davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-04-16
Respect for Cemetery
Wins Native Aid

GUADALCANAL-First 1t. ]. H
P. Garnett, 26. Of the Chevy Chase
Club, Chevy Chase, Md, commands
a marine artillery unit which re-
Gently displayed the respect for a
cemetery which has gained marines
the friendship Of the native village
of Tetere.
1t. Garnett's unit was assigned to
q new bivouac area, in the middle
of which was the Tetere village
cemetery. The cemetery was over
run with grass, but the crosses, each
carrying the words "te mate" dis
tinguished 1t as a cemetery. Chief
Singo, leader of the Tetere natives
was worried when the marines
moved into the area.
Capt. F. c. Moore said the ma
tives feared their cemetery would
become a minor casualty of the war
They have become pretty fatal
istic about those things" said Capt
Moore.
But the cemetery was treated as
hallowed ground. 1t was fenced OF
The fence was painted and the
crosses cleaned and painted. The
grass was cut and the cemetery was
|raked. :,- as-''
Chief Singo visited the carefully.
tended grayes Of his first wife in the
cemetery. Through Capt. Moore hi
expressed his gratitude and that oi
his village to the marines.
Evening star., 1944-04-16
Mud Is Major Obstacle,
Says GuadaIcanaI Vet

CAPE GLOUCESTER, New Brit
ain.-Mud is one of the combatant,s
chief obstacles, according to Seret
Morrell j. Berry, Alb Evarts street
NE, veteran of Guadalcanal who
landed here two months ago with
the first group of marines under a
heavy enemy bombing and strafing
attack. marine correspondents dis
patch said.
I've never seen so much mud in
all my life" Sergt. Berry said. Ma
rines are knee deep in mud from
the time they get up in the morning
until they go to sleep at night. Even
the foxholes they sleep in are usually
filled with water and mud"
The 22-year-old military police
man recently returned from the
front lines. This enemy attack was
the worst one I've ever been through
Even those on Guadalcanal do not
compare with it," he said.
Sergt. Berry, son of Mr.. and Mrs
M. T. Berry of the Evarts street
address, was graduated from Nc
kinley High School in 1899.
Evening star., 1944-04-16

CAp. HAlph Smtns 0XpcTlcIlCcS, Out
one of the most narrowing was
when he was stationed in North
Africa and was checking his equip
ment at the same time the ground
crews were loading bombs. The
ship in the next dispersal, a few
hundred feet away, was being loaded
with high-explosive bombs when
suddenly it blew up, throwing fam
ing gas and debris all around. Capt.
Smith escaped with minor injuries.
On another occasion, Capt.
Smiths ship narrowly escaped being
hit by damaged planes. During q
raid over Capodicchino airdrome,
Naples, Italy, the next plane in
formation received a direct hit,
shearing off nearly the entire wing.
Out of control, the wounded ship
banked toward Capt. Smiths ship
and parts of the damaged plane
punched holes in his wings and put
one engine out of commission.
Capt. Smith was proprietor and
operator of an airport yacht basin
in Washington, D. G. His wife, Mrs.
Jean Smith, and child reside at Salt
Lake City, Utah.
For "meritorious achievement
while participating in aerial flight"
Capt. Smith has received the Air
Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters.
He also has received the Purple
Heart for wounds received in
cnfnhot
Evening star., 1944-04-16


Finschhafen, Japanese sea and air
base in New Guinea, and Cape
Gloucester and Saidor in New Brit
ain.
His ship claims to be the first
Coast Guard-manned LIST in the
area to shoot down a Japanese
bomber. This occurred during an
air attack near Buna as the enemy
plane was completing its run after
dropping a missile near the ships
starboard quarter.
During his five-month tour of
duty in the Pacific, 1t Moreau re-
lates, his vessel was employed al
most continually in supplying
American troops in advance posi-
tions. The officer was commits
stoned in December. 194l.
Evening star., 1944-04-16
Moi. Peyton Gets DFc
For Heroism as Pilot

