Soldier News - March 1942

Everette R. Herrick With Pacific Fleet

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 26, 1942

 

Everette R. Herrick

 

Bruce M. Weeks In Naval Service

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 19, 1942

 

Bruce M. Weeks

 

Another local youth in the service of his country is pictured this week.  Bruce M. Weeks, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Ray Weeks, is a coxswain in the United States Navy.  Bruce enlisted in the Navy on December 4, 1939, and remained on the Atlantic Coat until the Fall of 1940, making voyages to Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad, Newfoundland and other points of interest.  His ship, a cruiser, the U.S.S. St. Louis, was then sent to the Pacific Coast, spending sometime at Hawaii.  It returned to Mare Island Navy Yard near San Francisco for the winter months.  In June, 1941, Bruce's ship was returned with the fleet to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which was his home port until the attack on December 7.  His parents had no report form him from November 20, 1941 until January 6, 1942, when a card arrived stating that their son was well.  Young Weeks whereabouts have been unknown and correspondence from him has been confined to brief message stating that he was well and safe.  Then on midnight, February 24, a telephone call from San Diego, Cal brought his voice to the ears of the parents for the first time since his last furlough in May 1940.  The welcome relief experienced by Mr. and Mrs. Weeks at the sound of their son's voice was rivaled by the overwhelming happiness it brought Bruce to hear voices from home. 

 

Private Jeffers at Scott Field

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 19, 1942

 

The news has received a letter from Private Kenneth A. Jeffers, stationed at Scott Field, Ill., in which he states that he is rapidly becoming a radio operator mechanic and will graduate in April.  Bainbridge residents will remember Private Jeffers as the "Jeff" who was formerly occupied as motion picture operator for the expired theatre run by Don Mullins.  The letter in part reads:

 

"I received your copy of the Bainbridge News and was very pleased to see a copy of my favorite paper."..."I am attending the Air Corps University of Radio and I will finish my course and graduate in April.  I will inform you of my new address as soon as I am stationed.  I would like to get in touch with some of my friends and your paper will help very much.  I will soon graduate as a 'First Class Radio Operator Mechanic' and can hardly wait to get into action."

 

The marvelous spirit of the local boys who have left home and are now in the service of their country is greatly typified by this letter for Private Jeffers and the News would be delighted to hear from some more of the local boys in the service. 

 

Pvt. Donald Wheat an Air Corp Graduate

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 26, 1942

 

Pvt. Donald K. Wheat, son of Mr. and Mrs. Seth T. Wheat, graduated Mar. 22, from the huge Air Corps Technical School at Kessler Field, Biloxi, Miss., after an intensive 19-week course which prepared him to serve as an Airplane Mechanic "on the line."  private Wheat's class, which numbers in the hundreds, will be dispersed among the many units of the Army Air Forces to maintain and service Uncle Sam's planes.  The course at Kessler Field includes training in aircraft maintenance fundamentals, airplane structures, hydraulic systems, propellers, instruments, engines, electrical systems, fuel systems, engine operation, and inspection of single and multi-motored planes.  Private Wheat graduted from the Bainbridge Central High School in 1939 and enlisted in the Air Corps on Sept. 29, 1941, after having been previously employed in the local Office of the Casein Co. 

 

Cut Theatre Rates for Service Men

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 19, 1942

 

Harold Freshman, manager of the Bainbridge Avon Theatre, has announced that, effective now, all uniformed men in the service of their country will be admitted to the local theatre at half price. 

 

Mr. Freshman is to be commended for  his generous and unselfish gesture.  We are all aware of the fact that service men are not paid high salaries and consequently have not large sums of money to spend on recreation when they are on leaves.  These men are good enough to fight for us and the least we can do is to show that we appreciate what they are doing by making things a little easier and more pleasant while they are on furlough.  During these times furloughs are few and far between and anything can happen.