Soldier News continued - 1945

William Smith's Unit Receives Doolittle Congratulations

Bainbridge News & Republican, June 14, 1945

England, V-E Day:  Among the 185,000 men and women of the Eighth Air Force congratulated today by Lt. Gen James H. Doolittle, who assumed command of the Eighth in January, 1944, is Private First Class William F. Smith, 44 Green Lawn Ave., Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY].

 

"I wish to extend my personal congratulations and my heartfelt appreciation to every one of you for the magnificent job you have done,"  Gen. Doolittle said in a message to all personnel.  "Each of you," he continued, "May be proud of your part in the defeat of Germany.  I am proud of you.  The world is proud of you."

 

The Eighth Air Force was the world's mightiest strategic bombing force.  Its personnel of 185,000 was the equivalent of 12 infantry divisions, and it could send 21,000 airmen in 2,000 four-engine bombers and 1,000 fighters over Germany at one time, a combat effort possible only through the support of tens of thousands of non-flying specialists.

 

Since August, 1942, when combat operations began, Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the Eighth dropped more than 700,000 tons of bombs on enemy targets.  Fighter pilots shot down 4,250 Nazi planes and destroyed 4,250 others on the ground.  Bomber gunners shot 6,000 German interceptors out of the air.

 

The Eighth dropped an average of a ton of bombs every minute of the last 12 months.  Airmen of the Eighth were the first Americans to attack Germany.  The early crews flew a handful of unescorted bombers against the powerful Luftwaffe, and proved the feasibility of an American Idea--precision daylight bombing over the Reich.  As the Eighth grew in strength, it was assigned the task of crushing the German Air Force, which had to be done before the Allies could invade France.  Bombers of the Eighth smashed Nazi aircraft production centers.  Its fighters destroyed thousands of enemy planes in the air and on the ground.

 

After beating the Luftwaffe into relative impotency, the Eighth threw its growing weight against Germany's rail system and vital sources of oil.  These campaigns, in conjunction with the British Royal Air Force and the U.S. 15th Air Force, disorganized all transport in Germany, restricted German military operations in the air and on the ground, and paved the way for the march of Allied armies across Europe.

 

Cpl. Philip Mitterwager Killed in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, June 21, 1945

 

Corporal Philip Mitterwager, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Mitterwager, of Hancock Delaware Co., NY], died in action at Okinawa on May 6, according to a message from the War Department to the parents of the corporal on Sunday last.

 

Pfc. Alfred G. Corgan Killed in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, June 21, 1945

 

Pfc. Alfred G Corgan, of Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY], was killed in action April 12, according to word received by next of kin.  Private Corgan was reported missing in action in Germany during April.  He was a paratrooper in the Screaming Eagle Division and had received medals for machine gun marksmanship, rifle shooting and expert pistol shooting while in training.

 

Letter Received from Lt. Donald Anthony

Norwich Sun, July 3, 1945

 

Guilford [Chenango Co., NY]:  Mrs. Myrtle Wilson received a most interesting letter from her son, Lieut, Donald Anthony, who has been stationed at Steyer, Austria, since the war in Europe ended.  While there, his outfit was in control of part of the town and the Russians the other half.  He is now stationed at Hachstadt, Germany, and his company is quartered in an old castle on the famous Blue Danube river and have taken over this area. Lieutenant Anthony wrote that his outfit, the 271st Combat Engineers, was the first to cross the Danube and he had the honor of handling the engineering part of getting the infantry across.  The copy of his award and the Silver Star which he received he has just forwarded to his wife in Delaware city, Del.  He stated:  "Now that the war is over and I can look the river over, I see that it isn't blue, like the song says."  On that memorable day, when the first crossing of the Danube was made, the color of it didn't enter the picture whatsoever.  He is with the third army. one of the armies of occupation.

 

Award of the Silver Star:  Donald R. Anthony, 01117234, Second Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, Co. "B", 271st Engn. Combat Battalion, for gallantry in action against the enemy on April 24, 1945, in the vicinity of Spindelholf, Germany.  Lieutenant Anthony upon learning that some of the members of his platoon had been wounded by enemy mortar fire, left his covered position and rode with his driver across an open field under enemy  mortar fire to evacuate the wounded men.  Lieutenant Anthony's courage and leadership are examples of the highest standard of self sacrifice and military efficiency.

 

Lloyd Mayo Killed in Action

Afton Enterprise, July 5, 1945

 

Capt. Lloyd S. Mayo, native of Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY], and formerly of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], died of a wound received in action on Okinawa last month, according to a War Department telegram received by his mother.  According to the telegram, Captain Mayo died May 27.  No other details were given.  Captain Mayo, a former member of Co. G, graduated from Oneonta  High School and the New York State Rangers School at Wanakena.  He had served as a call fireman with the Oneonta Fire Department.  He was employed as an electrician when he left for military service as second lieutenant with Co. F, at Walton.  He was assigned to the Officers Training School at Fort Benning, Ga. and served several months in this country before being sent to the Pacific area.  He married the former Miss Irene Mason of Selma, Cal., March 3, 1942.  Surviving, besides his mother and wife, are two brothers, Pvt. Robert Mayo, stationed at Camp Atterbury, Ind. and the Rev. Arthur B. Mayo of Scranton, Pa. 

 

Memorial Rites for Major Dedrick

Binghamton Press, July 9, 1945

 

Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY]:  A memorial service for Maj. Emerson Dedrick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Homer C. Dedrick of South Side, was held yesterday at the Frist Methodist church. Dr. Harold C. Buckingham, pastor of the church, officiated.  Major Dedrick, who was previously reported missing, was killed in action in the Okinawa area of the Pacific March 24, 1945.  The circumstances under which he died show evidence of great heroism.  Operating from a carrier ship, his plane ran into heavy flak and was so badly damaged that it could not be landed on the flight deck upon returning to his ship.  Ordered to land on the water or bail out, he chose to stay with his plane and try to land it safely.  The plane was too badly damaged to stay afloat and sank instantly, carrying Major Dedrick with it before a boat crew could reach him.  A native of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], he graduated from Oneonta High School and attended State Teachers College for three years. He later graduated form the University of Iowa with a major in aeronautics. He joined the Marine Corps soon afterward.  Major Dedrick was promoted to his rank at the age of 25 at the Marine Corps Air Station at Mojave, Cal.  He assisted in providing air support in the first bombing run over Bougainville, and flew many strafing missions.  He served in the Solomon Islands, leading a division of Corsair fighter planes and was officially credited with shooting down two Zeros, sinking five oil barges and helping to sink two destroyers.  He won the Air Medal and the Presidential Citation.

 

Lt. Harvey Stevens is Home in Sidney

Binghamton Press, July 9, 1945

 

Sidney [Delaware Co., NY]:  Second Lt. Harvey A. Stevens, who has been stationed in Southern Italy since January, arrived in Sidney Saturday on a 30-day furlough to visit his mother, Mrs. W.H. Stevens, and his brother, William P. Stevens, Sherwood Heights.  Lieutenant Stevens has been co-pilot on a B-24 bomber in Italy and has flown 19 missions over Europe.  He left Italy June 25 with a crew of nine and six passengers and flew back to the United States.  He made stops in French Morocco, North Africa; Dakar, Africa; Fort Aleza, Brazil; Trinidad, Puerto Rico and landed at Savannah Ga., on July 2.  From there he went by troop train to report at Fort Dix, N.J.  Lieutenant Stevens has been awarded the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations Ribbon with three battle stars.