Maj. Monfurd K. Peyton, marine
flyer whose wife lives at 2204 Perry
street NE, has been awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross for hero
ism as fighter pilot in operations
against the Japanese in the Solo
mon Islands area.
Maj. Peyton, who led a four plane
formation against 48 Japanese air.
craft and bagged three of the six OF
the enemy shot down in that en-
gagement, was injured during the
skirmish. He received the Purple
Heart last year.
His four-plane flight was Aeturn-
ing from straf1ng attack on Vanga
Vanga when 1t encountered 16 twin
engined bombers, protected by 81
zeros. Maj. Peyton attacked, de-
stroying 8 Of the fighters, while his
flight knocked down others.
Wounded, his plane riddled by
bullets, Maj. Peyton fought his way
clear and landed safely at his base
His citation, signed by Secretary
of Navy Knox, covered the periot
from April 13 to May 10, l943.
Maj. Peyton. 80, enlisted in the
Marine Corps in 1894 and was com.
missioned in 1898.
Mai. Peyton has q 2-year-old son
Evening star., 1944-04-16
Wounded Hero's Homecoming
GIoddens Hearts of Family

BY twosomes they went to the
closet where hung his coat with its
ribbons and medals and he ex-
planned their meanings. His most
priced was the gold, red and blue
ribbon-the presidential unit cita-
tion accorded thus far to only two
QUITS.
Wounds Examined.
Then Jimmy, who is 6-foot-3,
showed them the little bump near
a shoulder blade where q Japa-
nese bullet had entered. The scar
on bullet-grazed lip could scarcely
be detected. Beneath his heavy
paratrooper boots they saw in his
left heel shrapnel he hadn't both
cred to have taken out" Besides,
there was a bullet wound in the leg.
Jimmy talked to his other sister
on the telephone, and as soon as she
could Marjorie arrived from her
home at Hawaii avenue NE. Jimmy
greeted her in the living room. A
few minutes later she was seated
beside him at the dinner table ask
ing million questions which he
did his best to answer between bites.
Mrs. Lester served large quantities
OF food for him because she thought
my Jimmy looks SO skinny and
little" Later two of Mrs. Lester
co-workers at the store came to see
the Jimmy they had heard so much
about and to do the dishes for the
excited family.
Neighbors phoned constantly and
relatives hocked in, but Jimmy mod
estly answered all their questions
and told them of his experiences. =
y did you get our Christmas pres
ents, jimmy" his mother asked,
.and Nhat did you do On Christnhas
Day?S Il
This was . topic on which Jimmy
could go to town"
Il got swell presents, really swell,
thanks. I hadn't had any candy
since I left the States, and the
snapshots liked a lot. We got our
presents about a month before the
actual day. Some of the boys got
sweaters, new neckties and shirts.
We don't wear clothes down there,
maybe q pair Of shorts every now
and then, but nothing could have
stopped those fellows from putting
on those new shirts and ties. They
looked kind Of funny running
around with nothing on but . new
shirt or tie.
"On Christmas day was on the
Evening star., 1944-04-16

James Calvin Mackay, pharmacist s
NV, and Merritt De La Mater. seaman
second class. 321l Northampton stree,
stsg.n sW rssrnis samsson raining Naval Tr'nins
Donald K. Carl, fireman. second class
1902 Rodman street NV, Navy Electri-
clans Mate School, Sampson, N. Y.
Peter B. Milloy. gunner's mate, third
class, 1880 Rittenhouse street NV, Nav,
Gunnery School, Sampson, N. Y.
Naval Aviation Cadets BARLEY A. Fugler
John Browning Sherry, jr.: Henry Shields
Richard L. Hunt and B. l. Sheridan. Navy
Prstilsht school. CHAPEL Hiii, N. 6. .,,
Eighth street NV, B-24 Liberator Bomber
Mechanics School, Keesler Field, Miss.
First 1t. Jacques L. Sherman, jr.. 6424
Seventh street NV. Navigation School
Hondo (Texl Army Air Field.
Corpl. Jack D. Carter, 1343 Ridge place
Pics; Mauyer D. Richards, 220 Thirty
third street. River terrace. and Alan T
Bill, 1000 Thirty ninth street NV. and
Pvt. Francis P. Embree. 1907 Seventy
frst avenue. HyattSville. Md. technica
training; Chanute, Field, II. .,
Robert Lee Philpott, 1471 Irving street
n W.. and George Rodney Danson, jr.,. 621
G street S.W., Machinist's Mate School
Great Lakes Naval Training Station.
Richard Owen Barthelmess. 310S Lyn-
dale place Sc, Gunner's Mate School
Great Lakes Naval Training Station
Naval Aviation Cadet BENJAMIN Cott-
Evening star., 1944-04-16
To Ksssler Field. Biloxi. Miss.


