The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-08-14
NEWS man IS
INTRODUCED to-
anne PRELATE|
Scoop Jones Gives Story
OF Bishops Arrival
In New Guinea
BY SCOOP" JONES
AMP Correspondent


OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ! met
and talked with Bishop John A.
representative OF President Roose-
welt on a mission TO report on the
Gregg. AME church and special
welfare OF colored troops in the
Southwest Pacific area. We were
introduced by Chaplain Jason M.
CoWan in the executive Office of
one OF the leading and largest en-
gineer outfits over here.
On our introductiou~>t the bishop
burst forth with his famous person
atty and expressively acknowl-
edged our exchange of salutations,
adding with other comments, You
know we are representatives of the
same news syndicate. Bishop Grcgg
carries along with his many other
credentials an AMP press card.
Alfred in G.. |. khaki and shoes,
with his shirt opened three buttons
down. displaying a red stripped
black tunic V-shape from white
ecclesiastical collar and wide turned
up brim black hat, the bishop. and
am expressing it mildly, was in
deed an impressive figure. l got the
uncanny feeling that he reminded
me OF a great general in his disni-
fed bearing.
With High Officers
The bishop arrived at the unit
with a miniature brigade of high
ranking officers. In his party was
the famed Louisiana maneuvers'
Maj John A. DeVeaux, his military
attache on detached duty from a
division for the purpose OF accom-
panying the bishop on his across
the-ocean tour. The other members
of the group were Col Ivan L. Ben
nett. chief Of chaplains OF United
States forces in tn: FarEast. who
is travelling with the bishop as
Gen. MacArthur's personal repre-
sentative; Maj. Ernest Elliott, ad
vance base chaplain; Capt. Walter
McCracken. sub base chaplain, and
our Chaplain II. w. B. Walker, OF
an aviation engineer unit.
Col. Bruce and oul Chaplain
Cowan received the bishop on his
arrival. For an hour the bishop and
Col. Bruce chatted on his engineers
activities, reviewing, reports OF
their outstanding work. incidentally
this is the same unit that built a
Burma" road almost in the the
middle Of the Japs prior to the
Buna campaign. Besides this they
have gone down on record. received
citations and concentrations for
superlative engineer work in this
area.
Greeted BY Col. Derby
From this unit the bishop and his
encourage strengthened with the ad-
dition OF Col Bruce and Chaplain
Cowan. proceeded to another engi-
neer regiment, which has been re-
ferred TO as the First Heroes OF the
New Guinea Campaign since they
we're the first American unit TO ar
rive here, Reception group await
ing the bishop here was led by Col.
George T. Derby, commanding Of
ficer OF an aviation engineer unit,
Joined the party here.
Col Derby divulged much infor-
nation relative to the accomplish
mcnts OF his unit in a conference
with Bishop Gregg. Following this
the bishop and his party were the
guest OF the colonel at luncheon.
First Sgt. Richard Estes directing
the organizations band furnished
music during the course OF the
( luncheon.
Completing the balance OF his WIS.,
7 il 10 the headquarters OF these units,
/ Bishop Gregg with all the COM
handing officers and his party, was
conducted on tour o: the airdromes
constructed by colored engineers
and their various other construc-
ton jobs.
visited Col. Hotchkiss
Prior TO my meeting the bishop
he had just visited the aviation en-
gineer outfit OF which Col Hotch-
kiss is in command and Capt Wal
| ker is chaplain OF.
During the course OF the day
Bishop Gregg met many OF our
men both at work and at leisure,
among them:
IT. Sgts. Lynwood Cain, Birming-
ham: joseph d. Scott. Philadelphia,
and Lamond r. Reese, Jacksonville,
Fla: S. Sgts. Henry 7. Stevens,
Philadelphia; Emanuel L. Lewis.
Franklin, Va; Clifford Checks. New
York, and Warner Thomas, Selma.
Ala; Sgt. Otha Thomas, Washing
ton, d. c.: T. As George Smith,
Charlotte. N. C.. and Robert D.
Gibson. Chicago; Cpls. Hilairc. New
York City. Otis Johnson, Atlanta,
Alvin Glenn. New Orleans. Ellis r.
Williams. Chicago, Percy Gray,
Fayetteville. N. C.; Donald Brait-
waite and Arnold Goodridge,
Brooklyn. and Willis w. Agnew,
ST. Paul. MINI. Pfc. John 7. Cob,
Pittsburgh, and Overious Jackson,
Detroit, Pvts. Richard SIN tn,