With Our Men In The Service: November 24, 1942

TUESDAY, NOV. 24, 1942

THE ANN ARBOR NEWS

With Our Men In The Service

Two More Ann Arbor Marines On Guadalcanal

A second and apparently a third Ann Arbor man are with the U.S. Marines at Guadalcanal.

The first, Lee Allen Claude Mayne, private first class, was reported there last month, and now Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Love-lace, 1300 Hutchins Ave., have letters from their son, Norman Bruce Lovelace, which definitely prove that he too is on Guadalcanal.

Consequently, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Johnsmiller, 414 W. Summit St., believe their son Robert W. Johnsmiller, is there too, for Norm and Bob were together in the same unity at Camp Elliott, Calif., apparently their last station before overseas duty.  However, letters from him- though sent from overseas- haven't told exactly where he is.

In letters written from the Solomon Islands late in October, Norm says, "I haven't much time to write as we are awfully busy here.  This is a very serious place but we are all safe."

Mr. and Mrs. Lovelace believe that Norm has been stationed in the Solomons since August, when an official government post card arrived telling them that he had "arrived safely at destination."

Norm is 23 years old and enlisted in the Marine Corps Jan. 17, After spending some time at a San Diego training station he went on to Camp Elliott, Calif., where Bob, who enlisted April 20, soon joined him.

On Last Lap To Wings

Obviously Evart (Joe) Beson Jr., 24, doesn't believe in any of this "half-way" stuff.  When he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, he was determined to learn everything there was to know, and now already a skilled air mechanic, he is on the last lap toward receiving his wings and the title of flying officer.

Right now, Aviation Cadet Benson is at Polaris Academy at Lancaster, Calif., in advanced flying school.  He began his primary work last spring at Santa Ana, Calif., graduating July 4, and then took his basic at Ontario, Calif., which he completed last month.

A finisher at King-Seely Corp., Joe enlisted May 26, 1941, was sent to Tacoma, Wash., and attached to a bombing group at McChord field.  There he received first priority in mathematics examinations and was ordered to Chanute field, Ill., for 22 weeks of technical engineering training with the ground crew.

After graduation from technical school, Joe was given a 15-day furlough which brought him to Ann Arbor Dec. 7 and took him right back again to McChord filed on Dec. 8.  Passing some more mechanics tests, he followed his orders to Gray field at Ford Lewis, Wash., where he applied for aviation cadet training and was accepted.  But it was spring before he began learning aviation as a pilot.

Joe is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Evart Beson, 5000 Park Rd.  He was graduated from Ann Arbor High School in 1938.

Radio Operator In Army

Thomas Nowak, private first class from Belleville, a former Ypsilanti resident, is acting as a radio operator for Army forces stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Pvt. Nowak, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Nowak, Belleville, enlisted for service with the National Guard's 182nd field artillery unit in April of 1939.  He was called to active service two years later, on April 7, 1941, was in National Guard maneuvers in northern Michigan, Wisconsin and the southern United States before going to Fort Wood.

A former football player at Fordson and Belleville high schools, Pvt. Novak was a Ford factory worker at Milan before being called to service.  He was born in Dearborn, Dec. 21, 1921.

He has a brother, Leonard, on overseas duty in Ireland.

Speedy Advances

A Washtenaw county Army serviceman who is getting ahead fast in his work is Carl Henry Swickerath, Jr., Chelsea, who recently received his contmission as a first lieutenant.  The ranking, according to information received by Carl's parents, cane to him ahead of 20 other second lieutenants in his class.

Lt. Swickerath is an Army inductee with one year and seven months experience.  He was drafted April 3, 1941, was made a sergeant about March 1, got his second lieutenant's bars last July and became a first lieutenant last month.

The Chelsea youth saw his first Army service with the Air Corps medical division stationed at Camp Grant, Ill., later went to the Middleton Air Depot at Middleton, Pa., then to Fort Benning, Ga., for his officer's training course and later to Camp Gordon, Ga.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl H. Swickerath, he is 24 years old and a graduate of Chelsea High school.

Nephew and Uncle

An Ann Arbor man and his nephew are serving in the armed forces and, althouh one is overseas and the other isn't, they are both in the coast artillery.  The uncle is Pvt. Ralph Walter (Wobby) Fritz, 33, and the nephew is Neil A. Rauser, 24.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Fritz, 729 S. Main St., Wobby enlisted in the coast artillery last March 11 and was sent to Fort Bliss, Tex., for training.  At present he is stationed at Flushing, N.Y., where he was sent after returning from a ten-day furlough last month.  Prior to enlistment, he was employed by the University.