n he':ss Street nsse9s 9s:.ps H. Ii hee nhistSa
Emerson street NV: Donald 4: Mar
sosihstss:a iSssf TO- +" % 81 stress NJ: Weed: &
8; Mason 10 soS 2 street NE; joseph s; s
Young. 1901 S street NV: Ralph E.
Smith: 1850 ~ meysnth street N.Y. James James
EFT W. Thompson, 1745 D street Sc.
NE: Capt. John q. Tausis. 1915 Thirty
second street north. Ariinnnston: Etrst L; 4
iss::s HIS Sss ssss
sorse eS1 Paw. issnas scsgs E.s0Is sroa
ada avenue NV: FIsnk. c; Pare; Ssl1 j
ssard oa Fo8er street Fa
inston avenue, Ksnsinsten, Nd; c1,.o,
road NV. Eugene seleznow, 973 Ran;
dolph street NV: William n. yolz, 1322 1322
warren v ss' street a NV: % Robert M . a. Marshall
1929 Illinois avenue NV; Otis 2; Young
Fincher. 1113 Buchanan street NV; ;;
Lorenzo ], ,,csa :. r. Thompson, 1901 Thirteenth
70 Yale University. New Haven. Conn.
Egor G. Shlopak, 1888 Fifteenth street
NV: Edward H. steinberg. Hamilton
street, Hyattsville, Md.
To the Naval Air Training Center, PEN
sacoia, Fla, for intermediate flight train
ing:
Lawrence A. colburn. 1919 River road
NV; Robert L. Harshfeld, 4645 Brewer
place NV; Robert W. Talks, ir. Four
II Il VI MeSerey 6 s1sg lr 3l2s Thirty;shirs place
tol street; Robert Westbrook, 623 K street
s:W; John c. Wheless: 1913 street NE.
". Robinson. 1925 6 street s.E.; Harold
c. Parker 46l5 Forty-third street NV,
and Elvin G. Louk, Church street, Vienna,
Va.
To Bennettsville, 8. c., Army Base, for
Edward F. SpTaitz, 25O5 Bunker Hill
road NE: Henry U. Herbert 1880 Kearney
street NE; George M. Graves, 1S Carroll
avenue, Takoma Park.
To San Antonio (Tex) Aviation Cadet
Center:
Norman J. Asher. 21O1 Connecticut ave-
nue. NV; John 8. Eveler, 435 Quincy
Evening star., 1944-04-16

related. when everything the Luft-
waite had came in on us. One
plane in particular, an ME ITO,
came in directly at the tail, and
opened fire at about 800 yards.
Immediately fired back.
AT about 400 yards his left en-
gine started to smoke and burst
into flame. He then peeled off
underneath our plane, and I lost
track of him. Other fighters were
pressing home attacks and kept me
busy, but the bombardier reported
the ME 110 was smoking badly and
going down out of control"
In the meantime, the attacking
Germans pumped cannon shells and
bullets into the Fortress tail. All
the time the tail was being pep
pered, Sergt. Degen remained at his
guns and kept up steady stream
of fire to ward off attacks.
Evening star., 1944-04-16
III. Chinn Commended
|For Medical Aid 10
Marines in Solomons

