Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-12-01


a lot OF sneers and embarrassing
remarks.
WORTHINGTON: We hope
you've heard some Of our Santa
for Servicemen broadcasts over
CKLW-five days week at
$3.50.
Celebrities have been very
nice about appearing on the
show, Bonnie Baker. Joe Gentle
and Ralph Binge, June Arnold.
COburn Goodwin, Paul ROsini
and lot OF others.
But Dick WOrthingtOn, the
singer and master Of ceremonies,
was something more than a
stage celebrity. He fought on
Guadalcanal.
Dick had reserve commits
sion at the time of Pearl Harbor,
but he resigned II and Joined
the marine corps less than
month later, feeling that he'd
get action more quickly.
He must have been a good
marine and in better physical
shape than night club perform
ers popularity are supposed 10
be because. when the marines
attacked Guadalcanal. Worth
ington was a second lieutenant.
He started in the same land
ing boat with Richard Tregas-
kis. the war correspondent who
wrote "Guadalcanal Diary,
but Tregaskis switched 10 an
other boat. hoping 10 be IN the
first one aShore-you remember
reading about that in his book.
Tregaskis made mistake.
The original boat was the first
10 land and Worthington was
the third man ashore. preceded
only by two first lieutenants.
The story from there on is
pretty well known not much
opposition the first day. but
plenty later on. Worthington
and five enlisted men went out
10 silence Jap machine gun.
Worthington got five machine
gun bullets in his legs but the
gun nest was Knocked out.
Worthington received first
aid and. is hours later, was IN a
hospital 100 miles away His
opinion Of the war. and he's not
the only one who has said IT,
is that any man who claims he
isn't afraid in fighting like that
is n damned liar.
Anyway in time. Worthing-
ton was back in California, let
ing his legs mend in a hospital
and. one day. p man from the
Club Royale in Detroit arrived
al the hospital and signed
Worthington 10 A lifetime con-
tract al the club.
There, you cynics, Il another
popular misconception. What
ever else you may say about
night clubs, never accuse them
OF lacking sentiment. Most Of
the club impressarios are the
most sentimental Of the senti-
mentalists--when they choose
10 be.
SO. since his discharge with
a slight limp, but hardly notice
ablel, Worthington has been at
the Royale. The club, 10 the best
Of my knowledge, never has
tried to commerciallze on
Worthington's war recor q.
Neither has Dick They gave
hio1 the lifetime fob because
they tet Il was soruetbSS0G the',
wanted and ought 10 DO
If you bought the club, for
example, you'd have 10 take
Dicks contract along with H.
But they don't insist that he
stay unless he wants 10. So, IN
a day or two. under a leave of
absence. Worthfngton is going
10 the West Coast
We dare say that he'll do
some free shows in the army
hospitals. Ever since he's been
home. he's been going 10 Percy
Jones Hospital or some other
hospital, al his own expense,
once week, 10 entertain
wounded fighting men and, IN
odd moments, has sold $500, 600
worth of war bonds.
Our good wishes certainly go
with Dick Warrington
GAG Speaking Of men in uni
form. the best of the gags that
we've seen have been coming
from the army camp news
papers perhaps there's some
thing in the quips that the
soldiers make about trying TO
bolster the morale at home.
Wings over Wayne, the paper
al the Romulus ferry command
air base. prints the following
Despite war department
regulations against civilians
wearing army insignia. a gal
turned up at her office wearing
two silver bars on her sweater.
A friend asked II her boy friend
were captain. oh, no. she