Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-08

tack. the ground crews worked un-
tiringly and enthusiastically to nave
their aircraft at the peak OF mech
anical perfection to insure the sue
cess of this vital operation
Somewhere in Europe In the
Snow" was the way Sergeant Jerry
Z. Smith started a letter TO ROBERT
| w. Hatton, for whom he WORKED
| in FL Centro when he was a small
/ boy. He recently was promoted 10
sergeant while taking his part in
the invasion of Europe.
Lieutenant Bill Christian, son OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Ben Christian OF Ell
Centre, is still serving with the
Seventh army in Europe. He has
been too busy to write long letters,
Among the eight California men
commissioned second lieutenants at
Signal Corps school at Fort Mon
mouth. New Jersey, was Albert A.
Schoell, whose wife, Belva, lives at
1854 Ell Centro avenue, Ell Centro.
Donald Otis Riggs, II, has en-
listed in the navy at San Diego
as an apprentice seaman IN the
reserve. He is a son of Mr.. and Mrs.
R. r. Riggs of 800 Len Rey court,
FL Centre. He attended Central
Union High school where he play
cd football. Before he enlisted he
was employed at the air station as
a mechanic.
Other Imperial Valley youths who
enlisted in the navy recently IN
cluded William Edward Eaton and
Allen Eugene Phillips, both OF
Brawley. They were assigned to the
San Diego training center.
Private First Glass Johnnie S.
Thanner, son of Mrs. Caroline
Thanner of the Ell Centro area, has
been cited by his armorec infantry
battalion of the first armored divi-
sion and awarded the Combat In
fantryman's Badge for actual par
tlcipation in combat against the
enemy. The award is made to the
infantry sole ier who has proved
his fighting ability in combat. II
consists of a silver rifle set against
background of infantry blue, en-
closed in a silver wreath.
Official description of the action
in which Second Lieutenant Harold
E. Shelby was awarded the Silver
Star for gallantry in action in Italy
was received in El Centre this week.
When heavy enemy mortar and
nlachinegun fire pinned his COM
pany down during an attack on a
hill, Shelby led patrol of five
men around the hillside and ad-
.anced upon a hostile machinegun
position. Personally assaulting the
emplacement with hand grena6eS,
he succeeded in destroying the gun
and forcing the crew to flee, two
of whom were killed and the re-
mainder captured.
His aggressive action enabled the
company to continue its advance
on its objective, stated the citation
with the award.
Shelby serves in the 338th Infan-
try Regiment of the 35th Custer
division, fighting on the Fifth army
front.
His wife, Mrs, Jean Shelby, lives
at Ell Centro.
Staff Sergeant Fred Louie Harri-
son, sen of Mr.. and Mrs. Fred r.
Harrison of 381 Olive, Ell Centro,
reported at KeSsler Field, Biloxi,
Mississippi, to take the army air
force training command eXamina-
ton to determine his qualifications
as a pre-aviation cadet.
T/5 Jessie w. Thomas, son of P.
II. Thomas of 468 Vine street, Ell
Centro, soon will be home on fur
Tough from the Asiatic-Pacific the
ater of operations where he served
32 months with the army corps of
engineers.
Private First Glass Herbert
Hughes, former deputy sheriff Of
Imperial county, is home en- leave
from the army camp at San jose
Sergeant Kenneth II. Holmes, 32,
Ell Centro, received the Combat In
fantryman's badge for service in
Bougainville. Son of Mr. and Mrs
w. J. Holmes, he has been overseas
l8 months, at New Hebrides and
Guadalcanal. His brother, Corp
Vernon l.. Holmes, is at Camp
Lewis, Washington.
First tenant Marion E
Walker, pilot, son of o, Walker OF
Holtville, has been on his six hun
dredth combat mission