COMMISSIONED - Kenneth Oden, 621 West First avenue, recently received his Army Air Forces silver wings and commission as a second lieutenant in an impressive graduation ceremony at Frederick Army Air Field, Oklahoma.  As a qualified big ship pilot his war role will become an ever increasing important one in the historic events still to occur.

Notes:

• View Clipping
• WWII Biography
• Alice Cemetery, Alice, Jim Wells Co., TX

Tekell, Joe Bob - Lieut.

COMMISSIONED - Joe B. Tekell, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Tekell, 1712 Maplewood, recently won his silver wings and bars of a second lieutenant at Williams Field, Ariz. Army Air Forces Advanced Pilot School when another large class of fliers was graduated.   Lieut. Tekell attended Texas A. and M. College from 1941 to 1943.

Notes:

• Obituary
• Oakwood Cemetery

Stutts, Marvin O. - Pvt.

PARATROOPER - Pvt. Marvin O. Stutts, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Stutts, Kerens, Route No. 3, has won the right to wear Wings and Boots of the United States Army Paratroopers.   He has completed four weeks of jump training at Ft. Benning, Ga., during which he made five jumps from a plane in flight, the last a tactical jump at night involving a combat problem on landing.

WOUNDED IN ACTION - Pvt. Marvin O. Stutts, 19, U. S. Army paratrooper, was seriously wounded in action in Belgium January 4, according to information from the war department received by his parents Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Stutts, Kerens, route 3.  Entering the service in February 1944, he has been overseas since August 1944.  He is a graduate of the Rural Shade school.  A brother, Cpl. Wesley W. Stutts is a veteran of the 36th Division now serving in France. (View Clipping & Photo submitted by Fran Massey)

Notes:

• Obituary

Jackson, Henry Edward

PROMOTED - Henry E. Jackson, U. S. Army infantry, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Jackson, 509 North Ninth Street, has recently been promoted from private first class to the rank of corporal.  Now stationed at Camp Butner, N. C., he entered the service March 4, 1943.   Jackson attended the Mildred high school.

Renfro, Rembert Orville

COMMISSIONED - Rembert Orville Renfro, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Renfro, of 1102 West Seventh Avenue, graduated recently from the Naval Air Training Center, Corpus Christi, and was commissioned an ensign in the U. S. Naval Reserve.  He received his preliminary flight instruction at the Memphis, Tenn., reserve air base.

Franks, Glen, Cpl.

WOUNDED IN ACTION - Cpl. Glen Franks, 24, U. S. Army, was wounded in action during the invasion of the Philippines according to information from the War Department received by his wife, Mrs. Audie Franks, 308 Blevins Ft. Worth.  Entering the service October 31, 1942, he has been overseas four months.  He is the son of Mrs. M. D. Clarkson, 616 North Fourteenth street.

Woodall, Wendell Blake "Woody" - Pfc.
Nov 13, 1924 - Aug 9, 1967

VISITED PARENTS - Pfc. Wendell B. Woodall, 19, U. S. Army Medical Detachment, has returned to Winter General Hospital, Topeka, Kans., after spending a 15-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Woodall, 616 North Thirteenth street.  A graduate of the Blooming Grove high school and the Tyler Commercial College, Woodall has been in the service since March 1942.

Notes:

• Wendell Balke Woodall
• Obituary; Dresden Cemetery

Boyte, J. Lynn - Pvt.
Oct 22, 1925 - Dec 12, 1944

IN ENGLAND - Pvt. J. Lynn Boyte, 20, U. S. Army has arrived somewhere in England according to recent information received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rube Boyte, 2021 West Fifteenth avenue.  Entering the service April 6, 1944, he received his training at Camp Robinson, Little Rock, Ark.  He attended Corsicana high school.

