Merle Oakley (photo)

BONE GAP BOY AWARDED WAR MEDAL FOR “MERITORIOUS ACHEIVEMENT”

Tech. Sgt. Merle Oakley (right) son of Mrs. Mary Oakley of Bone Gap is one of a group of men of the Air Force who have been awarded Air Medals for meritorious achievements when participating in more than 200 hours of anti-submarine patrol flight in 1942, according to an announcement Tuesday by the War Department. The awards were made in recognition of “untiring energy and meticulous care while flying in the war area.” The possibility of encountering enemy ships..(text missing) anti-aircraft fire added to the hazards of these missions,” the citation added. “These services reflect highest credit to the military forces of the United States.”

Sgt. Oakley enlisted in the air corps on July 25, 1941, and was stationed at Scott Field for some time. The War Department did not state where the recipients of the medals are stationed. Sgt. Oakley’s brother, Edwin Oakley, who has been in the service since 1939, is pictured at the left. According to the last address given us he was located at L…… (text missing).

Ivan E. Oakley

HEARS FROM HUSBAND REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION

Mrs. Hazel Oakley received a telegram from the War Department Saturday stating that her husband Pfc. Ivan E. Oakley, who had been reported missing on Dec. 20, returned to duty January 10. Mrs. Oakley has also received three letters from her husband. One written January 16 stated that he was in a hospital in Belgium and was waiting transportation back to his outfit; a letter was written from Luxembourg on January 20, and on January 22 he said he was back in France on his way back to his outfit. He said sometimes it is difficult to get back to the outfit after being in a hospital. He also mentioned the fact that it was peaceful where he was, and he was anxious to get back so as to get his mail.

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Ray Ochs

(note written in pencil is the date 1958 on this article)

Lt. and Mrs. Ray Ochs and their sons Dickie and Eddie, are shown in their home in Japan, shortly before Lt. Ochs was ordered to Korea with his First Calvary Unit, and Mrs. Ochs and the children departed for the United States. Mrs. Ochs is now at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Searby in Browns.

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Bill O’Daniel (photo)

Pvt. Bill O’Daniel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hilary O’Daniel of Ellery was also a member of the senior class at the time of his enlistment on January 20. Bill has recently passed his physical examination for the paratroopers, and is stationed at Camp Wolters , Texas. Bill’s bride, the former Miss Ruth Hortin, left at the close of school to visit with him.

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Mrs. Edith Hortin O’Daniel on Monday received the Purple Heart awarded to her husband, Pvt. Bill O’Daniel, paratrooper with the 11^th Airborne Division, who was wounded during the Battle of Luzon of Feb. 14 and has since been a hospital patient. Bill was shot through the right side during action involving the capture of Fort McKinley. According to word received by his wife, Bill will be in the hospital for several weeks more, but is making satisfactory recovery. O’Daniel is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hilary O’Daniel of Ellery. His address is Pvt. William L. O’Daniel 36786254, Co. A, 511^th Parachute Regt., APO 468, Care Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif.

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Mack O’Daniel (photo)

Mack O’ Daniel, S 2-c, Mack, Bill’s younger brother, enlisted at the same time but was called for training several weeks earlier. He was a junior at the ACHS at the time of his enlistment. He received his boot training at Camp Farragut, Idaho, and is now stationed at Clearfield, Utah.

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Billy’s brother Mack is traveling from island to island, somewhere in the South Pacific. His address is H. M. O’Daniel, S 1-c, USS Atascosa, Care Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, Cal.

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Hershel Orr

Pvt. Hershel Orr, brother of Orval, has also been in the service about a year. His address is Co. A, 441 st. Signal Btn., Construction Aviation, APO 841, care Postmaster, New Orleans, La.

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Charles R. “Jake” Orr (photo)

Pvt. Charles R. Orr, known better locally as “Jake” is with the Anti-Tank Co., 13^th Infantry and his address is APO 8, Nashville, Tenn. Jake enlisted on July 14, 1941. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Orr of Albion.

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Orval Orr (photo)

Corporal Orval Orr, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elgie Orr of near Albion, is stationed at Fort Dix, N.J. with the 2^nd Ordinance Co. (MM). He has been in the service about a year.

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Raymond C. Orr (photo)

EDWARDS COUNTY BOYS IN SERVICE

Pvt. Raymond C. Orr, son of William Orr of Browns is with Co. K, 315^th Infantry and is stationed at Camp Blanding, Fla. He has been in the service since June 10, 1942.

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Marjorie Ellen Over

Lieut. Marjorie Over to Camp McCoy, Wis.

Appointment of Marjorie Ellen Over to the Army Nurse Corps, United States Army, with the rank of second lieutenant, was announced today at headquarters of the Sixth Service Command in Chicago.

Miss Marjorie Ellen Over of Albion, Ill., was graduated from Jewish Hospital Scool of Nursing, St. Louis, and has practiced nursing at Hines Veterans’ Hospital, Hines. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Over, live at 350 No. 4^th St., Albion. Lieut. Over has been assigned to Camp McCoy, Sparta, Wisconsin.

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Robert Over (photo)

Robert Over, operator of Bob Shoe Repair Service, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Over, became the first Albion reservist to be called to active army duty. He has been ordered to report to Chanute Field on August 9 for immediate Air Corps service. A radar-beacon operator during World War II, he has been a member of the inactive reserve and hiss call was entirely unexpected, since it was believed that active reservists would be first recalled for duty.

Mr. Over, who holds a sergeant rating, entered the army in July, 1944 and was discharged two years later. He was trained in radar operation and was specializing in radar-beacon operation at the time of his discharge.

His call is the first reported in Albion, although other reservists, both enlisted personnel and company grade reserve officers are expecting to be recalled momentarily. Members of the National Guard units, however, received a brief respite locally, when it was announced that the four divisions of Guardsmen ordered to duty did not include Illinois outfits. Ordered up were units from New England, Pennsylvania, California and Oklahoma.

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