davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-12-10
II. Lawrence Sparks Band
Aboard Ship in Atlantic

Aboard an American warship in
the Atlantic, 1t. q. g. Mark Law
renee, 23-year-old son of the writer,
David Lawrence, organized an or
chestra as an outlet from the ten
sion of preparing for further battle
action.
According to the Associated Press,
1t. Lawrence and 1t Douglas w
Harvard of Wellesley, Mass, are re-
sponsible for the jam" sessions that
echo through the ship several times
each week. 1t Lawrence, 5000 Ne
braska avenue NV, is pianist and
composer of the group.
The "Jiving Dozen" is composed
of piano, three trumpets, three
|saxephones, two guitars, bass fiddle,
accordion and drums. instruments
were bought from the ships welfare
fund. When time permits while at
sea, and particularly every night
when in port, the orchestra goes
into action in the crews mess with
several hundred in the audience at
every appearance. The hot" ses-
sions are impromptu-much to
their, and the crews enjoyment.
1t. Lawrence, gunnery officer. was
outstanding in Princeton Univer-
sity theatricals and president of the
Triangle Club. While in college, In
New Caledonia and on other ships
and bases in the Pacific, 1t. Law
renee wrote and produced musical
comedies. He owes his life. to re-
porting late for duty aboard a war
ship which was sunk in the Pacific
in 1912.
Evening star., 1944-12-10

enemy installations on the ground
and to the firepower of enemy planes
to assist heavy bombers to and from
important objectives," the citation
said.
Corpl. Harry L. Weeks, 658 z,
street Sc, was awarded the DFC
with cluster at an advanced ATC
base in India for more than 600
hours of operational fight over the
hazardous Assam China air routes
in transport aircraft"
Staff Sergt. Wilton A. Hartman,
also of the ATC, of 4713 Suitland
road Sc. was presented the DFC
and Air Medal. He is In the China
Burma-India area.
Ten Others Win DFC.
Ten others from this area who
won the DFC are:
Col. Robert H. Kelly, former COM
mander of a bombing group post
humously) His widow lives at 553l
Manning drive, Bethesda, Md.
1t. Col. Richard S. Abbey, 28, Bit
pilot, 5000 Sixteenth street NV, in
Italy.
First 1t. Harrison L. Fisher,
fighter pilot, 3033 Sixteenth street
NV, in Italy.
First 1t. John H. Brown, Ma
rauders' fight leader, Queen Anne,
Md, in France.
Capt. Ralph A. Bush, rs, pilot
Evening star., 1944-12-10
How Deceased FLYER
Saved 7 Lives Is Told
AT Presentation Rite

1t. Rowland G. Thornton. jr., son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Rowland Thornton,
sr,, 1439 Ridge place NV, pulled his
f1ak-riddled plane out of it's earth
ward spin and was all set to leap
before the ship began another hurtle
earthWard when he discovered two
crewmen who hadn't heard the order
to bail out. =
The story of how he returned to
the controls and brought home his
plane in order to save the life of the
two men was told at Bowling Field
Tuesday, but 1t. Thornton wasn't
there.
He was killed five missions after
the heroic one which won him the
Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to the Dis
tinguished Flying Cross.
Two-year-old William Rowland
Thornton, who was presented with
his fathers nine posthumous cita-
tions, heard how his father, B-26
Marauder pilot, risked his own life
to save the two crew members.
1t was on his 43d mission over
enemy territory-every control on
the plane had been knocked out by
enemy flax over France with the
exception Of the "trim-tab," wing
elevator.
Leveled Out Plane.
1t would be almost impossible to
get the plane back to England with
only wing controls. But there was
no time to order the two remaining
men to jump now-the plane had
gone into another spin.
Instead of jumping, 1t. Thornton
went back to the controls Using
the wing elevators, he managed to
level the plane off-at treetop level.
There was no chance for any of
the three left on the plane to jump.
They were too low. 1t. Thornton
maneuvered the Marauder in and
out OF heavy flak-a plane at 100
feet made an easy target-until they
were out of enemy territory.
From there to the Channel, COWS
and chickens predominated the
scenery" he wrote later to his wife.
Mrs. Rowland Thornton. jr., of
Schenectady, N. Y, 'and we crossed
the Channel SO close to the waves
could almost take a bath"
Finally, the crippled plane was
over English soil and 1t. Thornton
brought it to a safe crash landing
in British marshes. No one was
injured.
Brother in Pacific Area.
A native Of Richmond, Va, 1t.
Thornton was graduated from Nc
Kinley High School and attended
Wilson Teachers College. He was
attending the University of Michi-
gan when he entered the service
several weeks after Pearl Harbor.
1t. Smith was commissioned in
September, 1912. and went overseas
in February. 1943. He saw service
in Africa before being transferred
to England. Besides his widow, son
and parents. he is survived by a
brother, Seaman First Class Will
liam S. Thornton, who is serving
with the Seabees in the Pacific, and
sister, Mrs. Willard Whiteman of
Scotia, N. Y.
Evening star., 1944-12-10
| Soldier al Front Says
Men Ask Square Deal
And Jobs on Return