---

PVT J. LYNN BOYTE FUNERAL SERVICES PLANNED WEDNESDQAY Funeral services for Pfc. J. Lynn Boyte, 19, U. S. army, killed in Germany, Dec. 32, 1944, are scheduled to be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Memorial Baptist church. Burial will ba in Oakwood cemetery The rites are to be conducted by the Rev. J. B. Ousley, pastor, assisted by the Rev. Jack Goff pastor of the North Side Baptist church. Boyte entered the armed force April 6, 1944, and went overseas in October, 1944, about two months before his death. His body will arrive in Corsicana Tuesday from Fort Worth. It was aboard the U. S. army transport Robert Burns. The body was first Interred in the Henry Chappell military cemetery at Eupen, Belgium, according to information from the army. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rubo Boyte, 2005 West Thirteenth avenue; a brother Edwin Boyte, Corsicana; three sisters, Mrs. Willlena Russell an Miss Katherlne Boyte, both of Corsicana, and Mrs. Eula Fay Hair, Dallas; a nephew, Bill Russell; a niece, Caroline Hair, and other relatives. The American Legion will have charge of the rites at the grave and will provide pallbearers. Griffin Funeral Home will direct

Notes:

• WWII Veteran
• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Dec 8, 1947
• Submitted by Edward L. Williams

Wright, Elven W.

IN TRAINING - Aviation Cadet Elven W. Wright is now in training for communication cadets at Boca Raton, Fla.  At completion of the course he will be sent to Yale University.   Prior to going to Florida Wright held the rating of staff sergeant and was a radio instructor at Scott Field, Ill.  He is the son of A. Wright, Corsicana Route No. [?] and is a graduate of the Richland high school.

Hamilton, Garth

IN SOUTH PACIFIC - Garth Hamilton, 20, is now serving with the U. S. Armed forces in the South Pacific.  He has been in the army two years.  He attended Corsicana high school and was a Corsicana Daily sun newsboy before moving to Arizona.

Roades, Lonnie N. - Pvt.

OVERSEAS - Pvt. Lonnie N. Roades, 17, U. S. Army, son of Mrs. Birtha Lee Freeman, Corsicana Route No. 2, is now stationed somewhere in Australia, according to letters received in which he says he is "getting along fine."  Prior to entering the service in April 1943, he attended the Emhouse high school.

Fitzgerald, Billy J. - Pvt.

TAKING COURSE IN RADAR - Pvt. Billy J. Fitzgerald, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. V. Fitzgerald, Rice, is now stationed at Boca Raton Field, Fla., where he is taking a course in electronics at the Army Air Forces Training Command Scholl at Chanute, Field, Ill., and has been transferred to his present stationed.  Pvt. Fitzgerald is a graduate of the Rice high school and he entered the armed services Feb 16, 1944.

Harris, James Cooper - Pvt.

CAMP MATTHEWS - San Diego, Calif., April 20. - (spl) Marine Private James C. Harris, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cooper Harris of Streetman, Texas, Route No. 1, sizes up his target during a practice firing session for recruits at the Marine Corps rifle instruction camp.

-----

KILLED IN ACTION - Pfc. James C. Harris, 18, United States Marine Corps, was killed in action September 21, somewhere in the Pacific Theater of Operations according to a message received from the navy department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper Harris, Streetman. Enlisting December 31, 1943, he went overseas in August 1944. He and his cousin, A. C. Harris, III, were stationed together at the time of his death.

Notes:

• WWII
• Added 9/17/1997
• Cade Cemetery, Wortham, Freestone Co., TX

-------

THE CORSICANA DAILY SUN - MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1947

-----


RITES TUESDAY FOR FIRST COUNTY WAR HERO BROUGHT HOME

Funeral services for James Cooper Harris, 18, private first class, United States Marines, killed in action in the Pacific, the first serviceman returned to Navarro county from overseas, are slated at Streetman Tuesday afternoon.

