davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-10-01

II Aug,-Had letter from Larry
yesterday; don't guess he'll have a
chance to do much writing for
awhile; in one of my trips I ran
onto several German staff cars that
had been wrecked, so we took out
the seats and brought them back to
use as chairs-works out very nicely.
Saw Going My Way" in England
before coming over; wish I might
see it again.-Walter.
"A Aug.-One thing about being in
France-it's lot cooler than at
home In august. Right now it's a
nice, cool evening with the sun
about two hours before setting. I'm
sitting in front of my tent which is
on the brow of a sloping hill and am
able to look across q valley almost
as It I were looking from a plane.
The horizon is about miles away,
guess, and below is just a wide ex-
panse OF green fields and beyond is
9 blur into the blue further away.
Can't think of seeing view like this
at any time in the States; it's some
thing like view of the Blue Ridge
over in Virginia except that the hills
aren't as high and the effect is that
OF gentle rises and smoother con-
tours. These French people
have q lot of livestock geese, tur-
keys, pigs, some COWS and chickens
I'm having to look out and see that
no fryers become casualties to some
OF the men who can't resist tempta-
ton. We're getting newspapers
every two or three days: have been
following the sad plight Of the SEN
ators--I had high hopes for them
Walter.
Evening star., 1944-10-01
Brothers Letters Logged Reveal Keen Interest Reactions Typical Thousands

IS Nov.-So pleased to receive the
checker-chess set; Dad, you'd better
get your game polished up, we're
getting pretty good.-Walter.
20 Nov.-Played cribbage together
on the boat coming over. Weather
is quite damp now-much like Cali
fornia when I was there.-Walter.
81 Nov.-I saw Walt; he's well.
Don't worry about anything I got
down to London for Thanksgiving;
it's quite city.-Lawrence.
Dec.-We're getting used to using
British money, driving on the wrong
side of the road, to their customs
and habits; they seem to be getting
used to us, too, smoothly ly.-Walter.
8 Dec.-Got down to London; the
subways are so deep underground /;
they have amazingly long escalators
Lawrence.
2l Dec.-Received your Christmas
box few days ago. Had a nice sur
prise when Larry called me from
London; he's coming down to see me
tomorrow. Have been busy for
Christmas carols; the chaplain
wants me to play the organ in one
of the large churches downtown in
January. Last week a group of us
went to Stratford- on-Avon Walter.
% Dec.--Larry called me yester-
day: he's been in Scotland; gave
him half of the Christmas box when
he came, to take back with him to-
night. Walter.
80 Dec. Christmas was the best
ever except being home with you.
Walt played Christmas carols for all
the services and for the kiddies
Evening star., 1944-10-01
3 From Here in Unit
Called 'krauf Killers :

Eight Washington men were with
a 9Th Army infantry regiment which
smashed the Gustav and Hitler
Lines in Italy and chased the Ger
mans from the Garigliano to the
.Arno River.
This outfit, known as the "Kraut
Killers" gained total of 95 miles
In As days Of actual combat. At
Maenza one platoon ambushed an
entire German armored company
attempting to fee the town. After
the capture Of Palaia and San
Miniato, during a smash to the
south bank Of the Arno River, one
platoon beat of eight German
counterattacks of near-battalion
strength while holed up in a house
at Calenzano.
The names Of the local men serv-
ing with this regiment follow:
Pvt. Thomas j. Gonnella, 11l4
Trinidad avenue NE, litter bearer;
Pvt. Martin Posner, $40 Concord
avenue NV, litter bearer; Pvt
Phillip ]. MCGUIRE, 1887 Twenty
fourth street Sc, machine gunner;
Second 1t. Alonzo r. Newman, 51S
Ninth street NE; Second 1t. Ralph
c. Cole. 1888 Lamont street NV,
platoon leader; Sergt. Edward s.
Bower, COLL Nevada avenue NV.
antitank gunner; Pfc. James B.
Bryant, 420 Seventh street S.W,
rifleman, and Pfc. Groves H. Powell,
All Nicholson street NV, cannoneer
Evening star., 1944-10-01

