Thursday, March 15, 1945
Our Army and Navy Boys
The 141st General Hospital, England – Corporal Gerald R. McNeill, 20, has recovered at this United States Army hospital from wounds received North of St. Vith on the 31st day of January, 1945…
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With the First Cavalry Division in Manila – One of the men in the famous First Cavalry Division’s “Flying Squadron” that crashed through the Jap defenses around the capital city of the Philippines and captured Santo Thomas University, thus liberating more than 3,700 Allied civilian internees, was Sgt. Woodrow W. McLaughlin, son of James E. McLaughlin, of Durbin, W. Va.
This mechanized and motorized squadron … raced some 100 miles in 66 hours to be the first unit to enter Manila. This is a military feat unequaled so far in the Pacific war.
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LETTERS
J. M. Wimer, D-2-C writes as follows:
The Aleutians
February 26, 1945
Dear Mr. Price;
Your paper is a welcome friend up here in the Aleutians. My old pal, Skippy Hoover, who is helping build the Liberty ships at Sparrows Point, has been sending me The Times ever since I have been in the Navy. That is the one way that I have been able to keep up with life in Pocahontas County.
I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to you and the family in the loss of Basil. I can hardly believe that it is true…
Yours sincerely,
James M. Wimer
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Somewhere in C. B. I.
31 January 1945
Dear Mr. Price;
How is the world treating you these long days? I sure bet it is cold back home. The weather here is pretty good so far. Sure would like to see some real snow for a change…
I’ll bet everyone is pleased with the war news now, all fronts seem to be gaining fast; sure sounds good to us over here, for it means getting home sooner to stay for keeps.
We all get so homesick at times it is miserable to try to do the work we have to do from day to day.
I have the nicest family in the world, but I suppose there are thousands who think the same. My wife and three babies are at Greenbank, and when I get orders to report back to the States, I will be the proudest person in the world. Tell them hello for me and everything is swell over here. Even if we do not mean it every time, we say things are really swell.
Please send my Times to the address enclosed in this letter. Sure makes one feel good to read about the people back home, and the letters from the boys in the army helps keep your morale up a lot.
The natives here are plowing for their spring rice, and it sure is a sight for sore eyes to see them in their fields plowing with their oxen teams and crude plows. They do their work about like we did back in Daniel Boone’s time, so you see it is much different than it is in the States at present. They seem to be happy, but that is all that matters in the world anyway. Nothing ever worries them at all, and if we had to live like them, we all would die in short order.
Well, I had better close and go to bed.
The best of luck to every one of you back home, for you all are doing a swell job on the home front.
I am,
Loran S. Jordan
A DOG TALE
A few weeks ago, I printed the true story from Webster County about the smart dog my friend, Levi, had trained up in the Puzzle Hole neighborhood. His name was Fido.
One Sunday afternoon, Levi whittled out a fur skin stretching board while he talked to the minister, who had stopped in from church for dinner and to spend the afternoon between morning and night appointments. The plank was just natural for a number two possum skin.
Levi’s new dog, Fido, was noticed paying particular attention as the board took shape. The next morning, it was found that he had brought in a number two possum and laid it at the back door beside the new board Levi had made the day before.
Thinking this might be just a happen so, Levi took time out on Monday to fashion a number one possum skin stretching board, when and where the new dog, Fido, could take note and pay attention. It was noted that Fido did take a deep and intelligent interest in the matter. The next morning, sure enough, there was a fine number one possum laid beside the fur skin stretching board Levi had laid out on the back porch.
Monday is wash day at Levi’s home, like in every other well appointed household. Tuesday is ironing day under the same general rule.
Well, as Mrs. Levi got out her ironing board, shaped along the general lines of a great fur skin stretching board, the new dog, Fido, was noticed to take one long, despairing look, and then slope off into the woods.
That was the last they ever saw of that dog in those parts…
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Miss Dorothy McNeill was the honored guest at a birthday party given at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arnot McNeill, on Monday night, March 5th.
She received many nice presents. Games were played and refreshments served to the following guests: Misses Ruth Skaggs, Dolly Gray Sharp, Flora Belle Skaggs, Betty Jean VanReenen, Mandy Townsend, French Beverage, Junior Ratliff, Jimmie Mann, Garth VanReenen, Donald VanReenen, and Ralph Miller.
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Mrs. Golean L. Walker celebrated her 21st birthday with a party March 5 in the home of Mrs. Bell Jackson. Mrs. Walker received many lovely and useful gifts.
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Mrs. Juleana Robinson, assisted by Mrs. Golean Walker and Miss Margaret Lacy, entertained a number of little folks at a party at her home Sunday, March 11, in honor of her daughter, Marva, who celebrated her 6th birthday March 8th. An enjoyable afternoon was spent. A huge pink and white birthday cake with six candles was the attraction of the party.
FARM WOMAN’S CLUB
The Minnehaha Springs Farm Woman’s Club met at the home of Mrs. Julian Lockridge March 1. Seventeen members, seven visitors and Mrs. Esther LaRose were present. Mrs. Arndt White conducted devotional. A donation was given to the Red Cross from the Club. A demonstration was given on how to sew and save time, by Mrs. LaRose, in a very interesting way.
The hostess served refreshments representing St. Patrick’s Day.
The next meeting will be with Mrs. George Sharp, April 4.