The body arrived in Corsicana Monday morning on the Burlington Lines and the rites will be held from the First Baptist church in Streetman Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Interment will be in the Cade cemetery. The rites will be conducted by Rev. Odie Barton, pastor of the Fellowship Baptist church in Corsicana.

Harris, entered the Marine Corps, Dec. 31, 1943, and went overseas in August 1944, a month before his death, Sept. 21, 1944. The body was on the U. S. transport that arrived in San Francisco last week with slightly in excess of 3,000 bodies from the Pacific area.

Surviving are his wife, a daughter, Jo Frances Harris; parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Harris; two sisters, Mrs. T. E. Smith and Miss Ginger Alice Harris, and grandparents, A. C. Harris and Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Craig, all of Streetman.

Pallbearers will be Joe Pete Coleman, Harris Wilson Miner, Max Simpson, H. C. Smith, Carl Lee and Thomas Allen.

Corley Funeral Home will direct.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Oct 20, 1947
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• World War II News Stories - Index

-------

BODY OF STREETMAN WAR HERO WILL BE FIRST HOME MONDAY

The body of Pfc. James Cooper Harris, 18, killed in action in the Pacific, will be returned here Monday morning on the Burlington lines for interment, according to a telegram received Saturday by the Corley Funeral Home from the war department.

Funeral arrangements had not been perfected at press hour Saturday. The body was on a transport arriving in San Francisco last week from the Pacific Theatre.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Harris, Streetman, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, December 31, 1943 and went over-seas in August 1944. He was killed in action somewhere in the Pacific September 21, 1944

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sat., Oct. 18, 1947
• Submitted by Diane Richards

----

Rites Held Tuesday For James C. Harris

Funeral services for services for Pfc. James Cooper Harris, 18, U. S. Marine, killed in action in the Pacific Sept. 21, 1944, were held Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock from the First Baptist church at Streetman. Interment was in the Cade cemetery. The rites were conducted by Rev. Obie Barton, pastor of the Fellowship Baptist church in Corsicana.

Harris’ body was returned to the States on the transport Honda Knot from the Pacific area. He entered the Marine Corps, Dec. 21, 1942, and went overseas in August, 1944, a month before his death.

Surviving are his wife, a daughter, Jo Frances Harris; parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Harris; two sisters, Mrs. T. E. Smith and Miss Ginger Alice Harris, and grandparents, A. C. Harris and Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Craig, all of Streetman.

Pallbearers were Joe Pete Coleman, Harris Wilson Miner, Max Simpson, H. C. Smith, Carl Lee and Thomas Allen.

Corley Funeral Home directed.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Oct 21, 1947
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Nokes, Clyde G.

AVIATION CADET - Clyde G. Nokes, has received orders to report to Sheppard Field February 25, for basic aviation cadet training following ten days of processing at Camp Wolters.   He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Nokes, Corsicana, and a 1942 graduate of the Corsicana high school.  Previous to his acceptance as a cadet, he was a Baylor University student, and an employee of the Texas Power and Light Co., Waco.

Kelt, Julius Julian - Pvt.

RADIOMAN - Private First Class Julian Kelt, Jr., 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Kelt of Box 6, Chatfield, Texas, is a member of the Marine Detachment of the College of the Ozarks, Clarkesville, Ark., where he is learning to become a radioman.  Previous to joining the Marine Corps, he attended Rice high school and Texas A & M.

Lane, Edward A. - Pvt.

AT CAMP FANNIN - Pvt. and Mrs. Edward A. Lane, Corsicana, are pictured above.  Pvt. Lane is attached to the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Special Training School of the IRFC at Camp Fannin, Texas, where he is a trainee.  Mrs. Lane recently visited her husband at Tyler.

Steele, Horace S. - Sgt. & Steele, Andrew L. - S-Sgt.

