Soldier News continued - 1943

Russell Elander Returns Home

Bainbridge News & Republican, April 29, 1943

Bainbridge was brought closer to the war with the arrival in town of L. Russell Elander, Pharmacists Mate First Class of the U.S.  Navy, who returned from the combat zone in the Pacific the first part of the month.

 

"Rusty<" son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Elander, Scott street [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], returned to his home town after facing the fire of battle and suffering many horrible experiences.  His ship, with others, was used as a screen while our troops were being landed on the north side of Guadalcanal in the latter part of January.  The ships were used as a decoy to keep the Jap torpedo planes away from the landing forces.  "Rusty's" ship was torpedoed and 22 men were killed, 21 enlisted man and one officer.  There were 12 wounded.

 

The heat was so intense that at times the ammunition passers would fall out from heat exhaustion and "Rusty" and his Chief would take turns in passing the ammunition to relieve the sailors.  He said that it was much better to be busy as it eased the terrible tension.  The Jap planes made a second attack on his ship, which might have proved disastrous as the first attack had somewhat crippled the defense of the ship, had it not been for a U.S. airplane carrier a few miles away which sent planes to the rescue and drove off the Nips' planes.

 

During these harrowing experiences, "Rusty" lost 36 pounds but has regained 12 since his arrival home.  He has been awarded three service stripes.  One for the Pacific theatre, Africa theatre, and North and South America area.  This is his second hitch in the Navy.  His first enlistment was from 1934-38.  His wife and two children live in Sidney.  He reports for duty May 3. 

 

Paul Sherman is Aviation Cadet

Bainbridge News & Republican, April 29, 1943

 

Maxwell Field, Ala.-- Aviation Cadet Paul C. Sherman, of Bainbridge, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. Sherman, is now enrolled as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Forces Pre-Flight School for Pilots at Maxwell Field, located on the outskirts of Montgomery, the capital of Alabama.  Here the new class of cadets is receiving nine weeks of intensive military, physical and academic training preparatory to beginning their actual flight instruction at one of the many primary flying schools in the Army Air Forces Southeast Training Center.  Aviation Cadet Sherman graduated from the Bainbridge High School, Class of 1937.  He played football for three years and was captain of the team for one year.  He also played basketball and baseball on the school's team.

 

Bainbridge "Invaded" by Germans, Italians

Bainbridge News & Republican, May 27, 1943

 

Bainbridge was invaded last Friday evening when 15 cars of German and Italian prisoners passed through town shortly after the evening passenger train.  A Red Cross car was on the back and it was reported that the prisoners were en route west.

 

Stanley Hatton Rapidly Promoted

Bainbridge News & Republican, May 27, 1943

 

An article of interest concerning a Bainbridge service man appears in his camp paper, "The Greenwood Gremlin," of Greenwood, Miss.  1st Sgt. Stanley L.  Hatton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Snedeker, of Pearl street [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY] is featured in the column "Topkick of the Week."

 

Stanley L. Hatton, 1st Sgt. of the 1063rd, hails from the Empire State.  A native of Bainbridge, N.Y., he has, in less than a year climbed from buck private to the driver's seat in the non-coms' ranks.  Traded in his "civvies" for Khaki on April 6, 1942 and was among the first group of recruits to arrive at Miami Beach Replacement Center.  "Made" Cpl. June 1st, Sgt. in September, S/Sgt. in January, Tech, in March, and topkick April 1st.

 

In high school he "took a crack" at all athletics...pitched on the baseball nine, captained the football eleven, and led the ice skating team.  A few years back he won the inter-scholastic Silver Skates Ice Skating Derby at Lake Placid, N.Y.  Attended Albany College in Albany, N.Y., and has been married since June 21, 1927.  Came to GAAF by way of Miami, Gunter Field and Bainbridge, Ga.  According to topkick Hatton, most of the men in his squadron are from an original cadre which was hand-picked at Bainbridge AAF, and when they shipped to Greenwood no Goldbricks were taken along.--May 11, 1943.