davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-12-17
Something Greater
Than Fear Keeps
Doughboy Brave

A District doughboy who has
been in the Southwest Pacific
for 30 months tried to con-
vey his feelings about war and
home in this letter to his par
ents. by request The Star
withholds all names:
I've seen enough over here
to be afraid and to want to
come home. But there is
something even greater than
fear. 1t has tendency to
urge me not to cry out. but to
see this thing through If I
have to. If you can understand
this. Nom. you have the key to
how I feel about this whole af-
fair over here.
1T is something over which
I have no control. 1t seems to
be above love and even life it
self, because the longer I stay
over here, the less chance I
have of returning" .--.
Evening star., 1944-12-17

a little, but we made temporary
camp at 6 am. BY noon
we reached the main camp. I slept
in the open the three days we were
there from that base on the unit
consisted of 20 vehicles.
I'VE are now living in a house
the Germans were using not long
ago as hospital. Nothing but a
few sponge baths since we got a
roof over our heads-shortage Of
hot water. This war Is terribly Sc
we're and I'm one of the luckiest
girls to be taking part in it.
1T is very tragic to see French
people returning to their homes.
We could never recover from the
shock of losing all as they do. If
Evening star., 1944-12-17

200 yards away and decided to in
vestigate it. There were some very
nice people there and priest who
spoke English. They invited us to
have some fresh eggs and fresh milk
which we didn't refuse.
"A few days later we had the
important job of taking the Mime
gen Bridge. Never again do I want
to cross a river under those condi-
tions. Whew! Makes me sweat just
to think of it. After taking the
bridge the British finally relieved us
"We moved to another area, where
nothing exciting happened. Just
routine stuff-ducking shells and
shrapnel and few bullets. I did
learn new trade, however. After
the war I will probably be a ditch
digger. We got plenty of practice
with the shovel
'The moral of this story is: Never
fight war unless you really have
to -
Evening star., 1944-12-17

skillful manner in which he per-
formed his executive duties and by
his actions when in command Of
the ground echelon disembarking
on Roi Island during devastating
Jap aerial attack"
Chief Carpenter Wootten was
cited for heroic service during the
invasion of France on D day. when
he skillfully directed the rescue of
II casualties and helped save his
ferry from sinking, although he was
painfully wounded by shrapnel"
KimmeFs Work Praised.
Comdr. Kilnmel distinguished
himself by meritorious and heroic
conduct in action in the line of his
profession as assistant approach Of
ficer of United States submarine
during her first and second war
patrols in enemy controlled waters" :"
During these patrols, she sank many
thousands of tons of enemy shipping
and also damaged many, the cita-
ton said.
Sergt. Richard F. Tenant, 10, ball
Evening star., 1944-12-17

edge of technical problems and the
application and use of harbor nets
and booms during the invasion of
France.
Many Receive Bronze Star.
First 1t. Febo Chirieleison, field
artillery liaison pilot, 2 Woodhaven
boulevard, Bethesda Md, has re-
ceived the Bronze Star for daring
aerial reconnaissance during the
Normandy breakthrough, the Air
Medal for operations during the
Normandy campaign and the Oak
Leaf Cluster for performance dur
ing the siege of Brest.
Other recipients of the Bronze
Star Medal include:
Capt. McGeorge Bundy. U. S. A,
1913 N street NV
Capt Charles G. Butler. squad
ron engineering officer, Scott cir
Gle NV, nov in the European area
Pfc. Jean R. Long, with the Red
Bull Division, formerly of $500
Fourteenth street NV, now in
Italy.
Capt. John B w. Waller U. S.
N, chief of staff, now stationed at
the Navy Yard,
Staff Sergt. Albert Demko. infan-
try, Cameron. Md, now in Italy.
Marine Col Orin H. Wheeler,
commanding officer of support
group in Marianas battle, 1923 Por-
ter street NV, now somewhere in
the Pacific.
Marine Col. Edward B. Carney,
1911 RittenhouSe street NV.
Chief Carpenter William R Woot-
ten, "a, U. S. N. r., Laurel, Md. now
stationed in AnacoStia
Capt. Harold E. Mott, former at
torney for the Federal Communi-
cations Commission, trial judge ad-
vocate of a troop carrier, now in the
European theater of operations.
1t. Comdr. Manning Marius Kim
mel, U. S. N. 81. son of Rear Ad-
miral Husband E. Kimmel, formerly
of 1926 Twenty seventh street NV,
now missing in action.
Capt. Lewis B. O'Hara. field artil-
lery battalion, TIT North Oakland
street, Arlington, now in Italy, has
received the Oak Leaf Cluster to
the Bronze Star.
Deciphered Messages.
Capt. Bundy was cited for meri-
torious service as aide and Army
adviser to the naval commander,
Western Task Force. during the as
sault on Normandy" According to
the citation Capt Bundy stood
watches on the bridge of the flag
ship and personally deciphered mes
sages of the highest classification,
Evening star., 1944-12-17
Man Sees Film
OF Wounded Son
Lyinq on Jeep

