Thursday, November 23, 1944
Our Army and Navy Boys
The War Department announced a few days ago that Private First Class James H. Weber, son of Mrs. Mary H. Weber, of Rainelle, had been killed in the European area.
Mrs. Vernon Ware, of Clover Lick, has received word that her brother, Private First Class George W. Ray, has been missing in action since October 18th.
Mrs. Ruth Gilmore Elliott has received a letter from her husband, Private Ralph W. Elliott, saying he had landed safely in France.
Mr. and Mrs. Owen Rader, of Arbovale, have received word that their son, Ralph Rader, F 1-c (MoMM) has landed safely in North Africa. Ralph reports meeting his good friend, Jamie Sheets, also from Arbovale, there.
Private Jacob W. Fertig, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Fertig, of Clover Lick, has won high commendation for helping to shatter world records repairing aircraft at an Air Service Command Depot in England. He and his fellow mechanics sent back into action the highest number of battle damaged craft since Air Service Command began operations in England.
“A knockout blow against Germany,” was the way his Commanding General, Brigadier General Isaac W. Ott, described the contribution of Private Fertig.
Odie Clarkson, of the Sea Bees, is back at Pearl Harbor from the South Pacific.
Ensign Thomas King, after three months on a submarine in the Pacific, cabled he was now safe in port.
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Private Johnny Nelson, stationed somewhere in New Guinea, sent the following poem to his mother, Mrs. Charles Nelson, of Boyer:
G. I. This and G. I. That
Here I sit on my G. I. bed,
With my G. I. hat upon my head.
My G. I. pants, my G.I. shoes,
All is free, nothing to lose.
My G. I. razor, my G. I. comb,
G! I wish I was back home.
They issue everything I need;
Paper to write on, books to read.
My belt, socks and G. I. tie,
All are free, nothing to buy.
They feed us food that makes us grow.
G. I. wish we could have a furlough.
I eat my food from a G. I. plate,
And buy my needs at a G. I. rate.
G. I. haircut and G. I. hat,
Everything is G. I. issue.
Oh, my mother, G. I. miss you.
LETTERS
Chaplain James R. Uhler, writes to Mrs. Abbie McPaters, of Marlinton:
Dear Mrs. Abbie McPaters;
I am very glad to report that I have met Private First Class Oliver McPaters.
We had a nice talk and I found him in the best of spirits. He attends our religious services, cheerfully offers his assistance when called upon and, in a very specific way, misses home, but makes more than the best of life here.
I should also say that he is well and I trust you are hearing from him regularly. Incidentally, the way we spell MORALE over here is MAIL. So you can easily see how important your letters are to him at a time like this.
We know you will remember us in your prayers as daily we remember you.
Sincerely,
James R. Uhler,
Chaplain Captain
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Pvt. Minter C. Moore writes:
Dear Cal;
I will take time out today to drop you a few lines to let you know I got The Times okay. Sure glad to get it, too. You don’t realize how much good the home town paper does a person when he is away from home. I was somewhat surprised when I did not see one of your panther stories in it, though. What is the matter, you are not slipping are you? I suppose you are making the squirrels live hard now, or are there many squirrels this year?…
How is Marlinton High doing with their football this year? I hope they are winning a few games.
I guess that is about all I have for now, so keep The Times coming, and I’ll be waiting for it.
Just the West Va. Kid,
Minter
FIELD NOTES
The higher grounds, above 3,500 feet elevation, have been covered with snow since last Tuesday. On Sunday additional snow fell. This melted on low ground, but added several inches to that lying on the mountains. Tuesday saw a continuance of rough, snowy weather in these parts.
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A hunter got himself one big wildcat over on Cranberry last Monday. He was sitting on a cliff watching out for wild turkeys. He heard a stick break and soon a big bay lynx came along, probably looking for wild turkeys, too. A well placed shot put the game eater out of business.
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This reminds me of a late friend, who kept books more than forty years ago for the Middle Fork Driving Company. On one trip home, he was delayed in getting back to camp, and he stopped for the night at the cabin of a settler down about the Three Forks of the Williams. The horse was well taken care of, and for supper the man enjoyed about the best tasting wild meat he had ever eaten. Next morning there was plenty of the same, and it was just as good or better than it was for supper. With proper consideration for the feelings of his host, he begged leave to ask what might be the kind of meat he had enjoyed so much. The reply came disconcertingly direct: “Wildcat, Mister, Wildcat!”
DEATHS
Mrs. Mary M. Messer, aged about 80 years, widow of the late Granville Messer, of Buckley Mountain, died November 14, 1944 at the home of her son, Henry, in Hagerstown, Maryland. Interment in Rose Hill cemetery, Hagerstown.
About 60 years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Messer came to Pocahontas county from Kentucky. They bought the Webb land on Buckley Mountain. Over forty years ago, Mr. Messer was killed in attempting to arrest a man named Milam, who was also killed.
Mr. Georgia Callison Beard, aged 70 years, wife of G. C. Beard, died at her home in Hillsboro.
Mrs. Beard was a daughter of the Late Thomas Callison, of Locust Creek. Her mother’s name was Miles… The funeral was held from the home. Interment in the cemetery at old Droop Church.
Anderson Blake, aged 81 years, died November 17, 1944, at his home on Marlin Mountain. He was laid to rest in the Ruckman cemetery near Mill Point.
Mrs. Effie Arbogast, 72, widow of Abraham Arbogast, died November 6, 1944, at her home at Bartow. She is survived by three daughters and a son, who are Mrs. Tena Lambert, Mrs. Mary Lambert, Mrs. Murdell Bennett and Jasper Arbogast.
Mrs. Mary V. McClure, aged 74 years, died at her home on Droop Mountain, November 3, 1944. She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Clem White, of Racine; two grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. A. L. Kershner, of Droop, and Mrs. Emma Shue, of Callahan, Va.,
