R
Barrett Racster (photo)
Barrett Racster enlisted in
the U.S. Navy Aviation at Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he was an
instructor in the high school. He enlisted in August of 1942, and was
stationed at Great Lakes until the latter part of November when he was
transferred to Norman, Oklahoma. There he is instructor in repair work on
naval planes. His rank is chief petty officer second class. Address: A.B.
Racster, Sp (T)2-c A.M.M. O’dr 13 N.A.T.T.C., Norman, Oklahoma.
Ross E. Ramsey Jr.
NORTH KOREANS TOUGH BUT TERRAIN AND CLIMATE WORSE
Cpl. Ross Ramsey Tells of Korean Campaign
The early days of the Korean campaign were plenty rugged according to Cpl. Ross E. Ramsey Jr., Ellery GI, who returned here this week on a 30 day convalescent leave following his evacuation to the States as a Korean casualty. He was hit by a sniper’s bullet on the morning of August 13, sustaining a leg wound from which he is now recovering. Cpl. Ramsey moved into Korea during the early part of the campaign, after having been stationed in Hawaii for almost two years.
A medical aide man, he moved from Pusan via Taejon to the front, which was then sparsely held by a handful of American troops. Battling the onrushing North Korean hordes that were passing southward with an overwhelming superiority of man power and heavy equipment, the American forces found the terrific heat and the rugged terrain almost as difficult to overcome.
“They call them hills out there,” Cpl. Ramsey said, “but they’re really mountains. And in the valleys there are rice paddies that are almost as difficult to negotiate. It was 110 degrees for several days he recalls.
American troops could handle the frontal charges of the Koreans, he said. But infiltration was the major problem. North Korean soldiers would slip through the lines and fire on American troops from the rear.
That was how he was hit. A machine gunner firing from a “hill” cut loose a burst on a village secured the night before by the Americans. A slug tore thru Cpl. Ramsey’s leg, and more bursts traced a pattern along the parapet of his foxhole, into which he dived.
“I was the only one hit, and the burst was the only one he fired,” the Corporal said, indicating that the GI’s made short work of the Red.
Biggest trouble was telling the North Koreans from the South Korean civilians, he continued. All Koreans look alike. When the invaders took off their uniforms they could slip through our lines almost at will. And then they’d put their uniforms back on and start sniping.
Medical troops learned quickly that the Geneva conventions could not be observed. They discarded their arm bands, identifying them as non-combatants early in the war, and they were issued carbines. That happened after it was found that the invaders were using the arm bands as target. Despite the acute shortage of manpower, hospital facilities were excellent, Cpl. Ramsey continued. Wounded were funneled backward to Pusan and then moved to Japan with top efficiency.
IS KILLED IN ACTION
Mrs. Raymond Renfrow received a message from the War Department on Tuesday evening stating that her husband had been killed in action in Germany on December 4.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Birch Renfrow of Central City, Ky. He entered into service in July, 1942, and went overseas in August, 1944. He was serving with General Patton’s Third Army. Mrs. Renfrow was formerly Miss Norma Jean Phelps.
Edgar Rice (photo)
Cpl. Edgar Rice, inducted
into the Army in February of 1942, now has more than a year of service to his
record. He was stationed at Camp Tyson, Tennessee, for three months where he
was trained in the Barrage Balloon Battalion of the Coast Artillery. He is now
located on the West coast where he is a winch motor operator on one of the
balloon sites that guard many defense plants located there. Cpl. and Mrs. Rice
spent a ten day furlough with friends and relatives here some weeks ago. He is
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harbey Rice of this city. Address is Cpl. Edgar Rice,
306th C.A. Btry Bar. Bln. Bn., 120 West G St., Wilmington, California.
Raymond Rice
SGT. RAYMOND RICE REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION
Mrs. Helen Daubs received a
telegram from the War Department yesterday stating that her brother, Sgt.
Raymond Rice, has been missing in action since July 29 in France. Sgt. Rice, who is in the infantry, landed in France with invasion forces on D-Day and was
wounded on June 8 by shrapnel. He had evidently recovered and been returned to
duty.
Sgt. Rice is a son of Mr. and Mrs. James Rice, former residents of Albion, who have been living for several months past in Las Vegas, Nev. He has a brother Neil in the service.