we hope for a square deal and
the chance OF finding Jobs"
That's serviceman's idea of post
war America and 1t comes from the
French front.
A letter from 1t. B. j. Rashid, 23-
year-old former student Of George
town Law School, says the men
overseas don't want coddling. Part
of his letter follows:
I'VE want no royal celebration, no
bands, no parties; We don't expect
every one to turn out for a gala
parade; after all, we've only done
our duty. We expect no sympathy
over our harsh experiences over
here. Most soldiers want to forget
them.
Don't Wish to Be Heroes.
I'VE don't wish to be made con-
spicuous nor do we wish to be made
heroes. We're not looking forward
to big executive jobs and we don't
expect all of you to throw open busi-
ness doors for us. No. we are not
ASKING IOT d lie OI ease.
Here is what most of us look for
ward to when we set foot again on
American soil:
First, we want warm, cheerful
and quiet welcome, and you know
that we deserve it. We want simple
and ordinary comforts-nothing
elaborate; your thoughtful appreci-
alton and your kind words. In short,
we'd like to feel that you've all been
waiting for us and willing to give
us your blessings.
Secondly, we realize we've been
away a long time and that, in our
absence, many changes have taken
place In the American way of life.
We look forward to many oppor-
tunities of wholesome advice FROM
you. We expect you to understand
our problems. and gladly help us
with our solutions. After all. our
first duty at home will be to adapt
ourselves to the rapidly changing
life which took place while we were
gone.
Want to Help Set Up Policies.
Thirdly, we all hope for square
deal and the chance of finding oc-
cupations. Some of us may be
forced to start at the bottom of the
ladder, some may have jobs already
available, some may have to look for
Government aid and some may have
Evening star., 1944-12-10

munications zone headquarters per-
sonally co-ordinated plans for the
overseas communication zone signal
network from D day until the be-
ginning of the final phase of liber-
alton, and he directed the installa-
ton of the intricate communication
facilities for the forward communi-
cation zone headquarters in war
torn Normandy"
1t. Sykes and Sergts. Waddington
and Martin were all in the single
battalion and were cited for their
heroic achievement" on the D day
invasion of Normandy. They made
an early-morning landing on
beach near the town of Colleville-
sur-Mer and encountered some of
the toughest fighting that D day
produced. They fought all day,
pushing the enemy back" the cita-
tion said
Maj. North was cited for his serv-
ices in support of combat operations
in Italy between October 10, 1943.
and May 6, 1914. He inaugurated
and carried out quartermaster
Evening star., 1944-12-10

Do you know where Skippy is9
Skippy's master is Col. John Gill
lespie Hill, who, according to let
ter from Mrs. Hills brother, has just
been awarded a second Legion of
Merit for the work he did in Eng
land prior to D day.
But these honors only partially
make up for the loss of Skippy, a
huge white and lemon pointer, who
left his friends-or was taken from
them-shortly after arriving in
Washington from a trip to Alaska.
Col. Hill, saddened by the loss of his
pet, left soon thereafter for the
European theater and constantly In
letters home repeats the query:
"Have you found Skippy?"
1t was year ago that Skippy was
lost. Mrs. Hill has advertised in the
papers and by radio, to no avail.
She still stands ready to pay a sub
stantial reward to anybody who can
direct her to Skippy.
My husbands insistence that we
find Skippy has been almost too
much for me-" Mrs. Hill said yes
terday. Il know that when peace
comes and Col. Hill returns, life
won't be the same for him If Skippy
is not found. Maybe now that the
hunting season is on, somebody will
see Skippy, recognize him and help
me to recover him"
Evening star., 1944-12-10