1t. Raymond Chinn. n, of
Seventh street Sc, flight surgeon in
the Marine Corps, received a COM
mendation for general duty in the
Solomon Islands for July, August
and September, he said last night
while home on a two-week fur
Tough.
Previous to this commentator
1t. Chinn had received one for saw
ing two Army pilots lives when
they were shot down during a
bombing attack on Munda, one pilot
breaking q shoulder and the other
his back. 1t. Chinn was flown to
them in a plane and returned them
to base hospital.
He had not been home In nearly
two years, he said, and in that time
was stationed in the Solomon Is
lands and New Hebrides. I'm New
Hebrides we just existed" he said
There was no fighting. The rest
Of the time 1t was the usual thing
combats and the rest that goes with
the word war was never wound
ed, though, and was never sick"
The lieutenant's parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Chinn; his wife, Mrs
Mae Chinn, and his 2-year-old
daughter, Mary Katherine, live al
the same Seventh street address.
1t. Chinn was graduated from
Eastern High School and studied
medicine and surgery at George
Washington University. His In
ternship was served at Sibley Hos
|pital here and the Reading Hos
pital in Pennsylvania. Previous te
his enlistment in the Navy, Decem.
ber, 1941, he was a resident physician
at Columbia Hospital. Ten months
later he transferred to the Marine
Corps.
Today he leaves for the West
rno OF onA ou,o n f,,rf or, nrd.r~
Evening star., 1944-04-16
BY CARTER DAWSON.

The Testers were in the living
room at 1886 Ontario place NV.
talking about Pfc. James r. Lester
of the Paramarine Corps. Weeks
had passed with no details since the
Navy reported he was wounded in
action in the Pacific.
Suddenly the conversation was
hushed and each turned to stare
.unbelieving at the man standing in
the doorway. Jimmy was home.
Mary Jane reached him first and
as he held her close she cried:
Squeeze me tighter. Jimmy!
Harder"
The 21-year -old marine had drop
ped little blue canvas travelling
bag. He smiled down at his curly
haired blond sister. ''I might break
your ribs, kid" he said slowly, and
there was a catch in his voice.
The father, Richard Lester, just
paced about the room at first,
pausing to watch his children. He
was too excited to talk. Then he
fumbled with the telephone and
after several attempts at the dial,
began talking to his wife, who works
in department store.
"Sit down." he said, II won't
tell you It'll you are seated. Jimmy's S
homel + said Jimmy's home. Yes,
he looks wonderful. Hurry and
come home, but don't forget what
you are doing. Be careful"
Trip Home Made Quickly.
A few minutes later there were
hurried footsteps as the taxi drove
away. Mrs. Lester rushed into the
house and called from the foot of
the stairs before she saw her son
standing on the landing.
II left the store in an uproar," j"
Mrs. Lester explained. dAss soon as
I got the news told every one
Customers couldn't understand
what was happening. They couldn't
get any service"
Everybody was beaming now.
This is something I dreamed
about nights in my foxhole on Bou-
gainville. I never thought I'd see
you all again." Pfc. Lester told them.
Then he smiled and his eyes had a
far-away look in them.
Mary Jane brought him a large
glass of milk which he drank hun
grily. This is what I've missed
more than anything. I'm tired Of
coconut milk"
Evening star., 1944-04-16
Attempt to Save Lives
Wins Soldiers Medal

ITALY.-Capt. Joseph A. Dugan
43l2 South Dakota avenue NE.
group flight surgeon with a B-24
Liberator group here. recently was
awarded the Soldiers Medal for
heroism displayed in attempting to
save the lives of air crewmen. They
were trapped in the wreckage of a
bomber scheduled to participate in
a mission against the Romanian oil
refineries last August.
Evening star., 1944-04-16
How He Survived Jap Grenade
Related in Osborn's Letter

close I could touch the bayonet. He
had at least is holes in him.
THAT kind of backing up makes
a guy feel mighty thankful"
A veteran Of the Alaskan CAM
paign, Sergt. Osborn participated in
the battle for Attu in which only
seven of the IS men in his platoon
survived. He has taken part in the
Marshall Islands invasion in the
South Pacific.
Sergt. Osborn was hit by grenade
fragments in the left leg and suf-
fered cash in the backs inches
long and l inch deep. He writes
that his wounds have almost healed
Evening star., 1944-04-16
World War Vet Aiding
Seubees in Pacific

