Soldier News continued

Jim Stewart A-1 Bomb Dodger Near Port Moresby

Unadilla Times, September 18, 1942

 

A non-combatant stationed at Port Moresby, New Guinea, is about as seasoned a bomb-dodger as any of the troops desperately defending this outpost of Australia.  He is James Stewart, formerly of Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY], Red Cross field director with U.S. forces at Port Moresby--one of the "hottest" of Red Cross posts.  He has how own slit trench, which he calls "Poohbah Palace."  Between dives into it when the Nips come over, it is his job to see that Uncle Sam's lads get the same Red Cross service they received before going into the combat area.  If mail and other supplies are slow in arriving, Stewart hops the first plane available to headquarters in Australia to see "how come."  So far he has always succeeded in delivering the goods. 

 

He got action quickly enough.  He was on the Egyptian liner "Zam-Zam" when she was shelled and sunk in 1941.  Taken captive, he was imprisoned in German held France, but not for long.  Jimmie was too restive.  While being transferred by train to another prison, he and a fellow American, Thomas Greenough, leaped from the train window and succeeded in escaping to the U.S. consulate in Vichy.  He was sent home that year, but the ice business seemed dull.  He joined the American-China Volunteers on the staff of Col. Claire Chennault of "Flying Tiger" fame and sailed for the Orient, via Australia.

 

Jap bombs hit Pearl Harbor while he was at sea.  On reaching Australia, he volunteered for Red Cross work, was accepted and sent to Port Moresby when the Allied bomber base was established there.  He occupies a hut on Dogface Ave.  The commuting facilities between it and his slit trench, "Poohbah Palace," are excellent.  They have to be--with the Japs only 40 miles away after their Owen Stanley Mountain break-through.  Jimmie says he has a healthy respect for Jap bombing.

 

Letter From England to Bainbridge Express Appreciation

Bainbridge News & Republican, June 12, 1941

 

Mrs. Wallace Lord, of this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], who has three married sisters and three married brothers in England, and who are located in the war zone, is receiving mail from them regularly.  She states that they wish to express their sincere thanks to the people of Bainbridge for the fine showing during the British War Relief Drive and to the people of America for their kindness, friendliness and unceasing help. 

 

All of Mr. Lord's kin are working for the government, one sister is a blood donor; one a government clerical worker; one is a Red Cross worker; one brother is a teacher and the other two are defense workers in Greater Birmingham.  One sister tells that the housewives use fish net glued on the windows instead of curtains, so in case of an air raid, the splintered glass doesn't fly and strike any one.  She also states that sand bags are piled all around the homes.  Mr. James Meaking, another sister, who is now located in England, spent a number of years at a place called Raffles, an English settlement, near India.  She was married in Singapore. 

 

As the letters are censored before they leave England no one can know the anxiety and nerve-racking experiences these brave people go through.  As one sister writes, "While I am writing, when I hear the drone of a plane, my eyes always look up, in case it is an enemy plane, I have to hurry to get the children and rush to a shelter, so excuse the scribbling."

 

Pvt W. Murray Wilcox is at Fort Benning

Bainbridge News & Republican, September 25, 1941

 

Arrival there of Pvt. W. Murray Wilcox as a candidate in the Officer's Training School was announced today by Major R.R. Coursey, commanding the Candidate Battalion, at Fort Benning, Ga.  Instruction in Officer Training will begin as soon as the 200 Candidates, chosen from every Corps Area and Foreign Station in the army, complete formal registration.  Pvt. Wilcox is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fay A. Wilcox, Bainbridge.  He entered the army in June '38 as an enlisted man and was formerly with the Station Complement, Fort Dix, N.J.  The present Officer's Training School is open to any soldier with six months service, provided he can pass the rigorous mental and physical examinations.  Under the supervision of brigadier General Omar N. Bradley, Commandant of The Infantry School, the course is the first of its kind in Twenty-three years giving commissions in the Infantry Reserve. At the conclusion of the three-month training period, the successful candidate is commissioned Second Lieutenant of Infantry and assigned to a new station.

 

Pvt. Charles Fenner Awarded Army Certificate

Bainbridge News & Republican, August 21, 1941

 

Uncle Sam's Army Air Corps had an additional 131 radio men August 8, as a class which included Pvt. Charles A. Fenner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Fenner, Ballston Lake, and nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Dix, Bainbridge, received diplomas in a special graduation exercise at Scott Field, Ill., "the radio university" of the air corps, located 23 miles east of St. Louis, Mo., in Illinois. The class completed the regular 22-week radio operators and mechanics course and the members are now qualified for active duty with an army air corps unit in the united States or territorial possession.

 

Capt. Cleon Goodnough, Given Fort Niagara Post

Bainbridge News & Republican, July 3,1 1941

 

Captain Cleon Goodnough, formerly of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], succeeded Captain Rexford W. Andrews, as quartermaster and constructing quartermaster of Fort Niagara on Capt. Andrew's departure for his new assignment on July 4.  Captain Goodnough became procurement and transportation officer and assisting quartermaster of the past when he came to Fort Niagara in 1940.  He is a reserve officer and was attached to the 423rd quartermaster regiment of the 98th division prior to his coming to Fort Niagara.  He is also a veteran of the first World War, when he was attached to the 108th Division and served in France for more than a year with several boys from Bainbridge.  Capt. and Mrs. Goodnough and their five-year-old son, George Edwin, reside at the post.