Soldier News 1943 - continued

Letter from Staff Sgt. Douglas W. Anthony

Bainbridge News & Republican, Oct. 7, 1943

 

After nearly four months, Mrs. Myrtle Wilson was greatly relieved when on Sept. 27 she received an air mail letter from her son, Staff Sgt. Douglas W. Anthony.  It was only en route 10 days.  In the nearly two years Sgt. Anthony ahs been overseas, he has never been able to state where he was or give any clue even to his whereabouts.  In this letter he was allowed to state he was in the Solomon area.  He wrote he was fine and doing O.K., enjoying all the necessities of life, and even some of the luxuries we enjoy, came their way.  He receives all the mail from the States, only many letters at once, then there will be a time when no mail comes through for days.  He is always so glad to hear form his friends in Norwich and Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].

 

Donald Patchen Wins Silver Wings

Bianbridge News & Republican, Oct. 7, 1943

 

Donald Patchen

 

The right to wear a pair of coveted "Silver Wings" and fly one of Uncle Sam's swift and deadly fighter planes against our Axis enemies has been won by Donald Jay Patchen, son of Mrs. Genevieve W. Benedict, Route 3, Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], who was commissioned a second lieutenant at special outdoor exercises this week at Craig Field's picturesque pecan grove at Selma Ala.  The awarding of the iwngs and commission came after the new fling officer had completed his advanced flight training at the Advanced Flying School in Selma, Ala.

 

During the many months of training he had to undergo before he mounted the stand to received his wings and certificate, he was given all types of instruction.  He was toughened mentally and physically and learned to drill, just as any soldier.  He was also given every phase of combat instruction, including fighter formation, ground and aerial gunnery, night flying Nov. 4, 1943 and high altitude missions which equip him to become a vital member of  the United States' still rapidly increasing air arm, which daily is carrying the war across waters to the very heart of our enemies' strongholds.  Assignment to his next station followed the exercises. 

 

Hanford Haynes Home from Africa

Bainbridge News & Republican, Nov. 3, 1943

 

P.F.C. Hanford Haynes, who saw service in the African campaign and was wounded and had the great honor of receiving the Award of the Purple Heart, is enjoying a 30-day furlough, spent at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Haynes, in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].  He arrived in this country Sept. 21 and has been receiving hospitalization since at the Rose General Hospital in Utica.  His injuries included a broken leg and infection in the knee from which he is making a good recovery, although he walks with a decided limp, which necessitates the use of a cane.  He spoke very highly of the care he received in the overseas hospital.  It seemed to him mighty good to be home and to enjoy the hunting season, and the change in climate.  We are having plenty of rain, which he didn't have in Africa.  P.F.C. Haynes was looking fine and in excellent spirits.

 

Sgt. Edward Peckham Prisoner of Nazis

Bainbridge News & Republican,

 



Residents of Bainbridge and vicinity are jubilant over the news received by Mr. and Mrs. Jack Peckham, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], R.D.3, in a telegram from the War Department Saturday afternoon announcing that their son, Tech. Sgt. Edward Peckham, who had been reported missing in action since June 26, was a prisoner in Germany, according to the Red Cross.

 

Edward, who was a top turret gunner in the Air Force, had been in England about a month at the time he was reported missing in action;  however it was assumed here he was on his first bombing mission over Germany.

 

The fore part of the week Mr. and Mrs. Peckham received a number of letters from people from various parts of the country who had heard a broadcast from Berlin short wave, Saturday night at 7 o'clock listing Edward among the prisoners.  Among the listeners of the broadcast, were a lady from Oneonta, and a gentleman from New York City. 

 

Harold Shields Wounded in Italy

Sidney Enterprise, Dec. 2, 1943

 

Pvt. Harold M. Shields, son of Mrs. John Hendricks of Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY], was wounded in action in Italy and has been transferred to a hospital in North Africa where he is improving, according to word received by his mother from the War Department.  Pvt. Shields, a graduate of Unadilla school, entered the Army Nov. 28, 1942.  He was sent to Camp Croft, S.C., for four months' basic training, then to Camp Edwards, Mass., for a short time before going to North Africa where he completed his training in an infantry division.