Neil, the part of the family on duty in a foreign land, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert E. Rauser, 113 Hill St. and he's a corporal technician in service at Puerto Rico.

Previously associated with his father at the Rauser Outfitting Co., Neil was inducted Jan. 13.  He spent the first ten weeks of training at Camp Wallace, Tex., where he studied to become a plane spotter and field telephone operator.

Corp. Rauser is a graduate of Ann Arbor High school, class of 1936, and was a member of the Old Bru city softball team.

Back to School

Lt. David K. Easlick, a former University ROTC cadet who was called to active service in September, has been selected to attend the 13-week rifle and heavy weapons training school at Fort Benning, Ga.  Son of Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Easlick, 1508 Shadford Rd., Lt. Easlick has been stationed at Camp Wheeler, near Macon, Ga.

Telephone Linesman

Howard Chandler (Red) Gray, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ora A. Gray, 1006 S. Main St., has been a member of the Signal Corps since July 30 and is now in training at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

A truck driver with L. G. Randolph Concrete Products at the time of induction, Red was sent to Fort Custer first, remaining there a week before drawing orders to Fort Monmouth.  Completing a short furlough last week, Red went back to New Jersey, where he expected to go to school.  

Red is a life-long resident of Ann Arbor and attended Ann Arbor High school.  He is a private and a telephone linesman.

In Middle East

Newly arrived somewhere in the Middle East is Lt. Edwin W. Phillips, 28, former admitting clerk at University hospital for several years while attending the University.  In a letter to friends here he wrote that he was in the land of deserts and camels, where "it is beastly hot in the dayime and where one freezes to death at night."

After graduating from officer's training school at Camp Lee, Va., last May, Lt. Phillips was sent to Fort Warren, Wyn., where he was transferred to and ordnance corps.  In June he went to Camp Forrest, Tenn., and then served with a motor base unit at Atlanta, for the months of August.

Before going aboard ship for overseas duty, he spent a few days in Ann Arbor, visiting friends in September.  he was promoted to corporal and sergeant at Camp Lee before being selected for officer's training school there in January.  He received a commission as a second lieutenant upon completion of the school course, and received notice- after arriving in the Middle East- that he was a firrst lieutenant, and actually had been since leaving the States.

Lt. Phillips had had three years as a student in the University literary school before withdrawing to enlist in April, 1941.  He lived here at 908 E. Ann St.

Back to Great Lakes

Russel B. Every, 18, has returned to the Great Lakes naval training station where he expects to go into aviation ordnance.  He is the son of Mrs. Olas Every, 1126 Broadway Ave.

A graduate of Clinton High school in 1941, Russ enlisted in the U. S. Navy Oct. 13 at Detroit and was sent to Great Lakes for "boot" training.  

Following completion of preliminary training, he was given a nine-day leave which he spent in Ann Arbor.

Russ, an apprentice seaman, has lived in Ann Arbor only eight months, moving here from Manchester.

Two County Soldiers On New Guinea Front

Two more Washtenaw county youths are now in New Guinea, where the American and Australian troops are slowly driving the Japs back into the sea, while a third- with the same name as one of the former, though unrelated- was in Australia at last report.

The two in New Guinea are Sgt. Ronald H. Heath, a company cook, and Pvt. John R. Laurie, of Augusta township, who is in an infantry medical service unit.  Anthony Craig Heath, also of Augusta township and also a sergeant, was last known to be with a communications outfit in Australia.

Ronald Heath, son of Mr. and Mrs. Haflie Heath, of Mooreville, writing of his recent transfer from Australia to New Buinea, says he likes that jungle country fine.

Likes Assignment

The Mooreville youth, who was inducted in the Army on April, 29, 1941, and has been in the southwest Pacific for some months, couldn't mention any anticipated action against the Japs in New Guinea, but said he was well and pleased with his assignment.  He wrote that the natives' friendliness is a source of both surprise and pleasure.  

To illustrate that friendliness, Sgt. Heath told of an incident which occurred near a stream where he was getting water.  One of the natives who understood a little English overheard the Mooreville youth wish for a cocoanut.  The native immediately gave Sgt. Heath a nut which he had and then, when the sergeant gave him a cigaret in return, the native scaled a tree and brought down six more of the "milk fruit."