whom the soldiers entertained at
Waits camp. I got my first letter
from you yesterday.--Lawrence.
P. S.: Tell D. to take care of my
niece Cor nephew. Looks like the
Senators ought to have a good ball
team this season.
Feb.-It's hard to realize that
over there is real live daughter.
- I've a piano in the club to play
and I've been brushing up little
Walter.
Feb.-Have been getting your
letters steady by jerks, usually i've
or so. Am glad to see Army doing
so well in sports. I'm an uncle now;
twas a hard fight, but I finally
made it.-Lawrence.
20 Feb.-Still haven't gotten to
London Went to Cardiff and
Wales last week, to Hereford this
week. an agricultural and farming
country. It's the original shire
where the white-faced Hereford
cattle came from. Went over to my
British majors home tonigh. and
played Chopin waltzes and pre-
ludes. s.-Waltel
10 March-Seldom 60 to the "cin-
en1a." Rather stay here and listen
to the wireless very good
when three of your letters came yes
terday.- Walter.
40 Observation-Disclosures annual West
Point dinner; twas very pleasant
evening, well arranged: three Of my
classmates were there and several of
my instructors whom ! knew slight
ly. Walter.
20 April-Five days In London,
Evening star., 1944-10-01
Evans Blasts Nazi Guns
After Fellow Pilot Is Hif

First 1t. Francis T. Evans. fighter
pilot from Wellington Villa. Alex
andria, Va. saw a fellow-pilot hit
by falkland saw red.
According to a 9th Air Force dis
patch, 1t. Evans bombed the
Jerry gun position, strafed another
and dive-bombed third. All three
positions were silenced. Between 20
and 80 personnel were killed.
The pilot whom 1t. Evans
avenged" parachuted safely to
earth.
IT'S good thing he wasn't one
OF Evans buddies," said Col. Kleine,
who led the unit on the raid, "else
Evans would have parked his plane
and gone after the Germans with
his bare hands. never did see a
man get SO fighting mad"
1t. Evans father is Marine Col.
Francis Thomas Evans, retired, now
at Quantico, Va.
Evening star., 1944-10-01


sance and in the occupation of
Green and Emirau Islands, the ci-
tation continues.
Staff Sergt Donald D. Zito, 3343
Eighteenth street NV, has been
awarded the Bronze Star for his
excellent work as a mess sergeant
for q months in the Southwest Pa
cific area.
Maj. Lloyd N. Johnson, Langley
Field Va, has won the Bronze Star
for heroic achievement" in the
Southwest Pacific theater.
Pfc. John D. Kendall, 1914 Ca
thedral avenue NV, has received
the Bronze Star for heroic" ac-
ton with the 34th Red Bull Di-
vision of the 5th Army front in Italy.
when his company commander re-
ceived serious wound which neces-
STATED his immediate evacuation to
an aid station, Kendall volunteered
to take him back. The long, haz-
ardous route was being subjected to
heavy enemy fire, but Kendall ar
rived safely with the wounded Of
ficer," the citation states.
Four men have received the Air
Medal. Staff Sergt: Henry D. Elsea,
son of Mrs. Julia A. Elsea, Paris,
Va, won his as tail gunner with a
Evening star., 1944-10-01
War Dog, Missing in Action,
Located in New Outfit

Pal. a German shepherd marine
devildog, handled by Pfc. Ben F.
Dickerson III of Alexandria, Va,
got lost while working "off leash"
with mop-up patrol of marine in
fantrymen after an intensive at
tack above Agana on Guam.
When Pal alerted, the patrol
moved up to find II dead Japs. The
alert also told them that more Japs
were around-and quite alive. The
Japs opened up and Pfc. Dickerson
with the rest Of the patrol, sought
cover in hurry. Intent on his
quarry, Pal moved on forward, out
OF sight of the patrol.
Il had given up hope of ever see-
ing him again. Pfc. Dickerson tolo
a Marine Corps correspondent, Sc
it was a happy day for me when
was told I would find Pal with some
fellows in an antiaircraft battery
over on Orote Peninsula"
Pfc. Dickerson and Pal have beer
training, fighting and living to-
gether for IA months. They Went
overseas on February 81, 1914, anc
this was their first campaign.
Before enlisting in the Marine
Corps, Pfc. Dickerson, who is 20
worked on a Washington newspaper
His parents, Mr.. and Mrs. B. F
Dickerson, live at Is Wyatt avenue
Alexandria.
Evening star., 1944-10-01

