Laurel outlook., 1944-08-16
Letters From
Our Boys
and Girls

bardment group on a liberator base
in England. Sergeant Slater has
been overseas for % months.
"The all-important job of a heavy
bombardment group is to drop
bombs-as many bombs as possible
on the target" said Col. John H..
Gibson of Hinsdale, Ill, who com-
mands this veteran liberator group.
"Not everyone can be in the air,
but everyone has an important part
in the bomb dropping, and every job
is necessary"
This group has done a good deal
of bomb dropping since the COM
mencement. of the battle from Bri-
tian. Well into it's second humid
redth string of missions, its blows
have been felt in nine separate
countries. Operating from wide
swept airfields in England and sand
bound bases in Africa, its men have
shot hundreds of enemy airplanes
from the sky and have helped to
destroy the plants that urn out the
requirements for these losses. Par
ticipating in the first breathtaking
low level attack on the Ploesti oil
fields in Romania, it helped to make
air force history. Berlin and other
vital German cities are an old
story. Every member of the group
wears the distinguished unit badge
with oak leaf clusters and a former
commanding office, Brig. Gen. Leon
w. Johnson, of Moline, Kan, holds
the congressional medal of honor,
won for valor displayed while with
this group.
"Such an impressive record could
not have been established without
the uttermost cooperation of every
one of the station" said Col. Glib
son.
In the Letters mail this week
there was one from cherry Rudy
Frank of the marine corps. He is
at Oceanside, Calf, and told about
a U. S. o. show he and the others
had enjoyed. He created quite a
headache when he presented the
perplexing matter of relationship re
sulting from a girl marrying her
step-mother's brother. The editors
give up.
S. H. IBud) Paronto, Mo.M.M. Sc,
Norfolk, Va, Aug. 6:
Just a line to thank all for the
good old home paper and to say
hello to all my friends. l have
received the paper regularly since
l have been here, and appreciate
it very much.
| was fortunate to have the COM ,
panionship of my friends Jim Gu 1
sick, Ed Speare and Harold Shearer 4
while l was home on leave. 1t was I
swell to be with them, and We real }
ly had a nice time. }
Our many friends in Laurel treat }
ed us swell. One incident | am /
referring to was a big T-bone steak
Georgia Green and her mother 1
for us. How about that, 1
fellows? }
My job here is with engines on }
landing craft. l recently volun- J
for a unit to go overseas, Z
but | was told it will be some time }
ready. }
You fellows and gals over there J.
are doing a really fine job, and we 4
who are fortunate to be stationed 4
in the U. S. are proud of you all. (
We are hoping and praying that :
this thing ends soon and that you }
can get back to Gods country again. J
So lots of luck to you, and may ]
God send you on a safe and speedy /
to America =
C. C. (Chuck) Giblin, sc. &C., 4
Farragut, Ida, Aug. z:
l have been receiving the paper :
and certainly do appreciate it, just }
ike the others who have gone into )
the service from Laurel.
On my return from boot | was i
put in ships company at Farragut.
[ may be here 80 days. At present :
am cooking at the chief petty J
club, and l like it fine. }
The men l work with are all form
er restaurant men. Each has play i
ed an important part in civilian life /
going into the navy, so you {
see that working with fellows like ]
hat is really a pleasure.
1 was informed today that my i
Bob was awarded the Dis |
;inguished Flying Cross for the :
navy and was promoted to full lieu ;
,enant the first of July. He spent }
our days in. Laurel about 10 months J
lgo.
1 have run into Laurel fellows i
quite often since l have been here. /
The run of the war news the last :
days seems to indicate we all ;
nay be home before long.
T. Sgt. Phil Vanberg, New Gui-
lea, Aug. 1:
This is a delayed thanks note Pm
even though a little late.