Evening star., 1946-06-01
Families of 80 Washington Area Officers
I'm Japan Selected for First SoiIino
Leave From Seattle
This Month for
Reunion in Orient

Reunion in Orient
The wives and children of 80
Washington area soldiers-omce
who fought in the Pacific war and
have volunteered to remain in the
Far East on occupation duty-will
join their husbands and fathers in
Japan this month. The first group
Of military dependents will sail from
Seattle.
This group will comprise the fam
lilies of 521 men from the 48 States
and the District Of Columbia, and
more than 1000 women and chill
dren are expected to make the jour-
ney. The first list is made up al
most entirely of families of high
ranking officers, but a sprinkling OF
junior officers and "a enlisted men
received priorities for the initial
voyage.
Eighteen wives now living in the
District Of Columbia, and their chill
dren will make the II ,000-mile jour-
ney, including Mrs. Evelyn Whitney
and 9-year-old Richard Whitney
wife and son Of Brig. Gen. Courtney
Whitney. Mrs. Josephine Swing and
Miss Mary Ann Swing, 10, wife and
daughter of Maj. Gen. Joseph M.
Swing; Mrs. Genevieve H. Soule
and Genevieve Anne, IL, wife and
daughter of Brig. Gen. Robert H.
Soule.
Whitney Lately in News.
Gen. Whitney, with his elder son,
1t. Courtney Whitney, jr., was with
the lightning amphibious force
which rescued 2,146 civilian inter-
nees from the Los Banos camp on
Luzon when American troops were
engaged in liberating the Philip
pines. Holder of the Distinguished
Service Medal and the Legion of
Merit, Gen. Whitney was more re-
Gently in the news last month when
he "filibustered" at Russian Gen.
eral Kuzma Derevyanko, member
of the four power Allied Council in
Tokyo, when the Russian questioned
the effectiveness of Gen. MacAr-
thurs political purge in Japan.
Gen. Whitney read voluminous re-
ports, giving every last detail of
MacArthur's actions until the Soviet |
representative gave up. Mrs. SWING
and Miss Swing have been living at
1862 Mintwood place. Gen. Swing
is commander Of the rough and
tumble 18th Airborne Division.
He accepted the surrender of a
sword-carrying little japanese liai-
son officer when his troops landed
at Atsugi Airdrome to begin the
occupation Of Japan after VI Day.
When the Jap asked for orders,
Gen. Swing told him tersely through
an interpreter: Take that thing
off" Protesting voluably, the Jap
officer gave up his Samurai sword.
Mrs. Soule Knows Orient.
Mrs. Soule has been making her
home at 1914 Connecticut avenue
NV, with Genevieve Ann.
In the Philippines campaign,
Gen. Soule-then a colonel-led a
regiment of glider and paratroops
to the rescue of the prisoners at Los
Banos. It was at Los Banos that
Gen. Soule and his wife first met
rs years ago. Mrs. Soule is no
stranger to the Orient. She lived
in China for five years and barely
got out OF the troubled country be-
fore the Japanese invasion began.
Daughter "Ginsy" has been study
ing at the Convent of the Sacred
Heart.
Mrs. Soule and "Ginsy" have
been packing for days in prepara-
tion for the trip. The only sad note
is the War Departments ruling that
they cannot take their 10-year- old
wire-haired terrier, Jocky, to Japan.
! The pet went to China with the
Soules before the war.
"The poor little thing has been
having fits ever since she saw us
begin packing. I'm going to leave
her with my mother, Mrs. Elizabeth
Hoffman, in Laramie, Wyo." Mrs.
Soule said. She left yesterday with
Genevieve and Jocky for Laramie,
where she will spend five days with
Mrs. Hoffman before continuing on
to Seattle.
Gen. Soule returned to the United
States for IS days leave in Febru-
ary. He is now assistant division
commander of the 18th Airborne
Division at Sendai, Hokkaido.
Mrs. Eastwood Plans Trip.
Gen. Soule, who formerly was as
sistant division commander of the
38th Infantry Division, was awarded
the Distinguished Service Cross for
heroism at Tagaytay Ridge, Luzon,
and holds the Silver Star and Legion
of Merit.
Another long time Washington
resident, Mrs. Gladys Eastwood, wife
of Brig. Gen. Harold e. Eastwood,
plans to join her husband as soon
as the War Department gives the
go-ahead signal. She will make the
trip alone. While her husband has
been away, Mrs. Eastwood has been
living at 3340 Reservoir road NV.
Gen. Eastwood, veteran of the
World War, served as head of Gen.
Macarthur supply section as plans
and operations officer. He planned
the procurement and distribution
of supplies for MacArthur's forces
in their drive against the japanese
outlying fortresses. Before going
overseas early in 1943, Gen. East
wood was stationed at the War De-
partment here, serving with the
General Staff.
Originally scheduled to 60 with
the first group was Mrs. Eleanor
Stone Akin of the Westchester
Apartments, wife of Maj. Gen.
Spencer B. Akin and their daughter,
and two granddaughters. The ILL
ness Of the Akins' daughter, Mrs.
Martha McMillin, her daughter,
Julia, 3, and niece, Eleanor James, 6,
forced them to postpone their trip
until a later quota is prepared. Mrs.
Sc Fund Show
IL