several Marines lay behind trees, logs and
in ditches facing a space to the left. It
looked like a siege; the men were firing
into suspicious-looking trees and bushes.
All this was apparent as the Jeep roared
onto the scene.
What seemed like bullets whizzed past Ma
rine noses—the "cracks” were sharp enough
to indicate muzzle blast direction. Several
minds were made up—but the driver? An
xious minutes passed as the men tried to
hold everything and yet duck.
Suddenly the driver made up his mind; the
racing jeep pulled up in about five feet.
Four Marines piled out on the road. A
, quick check to see if arms and legs were
in their customary positions and all took
cover behind the vehicle.
Minutes of waiting passed. A noise to the
Marines’ right caused them to look. Along
sauntered a bareheaded, unarmed Marine.
He looked at the recumbent figures with a
“Wonder what those jerks are doing lying
there in the mud?” expression.
A sheepish crew of red-faced Marines hur
riedly got up, remounted the jeep and con
tinued on their way without mishap. It
may all have been just imagination, but
they’ll swear snipers had been firing at
them—or hadn’t they?
War Fund Dollars Bring Comfort
fcnd Diversion To War Prisoners
Residents of Roanoke Rapids
who contributed to the 1944 Com
nunity Chest and War Fund cam
paign, and who may have sons
imong prisoners of war in Ger
many will probably be interested
o learn how their dollars are
iringing comfort and diversion to
lapless men in Nazi prison camps.
A cabled report just received
'rtf&i representatives of War Pris
oners Aid of the Y. M. C. A.,
whose work is financed by the
National War Fund through con
ributions to community war
Fhnds, gives a revealing account
>f conditions in German camps.
On a visit to Stalag III-C, the
representative reported that de
spite snow and a terrific wind,
300 war prisoners attended an out
door boxing match lasting an hour
airj a half, followed in the even
ing by a jazz concert by the camp
orchestra’playing instruments sent
by War Prisoners Aid. Health
conditions, he said( were fine, with
only a few men in the hospital.
Morale there was also good, and
American prisoners popular with
those of other nationalities.
At Stalag Luft 4, visited on
Christmas Day, the representative
reported that since his previous
vjfct, when the men were playing
football with an improvised ball
made of old shoes, and when they
had no musical instruments or
A
books, supplies were now pouring
in — all kinds of sports equip
ment, three pianos, 2 harmoniums,
gramaphones, records, games,
books, painting supplies, etc. Seas
onal sports were daily attractions,
and rinks were then being readied
for ice hockey.
In every barracks in this camp
on Christmas Eve, orchestras were
playing swing music and the men
were singing carols. At midnight
all the prisoners assembled on the
sports ground as “Silent Night,
Holy Night” and “God Save Am
erica” were sung, followed by two
minutes silence, after which the
men returned to their barracks.
Christmas Day was marked by
services, concerts and shows, and
the men generally expressed ap
preciation for help extended by
War Prisoners Aid.
Similar conditions prevailed at
Stalag Luft 3, visited by another
representative of War Prisoners
Aid and where there were fantas
tic Christmas cakes, a splendid
turkey dinner, decorations, paper
caps, toys, and services, songs,
concerts and theatrical perform
ances. At that camp, General Van
aman, of Butler, Pa., and Colonel
Spivey, of Jersey City, participat
ed in the celebration, and in an
address ,to the men, expressed
gratitude for materials and equip
Postal Notes Not
Cashable O'seas
Persons writing to service men
and women overseas are urged
not to send Postal Notes—simpli
fied money order forms—to their
husbands, sons, and sweethearts
in the service overseas.
Although the postal notes went
on sale by the Post Office Depart
ment on February 1, 1945, Navy
post offices afloat and at over
seas bases are not authorized to
cash the notes.
They may only be cashed within
the United States and are good
for only two calendar months from
the date of issue.
ment sent to that camp.
Relatives of American prisoners
of war may derive comfort and
satisfaction in the knowledge that,
unfortunate as may be the lot of
loved ones in enemy prison camps,
their plight is made much lbss
drab and dreary by the work of
War Prisoner Aid, made possible
solely by the contributions of gen
erous Americans. With the in
creased tempo of the war effort,
it is certain that there will be a
greater number of our men taken
prisoners, and until the end of the
war, as well as for a long time
thereafter, there will be a con
tinuing demand for the benevolent
services of War Prisoners Aid.
Service Flag
Given School
Enfield — A Service Flag, given
to the school by the local Par
ent-Teacher organization, was pre
sented with appropriate exercises
last week in the school auditori
um. Pupils of the grammar grades
under the leadership of Mrs. Geo.
Randolph, teacher, gave a splend
id patriotic, dress, program. Mrs.
Robert Whitaker, president of the
P. T. A., introduced D. Mac John
son, local attorney, who in a few
well chosen words presented the
flag to the school. Suipt. Hickman,
in behalf of the school, accepted
the flag.
The flag bore 146 stars, includ
ing four gold ones These stars
represented boys and girls who
have gone in service from the
Enfield School. The roll-call was
read by one of the seniors, Osee
Mac Johnson.
To prevent forest fires caused
by cigarette flippers, every auto in.
Washington state must have an
ashtray.
CHOCKOYOTTE
DAIRY
REGISTERED GUERNSEYS
#
BANG’S FREE CERTIFICATE No. 138
• \ ■ *' /
TB CERTIFICATE No. 536213
\\ 9 -
W. L. MANNING, Owner
) ^ GEO. I. KERR, Manager
P. O. BOX 82
■ BACARDI IMPORTS, INC, N.Y. |
t RUM • 89 PROOF
SQUARE|
EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT I
9'TIL. I
Sponsored tty
VOLUNTEER FIREMEN
ROANOKE RAPIDS FIRE
DEPARTMENT
OLD TOWN HALL
MUSIC BY
JAY SANDERS' BAND
A-l FIGURE CALLER WILL BE ON HAND
AT ALL DANCES .
ADMISSION: 50c
Proceeds will go to the Volunteer Firemen’s Fund of ^
the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department,
-Ill-/|