__________
Sgt. Raymond Rice of Camp Gordon Johnston, Fla., is home on fourteen day furlough visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Rice.
Charles Richards
LIEUT. CHARLES RICHARDS IS REPORTED KILLED IN ACTION
Unofficial word that First
Lieutenant Charles L. Richards, son of Carlos Richards of Albion, and this
community’s only air pilot on combat duty, that he had been killed in action in
New Guinea was received in a letter to his wife who lives near Fort Wayne, Indiana, early Monday. Mrs. Richards immediately telephoned the young man’s
grandmother, Mrs. Louis Richards, and his aunt, Mrs. Pearl Weaver, who live
here. The boy’s father and his sister Miss Jean, are employed in Evansville.
Inexplainable is the fact that no official word has been received from the war department, official source of such messages, and the fact that no message has been received still leaves a slight ray of hope, although it is small as the following letter indicates.
“The officers and enlisted men of the 3rd Bombardment Group join me in extending to you our deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband, First Lieutenant Charles L. Richards who gave his life for his country on December 5 in New Guinea. Funeral services were held on Dec. 6, 1942. He was a fine officer and an outstanding and gallant leader and we all share your sorrow. Sincerely, Robert F. Strickland, Major Air Corps Commanding.”
Cables saying he was alive and well and expected to see them soon were received from Lieut. Richards by his folks here on December 12 and by his wife on December 13--their first wedding anniversary. Cables are usually received the day after they are sent, which could only mean that the cablegrams were badly delayed, or else there is reason to hope.
Lieutenant Richards, who was born in Grayville, spent most of his life here attending and graduating from Albion schools and later attending Indiana Technical College at Fort Wayne. He passed his 24th birthday anniversary on November 26. His study of aeronautics at college facilitated his entrance in the army and he graduated as a pilot at Kelly Field on Dec 12, 1941. His marriage to Miss Georgia Maxwell of Fort Wayne occurred the following day and it was not long until it was learned that he was in Australia, piloting a medium bomber. His name was mentioned twice in news dispatches, once when a news story stated that he had been awarded the coveted Silver Star for aerial reconnaissance work done over enemy territory and again when he was one of the pilots participating in a raid over Lae, Jap stronghold in New Guinea. Early in May he was wounded in action and was shot in an arm and a leg, but was returned to duty after a month or so in the hospital during which time he received the Order of the Purple Heart medal, given to those who are wounded in action. He participated in the Coral Sea battle, and was in action most of the time he has been in foreign service, with the exception of the time he was in the hospital.
Members of Richards’ squadron home on leave had told his wife several weeks ago that they saw her husband before they left some five weeks ago, that he was alive and well and that he had been moved to a safe zone and was in no danger. Richards, it was understood, was based at a field in Australia, but spent most of his time on the advanced base at Port Moresby whence the American planes went forth to hunt the enemy.
Richards, untimely death, if it is true, is the first in action from Edwards county. He not only did his work, but from what others said of him, covered himself with glory,--a credit to his community, his nation and all those great heroes who are on God’s side in this most colossal of all wars.
__________
Death of First Lt. Chas. Richards Confirmed
(Date of Jan., 1943 written on article)
Official word that First Lieutenant Charles L. Richards was killed in action December 5 in New Guinea, was received from the War Department last Thursday by Carlos Richards of Albion, father of the young flyer who had been for nearly ten months in the battle area, had received one Silver Star for bravery, the Order of the Purple Heart for wounds received in action, and had been recommended for a second Star. Unofficial word was received two weeks ago from the commanding officer of Richards’ unit, the Third Bombardment Group, which stated that the Albion Boy had been killed in new Guinea on December 5 and that funeral services were held the following day.
The War Department letter received last Thursday, reads as follows:
“It is with profound regret that I inform you that your son, First Lieutenant Charles L. Richards, 0-43515, Air Corps, died on December 5, 1942, in the Southwest Pacific Area.
“The official casualty report states that he was killed in action in defense of his country. The date and place of burial or other particulars are not given.
“Casualty reports contain few details. They are of necessity meager as to the circumstances and pressure under which forces operate during warfare do not permit the collection and reporting full details of a casualty. In the event additional information is received, you will be notified promptly.
