davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-11-05

low, and to the right. I ducked
into the turret Just as all hell broke
loose right over my head. 1t was as
If Superman were throwing 2-ton
safes at me. Chunks Of heavy metal
came tumbling over us, with a pit
ter-patter of bullets hitting the tank
like rain falling heavily on a rock.
smelled red-hot burning metal
all the while. The impact Of the
shot caused the H. E. 81 shell to 60
off aimlessly, and jammed the tur-
ret.
I shouted to the driver to turn
the tank around. All he could do
was get the tank to limp about 10
feet to the side. Apparently, our
tracks had been hit. Meanwhile the
tank in front Of us was hit.
We were duck meat" I put the
question sequarely to the other three
men in the tank and they said they
would abide by my decision.
+ I ordered the tank abandoned and
started to count-"One. two" and at
three the four of us jumped out.
What a feeling to Jump into the
open with bullets falling all around !!
Retreat Covered by Fire.
The occupants of the first two
tanks had also decided to make a
run for it. Machine gun fire from
the rear tanks covered us. We took
to the sidewalks, hugging close to
the buildings.
All those windows which had ear
lier been closed and shuttered now
showed Heinie holding a gun,
splitting fire at us. What a feeling |!
I asked the bow gunner for my
pistol. He said What pistol?"
There was no time to argue.
We had about 400 yards to 20 to
reach comparative safety. I must
have done the first hundred In about
2 seconds under the worlds record
That was not fast enough, so dis
carded my steel helmet and breezed
down the homestretch.
AS we reached the finish some of
our own gun cars came up to cover
us. Only one Of the 10 OF us was
injured, slight flesh wound in the
hand.
I hoped into the rear of sur
viving tank to report the incident.
1 thought the danger over, but 2
miles. down the road a .30-caliber
machine gun burst hit the turret
near where my face had Just been
The flare of the muzzle burst even
singed my eyebrows. That scared
me more than the events of the
proceeding 80 minutes. OSCAR.
Evening star., 1944-11-05

was. When the shelling began he
took refuge under table, still hold
ing intact the bottle and the glass.
That was how I found him when
was rounding up the strays to pull
out Of that hot spot.
Alert Prevents Shower.
A while ago an opportunity to
catch a hot bath presented itself
but just as was about to take my
clothes off we were temporarily
alerted. No shower.
I think you might be interested to
hear about recent battle expert
ence of mine.
We were ordered to take a certain
locality by force and travelled all
night to reach the destination. Part
of our unit went in to take the place.
I was with the part that remained
on the outside The inside units
condition grew rapidly desperate
and they were finally completely
surrounded.
We sent few light tanks to fire
at the enemy hoping it would divert
attention and allow our men to with
draw.
But there were not enough men
available to man the tanks, so !
offered to be bow gunner" in one
OF them. Soon after We started the
sergeant tank commander asked me
to take over as tank commander. !
had had no previous experience with
tanks, having been in armored cars
for most of my service.
Streets Windows Shattered.
We got to the main street which
extended toward the town square
and was lined with two and three
story buildings, all with shutters
closed. Not soul was on the 40
yard-wide street.
got a spooky feeling OF being
carefully watched.
Suddenly, when the lead tank was
passing side street, a second-story
window directly ahead opened up
and the muzzle of a 20-mm. gun be-
gan to spit. I was in the third tank
That seemed to be a prearranged
signal. for then all hell broke loose
The lead tank was struck and
weaved drunkenly. I ordered my
tank stopped. My gunner let 60 one
shot from our 37-mm. gun that went
right through the second-story WIN
dow. A beautiful shot. I then threw
h1gh-explosive shell In the cham
Der OF the gun for him and started
TO stand up In the turret to direct
light machine-gun fire at snipers.
opened fire on one building, and
| then something hit my tank turret
Evening star., 1944-11-05