REUNION IN ITALY - Sgt. Horace S. Steele, 30, U. S. Army Air Forces, and Staff Sgt. Andrew L. Steele, 26, Infantry, 36th Division first cousins, held a reunion somewhere in Italy, July 8, according to information received by their parents.  Horace is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Steele, Streetman Route No. 1 and Andrew is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Steele, also of Streetman, Route No. 1.  The meeting was the first time the cousins had seen each other in three years.  Horace has been in the service two years and overseas 17 months.  Andrew has been in the service over three years and overseas 17 months.

Standard, James O. - Pfc.

VISITED RELATIVES - Pfc. James O. Standard U. S. Army, Field Artillery, Ft. Dix, New Jersey, recently spent a fourteen-day furlough with his wife the former Miss Marie Hawkins, Corsicana, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Standard, Corsicana Route No. 5.   Prior to entering the service two years ago he was employed here.  He attended Mildred high school.

Loftis, Marcus L.

COMMISSIONED - Marcus L. Loftis, 1200 West Sixteenth avenue, was a member of a recent class of pilots graduated from the Blackland Army Flying Field, Waco, advanced flying school.  He was commissioned a second lieutenant and received his wings as a bomber pilot. 

Baggett, Paul R. - Lt.

COMMISSIONED - Lt. Paul R. Baggett, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Baggett Corsicana Route No. 1, has completed training at Ellington Field and has been commissioned a second lieutenant and received his silver wings.  Prior to entering the service he was employed at Southern Wholesale Grocery Co.  His wife is the former Betty Ruth Tomlin.

Fulton, Will R. - Pfc.

WOUNDED IN ACTION - Pfc. Will R. Fulton, 21, U. S. Army, infantry, has been seriously wounded in action in France October 26, according to information received from the war department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Fulton, Blooming Grove high school.   Fulton has been in the service 18 months and overseas two months.

Overby, Cecil Franklin - Pvt.

SOMEWHERE IN ITALY - Pvt. Cecil Franklin Overby, 19, U. S. Army, infantry is shown above in a picture that was taken somewhere in Italy.  Entering the service in July 1942, he has been overseas since Nov. 1942.  He is the son of Mrs. Lula P. Bickerstaff, 2823 Ramsey avenue, Dallas, former Corsicana resident.

Kent, Garland C., Jr.

RETURNS TO DUTY - Pvt. Garland C. Kent, Jr., U. S. Army has returned to North Fort Lewis, Washington after spending a furlough here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Garland C. Kent, and other relatives.  Pvt. Kent attended Corsicana high school and was employed as a city fireman before entering the armed services in February 1944.

Richards, Clyde B. - Pvt.

IN ENGLAND - Pvt. Clyde B. Richards has landed safely in England according to a letter received, by his wife, Mrs. Dollie Richards, 217 West Twelfth avenue.  Pvt. Richards has served 19 months at San Juan, Puerto Rico.  His parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Richards, reside at 513 North Commerce street.

Pollan, Melton J.

COMMISSIONED - Melton J. Pollan, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jess D. Pollan, Rice, was commissioned a second lieutenant and received the silver pilot's wings of the Army Air Forces Thursday at the Altus (Okla.) Army Air Field.  From this advanced 2-engine pilot training school of the AAF Central Flying Training Command, with headquarters at Randolph Field, Tex., he will go on to further advanced training at a multi-engined bomber or fighter school, or to the Central Instructors' school, at Randolph Field.  After completing his advanced course he will be ready to carry the air attack over enemy territory, or return as an instructor at an advanced school.

Chapman, George Douglas - s-2-c

PACIFIC DUTY - George Douglas Chapman, 18, s-2c, U. S. Navy, is assigned to a battleship in the Pacific Theatre of operations and has seen active duty in the battles incident to the capturing of Saipan and Leyte Islands by the American forces.  The son of Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Chapman of Blooming Grove, Seaman Chapman attending Blooming Grove school before enlisting in the Navy in February, 1944.

Soape, Thomas R. - Lt.