as Count" and told him the title
properly belonged to, him and his
father. Then 1t. Bello met the head
Of the family-his grandmother
who traced the long line of Italian
nobility and posted him on family
records back to the 18th century.
A noted literary kinsman was Wit
torio Alfieri.
The young American, like his
father, Is going to retain just plain
Mister before his name on formal
occasions when he gets back home.
1t. Bello graduated from George
town College in 1880 and from the
Georgetown Law School in 1888, and
before entering the Army he was
supervisor and beach commissioner
for the city Of Stamford. He went
overseas in June, 1943, and was as
signed in North Africa to the psy-
Geological warfare section. He went
to Sicily In September and to Italy
in November, l943. His wife lives in
Stamford.
Evening star., 1944-10-01

get to Paris. 1t was funny to see
the expressions on the MP's faces
when our convoy would drive by,
and spotted girls driving the trucks.
Then they would holler."
The towns, Miss Briggs wrote,
were Horribly" devastated, and
were So full of GIs that you could
hardly see Frenchmen for looking" "
Our first lunch in beautiful Paris
was quite impressive. After the
food of Normandy, which. was
plentiful, we expected something on
the same order-particularly when
we saw the linen, paper napkins,
walters in stiff shirts, etc.
THE first course was some 10
in-1 pork loaf served from a silver
dish, with a knife-and-fork wrist
movement: then some nice hot c.
rations, also from a silver dish; 4;
and for dessert, a small tin of c.
ration biscuits, candy and sugar !!
Plenty Of coffee, service and prac-
tice in speaking French to go along
with it.
1T is fun to sit here and watch
the world 60 by. The women, for
the most part, are beautifully
dressed and made up. I had heard
about the chic of French women,
but you really have to see it to
believe 1t. The hats are tremend-
Gus affairs. Their hair looks superb,
very well groomed.
II had lots of fun wearing my
blue battle dress complete with
trousers and jump boots. They
caused a lot Of comment. I mis-
placed my purse for one day, and
nearly decided to charge for having
my picture taken as La jeune file
a la Croix Rouge American"
Miss Briggs is the daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. G. A. Briggs. A story
of her impressions Of battle-weary
troops returning to England from
France was printed in the August
20 Star.
Evening star., 1944-10-01

1t Is q delightful, meandering
stream. Have visited Avignon,
Salon, st. Tropez, Toulon and Mar
sellles.
Most places here have not been
as war stricken as Africa and Italy.
Salon is sleepy little town, TYPICAL
ly French. AK is a beautiful small
city-ouiet and peaceful, with side
walk cafes, beer and wine. You sit
at a table and look at the good
lockers going by. Marseilles, on the
other hand, is a dirty, bustling.
commercial city, big and sprawling.
There is very nice Red Cross Club
where they serve coffee and French
pastry-very good!"
Sergt. Shenker is cryptographer
with the 18th Tactical Air Com
mand. Before enlisting in the
Army in October, 1941, he was with
the State Department and Federal
Works Administration as an oper-
ating engineer.
Evening star., 1944-10-01
D. {. Marine One Of Five
Who Killed 10 Japs

Pfc. Soterios G.. Nicholson, son of
Mr.. and Mrs. George N. Nicholson
5405 North Capitol street, who
landed on Guam the day after the
assault landing, was one of five ma
rines who killed 10 Japs in the hills
Of Mount Tenjo, marine combat
correspondent reported.
Pvt. Nicholson and Pfc. John Lom-
bardi. of Salt Lake City. Utah, were
left at the top of ridge on Mount
Tenjo to cover Pfc. Daniel Miro of
Milford. Mass, and Pfc. Holger
Sparwath of Plainfield, N. j.. as they
went down into the valley, where
Sergt. George W. Spears of Attica
N. Y, had been left to hold of five
Japs who hid in the bushes and took
cover in a cave.
While Sergt. Spears, Pvt. Miro
and Pvt, Sparwath flushed the Japs
from the cave, killing six of them,
Pvt. Nicholson and Pvt. lombard
on the ridge accounted for the other
four,
Evening star., 1944-10-01

