Evening star., 1942-02-23
Noforiefy Disliked
By Soldier Who
Detected Jap Planes
Seret. Loekord Reody
To Quit Howoii, May
Make Army His Career
BY Wide World News.

BY Wide World News
HONOLULU, Feb. IA quiet
spoken youth of 20 was packed and
ready to go today toward a swell
opportunity" earned by his vigi-
lance in detecting the approach Of
Japanese plsnes that attacked Pearl
Harbor December 7.
He is Staff se-gt. Joseph L.
Lockard.
Il don't care for all this noto-
riety," said Sergt. Lockard with q
smile. But hope I make out all
right at ofiicer's school to which
they're sending me. And II I do.
I'll stay in the Army, war or no
war"
On the day hostilities broke out
Sergt. Lockard-then a priyate-was
operating an airplane detecting unit,
Shortly after am. that Sunday,
he noted "a whole lot of planes ap.
preaching"
Since it was Sunday the unit was
to have ceased operations at 7
o'clock, but Sergt. Lockard had
stayed on Ito give lessons to another
fellow"
The planes seemed to be coming
from an unusual direction" he said
1T was just east Of north. I re-
ported the incident, but gathered
1t was known what the planes were
We were pretty curious and stayed
for a while, but it was time to re-
turn to base camp so we left when
they probably were still Is miles
away"
Ordered Back to Duty.
Omcial reports OF the japanese
raid have stated that had coeni-
zance been taken OF Sergt. Lockard's 4
report the element of complete sur
prise would not have worked %
greatly in favor of the invaders
when they struck just before 8 IN
Sergt. Lockard has nothing to say
however. on these points.
I'VE did not hear about the raid
until after we had seen smoke in the
direction Of Pearl Harbor." said the
sergeant in continuing his story OF
That Sunday morning that brought
the war to the Hawaiian Islands and
the United States. Then. when we
got back to the base camp, we were
ordered to return to the detecting
station on the coast. And that's all
I know about it,"
Sergt Lockard knew enough. how
ever, to win a sergeancy, the Dis.
tinguished Service Medal and the
opportunity to attend officers
school at Fort Monmouth, N. J.
1t was during the summer OF 1910
with year Of high school yet to
go, that he and two friends decided
to join the Army because they were
tired Of doing nothing" The
parents Of one stipulated he could
join a non-combatant unit so the
trio tried to get into the Medical
Corps.
I'VE were told there were ne
openings there, however" sale
Sergt. Lockard, 80 two of us whc
passed the examinations wer,
sworn into an aircraft warning com.
pany and sent to Fort Slocum. N. Y
I'VE then went to Fort Wads.
worth and year ago last Decem.
Der we came here" CThe other part
Of the I'VE" is Pvt. John Albright.
Since December 7, Sergt Lockarc
has been "fiddling" with equipment
In the aircraft warning supply anc
maintenance department.
He Is the son of Mr.. and Mrs
George M. Lockard, Wiiliamsport
Pa. The father Is an automobile
mechanic with "a reputation fol
art and oil portrait work" The sor
retains similar interest and ever
now sketches objects and people ir
his spare time.
The sergeant Is interested vitality
in radio work, however, and admit.
he would have been a ham-amateul
operator-had not circumstances in.
tervened. About feet o inches tall
he is well built and has q struggling
mustache. A quiet sense of humol
reflects his Irish ancestry. BY tht
time he reaches his majority next
October 29, he should be we'll or
the way toward q commission ir
the Army.