AT A 12th AAF FIGHTER BASE IN ITALY - While a snowstorm swirled about him to reduce visibility to one mile, 1st Lt. Thomas R. Soape, Corsicana, Tex., whose wife, Grace Christian Soape, lives at 3011 1-2 Sherman Street, Houston, Texas, led his Twelfth Air Force Thunderbolt fight into a dive-bombing attack on rail lines near La Spezia, Italy recently to deny the enemy the use of them.
In an attack typical of the 12th Air Force Thunderbolts, Lieutenant Soape was able to report after he returned to his base that the elevated rail line had been definitely cut by two direct bomb hits and that three hits on a highway parallel to the rail road had postholed the road.
Lieutenant Soape is a graduate of Gladewater High School, Gladewater, Tex.  His parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Soape, live at 912 South Fifteenth St., Corsicana, Texas.
Lieutenant Soape's Thunderbolt group is one of the top flight units of the twelfth Air Force and the only one which has fought in the Pacific and European and Mediterranean Theatres.  It is also the only air force unit in the Mediterranean which has been cited four times in War Department Orders for outstanding gallantry in action.
Lieutenant Soape wears the Distinguished Unit Badge with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.
The group is commanded by another Texas, Lt. Col. William R. Nevitt, whose mother, Mrs. Guy O. Nevitt, lives at River Oaks Garden, Houston.

Putman, Clark N. - Pfc. & Putman, Wendell W.

BROTHERS IN SERVICE - Pfc. Clark N. Putman, 24 U. S. Army, First Cavalry Division, now fighting on Luzon Island in the Philippines, and Pfc. Wendell W. Putman, 22, U. S. Army Air Forces, en route to an overseas assignment are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Putman, Purdon, Route one.  Clark entered the service October 17, 1941, and has been overseas since June 1943.  He has participated in many of the major engagements in the Pacific Theatre of Operations.  Wendell entered the service August 28, 1942.  Both brothers attend the Blooming Grove high school.

Dortch, Luther M. - Pvt. & Dortch, George E. - Pvt.

BROTHERS READY TO SAIL - Pvt. Luther M. Dortch, 21, and Pvt. George E. Dortch, 20, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Buel Dortch of Frost, will sail for overseas duty within the immediate future.  Luther entered the armed forces, Sept. 11, 1944.  Luther is stationed at Fort Ord. Calif., and George is in New York.  Both are in the infantry.   Ethel B. Dortch, wife of Luther M. Dortch, also resides in Frost.  The brothers are the eldest children of Mr. and Mrs. Dortch who have six sons and six daughters living.  Mildred Maxine Dortch, sister of the soldiers, is employed at the Fifth Army Command, Living Field, Dallas.  Both sons recently were home on furloughs before reporting to their present bases.

See Also: Obituary

Farmer, James W. - Lieut.

AWARDED J. W. FARMER IS AWARDED BRONZE STAR IN BELGIUM - Lieut. James W. Farmer, 26, U. S. Army, mechanized cavalry, veteran of eight years in the service, wounded in action in Belgium September 14, awarded the Purple Heart, has now been decorated with the Bronze Star for "meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in Belgium," according to information from the war department received by his wife, Mrs. Claudine Farmer, 1431 Park.
The citation continues: "On September 14, 1944, First Lieutenant Farmer, commanding a small cavalry task force, by superior tactical skill and aggressive action in the face of hostile resistance, attacked and secured the strategically important town of Manderfeld, Belgium.
"When the attack of the main cavalry force was held up by superior enemy forces holding difficult terrain, First Lieutenant Farmer took the utmost advantage of the element of surprise and skillfully employing his light light armor, completely routed the Germans in two successive engagements.
"This swift and decisive action insured the unimpeded advance of the attacking infantry, obviating premature deployment, and gained the key terrain feature dominating all approaches to and from the Siegfried Line in this sector.  First Lieutenant Farmer's unusual tactical skill and aggressive leadership in battle reflect credit upon himself and the service.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Farmer, 1202, North Beaton street.

