The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-09-21
THE STORY OF DUCKwoRTR

AANH 28SA4A VII AF9S@AN -
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 The Allies were now holding one. third of the Italian peninsula, the British advancing up the east coasi while the Americans were contest ing every foot Of the ground up thu west coast--both driving along thC roads toward Rome,
 While burdened with the Ire. mendous responsibilities of thes( actions, we find General Eisenhow. CT the same strong but genial Ike In his contacts with his generals and soldiers ct the front and his staff back at headquarters, His hu' man qualities never deserted him even in the greatest crises.
 General Ike had witnessed the battle of Salerno, arriving there by land, sea, and plane from his Afri- can headquarters, He left head. quarters in Q Flying Fortress and boarded Q British ship which took him to Italy. There he went ashore in an American PIT boat and then travelled around by jeep.
 While with General Clark he Bound himself under direct fire, A German mortar shell whined over their heads and landed Q short dist Anee away, He was again under fire at the battle of Volturno. His men were used to seeing him con- ferring with their chiefs at advance field headquarters amid the seream- iNI of shells and roar of bursting berbs.
 TaRNughout the Sicilian and Ttal- ian campaigns the general never forgot the welfare of his troops and no problem was too small for him He visited on army show and com niended the actors,
 When he heard of Q proposed visit of the all-star baseball teams he wired. T not only want those teams but I insist that they stay over for 30 days
 Neither did he lose touch with his family, A letter from home told him his brother Milton was offered the post as president of Kansas i state College, He wrote back, "A large part of the kind of peace achieved after this war rests on the principles laid down In AmerieaS schools"
 GENERAL EISENHOWER Is Q man who considers no task too small If he feels he should do it, He received letter in Italy from . small st. Louis boy who had been appointed by his classmates and teacher to write to the general. The lad told him how they were writing Go fellow parishioners of the As. sumption School on the bNttle- fronts, The general immediately sent back reply;
 e. am sure that in writing regularly to soldiers in the service you and your sehoolmNteS are do- ing a very fine thing and one which you may be sure Is defini te- ly contributing towards the winning of this war,
 Another epic In the warm -heart- ed personal approach of General Eiaenhower Is the story of Duck wa:th, Q dog, and his two fighter pilot masters, Lieut.. Harold Taff and Lieut.. Richard East had brought the dog to Africa with them taking the little spaniel on the long voyage across on Q troopShip,
 One day Lieutenant East failed to return from e mission, His par entS were duly notified that he was missing, They dispatched. Q letter to General Eisenhower asking If the dog could be sent home to them
 The general commanded imme- die3e compliance with the request Just prior to the dogs departure he learned that the eomaster, Lieuten- rnt TAff, was Nive and also wanted the dog. This information came to him in a letter from General spaatz, Ike quickly sent the follow ing letter to Lieutenant EastS par erits
 Tt Is learned that the dog, Duck worth, belonged jointly to Lieu- tenant East and his best friend Lieutenant Taff, Lieutenant East was killed in action April {. His plane and grave were located after our forces moved into the Tunis area. The loss of his best friend deeply affected Taff. The com- manding officer of the fighter group brought Taff With the dog to the airplane. Taff was heartbroken at the thought of losing his dog, and wanted to spend every possible min ute with him until the plane took off. HG~placed him in the plane and carefully tied him, He left the plane just before the take-off. Col onel West had been waiting in his car to take Taff back to quarters, but Taff was seen to thank him and walk away from the car to on ad- joining field.
 Under the circumstances, and in particular In view of the state. inent that the dog was Jointly owned by your son and his best friend, and especially as Taff has Ghown strong affection for the dog, l believe you will agree with me it would be unwise to return the dog to you as requested,
 The friendship of q dog is pre- cious. It becomes even more so If one iS so far removed from home as we are in Africa. have a Scot. ty. In him I find consolation and diversion. For me he is the one person to whom can talk without the conversation turning back to the war. Duckworth Is performing Q patriotic service, I respect the quality of warm friendship shown by TaH for the dog. l am confI- dent you and Mrs. East will view the situation similarly despite your