When Edward M. Harding visited
the Trans-Lux recently he saw a
closeup of his wounded 18-year-
old son, Edward, ir., flashed on the
screen in a newsreel of the rescue of
the Lost Battalion" which was
trapped for five days behind Ger
man lines in the Demanaile de
Champ Forest, 7 miles southeast of
st. Die.
Mr. Harding said the experience
would have been a shock had he not
received a letter from his son De-
cember 6 written from a hospital in
France. The film showed Edward en-
stretcher which in turn extended
out over the hood of a jeep. He
smiled at the cameraman.
An older brother, staff Sergt. Will
liam w. Harding, was reported in
The Star as wounded in action in
Brest on September l. Mr. Harding e
address is the Mayflower Hotel.
Evening star., 1944-12-17

Tech. Sergt. Clinton J. German,
81, top turret gunner, 1923 Howe
avenue Sc, in England.
Second 1t. Albert E. Burns, jr., 21,
Bit pilot, BOG Baltimore avenue
NV, in England.
Second 1t. Harry A. Karr, jr., %,
bombardier, 3213 Morrison street
NV, in England.
Staff Sergt. Raymond E. Frish,
10, turret gunner-engineer, 1910 v
street Sc, in England
Aviation Radioman (Second Class
John E. MCGOWAN, %, Navy Lib
Evening star., 1944-12-17

occupy this room-some have six
in them.
"A little CT in this company had
birthday the same day as mine.
Even though my crewmates forgot
he wished me happy birthday I"
Last two days were momentous.
Attended CT party and spent the
night at the Chateau, the officers
giving up their quarters to us. Six
girls had two rooms with adjoining
bath in which was a sunken tub
Slept between sheets on a wonder
fully soft bed. Guess the baths
there will have to take care Of the
next two months.
Had some time off in Brussels
wonderful town for shopping. The
only evidence of Jerry we have seen
lately have been the buzzbombs
that pass overhead. They leave us
cold nowadays for they have never
fallen In our area. We still have
nightly movies here in our home
and go to occasional officers parties
other than that it's sleep and
work"
Miss OBrien has been overseas
a year. She formerly attended
George Washington University anc
worked at the State Department
Evening star., 1944-12-17

checkup and new assignment.
at was the longest fax alley I
ever saw the returned pilot began.
las We turned on the run and
dropped our bombs terrific burst
exploded under the nose of our
ship. The bombardier was hit with
flying glass splinters but the fax
suit saved his life. 1t blasted us
completely out OF formation and
knocked out Nos. 2 and engines.
AS we began to lose altitude the
crew lghtened the ship. They threw
out everything that wasn't nailed
down including the armor plate"
But that wasn't all of it," 1t.
Morauer continued. when the
ground batteries realized We We're
helpless they really poured it on.
The sky around the ship was black
with it. 7 stuck the nose down and
headed for the North Sea and home. -
Due to poor visibility and almost
complete cloud coverage the crippled
Fortress passed over small German
naval base and was again subjected
to flax barrage.
I'VE finally got home safely" he
concluded. "and I was sure glad to
get back to mother earth"
The ship had over 100 fax holes
in her and he was told by his crew
chief that another engine would
have quit in less than half an hour.
1t Morauer flew 270 combat hours
in his six months of overseas duty.
He has been in the Army two years.
He graduated from Hyattsville High
School in 1941 and his parents,
Amelia and Herman Morauer, live
at 5319 Riverdale road where the
lieutenant spent his leave.
Evening star., 1944-12-17
82ds Newspaper
Louds Dutch Aid in
Niimegen Capture