owned by a timid, elderly couple
who have been relatively unaf-
fected by the war. They move
about ploddingly, and show no
signs of excitement, even when our
big guns throw an artillery bar
rage right over our heads. Once in
while the vibration breaks a win
dow pane. This causes the old
woman to regard the window with
out show of emotion and mutter
"tsk, tsk."
We use their bedroom by day for
keeping our map situation, and at
night we move into the kitchen so
that the old couple may have some
sleep. The old woman looks much
like Whistler's Mother"
The boys use her dishes for max
ing coffee or bouillon. She washes
the dishes with patience we would
never possess.
Old Woman With Broom.
She brings to mind another little
old lady whom I saw one day when
We were trying to take a town. We
had succeeded in entering with rela-
lively small opposition. But once
we were in the town square, the
enemy began to lay mortar and ar
tillery fire upon us. Naturally, we
were quite busy ducking the shells.
One burst from a Jerry SO nm.
bounced right over my car and cut
a clean hole through astore build
ing directly to my rear.
Meanwhile German snipers in sur
rounding buildings were trying to
qualify for expert with rifles, pistols,
rat guns and 22-mm. machine guns
We were constantly taking cover.
However, In the midst of 1t all, a
little old lady came out of the house
that had been struck, regarded the
hole in the house front sorrowfully,
disappeared inside and emerged a
few moments later with a broom
She then began methodically to
sweep up the rubble in the street
caused by the shell burst.
Hysteria Follows Smelling.
This was different from an ex-
perlence I witnessed when we were
occupying a town we considered
reasonably safe. Jerry did not
agree and kept us scurrying for the
best available cover.
A woman in a house next to our
parking spot suggested that could
enter her house as it was strong and
safe. Just then, shell lobbed over
and made a direct hit on the
house, reducing It to shambles. The
woman became Indignantly hys-
terical, but I believe this was due
more to chagrin over the failure of
the house to resist the shellf1re,
than over her loss.
In this episode, one of my op-
orators was standing in local bar,
indulging In a drink or two and
telling the onlookers how brave he
Evening star., 1944-11-05
MPs Stalk German,
Heavily Armed, in
French Orchard

FRANCE-Corpl. Joseph E.
jenkins of 4805 Forty-seventh
street NV, Washington, D. c.,
and two of his MP buddies sue
cessfully stalked a German in
an orchard.
A French farmer told them a
Nazi, powerfully armed and
well stocked with ammunition,
had been hiding in the orchard
over a month. Closing In from
three sides, the Americans ad-
vanced slowly from tree to tree
without exposing themselves
long enough for a shot to be
fired.
The MPs took the German
without firing a shot. When he
found himself trapped, he
readily surrendered = with a
rifle, three pistols and more
than 5000 rounds of ammuni-
ton.
Evening star., 1944-11-05

Mrs. Mary Twilley, with whom they
lived at 1927 Staples street NE,
Salvatore was in a rest area after
taking part in several invasions
when his brother Frank landed on
the same island.
Salvatore was flown to see his
brother and the two boys had four
days together. Mrs. Twilley be-
lieves the Red Cross aided them.
Both are graduates Of Eastern High
School and were employed at the
Navy Yard.
Two former guards of the Tomb
Of the Unknown Soldier at Airing
ton, First Sergt. Earl W. Sherman,
Laurel, Md, and First Sergt. Zack
Modgenzowski, ran into each other
at the front in Italy. The two had
been constant companions from the
time they met in Arlington in 1941
until they were separated and sent
overseas in 1943.
Sergt. Sherman's wife, Mrs. Doro-
thy Sherman, lives at 3l1 Laurel
avenue, Md.
Sergt. Don Harris Punch, formerly
Of 1881 Fifteenth street NV, and
Sergt. John w. Carrico, 5235 Fifth
street NV, met Unexpectedly in
Ireland. When Sergt. Carrico ar
Evening star., 1944-11-05

behind that tank-and two mag
netic mines on it. We had an ag-
onizing wait for the explosion. Then
we were almost jolted OF the
ground, there was . cloud Of white
smoke ahead and bits Of tank were
rafting on our front. When It
cleared there was the tank ahead
with its turret hatch blown open.
I thought they must all be dead.
But then saw an arm 90 up, grab
the hatch and pull 1t closed.
"But there was another bomb. an
Evening star., 1944-11-05


