Imperial Valley press., 1944-09-29

Rhodes of El Centre are in the
European theater of war, represent
ing three different branches of the
army. Ira recently was commits
stoned a first lieutenant. He receiv-
ed the air medal and citation for
courage and skill displayed in COM
pat operations over enemy territory
He has been plotting a Flying Fort
reSs over Germany since last June.
Charles received the rating of cor
poral in August. He is in the head
quarters company of tank destroy
er outfit in Italy as company clerk.
In his last letter home he spoke
of seeing and speaking to Lieuten-
ant General Mark Clark. Tom is
on his way overseas. He is in the
infantry and served in the Alaskan
area before coming to Ell Centro
last March for short visit. After
that he took additional training at
Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.
A little Imperial Valley sunshine
would be welcomed by David Hand,
ART l-c, graduate of Imperial Un-
ion High school in the class of
1941. His relatives believe he is in
New Guinea now. He is top man in
his radar and radio department.
At present his only shelter is a
tent shared with three buddieS. 1t
rains every day. Hand said he need
ed some bright colored ornaments
to give the natives.
Bobbie Whitelaw, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. r. B. Whitelaw of Ell Centre,
has been transferred from San Die
60 to Bainbridge, Maryland to the
United States naval academy prep
school.
Somewhere in the Southwest Pa
cific Staff Sergeant John l.. Hodges,
who was employed by the NJ O.
Best company in Ell Centre before
the war, has been awarded the COM
bat infantryman's badge for exem-
plary conduct with the first cavalry
division in the Admiralty Islands.
AS a supply and transportation
MOO, he helped keep the flow of
rationS and ammunition rolling to
the front lines. Sergeant entered
the service in June of l941 and re-
ceived his basic training at Fort
Riley, Kansas.
william T. Moreno, Sic (RTC is
taking secondary schooling or ad-
vanced training for radio technician
in the navy and Is stationed at
Treasure Island, San Francisco. He
took his primary training at Chica-
go, Illinois, and at Del Monte. Be-
fore entering the navy he was
union projectionist for the Imperial
Valley local and also assistant man
ager for Frank Ullman in Ell Centre
and Calexico. His wife, who is stay
ing with her mother in Phoenix,
Arizona while her husband is away,
gave birth to baby boy last July
II.
Seven days leave brought Sea-
man First Glass Grant Strange, Jr.,
to his home in Imperial to see his
new son, Grant Leslie. who was
born September 81. He has been in
the navy since last March and is
now on patrol duty along the coast
in the San Diego area. Before he
entered the service Strange was
employed by the Colleen State, Ltd
Wayne r. Purdy of 625 Ross, FL
Centre, was promoted from private
first class to corporal with the
thirteenth AAF somewhere in the
Southwest Pacific He is in fighter
group. In civilian life he worked for
the International Harvester COM
pany and for the United States en-
gineers at Pearl Harbor. On enter
ing the service, Purdy attended
army medical school and army first
aid school.
Navy Seaman Second Glass Frank
Gillett enjoyed 2l-day leave. most
of which he spent in Imperial Val
ley with his mother, Mrs. Charlotte
Payne. and his grandparents, Mr.
and Mrs. Roy Gillette. and Mrs
Lottie Mason. He was due to report
back to his ship Thursday.
Second Lieutenant Milton Console
army pilot, has been transferred