davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18
FAIRFIELD BOYS
WAG'D WAR WITH
EMPTY BOTTLES
Comrades in Pacific Find Way
To Keep Time from Drag
ging On Their Hands

Ten years ago this month, two
19-year-old Fairfield boys entered
the United States Marine Corps,
Figuring that they, like so many
who enter service together, would
soon be separated, and that before
long they probably wouldn't see
much of each other before, and if,
they got home from the wars.
But Maxwell L. Blake and Cliff
ton H. Mooney were like two peas
in a pod all the way through, and
weren't separated until just before
coming back to Hyde County.
Some say soldiers can't live and
fight closer than in a tank, and
these two were in tank together
in two operations in the South Pa
cific-Peleliu and Okinawa. Meth
er was wounded, and both got back
to Hyde County in good shape.
Mr.. Blake was a gunner, and
Mr.. Mooney radio operator, in
their outfit, the 9Th Amphibious
Tractor Battalion, attached to the
1st Marine Division, which they
joined in January, 1914, soon after
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18

getting out of boot camp at Paris
Island, S. C.
Entering the Marine Corps in
September, 1943, they were induct-
ed together at Fort Bragg, and
then sent to Paris Island for
training.
+ Their first combat action was on
the island of Peleliu, in the Palau
Islands operation. Then, in 1915,
they took part in the assault and
conquest of Okinawa, the operation
which, closely following the Two
Jima capture, broke the back of
Japanese resistance.
During their stay in Okinawa,
they often saw Flave Spencer, al
so of Fairfield, who was in the
Army. =
Not only were they comrades in
arms, but they stuck together dur
ing their free time, going on lib
erty together in this country and
in the Pacific. They stuck together
through thick and thin, and what
ever one did was backed up by the
other.
| Things can get pretty dull on a
Pacific island when the fighting is
over and there is nothing but a
sentry, an empty gasoline drum, a
few old bottles and bush for
amusement. So what do a couple
of Hyde County boys do about it :?
Why, Mr.. Blake and Mr.. Mooney
take the bottles behind the bush,
and Mr.. Mooney starts lobbing the
bottles at the drum, and the sentry
tstarts going crazy trying to locate
the Gap" who has the insolence to
snipe at him with bottles.
Mr.. Blake dutifully pleads with
Mr.. Mooney to cease and desist
from throwing bottles, and just as
dutifully gets rid Of the bottles
as the sentry dutifully goes crazy
trying to spot his sniper.
Once, in California, Blake was
standing in front of Mooney in a
chow line. Mooney had been sick
and "fell out" When Blake turned
to say something to his buddy, he
found Mooney lying out cold on
the ground.
"Who hit him." yelled Blake,
and was about to declare his own
private war when others convinced
him that nobody had slugged his
friend.
After their long period of being
inseparable, they finally got split
up on Guam after the Okinawa
campaign. When they started to
ship men to Japan for the Army OF
Occupation, the CPS" for Blake
went to Nagasaki. The "M's" fol
Mooney stayed on Guam.
In few months, both were back
at Fairfield, happy to be civilians
, again.
Mr.. Blake, the son of Mr.. anG
Mrs. J. L. Blake, now farms neal
Fairfield.
! Mr.. Mooney, who is the son Of
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18
RAINY SUNDAYS
GOOD NEWS TO
TOWER TENDER
Mrs. AIIene Creole Loves To
Hear Rain When She
Wakes Up Sunday
Morning