of friendly Chinese guerrillas. A vet
eran of 38 missions, he is on active
duty again. His wife. Dorothy. and
18-month-old daughter, Donna, live
at the Biltmore address.
Corpl. Robert Doyle, "a, has seen
nearly two years service with the
Quartermaster Corps in Persia.
John, %, who is quartermaster
third class in the Navy. is in the
Mediterranean on a destroyer. He
was home three weeks ago on leave,
after participating in the invasions
OF Italy and Southern France.
Navigator Of B-24 Liberator.
Second 1t. Phalam j. Doyle, 26. re-
Gently was presented the Air Medal
for missions against the enemy in
the Southwest Pacific He has been
overseas with the 18th Air Force
Evening star., 1944-11-05
Nurse Wins Award

First 1t. Amy L. Nickles, first
U. s. Army nurse to land in
France, was presented the
Bronze Star for meritorious
service with an evacuation hos
pital at recent ceremonies in
Belgium. Only one other Army
nurse previously had won the
award In the European Theater,
a dispatch from headquarters
stated.
1t. Nickles, who received her
training at Gallinger Hospital
here, led her unit when 1t land
ed on Normandy beach on D
day plus four. AS operating
room supervisor, she has served
through the Tunisian and ST.
Gillian campaigns.
Evening star., 1944-11-05

women for the service. The station
was first established here in Sep
tember, and 100 enlistees have al
ready been flown to the United
States to receive basic training.
DES MOINES.-Vivian C. Reyn-
olds, daughter Of Capt. and Mrs.
Elijah Reynolds, 603 Kenyon street
NV, recently completed training in
the Army Clerk School here.
BRONX.-Dorothea Jamison, 1924
Evening star., 1944-11-05
Seubees Aid Wounded

Among the Seabees who made
possible the advantages Of modern
disqualification for the wounded on
Guam while the battle was still In
progress were two residents OF
Washington, Chief Boatswain's
Mate William w. Gibb, 301 Delafield
place NV, and Chief Electricians
Mate William G. Stephens, 1907
Seventeenth street NV.
Evening star., 1944-11-05
Menefee Quortermoster
At Marines Airbose

Marine Maj. Melville M. Menefee
OF 16 Vernon terrace, Belle Haven,
Alexandria, Va, has been trans
ferred to the Marine Corps Air Sta
ton, Mojave, Calf, and has been
assigned as quartermaster. He served
II months in the Pacific in q SINH
Lar capacity with marine air wing
Maj. Menefee was life insurance
underwater here prior to entering
marine aviation.
Mrs. Menefee, daughter Of the late
Gen. Henry Grant Learnard, United
States Army, and the Menefee chill
dren, Melvin, 8: Henry, s, and
Charlie, 2, are living at Mojave.
Maj. Menefee is the son of Charles
B. Menefee of Warrenton, Va.
Evening star., 1944-11-05

other explosion, and again the
hatch was blown open and again the
arm went out and pulled 1t closed.
I got them on the radio. Baker, I
said, are you all right? Can you
get 1t started?'
He said yes to both questions.
Il said, Get out Of there before
you stalll His rear end was smok-
Ing as II It were burning up. His
tank turned around and passed US
on the way out. As he went by
he asked on the radio, Say, what
were those explodons7'"
Evening star., 1944-11-05

ulcIIlDtT Ol q
w AC detach-
ment that was
presented with a
large Pallas
Athene plaque
m a de from a
German mortar
shell by a Brit
ish Army cap
tain.
P u E R T O
RICO. Sergt.
Grace McQuail
Is one of four
WACS heading
the recruiting Of
pr erto Rico
Evening star., 1944-11-05