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC.-A At
year-old veteran of Is months Serv-
ice in France with naval air units
in World War I is directing con-
struction of buildings for his Seabee
outfit here.
Warrant Officer Hamilton M. Nc
Gully, 1924 r street Sc, said:
They'll get a kick back home when
they find that an oldtimer like me
is with forces this close to the jap
anese"
His son, James McCully, ships
cook, first class. has been in the
Navy more than six years, and is
now stationed at the Washington
Navy Yard. Warrant Officer Nc
Cully's wife is also at the Navy
Yard, employed In the biz rint
section.
Evening star., 1944-04-16
Transfers Announced

soasetlssss .v!nas Nv; 1assS' Thomss 4. ae Rol
Iins, $40 Irving street NV; corkey A.
s~sfsss rs sa A'sssh ssn.:s ssris n " Mw chsas,
lam L: Lie6er. eG a4oz ThiTss.ninth Rs nth street @
Walter r. wilkins, 2e11 North Capitol
sTsss ssns9 L. lss ss1s
1901 Neal street Ne; Paul N. Heron. si7
oTss 11zs Nor s9non vs Street. oan a1ns
ton.
To Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md:
Perry M. Penney. 1890 First road North,
Arlington: Donald Z. Baus, 6s15 Eastern
.sss prnk Tak0ma ae fars sbs h6sr Nd ss 4s.6
dors T, Beuchert, 4513 cheltenham drive.
1t. Albert p. Mercogliano, 2O6 Claiming
Ar Bsse ssssss e Ohio for
Flying Fortress instruction.
Second II. Nelson E; Woodson; sos
and nss Sas sis m
avenue. Silver Spring, to CORTLAND Field,
Ala; for tiight training.
NE. to Camp Murphy, Afis, Fla, I for r sigma asi
James H. colmer. 1857 Thirty first
| street NV, to Millsaps College, Jackson,
Miss, with Navy Viz unit.
Elasler place NV: TO Tuskesee Army Air
Robert G.. Harrington, 1923 Twelfth
street NE. to Maritime Service Oficers
School, New London. Conn.
Second 1t. Leon L. Turner. air force,
PA street NV, to Selfridge Field,
Mich.
Joseph E. Keller, 1909 Dexter terrace
Sc. assigned to crew OF an LIST for
Cecil E. Biting, os1s Minnesota avenue
8 S.E., to Army AIR Forces Training Com
mand Radio School, Sioux Falls, 8. Oak.
Second 1t. David H. Jarvis, 134 c street
Sc. to Air Transport Command, Great
Falls, Mont.
Second 1t. Morris H. Root. 1929 Liv-
ingston street NV, to Tinker Field. Okla.
Westel 3; Wallace, 2o11 r street NV
>. Robert ~, L. Bailey. IL 1419 chapin
Nostb Gawp nW Hood t. TANK ex Destroyer Center
Capt Frank T. Linton, los Grafton
street. Chevy Chase. Md. to Scott Field
ILL.,. for duty as dental officer.
Evening star., 1944-04-16
Gen. Wood Denies Link
With America First Purty

CHICAGO, April 15.-Gen. Rob-
ert E. Wood, time head of the
America First Committee, said to-
day in statement there was no
connection between the pre-Pearl
Harbor group and the present
America First party headed by
Gerald L. K. Smith.
Gen. Wood, chairman of the
board OF Sears, Roebuck g. Co., said
he had received many letters from
persons who apparently confused
the organization which he formerly
headed with the one now directed
by Mr.. Smith.
None of the members of the
original America First organization
dissolved by Gen. Wood after the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor,
are affiliated with the America First
party, Gen. Wood said.
Evening star., 1944-04-16