to learn new trades. But we can
make our way, if only you people
will show us consideration and offer
suggestions. And, closely allied with
this, there is the opportunity for us
to have a vital part in the Govern
ment policies and the plans of
peace-if we would only be ap-
preached.
"A greater share in the machinery
of public affairs is demand rather
than a request, for those who have
fought the war must surely be con-
suited in determining the aftermath
of reconstruction.
And that's all we ask, that's all
that we pray and hope for. It's
simple and just. 1t requires only
the faith and determination of you
back home to carry it out and thus
assure us a place in the life oi
America tomorrow A home where
returning veterans will once more
become stanch citizens is the one
sure way of providing for a ma
jeStic future"
Evening star., 1944-12-10
Password With German
Accent Sturts Skirmish

ITALY.-Pvt. Eugene Mcdonald
OF Takoma Park, Md, and eight
other men met a patrol one night
which replied to the regiments
password in English, but with Ger
man accent.
Pvt. McDonald's patrol opened fire
Immediately, as did the other patrol,
which proved to be Nazi scouting
party. The Americans withdrew to
safety after several Germans fell
and continued fighting until morn
ing, when captured Nazi revealed
that the Yanks had routed his out
fit after inflicting heavy casualties.
Pvt. Mcdonald is the son of Mrs.
Mary Mcdonald, 108 Fourth street,
Takoma Park.
Evening star., 1944-12-10
Wounded GI Resents German
Prisoners Serving in Hospital

iously asked the situation OF OUR
unit and we talked about men we
knew.
Soon he was brought into the
room to receive the miracle-per-
forming plasma. A plumpish, honey
little red-headed nurse came in to
administer 1t to him. AS she gazed
down upon him, asking questions in
a pleasant voice, I noticed her
slightly shake her head. An express
sion of strong compassion swept her
face. She bravely fought back some
tears yelling up in the usually smil-
ing eyes. She controlled her emo
tions, and then proceeded in her
gentle, businesslike manner to fol-
low out the doctors orders.
The doctors are conscientious
men who spare no energy or expense
to see, that a soldier gets the best
treatment available The nurses are
shining lights Of gentleness ano
friendliness, always willing to listen
to soldier and have a well-turned
answer to his sometimes impudent
remarks.
After a dance our nurse came in
with new hair-do and a sweet
smile We all kidded her about a
possible new boy friend She actu-
ally blushed-something very rare
for an Army nurse! ss.s;-s =.
There is young ventriloquist in
our ward who plaques the night
nurse by initiating a girls voice in
the dark. The nurse knows there
isn't a girl there, but wants to find
the guy who makes those voices"
A Dugout De Luxe.
From another letter:
Il am in an old trench from the
last war. 1t is rainy and muddy.
Yesterday I took a 14-year-old boy
prisoner. He was scared stiff. A
German police officer I took was not
so frightened, but tried to be ex-
tremely polite and nice and Coop
erative-to save his neck. He pos
tured and minced around like a
dude. The boys said 1 should have
shot him and saved the trouble of
bringing him in.
I'VE dig many foxholes, often
three day when on the move. /
can qualify as a good digger of
bitches. One place I had de luxe
dugout where we stayed two weeks.
The longer We stayed in the place,
the bigger the hole and more COM
forts are added 1 had one lined
with sandbag cloth so the dirt would
not drip down on me. 1t had water
proof oilcloth floor, straw bedding
Evening star., 1944-12-10

hits on the two-engine German
fighter bomber, which set the en-
gines afire. 1t. Lockwood was cred
tied with the shots that finally sent
the plane crashing into hill.
The son of Mrs. Jane Cochran
lockwood. 8506 Manchester road,
Silver Spring, and Merritt Lock-
wood, Jefferson avenue, Takoma
Park. 1t. Lockwood was graduated
from Montgomery Blair High School
in 1910 and attended the univers-
ity of Maryland for two years. He
enlisted in the Air Corps in March,
1912, and has been In Italy since
September.
1t. Lockwood received the Air
Medal and unit presidential ci-
tation.
Evening star., 1944-12-10
Crawford Graduates