rived at an air force composite sta
ton for further training he found
his buddy there.
The two sergeants worked in the
Government together and had be-
come lifelong friends through their
fathers, Mr.. Oscar Carrico and Mr..
John Punch, who were buddies in
the First World War.
Sergt. Punch Is q graduate of
Central High School and Sergt. Car
rico of Roosevelt.
Frank and James Harris of 4675
Lacy avenue Sc, hadn't seen one
another for over two years when
they met few weeks ago on an
Atlantic island.
Frank, 20, gunner's mate, third
class, had been on the island for
about two years when he heard that
the boat Of his brother, Seaman
Evening star., 1944-11-05

hind, giving the forward tank cover.
We saw q Jap come out Of the house
and run right at the forward tank.
The gunner up there was still firing
tracers and we could see them 20
right through the Jap. and still he
kept going. He grabbed the muzzle
OF the machine gun and depressed
1.-THE tracers still going through
him. The man inside wiggled the
gun and the Jap slowly slid to the
ground.
aBut while this was going on an
other Jap ran around the tank. We
Evening star., 1944-11-05

were there to stop him, but he
passed the sights Of our machine
gun quicker than the gunner could
pull the trigger. He got to the back
OF the forward tank. There our
gunner got him, but not before he
slapped q magnetic mine outside
the tank motor A magnetic mine
Is INT with q magnet which makes
1t cling to steel surface.
Another Jap did the same thing.
We got him-after he had slapped
another mine on the tank ahead.
There were now three dead Japs
Evening star., 1944-11-05

aeQ as enSlgnS
from the Naval
r e S erv Mid
shipments School
and are await
ing their as
S i g n m e nts as
officers in the
WAVES. Th ey
are: Nancy Clay
ton Wilson, 1901
N or t h Four
teenth S TIRE e t,
Arlington; Mary
Elizabeth Kirk
ley, 6337 North
Twelfth street.
q q lie Ch,,rch.
Evening star., 1944-11-05
American Tank Power Told by Marine Back From Pocc

q hidden anti-tank gun they were
trying to get.
We came upon . grass house, /"
he said. The forward tank stopped
only is feet from 1t and fired tracers
into it, trying to burn It. A little
fire started on the side. Quick, q
character ran around the side of
the house, patted out the fire and
was back again before the surprised
man at the tanks machine gun
fired.
my. tank was about IS feet be-
Evening star., 1944-11-05
Woldron and Crumer
In 10th Air Force

Staff Sergt. John F. Waldron, of
Washington and 1t. Francis v.
Cramer of Arlington are attached to
the Flying Grow Squadron Of the
10th Air Force. Sergt. Waldron,
1888 New Hampshire avenue NV,
has Nazi flag souvenir. 1t. Cramer
1000 North Kenesaw street, likes to
play bridge in the Crows Nest,
Evening star., 1944-11-05
Moi. Bennett ASSIGNED

Mai. Bruce H. Bennett Of 2o07
Klingle road has been assigned as
flight surgeon consultant to four
Army general and service forces re-
gional hospitals in the West. it was
announced at Atlantic City head
quarters, AAF Personnel Distribu.
ton Command.
Evening star., 1944-11-05
Local Men Meet
On Distant Shores

Eight local boys in the service
have met brothers and friends over
seas.
Pfc. Salvatore Ciuffreda and his
brother, Fireman (First Glass; Frank
Ciuffreda, recently met in the South
Pacific. According to their sister,
Evening star., 1944-11-05

room, but they
are occupied by
chickens. cows,
hogs that make
all sorts Of love-
ly noises and
smells.
The building
leans far over
and our con-
slant fear is
that one of our
W l d e vehicles
will scrape 1t in
maneu v e r ! NJ &
t h r ough the
narrow lanes.
rN l.
Evening star., 1944-11-05

u. u, Is at
tached to an
Army hospital.
F or m erly Of
Winston Salem,
N. c.. 1t. O'Hara
was stationed in
Washington be-
fore going over
seas.
F r A N G E
Mil DIRE d R.
Quinn, BOT Elm,
Takoma Park,
has been pro-
NOTED to SER
geant. In France
Evening star., 1944-11-05

for seven months. A graduate of
Fordham University, he also at
tended Georgetown University med
ical school here.
Corpl. William Doyle, %, has been
serving in the South Pacific for a
year and a half.
All the Doyle boys were born in
Georgetown and educated in District
schools. They have three sisters.
Peggy and Lorraine live at home,
and Mrs. John Smith resides at
6355 Thirty-first street NV.
Evening star., 1944-11-05