Rogers, Colletus A. - Lieut.

ON LEAVE - Lieut. (SG) Colletus A. Rogers, 26, U. S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Rogers, Corsicana, arrived here recently on a 30 day leave after more than years active sea duty.  Lieut. Rogers is a graduate of the Mildred high school, attended Texas A. and M. College and was a student at Northwestern University, Chicago when war was declared.  He entered the navy and received his commission at Northwestern Jan. 16, 1942.  He received further training at Norton Heights, Conn.  He has served in both the Atlantic and Pacific areas and was serving in the Atlantic area when he received his leave.  His wife resides at 627 West Collin street.

Rogers, William T. - M-Sgt.

Overseas - M-Sgt. William T. Rogers, 30, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Rogers, Corsicana, U. S. Army Air Corps, is somewhere in the Marianna Islands.  Sgt. Rogers is a graduate of the Mildred high school and was employed by the Pure Oil Company before entering the armed service on Oct. 15, 1942.  He has been overseas about four months.  His wife and little sons reside at 1419 West Seventh avenue.

Frost, Bryan - Lieut.

WOUNDED IN ACTION - Lieut. Bryan Frost, U. S. Army infantry, was seriously wounded in action on Leyte island in the Philippines invasion December 14, according to information from the war department received by his parents Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Frost, Wortham, route one.  A veteran of Attu, Kwajalien and Leyte, Lieut. Frost has been wounded three times.  The officer now in a hospital in the Hawaiian islands writes his parents that he is able to be up in a wheel chair.  First Sgt. D. S. Owens, Wortham, was with Lieut. Frost when he was wounded and saw him through his operation which took six hours to complete according to information received by his parents.

Marr, Herman Calvert - Pvt.

MISSING IN ACTION - Pvt. Herman Calvert Marr, 30, U. S. Army, is reported missing in action since December 20, in Luxembourg according to information from the war department received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. (Judge) Marr, 705 North Beaton street.   Entering the service Feb. 10, 1942, he received his training at Camp Wallace.   After serving two years in Porto Rico he returned to Georgia December 20, 1943, later being sent to Ft. Bragg, N. C., and from this station was sent overseas in September 1944.  Prior to entering the service, Pvt. Marr was employed by the Corsicana Cotton Mills.

Bridges, Q. L. & Bridges, Homer

REUNION IN PACIFIC - Q. L. Bridges, 25, U. S. Navy chief boatswain's mate, and his brother, Homer Bridges, 22, U. S. Navy, coxswain 1-c, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Q. L. Bridges, Sr. 633 North Beaton, recently enjoyed a 24-hour reunion on an island in the Pacific theatre of operations.  Q. L. is stationed on the island in the Pacific, while Homer is aboard a transport.  On January 1, the transport docked at the island and there stood Q. L. to greet his brother.  The brothers are graduates of the McKinney high school.. Q. L. entered the service July 1941, and Homer in September 1941.  Mrs. Cecil Bridges, wife of Q. L. Jr. with their two children, Jerry Lynn, aged and Danny Gene, six months also reside in Corsicana.

Johnston, Sam A. - Pfc.

SOMEWHERE IN BELGIUM - Pvt. Harry Katzen, New York City, and Pfc. Sam A. Johnston, Corsicana, Texas and Pfc. John Shorst, Athens, Ohio, are pictured above as they prepare a meal somewhere in Belgium from the contents of packages sent from home.  Johnston was recently awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge for superior performance of duty in combat on the front lines in France and Germany.  Major General Walter M. Robertson, the commanding general of the Second Infantry Division, made the award.  A veteran of five years service, Johnston is the son of Mrs. Lelia Johnston, 313 South Thirteenth street Corsicana.

Ragan, Reo M. - Pvt.

