The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1945-05-11
LOOKING BACK WITH PRIDE ON
EFFORTS TO END HOSTILITIES
.... ,...-...-. rr..l

Htt +ttt 10 ~ ISitOidttf1S Oltl-
cial ann lrccrlent ot victory in
EnTvps. - iaUkiny back today
with justified r-,de on their part
In winning the war against Ger
many.
Three years ago the axis sub
MARINES prowlcd the waters a few
miles off Florida's coast line
Scores Of fGel-laden ships were
blasted to the bottom in those
dark days.
OF all the 4S states, Florida was
perhaps the clasest to the war,
The conflict moved to its very
doorstep as burned and shattered
debris filtered lis white sand
hcacheS-
Bold 10 TIE point of raShneSS,
Germany landed spies and sabo-
tearx on the coast near Ponte
Tcrda Beach and only the vigil
lanoe q Tire FBI kept them from
fulfilling their mission.
Finally. TIE soNer of United
Sxafes armed might began to take
hold Slowly the enemy was driv-
n hack frcsn TIE shores. across
~ Atlantic and into a homeland
lair which could not save him.
And Florida citizens have but
70 scan official records to realize
ho~ large was their part in
achRving EGropean victory.
In hangover contributions,
Flurlda has given nearly 300, 900
uf hcr men and women 70 the ma
lions armed force Twenty two
per cent Of its male population
noW IN represented in the serv-
ices
through the flight from Africa,
across 70 Italy. in the Normandy
invasion. during the drive into
Germany, and in the final battle
Tor TIE Nazi surrender, military
stations have lauded Florida's ma
tive sons for outstanding action
against the enemy.
Leading the list of Florida fight
ers who have helped win the bat
tlc Of Europe IS a 2l-year-old sol
der who holds the nations high
est aWard for bravery. Corporal
Games II. Mills of Fort Meade
sears the Congressional Medal of
Honor fer helping. establish the
Anzio beachhcad during the Ital-
IAN campaign.
On D-Cay in Normandy, when
Allied forces carried their fight
against the Axis TO the western
shores Of Europe, Floridian's
battle leadership won him the
second highest military award in
the nation. the Distinguished Ser
vice Cross. Lieutenant K. Fergu-
son. a former University of Flor
ida football star, was honored for
hefoism under fire. Private Len
mis- ID. Adams of Panama City,
who received the Silver Star, was
among numerous other Floridiahs
decorated for action in the inva-
sion Of France. ~
Pushing on INTO the German
homeland. americans took Ach-
IN. the first important enemy city
- fall TO our forces. Major VIII,
liam Z. Hurlbert Of Jacksonville
was chosen administrators of the
captured Nazi town. Represent
fng the American military gov
eminent. Major Hurlbert tested
civilian affairs programs to be
followed in other conquered cities
IN the Reich. Before the war, he
was assistant chief of detectives
in Jacksonville.
In December, when Won Rund-
stedt launched his offensive in
Bglrium and Luxembourg, Flor
ldians helped turn back the en-
eTy drive. One of the divisions
responsible for prying loose the
Germans in the Bastogne section
was the Goth Infantry, command
cd by Major General James Van
Fleet Of Barlow. General Van
Fleet is Wen known in sports cir
cles as the former football coach
Of the University of Florida, 1IN
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