front line. I stayed there for 4t
days. My hair was 50 long I had
to tie it back with string" Then
there was much laughter because
Jimmy's hair is blond and curly
and they pictured him looking like
Tarzan with waves.
Il had a long beard, too, but on
Christmas we celebrated and cleaned
up. That was our treat"
st want to show you some pic
lures of my buddies," he said, and
opened the travelling bag. In a tin
box that once held tea were pic
lures of his buddies. He told about
each one, how they had gone
down" beside him in the fight.
On the identification chain about
Jimmy's neck was Japanese bull
let and metal from a Zero on
which he had scratched his service
number when his dog tag" was
lost in the fighting. He brought
home some old hand-grenades, and
in the middle of the living room he
demonstrated their use.
Saved Buddy from Death.
Jimmy told them about the time
he was encircled by Jap machine
guns. They were cross-firing in ar
effort to cut him down. His five
buddies lay dead on the ground
around him.
1.-THE other marines think 1t was q
miracle ever got out of that cross.
fire alive. If it hadn't been for 9
hug etree they would have gotter
me for sure. From behind the tree
I saw my best buddy lying wounded
in. the pile of dead marines I hao
just left.
Il went back out into the en-
circling fire and pulled my buddy
behind the tree with me.
"If we ever get back to the
States I'll see that you get a medal
for that my buddy said to me, and
then he died"
!. Those Japs try to trick us by
yelling Help in hopes we will think
1t one Of our fellows and 90 to his
rescue. We found out one thing
the Japs can't say the letter a.
Instead of yelling Help they cry
Hep You have to listen two or
three times to make sure whether
that Il is in there or not"
And Jimmy was eager for q bath
because he had not had bath in q
bathtub in more than a year. That
evening he spent two hours in q tub
nled with suds and hot water. Ordi.
nary drinking water tasted good te
him after months Of being careful
In the jungles.
Such was Pvt. Lester's homecom.
ing.
He had trouble learning again te
sleep in his bed and it bothered hin
a little to have every one waiting
on him hand and foot.
Brothers Serving, Too.
Pvt. Lester received his training
at Paris Island. He attended Rich
ard Montgomery High School ir
Rockville, Md, where he used tt
live, and Central High School here
Brother Hodge S. Lester, 18, U. s
M. c., is stationed in Rhode Islane
and Richard, jr., 20, Army All
Forces, is stationed at Columbia
8. C..
Following his brief furlough a
home, Pvt. Lester went to Califor.
MIA and is now resting at Sants
Margarita Ranch, Oceanside, Calf
Mr.. Lester says he often bring.
nome for the night a marine if h,
happens to meet one on the street
Some one might be helping my
son, too" he said thnlphtfl1llu
Evening star., 1944-04-16

narrowly es-
capped being shot
himself.
he Flying
Fort ess tail
gunner, son of
Mrs. Bertha H.
D e 6 e n 1927
Madison street
NV, was in the
last bomber in
the low forma-
ton - the So
called purple
heart" position.
1--WE were just
coming out of a
Evening star., 1944-04-16

duGy i IL Y IL {
Southwest Pa
cifc. His home
Is now in Nor
folk.
Assigned a S
chief examiner
in the Captain
of the Port Unit
here, 1t. Moreau
formerly was in
command of a
Coast Guard
manned LIS T
which partici-
pated In tn e
amphibious as
Evening star., 1944-04-16

4 q $ s II o o II
March is. Dur
ing a period Of
three and a half
hours OF con-
tinuous bomb
ing, approx
mately 2,500
tons of high ex-
plosives W e r e
dropped on the
city.
Capt. Smith,
whose home is
at 6l0 F. street
S.W., as had
many exciting
Evening star., 1944-04-16
Coast Guard Officer
Back From South Pacific

NORFOLK, Va.-Lt. Arthur S.
Moreau, Coast Guard, formerly with
the United States Park Police in
Washington, recently returned from
Evening star., 1944-04-16
D. {. Flyers Bombing
Foes From British
And Italian Bases
MEDrTERRi

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER.-
Capt. Ralph N. Smith, ~, flying
Fortress pilot here. few his 50th
mission on the famous raid against
Evening star., 1944-04-16
Degen Drops Nozi Plane
From Post in Fortress

ENGLAND.-Staff Sergt. Donald
Degen. 81. recently shot down his
first enemy plane, q Messerschmitt
ITO, during a mission In which he