usually very neat ca writing makes
quite mess.-Lawrence.
8 May-Have been following WIS
fortunes In baseball; still think they
ought to win the pennant; we get
full sports coverage on baseball the
day after games are played, almost
as good as home
II June Somewhere in N. Africa
Looks like the big show is on;
reckon Walt must be quite busy. ]
wish I were with him, but it didn't
work out that way. My last letter
from him was about a month ago
Lawrence.
II June.-Just to let you know
I'm all right -. France is Just
one field bounded by hedge after
hedge.-Walter.
~ June somewhere in N. Africa
The odors in the village quar-
ters about town really have to be
smelled to be appreciated. Aren't
many camels around. The dogs are
varied. from the most rnongrel OF
ours to an occasional mutt with OBJ
viously pedigreed ancestors: am
having q hard time explaining why
Evening star., 1944-10-01
DC. Man on Guam Aided
In Rescue Of Wounded

GUAM Delayed.-Their job was
to get ammunition and supplies to
the front lines. This they did.
But when a wounded man needed
help Corpl. Thomas A. Bowles, jr,
Of 2244 Nicholson street Sc. WASH
ington, and Pvt. Willie Moore Of
Lubbock, Tex. turned their truck
into an ambulance and themselves
into stretcher bearers, according to
q Marine Corps dispatch.
Corpl. Bowles steered his motor
transport truck through 200 yards
OF falling Jap artillery to reach the
injured man. driving the truck into
. clump Of bushes to pick up the
casualty. A man nearby was killed
by enemy mortars.
Evening star., 1944-10-01

three with Larry; spent half day in
Westminster Abbey; saw House of
p, Big Ben, Buckingham r., Tower
Of London, st. Paul's Cathedral and
Nine. rs Wax Museum, to mention
some Of the points of interest; saw a
score of my classmates. - WASH
ington's baseball team ought to be
really In the fight for the pennant
this year. Must be lovely over
here when trees and flowers are
out.-Walter.
4 April-At last I've something
fairly interesting to write you about,
so here goes wanted to see as
much OF England as possible during
a weeks leave. At the Isle of Wight,
also Wales dropped in on Walt, sur
prised him); next morning left for
Liverpool and Wales, the new Liver
pool Cathedral is yet building; It's
central tower It's feet up, and since
there are no pillars the height Is
more surprising; stained glass win
dows by far the biggest I've seen;
continued on to London, met Wall
there.-LaWrence.
as April - Please excuse this
post ONCE pen; combined with my
Evening star., 1944-10-01

two. Their home Is at LOG c
street NE.
Early this month, Corpl. William
Vermillion, with the infantry in
France. was about to drive his jeep
away when some one shouted at him
to stop. He turned to find his
brother Gordon, who had landed in
France on D day. During the after
noon which they spent together they
found that they had been only a
few miles away from each other
during most of the drive across
France.
Corpl. Vermillion, 38, was an elec-
trio crane operator at the Navy
Yard prior to entering the Army a
year ago: He wrote his wife: IF
the boys at the yard could see how
we're using the guns they're making,
they'd realize how important their
work is" His wife and 7-year-old
daughter live at 1702 Bay street Sc.
Sergt. Vermillion, 26, has been in
the Army three years. He makes
his home with his sister, Mrs. Helen
Miller. 51C)0 N street SE
Evening star., 1944-10-01
Nozi Artillery Shells
Rout Celebrunts