Most folks hate to see a rainy
Sunday, but not Mrs. Allene
Creole, operator of the fire tow
er of the Forestry Division, State
Department of Conservation and
Development near the Wilkin-
sons Creek Bridge.
Mrs. Creole likes to 60 to
church, and if she wakes up to a
rainy Sunday she knows she can
go.
instruments at the station show
the probability of forest fires
When it's dry, she must be up in
the tower. When it's wet, she
goes to church.
Mrs. Creole has been at the fire
tower about four years. Station
A. Creole, who was bridge tend
er at the Coinjock Inlet Water
way bridge before becoming ill,
now helps her around the fire
tower. With them lives Mr..
Credle's mother, Mrs. Lizzie
Creole.
When fires are spotted by Mrs.
Creole from the tower, she takes
a compass reading, then asks an
other tower, such as the one at
Wenona, to take a reading on it.
The "cross reading" from these
two gives the exact location of
the fire.
Then Mrs. Creole calls either
Archie G. Berry, of Fairfield,
Hyde County Forest Ranger, or
Leslie Clayton, of PIONEER, Assis-
tant Ranger, by two-way radio.
Mr.. Berry covers the eastern end
of the county, Mr.. Clayton the
western.
The two men cruise their ter
ritories, looking out for fires
themselves. If they spot one, they
call Mrs. Creole from the nearest
telephone.
In case fire gets too much
for the local men to handle, help
is called from the 4th District
headquarters at New Bern. A
special fire-fighting pillow is
maintained jointly by Hyde and
Beaufort counties.
The pillow is kept ordinarily at
Washington, but during the hunt
ing season it is often kept ready
in Hyde County for use against
fires set by hunters. This is a
constant hazard, and the late fall
is busy time for Hyde County
forest fire prevention workers.
Dry forests are dangerous for
ests as far as fire is concerned,
and those who fight the fires like
to see the forests wet.
And Mrs. Creole especially
likes to see them wet on a Sun
day morning.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18
IL. CLUB EXTENDS
OLIVE BRANCH
IN BELHAVEN
Liars Organization Seeks to
Make Peace Among Mem
bers Long Estranged

Every once in while, the old
trouble between Arlie Mobiles and
Jesse (Junior) Taylor pops up in
Belhaven and throws the other
wise harmonious Liars Club in
disorder. It's all because some
body always has to remind Arlie
Mobiles how Jesse Taylor made
him lose bet many years ago.
President Harold White says
he hopes, during his administra-
ton, to- bring peace between the
two old friends. The whole club
likes Jesse and they like Arlie;
both fine fellows, he says.
Heber Wilkinson says the sure
way to make peace is to take up
a collection and pay Arlie back
the money, with interest.
The history of the case dates
long way back. In the good old
days, we might say, when Jesse
Taylor was famed as a long dis
lance diver.
Jesse used to dive off Aries
boat, and come up for air about
300 yards away. Arlie used to
brag on him all the time because
he could dive so far. One day
some fellows from the north were
standing aboard a yacht and
heard Arlie Dragging about
Jesse's diving.
"How far would you guess he
can dive without coming up for
air?" one of these Yankees asked
Arlie.
"Oh, he can dive all the way
across Pantego Creek here, and
come right up on the other side,'
said Arlie, waving his hand over
! toward the place where DR.. Win
Stead's new home now stands.
"I'll bet you ten dollars he
can't do it," insisted this North
ern yachtsman.
Arlie had Dragged so much
about it that there was nothing
else to do but take up the bet, as
much as he hated to risk his
money.
Il don't know what was the
matter with Jesse that day, un-
less he wanted to show off," Har-
old White says. II don't think he
did right by Arlie. Instead OF
coming up across the river, he
didn't show up anywhere he
could be seen. Along in the after.
noon he rode into town with Gil.
bert Forman. The first time he
had come up for air was il
Wright Creek, eight miles dowr
the river"
"How anybody who could div,
that far would grow prankish ant
let a friend down, when he hac
only to dive a mere half-mile, j.
something that has stood agains
Jesse ever since, 1 am sure Jesse
is sorry for it, and would like t.
forget it ever happened, Presi
dent White concludes.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18
LAKE LANDING NEWS

Mr.. and Mrs. S. M. Fisher, Mrs.
l.. j. Weston, Misses Maggie
Bridgman and Eva Swindell were
business visitors in Belhaven
Thursday.
Miss Mollie Murray is spending
some time with her sister, Mrs.
Bland Fulford, and Mr.. Fulford,
Mr.. and Mrs. S. D. O'Neal and
children of Elizabeth City were the
week end guests of Mr.. and Mrs.
w. H. Cox.
T. ]. Mann III of Kinston spent
the week end with his parents, Mr..
and Mrs. N. L. Mann. Charles
Mann who has been working in
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18
MANSON MEEKINNS WINNER
IN NATIONAL RIFLE MATCH

1t. Manson E. Meekins, USCG,
senior Marine investigating Off
GER in Norfolk, won five medals at
the National Rifle Associations
annual shooting match at C a m p
Perry, Ohio.
He is the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
G. H. Meekins of Avon.
In individual pistol shooting,
Meekins wound up in sixth place
among $40 entrants, scoring 189x
200; won a bronze medal in the
National Trophy Match, placed
fifth in the Coast Guards four
man pistol team shoot and earned
an expert medal.
For his dead-eye shooting, the
Coast Guard officer will be award
ed the gold Distinguished Marks
man medal for pistol. He won the
same medal for rifle shooting in
1899.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18
A Firm Grip and Sharp Eyes
for SChOo! Days Ahead

things to eat, wear and use
at lower costs because of
efficient door to- door truck
service.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18
BUS SCHEDULES
between MANTEO
AND HATTERAS

