The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-02-05
By FLETCHER MARTIN
michigan Chronicle War Correspond emit
Representing Combined Negro PrsssD

(Rspressnting Combined Negro Prsss)
GUADALCANAL-(Via AirmaiD
Two years under a tropical sun
have failed TO dampen the spirit OF
a Negro aviation engineer unit sta
toned here. Two years which saw
enemy bombs hurled from cloud
less skies and fall dangerously
close. Two years without relief or
furlough. Two years living a buried
existence. part time in the bosom OF
Guadalcanal jungles with little
word reaching an outside world OF
the work they have done, the COM
mendations received.
This the adjutant twhite) ex-
claimed as he lay open his files for
inspection by this correspondent.
Across from him sat Lieutenant
Carl E, Pinkett. personnel adjutant
from Viena, Md, who said he
guessed "the people back home
think we're. lost Nobody has been
in 10 see US" And in the room were
two rows OF Negro soldiers busy
with the paper-work OF unit
which saw Guadalcanal in the
early days when all was not peace
full. Outside various types OF mo-
tors hummed as another day was
starting for the engineers.
An Unusual Outfit
Seven Negro officers. all graduates
OF Fort Belvoir. Va. the first in the
South Pacific. Six Of the seven
college men-one a former instruc-
tor at Lincoln university tPaD.
another taxi cab company execu-
tive from New Orleans. still an
other, former assistant hotel man.
ager from Chicago A three-time
all American football player
Southern university from Gary.
Ind, is sergeant here.
This is an unusual outfit, not be-
cause it was one of the first, If not
the first aviation engineer unit
formed. Not because they were
among the first American troops
overseas. and lad part to do with
the Coral Sea Battle But because
in two years they have nodded to-
gether an organization which gave
cause for the headquarters of the
army air forces to write:
Your record overseas is justify
ing the decision OF the War Depart
ment to organize special type units
10 build airdromes for the army air
forces. and efforts OF the corps of
engineers TO equip and train these
units for this mission
Landed In 1912
Thew landed in Australia Feb
ruary IS. 1912, after a hurried trip
across the Pacific From there they
sequently TO Guadalcanal. They
landed here on June Is. l943. On
the following day the enemy dark
ened the skies with over 100 bomb
ers and fighters. On the night Of
landing the troops unloaded all Of
their equipment including tractors
graders, carry-alls and other ma
chinery. They worked all nigh
finishing the job at 5 am. the fol
lowing morning The equipmen
was carried Ave miles 10 the new
camp site. Around / pm. OF III
same day. enemy planes strucI
with the fury of an enraged beas
One LIST was hit not so yards fror
where the troops had disembarked
Protected By Jungle Graves
The men had not had time to dill
trenches or fox-holes They clunl
TO what protection the jungles gave
Loud explosions surrounding them
Allied and enemy planes swoopins
and diving overhead. anti-sircraft
shells EXCLUDING. they laid quietly.
That is the story the sdjutsnt told.
Not one man suffered injury But
in less than three hours afterwards
trenches could be found spotted
over the entire area. Since that time
there have been bombings, but there
have been no seriops casualties sus-
tanned by the troops.
Since that first day II has been
construction. Airdromes, d o C k 5.
roads. huts. Maintenance of air.