Soldier News continued, 1944

Margaret Mertz Davy Joins WAC

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 2, 1944

Mrs. Margaret M. Davy, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], wife of S/Sgt. W.B. Davy, USMC, was sworn into the WAC last week Tuesday at the Binghamton Recruiting Office.  Mrs. Davy, whose husband is now stationed in Florida after serving in the Pacific during the campaigns at Guam and Saipan, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wendelin Mertz, of Bainbridge.

 

Sgt. Bryant Stickles Killed in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 2, 1944

 

Sgt. Bryant (Red) F. Stickles, 36, of the U.S. Marine Corps, gave his life on Saipan, Sept. 11, according to word received by his mother, Mrs. Katherine Stickles, of Groton.  Sgt. Stickles, a former member of Troop C, New York State Police, was attached to a chemical warfare unit.  He is the second Troop C man to give his life in World War II.  A member of Troop C since August, 1936, he was a member of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation when he joined the Marines in January, 1943.  Sergeant Stickles, a graduate of St. Lawrence University, had been a college and professional football star, and had participated in the invasion of several South Pacific Islands previous to the invasion of Saipan.  A memorial service is being arranged at the Congregational Church in Groton and Capt. H.A. Gay, commanding officer of Troop C, stated that a special detail of troopers would participate.  The other member of Troop C to give his life in action was Milton Ratner.  An Army Air Force lieutenant, he was killed July 11 over Sicily, while serving as a bombardier.

 

S/Sgt. George Youngs Awarded 3rd Cluster

Bainbridge News & Republican, November 30, 1944

 

An Eighth Air Force Bomber Station, England:  Staff Sergeant George W. Youngs, 20, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], ball turret gunner of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 96th Bomb Group, has been awarded a third Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal for "meritorious achievement" while participating in Eighth Air Force bombing attacks on Nazi war industries and supporting ground forces battling in Germany.  The presentation was made by Colonel Robert W. Warren, Vernon, Tex., group commander.  Sgt. Youngs was a laborer for the Casein Company of America, Bainbridge, before he entered the Army in January, 1943.  He is the son of Mrs. Isabelle Youngs, of 7 Newton avenue Bainbridge.

 

Major Edward P. Danforth in Invasion of Leyte

Bainbridge News & Republican, November 30, 1944

 

Major Edward Prince Danforth

 

Dr. and Mrs. Edward Danforth received a cablegram followed by a V-mail letter, Thanksgiving morning, from their son, Major Edward Prince Danforth, whom they hadn't heard from in a number of weeks.  Apparently Major Danforth took part in the invasion of Leyte according to the date of his letter, Oct. 31, and the contents therein.  Excerpts form his letter follows:

 

"Landed under mortar fire, was bombed and strafed.  Sleep in the mud in wet clothes, in fact still haven't had bath.  Operate with my boots on, and am amazed at the sterile technique that can be maintained.  The worst is over and it looks as though the dust is rapidly settling.  Just saw a cobra killed which was found under a box in the laboratory.  I was just talking with a civilian doctor--he was not allowed to practice among his people during the Jap occupation--the people had no medical care.  The Japs had him doing manual labor for them with no pay."

 

Major Danforth, who was associated with his brother, Dr. Elliot Danforth, in Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], and who was a captain in the Medical Reserve, was called to active duty the fore part of January 1941, and after serving as a member of the staff at the base hospital at Fort Dix, N.J., he was sent to Honolulu where he remained at the Tripler General Hospital until the attack of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.  During this fiendish attack, Major Danforth was most active in caring for the wounded, going hours without sleep.

 

Mrs. Danforth, who had accompanied her husband to Honolulu, was sent home, together with many other service men's wives, a short time after the attack.  She is with her parents, Dr. and mrs. john Banks, in Rochester.

 

A few weeks after the attack Major Prince was transferred to another hospital in Hawaii, remaining there until early this fall when he was transferred to another station in Hawaii where he underwent special training preparatory to the invasion of the Philippines.

 

Pvt. Richard Doolittle Fights with Historic Tank Battalion

Bainbridge News & Republican, November 30, 1944

 

With the Fifth Army, Italy:  Pvt. Richard J. Doolittle, assistant tank gunner, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], is a member of the historic 1st Tank Battalion, currently fighting as part of Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark's Fifth Army in Northern Italy. 

 

One of the tank battalions of 1st Armored Division, the 1st has 61 battle streamers dating from the year 1833 when its parent organization, the 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment, was fighting in the Indian Wars, and extending through 111 years to the battle of the Arno River in Italy when the unit was relieved.

 

After participation in the African invasion of 1942 and fighting through Algeria, the 1st Tank Battalion was shipped to Tunisia where it was the first American armor under American command to engage the Germans in this war.  Elements of the unit raided a large German airport at Djedeida, east of Tunis, catching the Krauts flat-footed and destroying more than 40 planes on the field.  Following a bitter and costly battle at Faid Pass, the 1st Armored regrouped and re-equipped its battalions which then counter-attacked and broke the back of the greatest threat to the Allied supply routes encountered in North Africa.  The battalion next participated in battles around Station Sened, Maknassey and El Guettar, then took part in the "mouse-trap" attack through Mateur and Ferryville which resulted in the capture of Bizerte and the end of all organized Nazi resistance in North Africa.

 

After intensive training in Italy, the 1st Battalion went to Anzio Beachhead, where, due to unfavorable tank terrain, it saw little action except for a few raids and a role in the counter-attack against the Germans.  Following the breakthrough from the beachhead, the battalion spearheaded many of the Fifth Army attacks northward and was a part of the mobile task force which captured Albano, an obstacle on the road to Rome.  One of the first three units to enter the Eternal City, the 1st went on to capture Viterbo and then pushed into High ground surrounding Grosseto to engage the Nazis in what has been called the "worst tank terrain in the world."  The battalion was relieved only after the Nazis had paddled to the north side of the Arno River.