A couple Of wayward German
artillery shells cut short Sergt.
Court p. Aliens first celebration
in Rome, the Washington soldier
reported on the 5th Army front in
Italy.
Sergt. Alien was "just preparing
to toast the fall of Rome shortly
after we marched in, when German
artillery beyond the Tiber started
throwing 'em at u.s." he told later.
I'VE tried to ignore the first two
rounds, but when third de-
molished parked jeep right up
the street from us we made for a
convenient cellar" .te#F
The toast was finished later.
Before enlisting in the Army two
years ago Sergt. Allen was en-
ployed as a section chief with the
Department of Justice. His mother,
Mrs. Aida E. Allen, lives at Mclean
Gardens.
Evening star., 1944-10-01

b. N o n c u r e,
Arm y Nurses
Corps, is serv-
ing as a physio-
therapy aide In
an A m e r ! c a n
hospital h re.
S h e is the
daughter OF Mr..
and Mrs. Or
lando S. Mon
cure, % N e W
York av ven u e
NV, and for
merly taught at
w illiam m and
M ary College,
Va. She went
Evening star., 1944-10-01
Father Goes Overseas,
Son Returns for Study

Coxswain Everett NJ. Jolley, 81, OF
1873 Park road NV, was cruising
the Central Pacific in a transport
when his father, Charles William
Jolley, enlisted in the Seabees.
Today his father, a carpenters
mate, is serving in the Central Pa
cific and Coxswain Jolley, who
entered the Navy nearly four years
ago, is studying amphibious warfare
at Coronado, Calf, and most likely
will be sent to the Pacific theater
when he completes his training.
He already has seen action aboard
a cruiser and a destroyer escort in
The North Atlantic and North Pacific.
and aboard transports In the South
and Central Pacific
Evening star., 1944-10-01
Rockville Sergeant in Guard
Honoring French Patriots

Sergt. Tim Pasma, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. H. K. Pasma, Rockville, Md,
served recently as l of IL guards of
honor at burial services for SO
French patriots and American in
fantrymen, killed in the battle of
Besancon, France.
The 40 collins. laid out in two long
rows in the L'Hospital de st. Jo-
seph courtyard, were flag -draped
and fower-laden. The two Ameri-
can collins held places of honor.
Highest personages in the religious,
civil and military life of Besancon
participated in the services.
Evening star., 1944-10-01
Coast Guurdsmon's Ship
DAMAGED by Explosion

Coast Guardsman William E. Pell,
water tender, third class, of 3311
Brothers place Sc, was among the
survivors of an underwater explosion
which ripped a 25-foot hole in the
stern of Coast Guard LIST, killing
81 and wounding % members of the
crew.
His landing ship suffered its first
major damage in more than 18
months invasion duty while on its
18th round trip to the Normandy
beaches. 1t saw its first action at
Bizerte, Tunisia in 1943 and since
has taken part in the invasions of
Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and Normandy
Evening star., 1944-10-01
6. U. Graduate, Now in Italy,
Discovers He's Count BeIIo

Until he visited paternal uncle
in Italy for the first time, recently,
First 1t. Umberto j. Bello, a George
town University graduate from
Stamford, Conn, didn't know he is
legally entitled to be called Count"
"All this won't mean a thing in
America" he told a 18th Air Force
PRO, "but wait until the next time
1 see Pop who kept the secret all
these years"
Pop is Giovanni Bello, who had
entered the United States from
Italy as child and had never dis
cussed his family or background,
When he heard his son had left
North Africa for Italy, he wrote
him to be sure to look up an uncle
who lived in Marno, just south of
VeSuvius.
1t. Bello finally made the visit
and found to his surprise that his
uncle was Count Coli
The uncle addressed the nephew
Evening star., 1944-10-01
Col. Eckert Is Cited
For vaIor;; Other D. C..
Men Granted Awards