Pvt. James S. Wells, former
Central High School student,
sent a copy OF a small, four
page newspaper, the All-Amer-
ican Paraglide, which was
printed by de Gelderlander-
Press" in Nijmegen. Placed in
a box on the papers front page
is the following: Dutch Pa
triots give brochure to All
American Liberators. This pa
per is made available to troops
of the 82d Air Borne Division
and their families through the
generosity of the citizens of
Nijmegen, Netherlands. As far
as we know. it's the only paper
Of its kind in Holland. We ex-
press our gratitude and thanks
to the Dutch people, whose as
sistance in this campaign has
been immeasurable."
Pvt. Wells father arrived
home a month ago after serving
% months in the South Pacific
with a tank destroyer outfit.
Evening star., 1944-12-17
Coast Guurdsmen Tell
Of Leyte Liberation

The Japs told the Filipinos Of
Leyte that the Americans had de-
serted them, two Washington coast
guardemen, John R. Sipple and JOS
eph B. Ross, told correspondent.
1T was worth years pay to
watch those tired, happy little people
come out of the hills they said.
The ones who welcomed us said
the Nip defenders-some of them
among the troops that seized Ba-
taan-fled in terror at the approach
of the feet october 20. We gave the
Flipinos food, tobacco and candy.
They were thin and had suffered
much. Guerrillas exchanged old
rifles for modern carbines and re-
turned to the hills with grenades
to press the attack"
Evening star., 1944-12-17

I'd dtlOA ScA ~, VA
25O9 Rhode Is
land avenue N.
E.,a and Reeder
Glenn Nichols.
Army Air Force,
Of 3617 N e W
Hompshire ave-
nue. NV, were
promoted to col
onels recently.
Col. Newhart
is on duty in the
Pacific, attached
to the Signal
Section of the
5th Amphibious
Evening star., 1944-12-17

ing-I know what war is. know
what Jap bullets feel like, too, be-
cause I was wounded once in the
leg only to be sent back to be
wounded again. I'll always carry a
reminder of what / went through
for those I love-a Japanese bullet
In my foot
We're doing it for you Ameri-
cans-don't let us down. Let us
know that you're behind us by not
complaining about the things you
have to 60 without. We're doing it
for YOU, can't you do as much for
us9 Buy War Bonds"
Evening star., 1944-12-17

though we knew our Mustangs and
Thunderbolts were in the vicinity
Then $50 Messerschmitts and
Focke-Wulfs dropped in out of the
sun. They dove. My tail-gunner
said he thought only 40 or SO at
tackers got through our formation
Nazis Attack Is Abreast.
II was flying No, 3 position in the
high squadron of the low group
and it was this low group that took
the brunt of the German attacks
The Germans aimed at the lead
bombers first, coming down in three
waves, lined up Is across and 6
deep.
THE first pass was over in 80
seconds.
They had hit our lead Fortress
I saw its wing tips burning, and it
began to fall like dead weight. The
bomber flying our right took a direct
hit in its gas tank and did wing
over, falling to pieces as it went
down. Another Fort blew up right
under us. A million small chunks of
metal went flying through the air
THE boys flying those bombers
were old friends Of mine. From all
that mess We saw only half a dozen
parachutes coming out of the Forts.
II was wondering how the Ger
mans missed us, when they answered
the question for me. They hit us
in the tail, and our ship went
straight up. stalled, and then went
down in tight spiral. We lost 5000
feet before We leveled off again.
Help Comes at Last.
Seconds later, the P-51s came
streaking to our aid. The Germans
paid high price for that short at
tack on my formation. Crewmen
on my plane shot down four of the
Huns for sure and probably dam
aged number Of others.
"'Oomoreeage' was doing only 100
miles ground speed when we leveled
off after the fight. Our control
cables had been shot away, with six
hits in the tail section, two big holes
in the right wing and additional
hits in the gasoline tanks.
The tail gunner clicked bombs
out of the bomb bay with a Jack
knife. and when he came forward
to tell me he couldn't reach the
bombs on one side. his face was
dead white. He had taken off his
oxygen mask in order to work more
quickly, and was on the verge of
losing consciousness.
One Mustang escorted us as far
as the Rhine, and the fax gunners
were paying flattering attention to
us up there all alone I put the
bomber down in turnip patch, just
7 miles from the German lines. The
French greeted us with bottle of
wine. Pockets of German resist
ance were all around and snipers
were supposed to be only couple of
hundred yards from where we
landed. =
I'VE stayed in France for some
days, while our bomber was being
repaired, and took our wounded
waist gunner to Paris for treatment
When we got back to our base
there were many new faces in the
barracks.
1t. Heironimus was a maintenance
inspector for the B. F. Saul real
estate firm here and was graduated
from Eastern High School in Feb
.ruary, 1889. His parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. r. L. Heironimus, live at the
K street address.
Evening star., 1944-12-17

