Soldier News continued - 1945

Pvt. Ben Cornell Receives Unit Citation

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 29, 1945

 

 

Pvt. Ben I. Cornell, Jr.

 

The 32nd Infantry Division of which Pvt. Benjamin I. Cornell, Jr., is a member has been awarded the following Citation for an outstanding accomplishment in Leyte:

 



"Today the "Red Arrow" Division successively completed its primary mission of forcing a passage south through the mountains from Penamopoan to the Armoe Valley.  After 36 days of the bitterest hand-to-hand fighting yet experienced in this war. the Division has annihilated the 1st Imperial Jap Division (reinforced), and by this determined action has shortened the completion of the Leyte Campaign.

 

"Every officer and every enlisted man in the Division as well as those attached played a vitally important part in t he Division's success.

 

"I wish to compliment each individual and to express my personal appreciation for the splendid work accomplished by them in this campaign.  Without this coordinated effort by each individual the Division could not have been successful.

 

"I extend the Season's Greetings to each of you, and in so doing, express my confidence in your continued success.  May God watch over you and help you through the strenuous days ahead."

 

Signed W.H. Gill, Maj. General U.S. Army Commanding.

 

Private Cornell, formerly of Bainbridge, is now stationed on Luzon according to a letter from his mother, Mrs. Ben Cornell, of Anderson, Mo.  He wrote in a recent letter to his parents that the boys were enjoying fresh vegetable, such as, sweet corn, green onions, egg plant, and sugar cane syrup.  He also told how he and three other men from his group had been invited to a supper given by a young Filipino couple at which roasted chicken was served.  The chicken was cooked on a stick held over hot coals.

 

Sgt. William Sutliff & Cpl. Morris Winchell Members of 344 Engineers

Bainbridge News & Republican, April 12, 1945

 

6th Army Group, France--Construction of the two longest Army-built railroad bridges in France, clearance of a 1-1/2 mile blown-up tunnel, rebuilding miles of demolished engineering feats of the 344th Engineer Regiment is keeping pace with U.S. Seventh Army troops in General Jacob L. Devers' 6th Army Group.

 

Opening supply lines in a matter of hours after an area is captured, some of these combat engineers have fought in the line as infantrymen and others have stopped work to fight off enemy fire.  Their rehabilitation of miles of railroad and their construction of 460-foot and 450-foot railroad bridges across the Doubs and Moselle Rivers, respectively, were cited as "the finest type of military engineering," by Lt. Gen. Alexander M. Patch, Seventh Army commander.

 

This regiment encountered one of the most complete German demolition jobs of the war.  The Germans had blown a large hole in the bottom of a canal that crossed over a railroad tunnel,  To clear the tunnel, they worked 24 days around the clock, removing 32,000 cubic yards of dirt, rock and debris and over a million cubic feet of water.  Completing the job they installed 400 feet of double track. 

 

"I have the finest officers and men I've seen anywhere," said Col. Ralph H. Cameron, of San Antonio, Texas, regimental commander.  "No matter what the job--clearing mines, building bridges under fire, fighting as infantry--they go ahead and get the job done in the best manner possible."  He paid particular praise in this medical detachment and cited one medic who received the Silver Star for braving enemy fire to rescue wounded engineers.

 

Veterans of 32 months overseas, these men have done construction work in England, Algeria, Italy and France.  They have built 35 highways and railroad bridges and maintained approximately 2,000 miles of road in this country.

 

Members of the regiment include:  Sgt. William D. Sutliff, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY]; and Cpl. Morris L. Winchell, of R.D., Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].

 

Robert Rosenstein Home from Pacific Area

Bainbridge News & Republican, April 12, 1945

 

Robert Rosenstein, Y 1/C, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Rosenstein, is spending a 30-day leave at his home after an absence of 37 months, 33 of which were spent in the Pacific Theatre.  Petty Officer Rosenstein wears three ribbons, Asiatic-Pacific, with three battle stars, American Theatre, and American Defense.  Robert has two brothers in the service, Warrant Officer A.J. Rosenstein, of Camp Barkeley, Tex., and Sgt. Paul Rosenstein, of Blytheville, Ark.

 

Sgt. Leo Terry on Furlough from Pacific

Bainbridge News & Republican, April 12, 1945

 

Sgt. Leo Terry, of the U.S. Marines, is spending a 30-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Terry, after returning to the States from the Pacific Theatre where he had spent 18 months in the combat zone.  Sergeant Terry wears three ribbons, Philippine, Asiatic-Pacific, and American, with three campaign stars; also a unit Presidential Citation.

 

17-Year-Olds Accepted in U.S. Navy

Bainbridge News & Republican, April 12, 1945

 

Three 17-year-olds from Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] were accepted in the Navy last Friday in Albany.  They are Ronald W. Drachler, Ernest A. Fenner and Richard W. Carman, who will leave for active duty in about a month.

Bernard Ayers Dies of Wounds

Bainbridge News & Republican, April 12, 1945

Mrs. M.M. Hibbard received word Apr. 6 that her grandson, Pvt. Bernard L. Ayers, died of wounds while fighting in Germany.  Private Ayers was wounded Mar. 20 and died Mar. 22.  He is survived by a wife and six children, living in Susquehanna, Pa.  At one time Private Ayers made his home in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] with his grandmother.