“You may rest assured that everything humanly possible has been done by the military to care for the remains pending cessation of hostilities after which consideration will be given the question of their return to the United States.
“I extend my deep sympathy,
J.A. Ulio,
Major General,
The Adjutant General.”
An identical letter, preceded by a telegram was sent to Lieut. Richards’ wife who lives near Fort Wayne, Ind.
The official letters from the war department remove the last ray of hope that the letter sent by his comrades two weeks ago might have been some kind of mistake.
Thus is officially chronicled Albion and Edwards county’s first casualty of World War II. Future casualties in the county must occur, as many boys as there are from the county, scattered over every battle area in this global conflict. But we venture to say, none will have served more bravely, more creditably than he who was our first loss to this war.
Ralph Rigg (photo)
Pvt. Ralph Rigg was a
member of the graduating class of 1944 and was inducted in January of this
year. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Rigg and was sent first for basic
training at Camp Crowder, Mo. Now home on his first furlough until May 31st,
he will report for duty at Shenango, Penn. Pvt. Rigg is in the Signal Corps.
__________
Drafted While a High School Senior; Home at Last (photo)
T-Sgt. Ralph Rigg, who was one of the first high school students to be drafted during World War II and who is among the last Edwards county’s combat soldiers to come home, arrived in Albion last week to spend a sixty day furlough at home. While overseas in Europe, Rigg enlisted for three years and has about two years left to serve. He was inducted while a senior at ACHS and his diploma was awarded “in absentia.” He passed his 21st birthday last October.
Ralph was inducted December 13, 1943 and was sent home on furlough June, 1944. He was overseas thirty-two months. He got overseas in time to participate in the Battle of the Bulge which he says was his most rugged experience, due to the intense cold. He also wears battle stars for the Rhineland and central Europe.
Most horrible of his experiences, says Rigg, was his outfits’ participation in the capture of Gardlegen prison camp north of Madgeburg. Here 600 Poles and Russians were burned to death by the Germans as the Russian and American armies closed in on them. Riggs said his outfit got to the big stone barn where the massacre took place while the ruins were still smoking. The Germans had poured gasoline on the floor and set it on fire with incendiary bullets. Frantic doomed prisoners had attempted to dig out of the holocaust and some of them were found dead, part way out. Life magazine carried pictures of the atrocity in its May 15, 1945 issue.
At the end of his sixty day furlough, Rigg will return to Camp Dix, N.J. from which he expects to be sent to Fort Monmouth, a signal corps base. He spent most of his time in Europe in pole line construction.
Helen B. Robinson (photo)
EDWARDS COUNTIANS IN THE SERVICE
Pvt. Helen Burrell
Robinson, A5 14552, Co. I, 3rd Regt., Army Post Branch, Fort Des Moines, Iowa, is a daughter of the late Wm. T. and Charlotte Burrell, and a
sister of Mrs. Ben Wilkes and W.T. Burrell of Albion.
Jack Robinson (photo)
Jack Robinson, former truck
driver for the Albion Produce Co., now the member of a Signal Corps outfit
stationed in Hawaii (he gets mail at APO 27, Care Postmaster, San Francisco,
Calif.) carries on a considerable and involved correspondence with a number of
former Albion cronies. And in practically every letter he writes back, there
is some slur on the J-R and the editor thereof, which the recipients dutifully
bring to our ears.
So, when we received the above picture, our first impulse (stifled with difficulty) was to adorn it, before sending it to the photo engraver, with a false mustache and whiskers in the manner that pictures of candidates at campaign time are sometimes doctored by those who have nothing else to do. However, being of a forgiving nature, and feeling that such low attempts at comedy might not be fair to one serving our armed forces abroad, we desisted. Our rancor, however, still rankles.
In the letter to his mother, Mrs. Ada Robinson that accompanied the above snap, Jack says that it was taken in a church yard. He was giving his mother the impression he is spending most of his idle time at church. We reserve comment.
Jack was inducted on October 23, 1942, and before the end of November, was landed in Hawaii where he ahs since been stationed. We might say, if we were inclined to view the matter in the light of an eye for an eye, that the Army was so anxious to get Jack out of the U.S.A. that they sent him abroad without giving him time to complete his basic training. In conclusion, however, we also might say that Jack will get by, wherever he is—and in army parlance that is among the high compliments that can be paid to any Yank.