has electricity and a comfortable
hotel that Gen. Rommell previously
occupied. Yesterday spent my day
OF in the dentists chair and in 9
beauty parlor-and I have a French
permanent. Bought some perfumes
at very reasonable prices.
"Wednesday we went into a coun-
tryside full Of German snipers. Our
men needed everything In the club
mobile from writing paper to
matches. They hadn't set up mess
kitchen yet, so hot coffee and
doughnuts were treat. There were
about 80 old friends from Scotland
days there and all remembered
me. The colonel worried about us
being there and hurried us along
with guards, but nobody even shot
at us. Must climb into that clubmo-
bile and start cooking"
Last week near the front shells
were passing over our heads. The
boys had been pulled back for a
rest. I volunteered to make the
coffee that day-a big job for so
many coffee-drinking Yanks. Of
now to cook for men who yester-
day took their objective, Any day We
can expect to move on"
Censorship has relaxed a bit, so
I can tell of where I've been. At
Morlaix / had a first-row seat for
the battle for Brest. - Three of
us were asked to serve a front Line
observation post on a high prom
ontory across the bay. Our binocu-
lars brought the scene close up. We
heard the incessant boom and crash
of shells. For the most part the
battle moved too fast for the club
mobiles. On one occasion we flew
over the lines in a Piper Cub" 20
Il spent playtime in Paris
Since we move farther from the
capital all the time we spend mos,
of our days of In a jeep. riding tc
and fro. Clothing is terribly expen-
sive in Paris.
Yesterday near the front fired
big gun. I thought my eardrums
would break We were serving an
artillery outfit.
only rarely-on cold morning
or after I've gone without bath fol-
a week or more-do I get fed UP and
bit homesick."
X X
We have been in convoy travel
ing to Belgium. I'll never forget
the trip We slept in the clubmo-
bile. l tossed for the counter. IL
feet long and about that wide. MY
neck tells me that although I won
lost. Lee and Ora slept on boot
lockers and platforms with sleeping
bags. Many clubmobiles were SC
packed the girls had to sleep ir
the rain and cold, some under Their
vehicles. 1t was thrill every morn
ing when the convoy started and
exciting driving in It.
I'VE have fine quarters now
steam heat and running water. Two
Evening star., 1944-12-17

I counted IL bullets within a foot
of where I slept. I've slept in holes
so full of water my entire body
was covered.
I've dug hole with my helmet
in an ants nest and slept the night
there because my orders were to
stay where I was. During the night
I was bitten by so many ants and
mosquitoes that my body soon lost
all feeling.
Il have gone for three days with
nothing to eat but q can of hash
while / was fighting on the front
lines. Then, when we did eat, 1t
Evening star., 1944-12-17