COMMENDED - A commendation awarded Pvt. Reo M. Regan, 24, U. S. Army Military Police by the officers and men of the 458th Bombardment Group (heavy) for meritorious achievement has been received by his sister, Mrs. Mable Slaugher, 1513 West Ninth Avenue.  The award was made for outstanding performance of duty in aiding the crew members of a B-24 in a crash landing May 8, 1944.  Signed by Brig. Gen. Walter R. Pech and Col. Jas. H. Ishbell, the commendation pointed out that his "untiring devotion to duty is an inspiration to all and credit to himself and the armed forces of the Untied States."   A graduate of the Corsicana high school, Ragan entered the service Feb 12, 1943, and has been overseas since July 1943.  He was formerly employed by the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif.

Notes:

• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII
• Obituary

Jones, James R. - Sgt.

MISSING IN ACTION - Sgt. James R. Jones, 28, U. S. Army Chemical Warefare, is missing in action in Belgium since Dec. 28, 1944, according to a message received from the war department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Jones, 703 East Tenth avenue.  Sgt. Jones entered the armed services in February 1941 and served 27 months in the Canal Zone.   He has been in the European Theatre of Operations about one year.

Tackett, Leon - T-5

ARRIVES OVERSEAS - T-5 Leon Tackett, U. S. Army Combat Engineers, has arrived safely overseas, according to information received by his wife and two sons, 308 East second avenue.  Prior to entering the service April 6, 1944, he was employed by the State Highway Department for nearly 17 years.  He received his training at Camp Bowie.   Mrs. Tackett recently received from her husband a jeweled pin representing the king's crown.

Notes:

• Obituary
• Hamilton cemetery

Baker, Claude A. - Sgt.

IN INDIA - Sgt. Claude A. Baker, 21, U. S. Army Air Forces, Transport Service Command, is now stationed in the China-Burma-India theatre of operations and is getting along fine according to information received by his wife, Mrs. Fern Baker, Wortham.  Entering the service in October 1941, he has been overseas since November 7, 1944.  A native of Corsicana, Sgt. Baker is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Baker, Kerens route two.

Rhodes, Lonnie N. - Pfc.

WOUNDED IN ACTION - Pfc. Lonnie N. Rhodes, 20, U. S. Army, infantry, was wounded in action in the invasion of the Philippines according to information received by his mother, Mrs. Bertha Freeman, Corsicana route two, and his wife, Mrs. Hellen Rhoads, 213 North Fifteenth street.  In a letter received Saturday, the first word from him since November 20, he said he was in a hospital in the Philippines and that he was doing fine.  Entering the service in April 1942, he has been overseas 15 months.  He attended the Emhouse high school.

Green, Wilson (Pete) Buel - T-5

MISSING IN ACTION - T-5 Wilson B. (Pete) Green, U. S. Army infantry, is reported missing in action in Belgium since December 23, according to information received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Green, Frost.  A veteran of the D-Day operations on the Normandy Coast of France, he had been awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy.  Prior to entering the service December 1942, he attended school at Blooming Grove and Frost.  He had been overseas since September 27, 1944.

---

Wilson B. Green Is Prisoner or War
T-5 Wilson B. (Pete) Green is a prisoner of war of the German government, according to information from the war department received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Green, Frost
He had previously been reported missing in action in Belgium since December 23.

Notes:

• View Clipping
• Obituary

• h/o (1) Cleta Pauline (Frederick) Cagle-Green & (2) Bessie (Evans) Green; s/o Rufus Hardy Green & Mary Pearl (Brannon) Green

• Intered at farmington, New Mxico but has a marker at Rose Hill Cemetery, Blooming Grove, Navarro Co., TX

Shultz, William E. - Pfc.

RESCUED FROM JAPS - Pfc. William E. Shultz, 28, U. S. Army, Infantry, son of Mrs. Gertrude Lee Fuller, 831 South Main street, was one of the 513 Americans liberated from a Japanese prison camp on Luzon island in the Philippines after almost three years of brutal treatment as a prisoner of the Japs.  Entering the service in 1938, he went to the Philippine area in 1941, six months prior to the Pearl Harbor attack.  Pvt. Shultz was reported missing in action May 7, 1942.

