The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1944-12-14
Mississippi Youth
Outstanding Soldier

/ With the seth Division Of Seventh
army. France-Infantrymen in com
any of the 142Ed Infantry have select
d Staff Sergeant Shelby Speights, Bax-
.rville, Miss, as t. man they would
most like to have with them in a fox
ole when the going gets tough.
AlthougA the drawing, tobacco chew
nc, seth Division sergeant experienced
lis first infantry combat in France, his
'intastically CORY encounters with the
nemy could probably overpower those
Of any more seasoned campaigner.
On day while issuing an order to
members of His platoon. Sergeant
Speights spotted an advanced enemy
scout. The German also observed the
un-armed sergent. Quickly the Jerry
made his way toward Speights until he
momentarily lost his footing. Selling
tie initiative, Speights grabbed the
German rifle with such force that he
lifted the "Superman" off his feet. AZ
ter struggling for a few. minutes, the
Mississippi strongboy wrested the rifle
from Ills enemy and began to club him
over the head with the weapon.
With each blow the German yelled
Hell Hitler. That's what really got
mo mad" said Speights, $50 l hit him
harder As Speights showered him
with blows, the Nazi continued to shout
Z. little louder. Sergeant Speights final
ly concluded the struggle with a fatal
blow between the eyes.
Sergeant Speights continued up tn
trail until he saw German lying along
the side. The sergeant had seen toe
many aead men; ne knew "phony"
to ono Of his men, "Let me have your
rifle the resurrected Jerry turned to
fire. Sergeant Speights beat him to the
draw and ended his "possum- playing"
days.
The modest southerner wears a bull
lst-streaked helmet that remains a sill
ent proof OF it's owners narrowest es
cape. Recently decorated by the division
commander, MAJOR General Jonn
Dahlquist, Speights was ordered his
company commander to wear a better
appearing chapeau for the presentation.
Immediately after the ceremony he in
sisted upon the return of his old helmet.
These are his sentimental reasons:
One evening Sergeant Speignts led a
pa,roi la an attempt to establish con-
tact with another unit. AS the group
| emeI geu from a wooaed area, the seq
gent spotted a house and decided to
.4Vest4g~te. Placing mis- men to cover
nls Ioule. he walked up to the door. 1t
was jammed. 1t seemed as tough some
no Was holding it rom the insIue. Al
.ef k.cKng GA the door, the Texas
J.yls.on sergeant squeezed IN through
small opening. ne stopped suade"ly
a German mac. inc pistol was pointed
u. IN nom me interior.
! "All | could think of was duck and
| sh--., exs iA.neu Speights. His oppon'
! ent must have read lis mind because
VA ( sAot rang out simultaneously.
The German fired a burst IRON his
"uu.p gun, one slug denting the SER
! gea..Gs 80 -lmea m the front and another
/ bullet forming cerase along the top
| a. the steel. The others did no harm
! Speights evidently did all rigat with
! the four shots he fired from his MI
because the German made no protest as
/ l. su.se nv IeIl the building.
Sergeant Speights has only one COM
/ plant to make about the Army. He find
20 supply of chewing tobacco limited
/ i.> Sergeant Speights likes lis "chaw-
/ e.
! n Of Mr.. and Mrs. Lee Speights
/ Baskerville, Miss, Sergent Speights
joined the Seth Division in December
1913. He served with tie divisions mule
pack during thae Italian campaign. Be-
/ fore entering the service, he attended
Pearl River Junior College. Poplarville
Miss. He starred. a. a, guard on. tho
basketball. team.