HenG u o u p
formation that
raided Central
G e r m a n y, an
9th Air Force
dispatch from
England al d
Here is his story.
1--WE were Is
minutes fro m
our targ e t !.
which was COW
cred by soupy
clouds.
:" w e W e r e
without fighter
s,Ipn0rt. at. the
-, n ~ o~t o1
Evening star., 1944-12-17

addressed to the naval commander
of that task force
When his platoon was pinned
down in a draw, Pvt. Long was un-
able to establish radio communica-
tions because of the deep defile they
were in, the citation said. Since it
was imperative to contact the COM
pany commander. Pvt. Long climbed
up the bank of the draw and, in full
view of the enemy and under direct
Evening star., 1944-12-17

enemy IRE, eS-
tablished con =
tact and neceS-
sary action was
taken to stop an
enemy attempt
to overrun the
platoon. it said.
G a pit Waller
was cited for his
aggressive lead
ership' as COM
manding officer
of the U. S. S.
Tuscaloosa prior
to and during
the amphibious
i n V a S on Of
Evening star., 1944-12-17
1t. Col. c. R. Connolly
Now on Inactive List

BALTIMORE.-Lt. Col. Charles
R. Connolly of 2 Montrose avenue.
Chevy Chase, the officer credited
with organizing the Army's War
Bond sales program in this country,
has been reverted to inactive status.
He received a certificate of COM
mendation for his work. He had
been command War Bond and life
insurance officer since April, 1912.
Evening star., 1944-12-17

tne AIR MEDAL.
Col. James E.
Duke, jr.. soldier
command pilot,
Park
Hotel, now on a
troop c arr l e r
base.
S e on d L t.
Julius H. Tolton,
27, navigator, 1913
B street NE, in
Burma.
First 1t. Carl
f. M a r tin, 27.
bombardier, 2422
T h irty third
S t re e t Sc, in
Fnplapd
Evening star., 1944-12-17

the DIG:
First 1t. w. C. Norris, bombar-
dier. los Barron street, Takoma
Park, Md, now in England.
Marine Capt. Duncan E. Slade,
26, cargo-plane pilot.
First 1t. Cletus T. Hord, 9Th
Army Air Force, 6645 Georgia ave-
hue NV.
Staff Sergt John J. Richmond,
9th Army Air Force, GOT Varnum
street NV.
Dropped Supplies to Troops.
Capt. Slade was cited for plotting
his unarmed cargo plane at low
level to drop vital supplies to
marines encircled by Japs on New
Georgia Island from July IS to 25,
l943. Previously he had won a let
ter of commentator from Admiral
Halsey for the same feat.
Marine Capt. James H. P. Gar
nett, 26, son of DR.. and Mrs. A. Y.P.
Evening star., 1944-12-17

have been, but they gladly gave
their lives to keep America and
their loved ones safe.
did they stop for a minute to
think about hardships? They die
not I've heard men pray earnestly
mot for themselves but for their
folks back home and for all the
American people. I've talked with
men who said they would rather
be in a far-away country going
through those horrors than to have
their parents sleep for one night in
foxhole in America.
"one morning (on. GuadalcanaD
Evening star., 1944-12-17

was nothing but dehydrated pota-
toes. I've worn the same clothes
two months. I've drunk and filled
my canteen from a stream only to
walk on few feet and see dead,
bloated bodies of American marines
and Japanese soldiers.
I'VE sat on the beach at Guadal-
canal and watched japanese ships
unload troops for about 90 hours
and we could do nothing because
we had no planes with which to
block thee attack.
I'm nS Dragging or complain
Evening star., 1944-12-17

d. u. bIttehbendsr. as foreman of
the aircraft division at the Engi-
neering & Research Corp.
His parents, Mr.. and Mrs. John
Bittenbender, live at eos North
Wayne street, Arlington, Va. His
wife, Mrs. Mary A. Bittenbender,
reide at the Thirty-second place
address.
Evening star., 1944-12-17
Mess Officer Proised

A Palau dispatch credits Second
1t. Stephen j. Toranich, 43, of 1922
Ninth street NE. with finding
enough steak and fixings for the
marines 169th birthday anniver-
sary dinner at a I'd Marine Air
Wing encampment where he Is
mess officer.
Evening star., 1944-12-17
Were Doing for You-Don Let Down. Says Wounded Marine