Newton, Carl R.

ATTENDS OFFICERS SCHOOL - Carl R. Newton chief radio technician, U. S. Coast Guard, is now attending Coast Guard officers school academy, New London, Conn.  A graduate of Corsicana High School in 1938, he enlisted in the Coast Guard, Dec. 19, 1939, and graduated from the radio school in Baltimore Md., in 1940.  After serving at several posts in the East, he later was an instructor in the school at new London.  Newton is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Newton, 709 West Third avenue, Corsicana.

Petty, Jack - T-5

WOUNDED IN ACTION - T-5 Jack Petty, 25, U. S. Army, paratrooper, was wounded in action in December in Belgium, according to information from the war department received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Petty, 902 South Beaton Street.  Suffering head injuries from shell fragments, he is reported to be making normal improvement.  A veteran of two years overseas, Petty ad participated in the battles of Salerno, Anzio, and took part in fighting in Holland, Germany, and Belgium.. A brother, Wm. Riley Petty, AMM 1-c, is now stationed at the USNAAS Kingsville.

Ward, George R. - Pvt.

WOUNDED IN ACTION - Pvt. George R. Ward, 19, U. S. Army, infantry, has been wounded in action in Belgium according to information received by his father, Edgar L. Ward, 1325 West Tenth avenue.  A 1942 graduate of the Corsicana high school, he entered the service in July 1943, going overseas October 1944.  Pvt. Ward, two months prior to being wounded, was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge for "exemplary conduct in action against the enemy."  He is now in a hospital in England.

Sawyer, Ralph H. - S-Sgt.

WOUNDED IN GERMANY - S-Sgt. Ralph H. Sawyer, 30, U. S. Army infantry, was wounded in action, December 10, in Germany, according to information received by his mother, Mrs. Willie Sawyer, 1505 West Twelfth and One-Half avenue.  A later letter from Sgt. Sawyer said he was recovering and would soon rejoin his company.  Prior to entering the service, Dec. 2, 1942, Sgt. Sawyer was employed at the Pure Ice Company plant.   He attended Richland school.  Sgt. Sawyer went overseas in August 1944.

McCraw, Beauford C. - Pvt.

MISSING IN ACTION - Pvt. Beauford C. McCraw, 25, U. S. Army, Infantry is reported missing in action in Luxenbourg since Dec. 20, according to a message received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. McCraw, Purdon, from the War Department.  Pvt. McCraw entered the armed services in march 1944, and went overseas in October.  He attended Purdon high school and was employed at Port Arthur when he entered the army.  A three year old son, E. H. McCraw resides with Pvt. McCraw's parents at Purdon.

Spence, Louis Lee (Jack) - r-m-2c

MISSING IN ACTION - Louis Lee (Jack) Spence, 32, R. M. 2-c, U. S. Navy, is missing in action in the service of his country, according to a message received by his mother, Mrs. Janie Spence, Corsicana, from the Navy Department.  Particulars were not given in the message.  He had been in the navy about four years and had seen action in several of the Pacific area battles.  He attended the Roane schools.  He was home in August on leave and had been re-assigned to the fleet.  His father was the late Roland Spence.

Melton, Horace. E. - Sgt.

MISSING IN ACTION - Sgt. Horace E. Melton, 19, U. S. Army paratroopers is reported missing in action in Belgium since December 27, according to information from the war department received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Melton, Trinidad, former Corsicana residents.   A native of Corsicana and a graduate of the Corsicana high school Sgt. Melton entered the service March 29, 1943, and has been overseas seven months.  He received his training in the Army parachute troops at Ft. Benning, Ga., where he won several medals in marksmanship.

* * * * * * * * * *

Carol Melton Jones
[added 5/1/1999]