How fearlessly the Japs attack
the machines hunting them down In
Pacific island jungles was related
recently by Capt. Robert w. Blake,
U. s. M. C., now stationed In WASH
ington.
ut will take long time," he said
when asked how long the Pacific
war will last.
Capt. Blake told Of foray into
the jungle one afternoon with the
only two tanks left. They had lost
four that morning-all crippled by
Evening star., 1944-11-05
Five D. {. Area Men
Awarded Flying Cross;
Others Are Honored

Five men from this area recently
received the Distinguished Flying
Cross. according to dispatches.
First 1t. Willard Reed Haines, %,
son of Earl Haines, 916 Sixteenth
street NV, Thunderbolt pilot, now
Evening star., 1944-11-05

Dombardler-nav-
igator with the
14th Air Force
in c h ! n a, was
reported miss
! n g" July 20
after a mission
against the Japs.
He was forced to
bail out of his
B as in tn e
noun t aims Of
China at night.
After travelling
II days by boat,
bus and foot, he
returned to his
hasp with the o{d
Evening star., 1944-11-05

in Belgium; Sec
ond 1t. Eugene
r. Bensey, $500
T h l r t e e n tn
S tire e t NV,
navigator, now
In Italy; Capt,
Thomas F. Ma
gruder, Dicker-
son, Md, pilot,
also in Italy,
and First 1t.
Alan N. Hough-
ton, 20, son of
Mr.. and Mrs.
David H. Hough-
ton, formerly of
w q G y ~, r Sr,,
Evening star., 1944-11-05
ID. c. Soldier lnvudes Town Held by Germans
Burely Escapes When Tanks Are Ambushed

(This letter, by First Sergt.
Oscar Merber, 81, tDas tDritten
to his Dite, Mrs. Ray Lesser
Merber, 1900 r street NV, a
Bureau of Labor Statistics en-
ploye notD on assignment IN
Honolulu
Evening star., 1944-11-05

(Second Glass; James, 18, had
docked there. He went to the har-
Dor and spent the whole day with
him. In q letter home he said he
was going back the next day.
Both are natives Of the District
area and attended Surattsville High
School in Maryland.
Evening star., 1944-11-05

1921 River road NV, aerial gunner,
now In Italy; 1t. Col. Emmette Y.
Burton, jr., 1882 Brandywine street
NV, field artillery, and Pvt. Robert
r. Hester, 2l38 K street NV, field
artillery. In italy.
Evening star., 1944-11-05
S Brothers in Services Overseas;
One BoiIed Out'in Mountains
Chinese GuerriIIus Aid
Charlton DoyIe's
Return to Bose

William T. Doyle, 1856 Biltmore
street NV, has five sons overseas
with the armed forces.
First 1t. Charlton w. Doyle. 81,
Evening star., 1944-11-05
DC. WOMEN
IN UNIFORM

EUROPEAN THEATER.-Lt. Ag-
mes OHara, who lived with Mr.. and
Mrs. Narman A. Plugge, 604O Ne
braska avenue NV, Washington,
Evening star., 1944-11-05

Frances Lathrop Cisna, 3235 Que
sada street NV, and Elizabeth
Bridgeman, 1924 Oliver street NV.
Evening star., 1944-11-05

o r n Il. AEnes OHara.
months, Sergt. Quinn is a member
of the only mobile WAC unit in the
European theater.
ITALY-Staf1 Sergt. Annie L.
Parks, 6612 Sixth street NV, is a
Evening star., 1944-11-05