In a letter to The Star relating
his experiences in the hope that
it will remind the people of Wash
ington of why they are buying
War Bonds" Corpl c. A. Lambert,
U. 8. M. c., of tbs Kennebec ave-
nue, Takoma Park. Md, declared:
I'll tell you how the fighting
men feel about war. I know. I'm
a marine and was a machine gunner
with the first marines on Tulagi
and Guadalcanal.
I've seen my pals die, shot down
IN cold blood by. my side. They
we're afraid to die just as you would
Evening star., 1944-12-17

w II z IL we
b o a r d e d our
transport planes,
I felt like there
were thousands
of little butter
fys in my stom-
ach. I had what
seemed like a
thousand pounds
strapped on here
and there.
u V e + the
coast of Holland
e v e r y tn | n g
looked so peace
full and quiet
Evening star., 1944-12-17

33 missions in
the E op can
theater of oper-
ations, on his
last raid over the
heavily defended
H a m b urg oil
| dumps.
The Riverdale
| (Md.) lieutenant
who wears the
DFC and Air
| Medal with three
| Oak Leaf Clus-
| tiers is now at
| the AAF redis-
| tribution station
| far a conplete
Evening star., 1944-12-17

1dIlletI, CneVy
Oh ase Clu b,
Oh Wy Chase,
Md, received a
CO m m endation
for his work as
an artillery Of
hcer during the
G u a m c a m
paign.
1t, John Burke
Wilkinson, U. S.
N. R., 1920 Res
erv OR roa d
NV, also was
cited for dis
p ! a yin g out
standing knOWl-
Evening star., 1944-12-17

JOUVIICIII L 7 dIIOS III mug uoU, I5ff.
Col. Wheeler commanded a "het-
erogeneous group of units ranging
from assault amphibian tractor bat
talions to service organization with
a total personnel far exceeding that
of any other single unit in the opera
Evening star., 1944-12-17

orator crewman,
1904 P e n n S VI
vania a v e n.u e
Sc.
Marine Capt.
Walter F.. ia
cobs. jr., dive
bomber pilo t,
1911 r ow | and
place NV, in
the Central Pa
cifc area.
S e on d 1t.
Charles E. Ma
thews, naviga-
tor. 1880 P street
NV, In the
Central Pacific
Evening star., 1944-12-17

at the Naval Air
Technical Train
ing Center, Nor
man, Okla, ac-
C o r ding to q
Navy release.
Seaman B j t.
tenbender grad
u a t e d from
Washington and
Lee High School
and attended the
Univ ersity of
Virginia. Before
e n t ering the
Navy last May,
he was employed
Evening star., 1944-12-17

ton, the cita-
tion said. He
landed on Tin
ian under heavy
mortar fire and
undertook t h e
task of locating
the units under
his com m a n d
a n d supervised
t h e ir commit
ment to the in
dividual opera
t ION S assigned
them.
Col. G. a arn e Y
"distingu i S h e d
Evening star., 1944-12-17
Weinberg in ireland

Corpl Lawrence Weinberg of f77e
Lyman place NE. is an instrument
specialist at large modification
and repair depot of the Air Service
Command in Ireland
Evening star., 1944-12-17

bIlC ALI MeUdl.
Corpl. David
j. B ra d f rd,
4458 @ u arle S
S t r e e t NE,
member of a
18th AAF heavy
b o m b a rdment
group, has re-
ceived the Dis
tinguished Unit
Badge and one
Bronze Star.
Pfc. Frank l.,
Weisbacker, %,
$500 A d d o n
road, Seat Pleas
ant, Md, has
Evening star., 1944-12-17
Longest FLAX Alley
Nearly Drops Fort

RICHMOND, Va.-"There was IL
minutes of solid flax" This was the
comment of First 1t. Richard C.
Morauer. Bit pilot and veteran of
Evening star., 1944-12-17

turret gunner, 1888 Colorado avenue
NV, has received the Second Air
Medal. He is stationed in England.
The following men have received
Evening star., 1944-12-17

a fourth oak
leaf cluster to
the Air Medal.
He was cited
for extraordi-
n airy achieve
ment during 9Th
Air Force pomb-
er escort and
strafng missions
and for destroy
ing an enemy
plane on a fight
er combat oper-
alton over Ger
many.
-Four other To-
cal men receiYed