WINTER SCHEDULE SUBJECT 10
CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18

Through connection ct Mays Head q
Northbound buses
CHARTER TRIPS AVAILABLE
HATTERAS-MANTEO
BUS LINE, INC.
Phone 104 HATTERAS, N. c.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18

Raleigh is at home now.
Mrs. Lucy Midyette is spending
some time with Mr.. and Mrs. Mel
vim Swindell and family of Swan
Quarter.
Mrs. G. E. Davis, Mrs. j. S.
Jennette and Mrs. w. w. Payne of
Middletown spent the week end
with Mr.. and Mrs. Charlie Mid
yette in New Bern.
Mrs. Sherille Fisher and daugh-
ter Anita spent the week end with
friends at Bell Island.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18
MEMORIAL PARK
SHEDS GET NEW
COAT OF PAINT

The Hyde County Memorial
Park sheds on the causeway across
Lake Mattamuskeet were being
given fresh coats of paint this
week by the State Highway and
Public Works Commission.
The park was originally sponsor
ed by the Home Demonstration
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18
clubs of Hyde County.

A popular place for school and
church picnic outings, the park is
also used extensively by private
groups and by tourists.
The Home Demonstration Clubs
also built sheds and freplaces at
Bell Island, former home of the
Civilian Conservation Corps unit
in the county.
A project of this years program
ofsthe women's clubs is continued
effort to secure lighthouses for the
Bell Island recreation spot.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18

THIS INTERESTING STRUCTURE government
Lake Maamuske Nationally famous The LODGE The light
like has winding stair may
climb for the view The the huge
pumping housed the building below said
than million gallons in
days of the development project Lake Maamuskee
when its 5000 pumped dry
to be sold for speculation The scheme
returned The Government established
but shooting permitted under
another attraction whereby the great
retreat for portsmen 1t operated by Mr. and Mrs. Dick
ONeal of New Holland native couple and it is well worth
visiting fol it's good foodan
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-18

Mr.. and Mrs. Clifton Mooney, ST.,
is now at Lake Phelps operating
dragline owned by him and his
brother, Lindsay.
Montgomery County sentinel., 1953-12-10
Preston T.. King

Preston Cloud King, 70, sports
man and retired Chesapeake & Po-
tomac Telephone Co. auditor, died
November 28, at Suburban Hospi-
tai after an automobile accident at
his home in Travilah.
His car struck tree in the
driveway of "Rexholm Farm
where he lived with his son, Pres
ton, Jr. He lived at Potomac until
several months ago.
He was director of the National
Capital Field Trial Club, trustee of
the Emory Methodist Church in
Brightwcod, and on the board of
stewards of the Potomac Methodist
Church.
He and his wife, the former Sally
Myers of Washington, celebrated
their fiftieth wedding anniversary
November 4.
Besides his widow and son, he is
survived by granddaughter, Mrs.
Bruce A. Reichelderfer, and great
grandson. Bruce, Jr., Of Travilah.
Funeral services were held Tues
dav. December 1, at Potomac Meth
odist Church, with burial in Rock
Creek Cemetary.
Montgomery County sentinel., 1953-12-10
Ann Sipes Ott

Mrs. Charles p. OFT, II, resi-
dent Of Montgomery County, for
the past 35 years, died at a nursing
home in Olney, December 1, after
an illness of several months. She
lived at 818 Viers Mill Road, Rock
vile.
Mrs. OFT was a charter member
of the Rockville Republican Wom-
ems Club and a member of Christ
Episcopal Church and of its Wom-
ems Guild.
Survivors are two sons, Edward
Mason OFT, with whom she lived;
Nelson S. OFT, 1915 Calvert Street,
NV, Washington; a daughter
Mrs. Martha C. Croy, 7415 Georgia
Avenue, NV, and three grandchil-
dren. Another son, Howard M. OFT
of Silver Spring, died 1S months
ago.
Funeral services were held De-
cember at Warner Pumphrey's
Funeral Home, Silver Spring with
burial in Everett, Pa.
Montgomery County sentinel., 1953-12-10
Mrs. w. II. Armstrong