James r. Crawford, 10, son Of
Brig. Gen. David M. Crawford and
Mrs. Crawford, recently received his
silver wings and appointment as
flight officer upon graduation from
the Lubbock Army Airfield (Tex.)
Advanced Pilot Schools. A brother,
Tech. Sergt. David M. Crawford,
jr., Is with the Army in Holland.
The family home is at 3221 Wheeler
road Sc.
Evening star., 1944-12-10
Civil Service Ex-Aide
Tells Of Jap Bombings
During Leyie Fighting

Living-and trying to sleep
through Japanese raids on Leyte, in
the Philippines, is termed hell" by
William Java, ONCE of War Infor-
nation staff member, whose wife
lives at 1858 Queen street NE.
II think more about home now.
have had my first taste of war and,
believe me, it's horrible Mr.. Java
wrote the Civil Service Commission,
where formerly he was employed.
"We landed here seven days after
the initial assault, and 1t still was
pretty hot
Thirty minutes after we landed
Jap Zero appeared from nowhere,
with his engines of, and strafed the
beach. I took cover under a duck,
an amphibious truck. Since then
the Japs have been bombing and
strafing every night.
owl Man Is Injured.
I'VE are working and living In one
of the three best homes in this area.
Apparently the Japs think high
Army official is occupying the home.
because they drop eggs all around
us. Two nights after we had re-
moved all the Jap ammunition from
our basement, daisy cutter (400-
pound bomb) landed SO feet from
our house and practically demol-
ished it. Every window was broken.
Ten carpenters are still working on
the house.
"One of our newest arrivals, Will
lard Hess, newspaperman and Owl
man, was injured and has been
evacuated to the States. He was
lying on his bunk when the bomb
hit. I'm in the room next to his,
but fortunately I was down on the
beach that afternoon trying to To-
cate our equipment.
ut was hell again last night and
none of us got any sleep. But we
are knocking them out of the air as
fast as they come over. I hope we
can get some rest tonight because
in the last week I have spent most
of my nights in an AFRAID shelter
in our yard.
To-day I picked up a Jap flag for
the sum of one shirt, trousers and
some socks.
Filipinos Cheer Successes.
You should hear the Filipinos
cheer as the Zeros crash into the
hills. Gen. Macarthur could prob
ably wipe out every Jap on this is
land in one day, but he doesn't sac
riflce American lives unnecessarily
Our mess hall is only half block
from his office, so I see him fire.
quently.
The Filipinos are really grateful
for their liberation They have food
now and don't live in fear of their
lives. 1 have seen some ugly wounds
and scars inflicted by Jap soldiers
because Filipino was too sick to
work. They were forced to bow
from the waist when a Jap ap-
peared. If they didn't bow, the Jap
beat them. They were not permit
ted to speak to any Jap. They
couldn't be bothered with requests
for food or complaints.
THE school children were forced
to learn the Japanese language, but
I have yet to meet one who can
speak it. They refused to take much
interest in it. Most children speak
English quite well, and they all
know The Star Spangled Banner
and God Bless America The lat
ter is their favorite and every kid
knows it word for word.s
Evening star., 1944-12-10
1t. Col. William Howard
Is Stationed at Poris

1t. Col, William A. Howard, chief
OF the medical intelligence branch OF
the operations division OF the chief
surgeon, is now stationed In Paris.
Formerly, Col. Howard was as
sistant director of the medical in
telligence division of the Office of
the surgeon general. Before enter
ing the Army two and a half years
ago, he practiced pediatrics here.
He has been overseas 13 months.
His father, A. Allen Howard, lives
at 5000 Cathedral avenue NV.
Evening star., 1944-12-10

AAs Al = Al
his Psi Mus
t a n 6 squadron
was escorting a
British Mosquito
plane on a photo
r e C o nnaisance
mission to Mu-
Mich, Germany.
The escort was
flying at $4,000
feet when a JU-
88 was sighted
about 5000 feet
below formation.
Diving to the
attack four of
4An siz za4 l..
Evening star., 1944-12-10

glneer, W n o S e
parents live at
IA Tw e If tn
street Sc, has
be e n promoted
to captain in
France.
A graduate of
Mckinley High
S c h ool q n d
Georgetown Uni.
versity, he en-
tered the Army
In April, 1912,
and went over
seas last June.
He form e r | y
-,.~f~~l .x,l41 IA.
Evening star., 1944-12-10

