The Wilmington morning star., 1945-11-07

scribing events on Hospitality Day
here Sunday when over TOO Neither
lands Marines were entertained
here, was delivered by r. H.
Howard of the Wilmington Junior
Chamber Of Commerce over
WMFD last night:
Under the craftsmanship Of Nor
timer Neblett and Bob Ca,- of the
Junior Chamber Of Commerce and
ably assisted by the personnel OF
the End and Orange USO Club and
members of the Ministerial Asso-
citation, Sunday was open house
day in Wilmington for the Royal
Netherlands Marines. This was a
gala occasion and one which will
never be forgotten by these boys.
At $3.50 four large buses and thirty
Army trucks arrived at 18th and
Market streets loaded with more
than 700 Royal Netherlands Ma
rines. These boys were met by
members of the Junior Chamber Of
Commerce who divided them into
groups and escorted them to the
% different churches where their
members had expressed the desire
t entertain two or more on this
hospitality day.
The boys attended church serv-
ices and were later entertained
by members of the churches in
their homes. Letters of welcome,
signed by the hosts and hostesses,
along with a miniature American
flag was given to each boy as a
small token of Wilmington's hospi-
tality.
We have picked the itinerary of
two of these boys to portray what
happened. Let us follow them
through the day. The boys we
have chosen are Hans and jeff.
Let me read here a portion of the
life history of Hans. Hans was
born the 18th of April, 1926 in Arm
hem. :. .....
After having prepared himself
to enter the University and re-
fusing to sign a statement that he
would not mix with any action
against the Germans, he was I'M
able to complete his schooling.
Fortunately he was able to remain
in Holland and able to work at a
Dutch laboratory where he was al
lowed to continue his studies, but
was suddenly forced to work or
German airfield near his home
town, but during the battle of Arm
hem, Hans escaped and went to
Belgium in order to get through
to Allied territory.
His escape was successful ant
after couple of weeks he arrived
in Brussels which had just beer
liberated. There Hans got job as
an interpreter in the British Army
until such time as they made the
age limit q. Being forced back
to Brussels, he volunteered in the
Marine Corps and was sent BY
way of Scotland to Camp Lejeune
for his basic training. Finishing
his special training at Camp Davi:
several weeks ago, he is now ready
to 60 to the Pacific.
The life of our other character
jeff, is quite similar to that o.
Hans. jeff has worked with The
underground movement and fol
more than two years managed tt
dodge the Nazis by portrayinl
himself as an invalid. After the
liberation, Jeff worked three
months as corpman in thu
105th and 41st American Evacua
ton Hospitals. He met there
number of our wounded and me
some Of the same boys on the shiI
which brought him to America.
Now fo- our story of Hans ane
jeff, after having been escorted
to the First Presbyterian Church
where they attended church serv
ices, they were invited to the home
Of M. and Mrs. Leslie Boney fol
dinner. During their stay at thu
Boney's they chatted about con
ditions in the Netherlands and tole
Of the many beautiful spots O
their homeland. Following a deli
cious meal, Mr.. and Mrs. Boney
further exemplifying Southern J o.
pitality, took these boys to visit Il
the homes of some of their friends
Their first visit was in the home
of Bishop and Mrs. Thoma'
Wright. From there they went K
the home Of Mrs. M. S. Willard.
At Mrs. Wizards these boy
were overcome when they walked
into the dining room to find ten O.
their buddies, 8 of which could no
speak a word Of English and
American marines, all seated
around a Thanksgiving table witt
turkey and all the trimmings
After having been taken into The
garden of Mrs. Wizards home
where their picture was taken be
side a beautiful magnolia tree
meeting our Southern bellies. these
boys were taken on tour Of thu
Thu Fun