Soldier News continued - 1944

Lt. Robert Smith Receives Wings

Bainbridge News & Republican, February 24, 1944

 

 

Lt. Robert F Smith, who was awarded his silver wings as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces Feb. 8 at Blytheville Army Air Field, Ark., left for Westover Field, Mass., Sunday after spending a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fayette Smith, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY]

 

Capt. David Miner Missing in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 30, 1944

 

Capt. David L. MIner, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], has been reported missing in action in a telegram from the War Department received by the young flier's parents, Mr. and Mrs.  Leon D. Miner. the telegram states that Captain Miner, a pilot on a B-17 Flying Fortress, has been missing since Mar. 6, following a raid over Germany.

 

Lt. Cable is German Prisoner

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 30, 1944

 

Mrs. Robert Cable, of Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], has received word form the War Department that her husband, Lieutenant Cable, has been taken prisoner by the Germans.   No details were given.  Lieutenant Cable was one of the first men to leave in the draft, entering the Army in November, 1940.  He was commissioned second lieutenant at Fort Bragg, N.C., and advanced to first lieutenant at Camp Edwards, Mass., where he was attached to the 36th Infantry Division.  Mrs. Cable received her last letter from  her husband in January, when he was near the Rapido River not far from Cassino, Italy.  Lieutenant Cable has an infant son whom he has never seen.

 

Pvt. Burdette H. Davie Killed in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 30, 1944

 

Word of the death of Pvt. Burdette H. Davie has been received by his father, Harold Davie, in a telegram from the War Department.  Private Davie, a paratrooper, is reported killed in action Feb. 27 in the invasion of Italy.  Private Davie was the only son of Mr. Davie and the late Josephine Meredith Davie.  He was born on a farm near Sidney Center [Delaware Co., NY] on Aug. 14, 1920 and spent most of his life in that locality, graduating in 1941 from the Sidney High School.  Enlisting in the service Apr. 7, 1942, he received his training at Fort McClellan, Ala.; Edgewood Arsenal, Md., and Fort Benning, Ga.  On Feb. 3, 1942, he left for overseas where he completed his training and was awarded his paratrooper wings.  Besides his father, Private Davie is survived by one sister, Mrs. Ruth Esposito, an uncle and three aunts.  A memorial service is scheduled to be held at a date to be announced later.

 

Lt. Leonard Baxter Released from German Prison

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 30, 1944

 

Lieutenant Leonard D. Baxter, who has been in the Halloran Hospital, Staten Island, for the past week, after landing from the Gripsholm, arrived in Walton [Delaware Co., NY] on Thursday, says the Reporter.  Lieutenant Baxter was navigator on a Flying Fortress of the Eighth Air Force and on July 25 went out on his 11th mission over Germany, a raid on Hamburg.  During the raid Lieutenant Baxter was wounded in the hip and left wrist and hand.  On the return trip the plane caught fire over the North sea and made a forced landing at sea.  The crew took to rubber rafts and after drifting about for 20 hours the men were picked up by a German patrol plane and taken to Germany as prisoners.  Lieutenant Baxter says the American prisoners in Germany are well treated, but the one thing they all look forward to is the weekly boxes form the Red Cross.  Lieutenant Baxter is in good health and has fully recovered from his wounds, except that he has lost some  freedom of movement in his left hand.

 

Doris Stead Joins Red Cross

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 30, 1944

 

Miss Doris Stead, daughter of Lester Stead, of North Main street [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], who has been accepted in the America Red Cross as a Recreational Staff Assistant for overseas duty, will report Apr. 10 in Washington, D.C., for training.  Miss Stead, a graduate of Cornell University, is a member of the high school faculty at Suffern.