Col. Norman j. Eckert, At. of 220
Whittier street NV. has been
awarded the Bronze Star for out
standing services against the Japa-
nese In the South Pacific. His
brother, Col. John P. Eckert, so,
commander of the 153d Field Artil-
lery group, made the presentation
recently in ceremonies at Fort
Bragg, N. c.
Col. Norman Eckert, acting as di-
vision artillery commander of an
infantry division, conducted the fire
OF his unit 'in sound and intelli-
gent manner" the citation stated
I'm spite of serious obstacles and
dimcult terrain. In all operations
he displayed superior qualities Of
leadership and technical skill"
The brothers served az years
overseas and are stationed at Fort
Bragg, Col. Norman Eckert com
mands the 472d Field Artillery
group. Their father, John A.
Eckert, is an executive of the Colum-
bia Paragraph Co. and lives at 3042
Newark street NV.
Kalavitinos Wins DFC.
Staff Sergt. George F. Kalavitinos,
225 Charming street NE, has been
awarded the DFC for "extraordi-
nary achievement in aerial combat"
In the European theater. He is a
waist gunner on B-24 Liberator
bomber and has 80 missions to his
credit,
1t. Comdr William Carey Meloy.
4420 Edmunds street NV, has been
awarded the Bronze Star for "mer-
itorlous service as senior medical
ohicer OF a Marine Defense Bat
talon during operations on Bou-
gainville." He went ashore with the
drst assault waves, Immediately pro-
ceeded to organize emergency hos
pital facilities and despite enemy
IRE and lack of adequate protection
rendered medical aid to large num-
bers of wounded, saving many lives.
the citation states.
capt. 1ulley Shelly, U. S. N,
Wardnan Park Hotel, has received
the Bronze Star for service in the
European theater.
Pfc. John L. Matthews, 1929
Thirty eighth street NV, won the
Bronze Star for action with the
85th Custer" Division on the 5th
Army front in Italy. He is member
OF an artillery survey party.
Capt. Richard A. Danzi, 1923
Chevy Chase boulevard, Chevy
Chase, Md, has been awarded the
Bronze Star for working "tirelessly
under the most disagreeable weather
conditions and under intense she'll
fire to lay wire and maintain the
communications of the battalion"
Comdr. Smedberg Honored.
Comdr. William r. Smedberg III,
U. S. N, 29l4 P street NV, re-
Evening star., 1944-10-01
Brothers Meet on Far Shores

Two pairs of Washington brothers
are convinced It's a small world.
John E. Hughes, jr., specialist
(M), third class, had an unexpected
reunion recently at Pearl Harbor
with his brother Charles, who is a
seaman, second class. And on the
other side of the world in France,
Corpl. William G.. Vermillion found
his brother Gordon, a sergeant In
the ordnance branch.
Seaman Charles w. Hughes serves
aboard a destroyer and not long ago
docked in Hawaii. One of the first
things he did was 60 to the feet
post Office for mail. He thought he
would also inquire about his brother
John, whom he knew to be a mail
clerk in an island post office. His
was complete when he
walked up to the window and John
him his mail.
John has been overseas approx
imately four months: Charles over
Evening star., 1944-10-01


assistant in the Welfare Department
OF the Department of Agriculture
EAGLE MOUNTAIN LAKE. Tex
Second 1t. Jane NJ. Lynn, daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles C. Lynn of
Manassas, Va, has reported for duty
at the Marine Corps Air Station here
as the first woman marine. She
will act as mess officer.
BBONX, N. Y-Three WAVES
have completed their basic course
at the Naval Training School here:
Elizabeth Ryder, 20, hospital ap-
prentice second class, Of 1928
Quesada street NV; Shirley Stapf,
"a, seaman second class, of 62l6
Forty-first avenue, Hyattsville, Md,
and Florence Hunter, 20, hospital
apprentice second class, of 4o13
Evening star., 1944-10-01
Former Circus Stor
Cheers BIitz Children

Corpi. Lawrence w. Robinson,
2602 4 street NV, recently enter
tanned London evacuee children at
an 9th AAF base in England with
an exhibition Of clowning and acro-
battles.
The youngsters. many of them
made homeless by the blitzes and
robot bomb attacks, were guests OF
American soldiers, who saved up
their post-exchange rations for sew
eral weeks to provide candy. chew
ing gum and cookies.
Corpl. Robinson, whose wife and
mother live at the L street address,
formerly was trouper with the
Ringing Bros, Barnum 81 Bailey
Circus. He Is now q sheet metal
worker at B-l7 Flying Fortress
base.
Evening star., 1944-10-01
ENSIGN Streets Leaves

Ensign Wellner c. Streets, 26, son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Streets, 2517
Seventeenth street NV, has left
for Kansas for reassignment after
completing Today leave here He
has been in the Naval Reserve for
six years and received his commits
sion and wings at Pensacola last
April He was graduated from Nc
Kinley High School. A brother,
Corpl. John Streets, is in the Army
| in India.