Thursday, April 12, 1945
Our Army and Navy Boys
Mrs. Bertha A. Friel has recently received the Purple Heart in commemoration of the merit awarded Pvt. Paul C. Friel, who was fatally wounded by enemy shell fragments while performing his duty as a rifleman… Mrs. Friel received an official report that her son, Paul, was interred in the United States Military Cemetery in Epinal, France, plot A, row 7, grave 74.
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Mr. and Mrs. Carl Slavin received the following letter from the War Department concerning their son, Sergeant “Barney” Slavin: “Am pleased to inform you report received from United States military mission in Moscow states your son, Sergeant Earl W. Slavin, previously reported missing in action, has been released from a German Prisoner of War camp. Further information will be furnished when received.
J. A. Ulio, The Adjutant General
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Latest word from “Barney” Slavin received April 10th:
“It’s a long stretch from No-Man’s Land back to you, but I made it well and safe. See you soon, Love.”
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J. B. Graham is home on furlough. He is now at Woodrow Wilson hospital in Staunton, recovering from a bad gun shot wound in the shoulder, received on the western European front.
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Lieutenant Richard F. Currence, the Prosecuting Attorney of Pocahontas County, now serving with the Navy in the South Pacific, has been promoted to Lieutenant, senior grade.
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With the Fifteenth Air Force Service Command in Italy: Sergeant Ted Bright, of Marlinton, has recently completed his second year of overseas service. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. K Bright, of Marlinton. Sergeant Bright is in the Engineering Section of an Air Service Squadron in the Fifteenth Air Service Command and has served in Algeria, Tunisia and Italy. He is a graduate of Marlinton High School…
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Headquarters, 44th Infantry Division, Citation for award of the Bronze Star Medal.
Technician Third Grade Charles E. McElwee, 35749131, Medical Detachment, 324 Infantry, for meritorious service in action in Eastern France from 24th of October to the 5th February 1945. During this period, Technician McElwee has performed his duties in a superior manner. As surgical technician, Technician Mc-Elwee has provided rapid and effective treatment of the wounded, and by his coolness in tense situations he has been an inspiration to his colleagues.
Charles Edward is the son of Delegate and Mrs. June McElwee and is with General Patch’s Seventh Army.
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Two soldiers from Frost, West Virginia, who had not seen each other for three years, met on the Fifth Army front in Italy recently when both were assigned to the same unit of the 91st “Powder River” Infantry Division on the same day.
They are Corporal Rex Sharp, jeep driver for a medical aid station, and Private First Class Raleigh H. Sprouse, a member of a wire crew. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 361st Infantry Regiment.
FIELD NOTES
For the sake of the record, let it be put down that the service trees bloomed this year in the month of March. This was a bit too early, too, for this Monday morning is the fourth day hand running to see a regular killing white frost and freeze…
This is a year for a great sugar maple bloom. It is surprising how many of these olive green trees show up on the surrounding hills and mountains. Passing under a blooming sugar tree and an apple tree on Saturday, I was surprised to find bees working the flowers strong. You know the old saying about bees not working dead flowers.
Another old saying is that a big sugar maple bloom is a sure sign of a good corn year.
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With March milder and more forward than in any year since 1903, an old settler was talking about his sign for early spring. He put no confidence in the ground hog, he did put dependence up the old red fox. Usually, the red fox can be expected to mate in February. This year they were yap-yapping around the mountain in January – a full month early.
BIRTHS
A son, Kermit Allen, to Mr. and Mrs. Hubert A. Friel, of Marlinton.
A son, named Jerry Martin, to Mr. and Mrs. Hermin M. Ervine, of Clover Lick.
A daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Dewey F. Burr, of Huntersville.
A daughter, named Alice Louise, to Mr. and Mrs. Avery N. Gum, of Marlinton.
A son, named Melvin Roy, to Mr. and Mrs. Arnold D. Buzzard, of Mt. Grove.
A son, named James David, to Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas F. Loving, of Marlinton.
DEATHS
Claude A. McMillion, aged 43 years, principal of Greenbank High School… Interment in Mt. View Cemetery.
Paul Edward Cook, aged two years, seven months and twenty-eight days, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Cook, of Cass… Burial in Arbovale Cemetery.
Mrs. Mary Lillian Mc-Pherson, aged 57, the daughter of Amos and Susan Wooddell. Burial in Dunmore Cemetery.
Mrs. Ida Virginia Smith Moore, of Durbin. Burial in Gum Cemetery.