SIlo n a v e n s.
worth pl a C e,
Alexandria, Air
Transport Com
mand pilot, in
the India China
theater;; Corpl.
George A. Cook,
26, of 1913 Emer-
son street NV,
gunner, now in
Italy, and Ma
rine Capt. Rob-
ert j. Sands, 2034
Hillyer pl a c e
NV, pilot of a
transport plane,
now stationed at
Cherry Point. N.
Tech. Sergt. G
Of 2029 Allen p
now in italy, HI
third Oak Leaf
Cluster in place
Of another Air
Medal.
Other men who
h ave received
the Oak Leaf
Cluster include:
s taft S er g t.
Robert William
Kline, 1912 Six
teenth stree e t
NE, radio op-
orator, in t. h e
M e di terranean
t he a t e r; Staff
Sergt. Wilbert F..
Hacker, 20, Of
1921 River road !
now In Italy; II
Burton, jr., 1882
NJ rrx
Evening star., 1944-11-05
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE.

%'AI W AAaAea AN IAeA&NSG.
Sweetheart:
We are bivouaced near q two
room farmhouse. There are other
rooms besides this kitchen and bed
Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1944-06-17
Three Millions For billiard


The recent announcement of gift of three million
dollars to billiard University by President Albert W. Dent
another expression of the growing recognition of the
peculiar problems of Negro institutions of higher learning
and appreciation of the limitations and restrictions i'm
posed upon Negro citizens in American democracy
The gift announced by Dr. Dent, represents the
combined grant from the General Education Board the
julius Rosenwad Fund the American Missionary AssOcia
ton of the Congregational Church. and the Board of Edu
cation of the Methodist Church. Establishment of this
fund for endowment purposes and is an expression OF
confidence in the past work of billiard University and
evidence of faith in it's future
Although billiard not one of the rs institutions
included in the recent Survey of Higher Education of Ne
groes by the u S. Office of Education, high praise
given to the fine work it is carrying and directed
ia attention to the we prepared statement of detectives
published in its cataog.'
With the announcement of this grant to billiard, to-
gether with another recent four millions to Meharry Med
cal College, two millions to Fisk University, and something
like million dollars to Cannon Theological Seminary and
Morris Brown College, nearly ten million dollars in all
has been granted within the past months for Negro
education, which does take into account the present
campaign being conducted by the United Negro College
Fund
"The Negroes passion for education" states the Office
of Education Survey has been of their dominant
characteristics This is evidenced by the fact that in rs
years they have reduced their teracy from 95 per to
10 per cent than two millions enrolled in element
airy schools than 100000 in high schools and $4,000
in colleges, universities and professional schools More
than 10000 graduated from high school during 1913
and more than 5000 from colleges and professional
schools" the survey reveals.
These large grants concentrated in relatively pre-
dominant Negro areas will go far in lifting the education
al and cultural life of Negroes. And while it far from be-
ing adequate to the pressing demands placed Negro
leadership by the for direction it will certainly
make significant contribution in that direction
Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1944-06-17

organizing the ministers: Reverend
A. Braxton Keeling, chairman;
Committee on Business and Profess
sional Men; A. A. Alexander, chair
man, Leila Davis, Ruth O. Hubert
and d. l.. Brown; Committee on
Rural Workers; Chester Owens,
chairman, Doris Hall was appoint
ed chairman of the committee to
set up booths for the sale of bonds.
Mrs. Hall has selected Mrs. w. H.
Williams, Mrs. Aurelia Young, Mrs.
Sue Hair and Mrs. Emily Hall as
members of r,2r committee. This
committee is planning to operate
set of booths at strategic points
within the city. In addition will
sell boutonnail.es to men at all of
the churches on Fathers Day. A
series of teas is also being planned
by the committee. H. T. Sampson
and Percy Greene agreed to give
the bond drive full publicity thru
the Press and other media.
Percy Greer,e is working on pa
rade of the Camp Shelby and Camp
Mccain bands as supplement to
a grand auction of bonds.
Mr.. Jackson of The Alamo Thea
ter is making plans for street