Cpl. Dale Roby (photo)
Cpl. Dale Roby volunteered
for service and was sent to Panama more than three years ago. He is now
visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Roby, before going to his new location
at Camp Edwards, Mass. He arrived in New Orleans the middle of the week,
having been enroute on troop ship for two weeks and being attacked by
submarine. Cpl. Roby will assist in instructing new draftees in the East,
after which they will be taken across. Dale says the temperature in Panama is 90 in the shade so he finds our zero weather rather unpleasant, and expects even
worse in the East.
James H. Roosevelt (photo)
James H. Roosevelt U.S. Marines Killed in Action
Pvt. James Hortin Roosevelt, U.S. Marines, only son of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Roosevelt of south of Albion, has been killed in action in the South Pacific area, according to a message received by his parents Friday and dated at Arlington, Va., last Thursday, July 29.
The message which was signed by T. Holcomb, Lieut. General and Commandant U.S. Marine Corps reads as follows:
“Deeply regret to inform you that your son Pvt. James H. Roosevelt, U.S. Marines Corps Reserve was killed in action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country. To prevent possible aid to our enemies please do not divulge the name of his ship or station. Present situation necessitates internment temporarily in the locality where death occurred and you will be notified accordingly. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy, Letter follows.”
Roosevelt would have been 21 years old next December 9th. He enlisted December 1st, 1942 and received his boot training at the Marine base at San Diego, California. He left the United States for overseas service on April 18. His relatives believe that he was in New Guinea and his death probably occurred in the present drive on Munda and Salamaua.
Deceased was born in Edwards county and graduated from the A.C.H.S. in 1941. He was active in sports and popular with his classmates. Surviving are his parents, and one sister Miss Maxine, who is employed at the County Welfare office here.
FOURTH CASUALTY
Pvt. Roosevelt is Edwards county’s fourth casualty in World War II. Others were lieut. Charles Richards, Air Corps, killed in action in the South Pacific; Ralph Kendrick, killed in an accident in a southern camp and Lieut. Harold Pierce, Air Corps native of Albion who was killed in the bombing of the Ruhr dams in Germany.
__________
MEMORIAL FOR JAMES H. ROOSEVELT USMC SUNDAY (photo)
At the little church where he attended Sunday School and church as a boy, Memorial services were held last Sunday for James Hortin Roosevelt, who as a member of Company C, First Raiders’ Battalion, USMC, gave his life at Enogai, New Georgia Island, last July 8.
The wind sighed softly through the big old trees with their fresh green leaves that surround Olive Congregational Christian church five miles south of Albion even as a South Seas breeze was probably softly waving the palms above the military markers of heroes who sleep at Government Cemetery at Enogai where he is buried but in the hearts of his family and his boyhood friends the distance, last Sunday afternoon, did not seem far. In the hearts of the silent group of friends it seemed that the happy carefree boy who, as a school mate put it “was mischievous but smart as a tack” should be somewhere near.
Realizing that if there were any publicity, the tiny church would not begin to hold the crowd that would attend the service, Mr. and Mrs. James Roosevelt had the service announced only to the congregation, relatives and friends, but the crowd overflowed the church and into the shaded church lawn.
The address was made by the pastor of the dead hero, Rev. Harry Taylor, himself a War Dad with a boy in overseas service. Music included two duets, “The Cross Is Not Greater” and “Be Still My Soul” by Mrs. William Wood and Mr. Melvin Works.
Honorary pall bearers named for the service included Pfc. Roman Kuyak, and Robert J. Farmer, buddies of young Roosevelt, Pfc. Leo Frankland, Sgt. Marvin Johnson, A-C Carl M. Jacobs and John E. Roosevelt, S 2-c, boyhood friends and relatives.
Robert L. Roosevelt (photo)
Sgt. Robert L. Roosevelt,
who is stationed at Ft. Benning, Ga. came Friday for a fifteen day furlough
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John E. Roosevelt. Sgt. Roosevelt is recovering
from an appendectomy.
All Pages Copyright © 2007 Laurie
Selpien
All Rights Reserved