Mrs. William H. Armstrong, 43,
the former Martha Stonestreet Will
liams and daughter of Walter A.
and the late Barry A. Williams of
Rockville, died November 20, at
her home in Kent, Conn.
For several years she taught
dramatics at private school in
Washington and later she returned
to Stuart Hall, her alma mater, as
dramatics instructor.
She was married in 1912 to Mr.
Armstrong, who is a member of the
faculty of the Kent School in Kent
Mrs. Armstrong is survived by
three children, Christopher, 8; Da-
vid Barry, 6; and Mary Anderson
a; brother, w. Anderson Williams
of Pittsfeld, Mass, and two sis
ters, Mrs. Richard G. Buckingham
of 524 Montgomery Ave-, Rockville.
and Mrs. John C. Alnutt of 233
Great Falls Road, Rockville, in ad-
dition to her father. r
Funeral services were held in
Kent on December 1. She was
buried at Rockville Union Gene
tary December A.
Montgomery County sentinel., 1953-12-10
OBITUARY
Mrs. E.. w. Offutt

Mrs. Ernest Offutt, GA, a past
president of the Women's Demo
cratic Club of Montgomery County
died December 4, in Georgetown
University Hospital after a long
illness.
Following her marriage in 1910
to w. Ernest Offutt, she came to
live in Rockville. She moved to
Arlington in 1850.
Mrs. 0ffutt was charter mem
ber of the Montgomery County
Soroptimist Club, member Of the
Women's Club of Bethesda and re-
cording secretary of the Demo
cratic State organization.
She was also editor of the Wom-
ems Democrat, and in the early
1930s was appointed to the Mary
land State Central Committee of
the Democratic Party.
A requiem mass was offered De-
cember at st. Agnes Catholic
Church in Arlington. Burial was
in Monocacy Cemetery, Beallsville.
Montgomery County sentinel., 1953-12-10

guests and pass out ice cream.
The party is being sponsored by
the colored merchants of the upper
county.
Montgomery County sentinel., 1953-12-10
School Board
Continued from Page y


ng Tuesday to oppose any shift
students.
Also taken under consideration
)y the Board was the possibility
Of iunior-senior high school ir
Gaitheisburg instead of turning
the present elementary school into
junior high and constructing g
new elementary school in Wash
ington Grove.
Other schools on the must list
were a new Elementary school on
Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda with 12
classrooms, library, office, kitchen,
and all purpose room; a nine-room
addition to the Wyngate element
ary; library, auditorium and
classroom addition to the Bethesda
Chevy Chase High; four-room ad-
dition to the Glen Haven Elemen-
tary and a 16-room addition to
the Wheaton Woods Elementary.
The Board at its Tuesday meet
ing also approved 81 new text
books for use in the Schools after
passing on it's staff's method of
screening out those containing "un-
Americanism."
The Board passed the list after
Thomas w. Pyle, assistant super
;ntendent for instruction, assured
the Board that "every precaution
S taken to eliminate books which
would interfere with the desirable
growth of our children"
Included in the list. however, was
one book which Board Member
Wylie w. Barrow said had been
rejected for use in Indiana Schools
in 1862 when the States Textbook
Committee found it was "sympa-
thetic to communism" He quoted
from a newspaper clipping.
Screen Text Books
Barrow asked if books were
screened to make sure they do not
try to indoctrinate children to
communism or any other un-Amer-
icanism."
DR.. Norris defended the author
Of the questioned book, american
Government" by the late DR.. Frank
Abbott Magruder. He said the au-
thor was zone of the best authors
on government that l know" and
said Indiana, his home state, had
"done fool thing"
1t was the first time in 5 years
the Board had passed on any text
books. Pyle told the board it was
the first list of books which had
been. added, except on "experi-
mental basis" in that time.
Montgomery County sentinel., 1953-12-10

