Soldier News continued - 1945

 

 

War Ends with Surrender of Japan Tuesday, August 14

Afton Enterprise, August 16, 1945

 

Following days of expectant waiting, Peace was officially announced Tuesday evening August 14th to an anxious world.  President Truman read the formal message relayed from Emperor Hirohito through the Swiss Government in which the Japanese ruler pledged the surrender on terms laid down by the recent conference of The Big Three at Potsdam.

 

At the press conference called at the White House Tuesday, President Truman made this statement:  "I have received this afternoon a message from the Japanese Government in reply to the message forwarded to that government by the Secretary of State on August 11.  I deem this reply a full acceptance of the Potsdam declaration which specifies the unconditional surrender of Japan.  In this reply there is no qualification.   Arrangements are now being made for the formal signing of surrender terms at the earliest possible moment.  General Douglas MacArthur has been appointed the supreme Allied commander to receive the Japanese surrender.  Great Britain, Russia and China will be represented by high ranking officers.  Meantime, the Allied armed forces have been ordered to suspend offensive action."

 

Local celebrations were started at once.  Several carloads of people began touring the streets of the village with sirens blowing and in the meantime, church bells and the fire siren began to join in.  Many people hastened to Binghamton where the celebration reached a grand scale.  The engineer of the passenger train arriving in Afton at eight o'clock began blowing his whistle and continued blowing all the way to Binghamton.

 

Plans were announced last Sunday for a special Thanksgiving service as soon as possible after announcement of surrender.  Posters were placed about the village early Wednesday announcing the service for Wednesday evening, all churches of the village participating. 

 

The surrender brings to a close the political ambitions of Japan for a large empire.  Within 45 years from 1895 to 1940 Japanese territory increased from 147,372 square miles to 765,790 square miles, not counting the occupied areas of China proper.  Within the same period, the population of the Japanese Empire rose from 451,388,313 to 128,939,000.  Of this increase by 87,550,678 more than three-fourths was the result of territorial aggrandizement. 

 

Two citizens of Afton were at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii when the Japanese loosed their bombs on the unsuspecting fleet anchored there.  Mrs. Bert Lord and her son John Gregg survived these harrowing days and  a letter was published by John in these columns when he was forced to lie in a ditch while being straffed by Japanese airplane gunners.

 

Excellent Program in Honor of Peace

Afton Enterprise, August 16, 1945

 

A most impressive V.J. Day service was held in the Afton Baptist Church Wednesday evening of this week in charge of Rev. Alan Douglas pastor of the church.  This service was held as a special Thanksgiving in recognition of the return of peace with the surrender of Japan on Tuesday of this week. 

 

Most ably assisting in the program was Dr. G.A. Liggett of Springfield, N.J. who is spending the summer at his home in Afton; also Rev. Kenneth Kingston, and Chaplain Lynn Loomis of the American legion.

 

The musical part of the program was in charge of Clifton Cook, local band leader at the High School, who presented a brass quartet entitled "At the Console."  Mr. Cook presided at the organ.  Mr. and Mr.s Barrett Jones, who are members of the Temple Presbyterian Church Choir of Philadelphia and guests at the Jesse Barr home, were present and gave two numbers.  Mrs. Jones a solo and both in a duet.  Miss Barker, a young lady of rare talent, of Binghamton, and guest in the Hacker home, closed the program with the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner" which was followed by the pledge to the flag by the congregation.  Rev. Douglas pronounced the benediction.

 

Sgt. Richard McGee Veteran of 3 Invasions

Binghamton Press, July 7, 1945

 

Oneonta [Otsego Co., NY]:  A veteran of the invasions of Africa, Sicily and Normandy, Sgt. Richard McGee, son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. McGee of 7 Pearl street, has arrived in the United States.  He will report to Camp Buiner, N.C. on July 22.  The Oneonta sergeant was rewarded the Purple Heart for a wound received in Gela, Sicily.  He also has earned the pre-Pearl Harbor, Good Conduct, American Defense, and European Defense Ribbons with eight battle stars and arrowhead for the three invasions.  He now has 142 points.  Sergeant McGee enlisted in 1940 and served at several camps in the East before going to Ireland and England in 1942.  Besides the invasions, he saw service in France, Holland Germany and Czechoslovakia where he was in Cheb on V-E Day.  He is with the 1st Infantry Division of the 1st Army.

 

Frederic Davy Killed in Action

Afton Enterprise, July 19, 1945

 

Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Davy of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY] have been notified by the War Department that their son, Staff Sergeant Frederic Davy, who was reported missing in action in August 1944, has now been listed as dead.  He was killed by a rocket from an attacking plane during the battle of Saipan, July 7, 1944.  Fred was inducted into the army in January, 1941, and trained at Fort McClellan.  In March, 1942 he was sent to the Hawaiian Islands where he was stationed until the 27th Division and sent to Saipan.

 

Pfc. Frank Shaw Wins Battle Star

Afton Enterprise, July 25, 1945

 

Pfc. Frank Shaw of Afton, earned his third battle star for his Asiatic Pacific theater ribbon when he participated in the Okinawa campaign which ended recently.  He had previously served as a cook in a rifle company of the 305th Infantry's 2nd Battalion through Guam and Leyte, but on Okinawa, he volunteered to carry rations and ammunition to his men on the front lines when enemy mined roads halted the flow of hot food to the fighting men for a short period of time.  A graduate of Afton high school, he is the son of Mrs. Roy Shaw.  Before entering the Army March 23, 1942, he was employed by Casein Corp, in Bainbridge.  He has been in overseas service 14 months. 

 

Sgt. Richard Meade Returns to Civilian Life

Afton Enterprise, August 16, 1945

 

Sergeant Richard Meade has returned to civilian life after 39 and one-half months in the Pacific.  Dick received the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense, Asiatic Pacific Ribbons, Liberation of the Philippines and Combat Infantry Badge. A graduate of Harpursville Central High School.  He called on friends in the vicinity of Harpursville on Wednesday and Thursday.  He said it was fine to be back and hopes a quick return for the other boys.  He is at Oxford, N.Y., R.D.3 [Chenango Co., NY] with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Meade, formerly of Tunnel [Broome Co., NY].