The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-08-30
THE DESTROYER

ABOARD THE DESTROYER
MONSSEN IN THE PACIFIC -
The experiences of Earl w, Bach
tell, 10, quartermaster, third class,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Edward l.. Bach
tell, Smithsburg, Md, in two major
Naval engagements, several Skin
mishes with suicide planes, cruise
off Tokyo, together with more than
half dozen landing operations and
three shore bombardments, have
kept ID months in the Pacific from
becoming boresome to him.
Detached from the fire support
group at Saipan last June, Bach
tells ship joined the pursuing
American surface force in the Philip
pine Sea action, shot down its first
two planes during the chase, then
returned to Saipan to set the record
for rounds fired by destroyer unit
in that bombardment.
Bachtell also participated in the
support bombardment at Tinian,
and at Angular, in the Palau group;
in the landing operations at Leyte
and Luzon, islands, and in the battle
of Surigac Strait. In the last en-
gagement, his ship attacked a Leyte-
bound Jap surface force in company
with four other destroyers, shared
in the sinking by torpedo of an
enemy battleship, the FUSO, and a
destroyer
1--WE ran into our first suicide plane
opposition at Lingayen Gulf in Janu-
ary," he recalls, land splashed one"
Bachtell was on the February
carrier raid on Tokyo, venturing on
one occasion within. two hours
steaming time of Honshu. Since
then, he has participated in off shore
operations supporting first the Two
Jima landing and this Spring the
Ryukyu offensive. During the latter
his ship added half a submarine
to its action toll.
Bachtell was graduated from
Smithsburg High School in 1943.
AN ALEUTIAN BASE - Grover
w. Clever, husband of Mrs. Eula
Clever, of 100 w. Wilson Blvd, Ha-
gerstown, Maryland, has been
promoted to the rank of Technician
Fourth Grade. Sgt. Clever has been
stationed in the Aleutian Islands
with Coast Artillery unit since
February 1914, and has been in the
service since January, 1912,
Here is the latest news of the
two sons of Mrs Leah C. Harper,
Alb West Franklin street-Harold
and Grover.
Cpl. Harold E. Harper, who re-
turned from overseas service on
June II, has been assigned to an air
base in Texas Entering the Service
on February J6, 1943, he spent II
months in England with the ground
crew of B-24 Liberator base. His
crew, by the way, was officially
commended by General Doolittle for
their participation in the first raid
on Berlin.
On returning to the United States
Corporal Harper enjoyed 32-day
furlough at home, after which he re-
ported to the Texas air base. His adj
dress is: Cpl. Harold E. Harper,
33553993, 235th AAF-B.U., Biggs
Field, Ell Paso, Texas.
Capt. Grover L. Harper, veteran
of 18 years in the Service, left last
March for the China Theatre of
Operations, where he is still station
ed. His wife, the former Miss
Eleanor Hartman, whom he married
last year, is nurse at the Washing
ton Hospital.
Mrs. Harper also has a grandson
in the Service - Sgt. William j.
Harper, son of Mr. and Mrs. w. L.
Harper, Jr., GIT West Church street,
who has also recently returned from
overseas service and is now stationed
at Dyersburg, Tenn, as an instruc-
tor.
Pvt. Charles Calvert Hauyer. son
of MIR. and Mrs. c. c. Hauver, 865
Mulberry avenue, former employee
of Fairchild's, who has completed a
course of training at the Infantry
Replacement enter, Camp Blanding.
Florida, has been awarded the Ex-
pert Infantryman Badge. Home on
leave for several days, he reported
to Fort Meade on August 20, for
further assignment.
WITH A FAST CARRIER TASK
FORCE OFF TOKYO - 1t. Cdr.
Joseph D. Jeffords, USN, whose wife
lives at 945 Rose Hill Ave-, Hagers-
town, Md, serves aboard the USS