OF the B-l1
S m o k Y, 1855
Fessenden street
NV, in Eng
land.
Tech. Sergt.
D O n a | d w.
WitheroW, top
turret gunner, IA
South S tr e e t
NE, in Italy.
Staff S erg t
Joe D. Chitten-
den, jr., 81, waist
z u n n er, 2607
North Pocomoke
street, Arling-
ton, in England.
Evening star., 1944-12-10
Hochmon Appointed co

Mai. Paul I. Hochman, 81, OF 908
North Wayne street, Arlington, Va,
has been appointed commanding of
ficer of the third sector Of q fighter
base In China. he wrote his wife
Dorothy and 8-year-old son Mark.
Evening star., 1944-12-10
Maj. Mcqueen Returns

Marine Maj. James NJ Mcqueen,
jr.. son of Mr.. and Mrs. Milton Nc
Queen, 1880 Chesapeake street NV,
has returned to the United States
after % months with the 5th Am
phibious Engineers in the South
Pacific.
Evening star., 1944-12-10

Elmo avenue, Bethesda. The
sketches are dedicated to his parents,
his sister, Betty, IS, and his dog,
Butch"
In his sketches, sent from his
post somewhere In the South Pacific,
Coast Guardsman Vollten touches
on subjects ranging from the
hazards OF swabbing decks to the
kind Of food served at chow. He
tops of the series with self
portrait clad in captured Jap nag,
Evening star., 1944-12-10

cross ana IOufLn
Oak Leaf Clus-
ter to the Air
Medal.
1t. Mercurio
was cited for
" e x traordinary
achievement as
a Mustang pilot
in aerial combat
ov er Germany
a n d occupied
Europe. He "eX-
posed himself to
intense antiair-
craft fire while
flying at low
level to DESTROY
Evening star., 1944-12-10

.
for the 5 t h
Army, the clta-
ton said.
the citation said.
Maj. G i b b S
W a IS cited for
meritorious serv-
ice, covering a
period of active
duty from the
invasion of Nor
mandy to the re-
cent air = borne
offensive in Hol-
land.
Com dr.. Hi
lands WAS cited
Evening star., 1944-12-10
q Jap sailor hat and 3 pair Of specs.

q Jap sailor hat and 9 pair OF specs.
A native Of Montgomery County,
Coast Guardsman vollten Is a grad
uate Of Bethesda- Chevy Chase High
School and Columbia Art School in
Washington. He enlisted in the
Coast Guard in June, 1912, and for.
II months was stationed at Man
haitian Beach Training Station. Be-
fore entering the service he was
employed in the camoufiage unit
of the Navy Department..
Evening star., 1944-12-10
Ii. Lockwood Credited
With German Bomber

FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE IN
ITALY.-First 1t. Warren M. Lock-
wood, 20, Of Silver Spring, Md,
scored his first aerial combat victory
Evening star., 1944-12-10

CT Joe'S life, while In an Army
hospital. especially his reaction to
German prisoners who act as order
lies, is portrayed by Corpl Robert L.
Downing in letters to his father, r.
B. Downing, 1907 Twelfth street
NV. Among other experiences de-
scribed are foxhole techniques, cap
turing of prisoners and sights of old
battlefields and cemeteries. Ex-
cerpts from letters follow:
When we first came into the hos
pital it astounded us to find German
prisoners acting as orderlies, clean
ing and doing KIP duties. The men
fresh from the battlefield resented
them Immediately. 1t hurt them to
see these fellows so safe. since the
doughboys were so recently injured
by some of their kind.
Some of the more nervous or
touchy boys called the prisoners
names and made threatening ges-
lures and remarks. The ferries
were excellent. hard workers, es-
pecially If they had one of their
own non-coms over them. 1t
seemed to me they refused to work
on Sundays. The ones I talked to
were alderman. They we're husky
looking specimens of manhood.
noted why many Of them are called
square heads. They actually have
square heads. emphasized by the
peculiar military hair cut they
Talk of Home Too Sacred.
"GI Joe in the hospital is differ
ent character than on battlefield.
He has a questioning look in his
eyes, as if he were looking for some
one. He's glad to see comrade
from his unit to talk to. When tell