area servicemen. Herbie is in the
Coast Guard, stationed somewhere
in North Carolina, and recently
had a visit at home after a trir
to Greenland.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Dumford of
Hillandale, who were married
Thanksgiving Day, were guests
of honor at five to seven" party
given Sunday afternoon by Mrs.
Ann G. Boyd of Olney. Mrs. Dunn
ford, who is principal of Glen Hav-
en- School where Mrs. Boyd teach
es, is originally from the interest
ing town of Del-Mar which is BIZ
sected by the Delaware Maryland
line. In fact, though Mrs. Dumford
lived on the Maryland side her
mail was received at the post Of
flee on the Delaware side-verv
confusing. Guests at the party
were Montgomery County teachers
who are friends of the guests of
honor.
Mr.. and Mrs. John West of Win
chester, Mass, are house guests of
Mrs. Vests sister, Mrs. Clarke
Slade and Mr.. Slade. Clarke Slade,
Jr., who spent the Thanksgiving
weekend at home, returned from
Stamford, Conn, on Monday for a
few days with his parents before
leaving December Is to report for
Army service.
The membership committee of
the Sherwood Alumni Association
will hold its next meeting on Jan
uary 6. At a meeting held Novem-
ber l8 at the Sherwood Library the
committee made plans for a mem
bership drive which will start later
in the winter. The committee is
now working on compiling roster
of correct names and addresses of
all Sherwood alumni, and would
like to hear from any who have
new names or addresses. Please
send information to Wilton ]. Bos-
well, Brookeville.
The Friends Meeting and Sunday
School will hold Christmas Carol
Sing at Alloway on December 13. at
6 pm.
Our apologies to the members of
Oakdale-Emory Methodist Church
because the item we wrote about
their benefit supper and bazaar
was omitted from the news. Their
next benefit will be Thursday, Jan
uary IA and will be a luncheon of
baked ham and home baked beans.
Be sure to mark the date on your
new calendar.
The new st. Johns cookbook will
be one of the items on sale at the
Christmas Bazaar which will be
held Saturday, December ~, in con-
nection with the turkey supper
Montgomery County sentinel., 1953-12-10

A silver loving cup with his
name engraved on it as the "Sol-
der of the Month" in the 82nd
Airborne Division was recently
presented to Arthur A. Widener,
Jr., son of Mr.. and Mrs. Widener
of Lyndon Farm, Olney. This is
the first time an award of this
type has been bestowed on a SOL
der at Fort Bragg, and a plaque
containing the name of Pfc. Widen
: er and any soldiers receiving this
award in the future will be hung
in the commanding officers quar-
ters.
Before being transferred to Fort
Bragg, Pfc. Widener was gradua-
ted from Leadership School and
served as an Instructor at Camp
Breckenridge, KY. He has just COM
pleted a years military service and
expects to spend the Christmas
holidays with his parents at Lyn-
don Farm.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jack Bentley and
Mrs. William r. Talbot of Rock
vile were recent weekend guests
of Mr.. and Mrs. Edwin B. Morris
of Bethesda, who entertained them
at the Hershey Hotel in Hershey,
Pa. The five longtime friends
drove up to Hershey Saturday
morning and returned Monday af-
ternoon, after spending the week
end sightseeing and visiting" We
hear that there is one of the finest
of Indian exhibits in the Hershey
Museum and, of course, the philan-
thropic work done by the founder
of the Hershey Company is fabul-
Gus.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bentley and Mr..
and Mrs. Morris were also among
the 100 guests planning to attend
the dinner given by the Associa-
tion of Federal Architects on Tues
day, December 8, at the Kennedy
Warren in Washington. Mrs. Tai
bott was an honor guest at the
dinner and received plaque COM
memorating the work of her hus-
band, the late William Randolph
Talbot, who was technical director
OF the Maintenance and Operations
Branch of the Veterans Bureau.
Herbert Dublin is another of our
Montgomery County sentinel., 1953-12-10
COlOred Merchants
Sponsor School
Patrol Xmas Party

A Christmas party for approx
mately 300 school patrols in the
upper county will be held at the
Rock Terrace Elementary School
on December Is from 7:30 to $3.50
pm. according to Corporal Butler
of the Montgomery County Police
who is planning the party.
Cartoons will be shown, there
will be singing of Christmas carols,
and games will be distributed to
all the patrols. Ryder Ray, dressed
as Santa Claus, will greet the
Montgomery County sentinel., 1953-12-10
The
Code
We
LiiUe
RTI
THINK FIRST
BY FRANK n. WILLIAMS

THINK FIRST
If your lips would keep from slips,
Five things observe with care;
OF whom you speak. TO whom you
speak,
And how and when and where.
If your ears would save from ieers,
These things keep meekly hid;
Myself and |, and mine and my
And how | do and did.
Frank H. Williams, builder Of
The Community MausoIeum. Pro-
tector Of the Human Body, will
make an announcement of vital i'm
porfance TO the residents Of Rock
vile in The near future.
909 Pershing Drive. Silver Spring