"Not only that," Sgt. Heath's letter said, "the native also peeled them for me, doing it with his feet.  He stuck a stick in the ground, held it with his two front toes and sliced the thick rope-like cover from the meat."

Native of Whittaker

Pvt. Laurie, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Laurie, was born in Whittaker 23 years ago and attended the St. Mary parochial school in Hudson, later coming back to his present home near Ypsilanti. 

He was a Wayne factory worker before being inducted into Army service at Detroit May 17, 1941.  He was stationed at Camp Livingston, La., for awhile and then embarked for Australia, leaving San Fransisco last April 18.  He later was sent to New Guinea.

Anthony Heath, 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy W. Heath, 9100 Burton Rd., enlisted in the Army in August of 1940 after spending the summer at Ford's Willow Run Camp Legion.

Enlisting in the signal corps, Sgt. Heath spent some time at Camp Livingston, La., and then was sent to the Army's signal school at Fort Monmouth, N. J., where he was graduated as a foreman June 1, 1941.  He returned to Livingston then and received his corporal's ranking as a 1941 Christmas day present.  He was raised to a sergeant the following month.

Still Prefers U.S.A.

In March Anthony Heath was sent to Fort Devon, Mass., and then a week after Easter- across the country to San Fransisco, from where his outfit sailed for Australia in April.  In letters home, which arrive quite regularly, he says, "The boys are all well and the people very good to us; but there is no place like the good old U.S.A."

Sgt. Heath was born in Willis Dec. 12, 1923, and attended the Lincoln Consolidated school.  He has a brother, Frederick G. Heath, also a sergeant, who is attending officer's training school at Aberdeen, Md.

Air Corps Instructor

Second Lt. John R. Randall, 36, of 1208 Prospect St., who was an instructor of geography at the University of Wisconsin before enlisting in the Army, is still teaching- but now in a ground school of the Air Corps.

Lt. Randall, son of Harrison M. Randall, joined the Army Air Corps July 31, 1942, and reported on Aug. 8 at the officer training school at Miami Beach, Fla.  After graduation Sept. 19, with a commission, he went first to Foster Field, Victoria, Tex.

A month later he was transferred to Moore Field at Mission, Tex., and a week later was sent to the Army air base at Eagle Pass, Tex.

Lt. Randall is a graduate of Ann Arbor High school, class of 1924, and holds two degrees from the University of Michigan and one from Wisconsin.  He received his A.B. here in 1928 and his master's the next year, and his doctor of philosophy degree from Wisconsin in 1934.

Learning About Motors

Herman George Gage, private first class from Chelsea, is learning the intricacies of motor mechanics while taking a special Army course at Bloomington, Ill.  He has also earned medals for hand grenade throwing, bayonet practice, rifle marksmanship and machine gunning.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Elba H. Gage, Pvt. Gage was drafted into Army service and reported at Fort Custer Sept. 14.  Later he was sent to Camp Robinson, Ark., and from there to Bloomington.

Pvt. Gage, a former employee of the Federal Screw Works branch plant at Chelsea, was born in Chelsea Oct 20, 1919.  He was married to Elam Desmond last April 4.

K Man In Navy

Another Navyman who was trained at Great Lakes is John A. Pieh, 21, who enlisted three years ago in Company K, of the National Guard.  He is now in an engineering school at Richmond, Va.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Pieh, 426 S. Fourth Ave., John served with the first group of Company K men to train at Camp Livingston, La., and was released later because of dependents.  He was employed as a press operator for the Revco Co. in Adrian when he enlisted in the Navy last September. 

As an apprentice seaman at the Great Lakes station, John was graduated as honor man of his class of 130 men and selected to attend service school.  He is now in a Diesel engineering school at Richmond and expects to complete his work there Dec. 20.

John is a graduate of Deerfield High school where he was captain of the basketball team.

Army Medalist

Leon D. (Bud) Lienaux, Dexter, staff sergeant now stationed at Fort Meade, Md., may soon achieve an honorary designation as an Army medalist if his penchant for collecting awards keeps up.

Since his induction into the armed forces last April 4, Sgt. Lienaux has collected service medals on the rifle range, as well as for sharp-shooting and for his work in driving and servicing tanks.  

The Dexterite, a graduate of the village high school, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Lienaux.  He was born in Toledo, Oh., Oct. 31, 1913, and celebrated his last birth anniversary a few weeks ago by paying his parents a surprise visit, taking advantage of a furlough which lasted until Nov. 8.

Sgt. Lienaux lived in Ann Arbor for two and one-half years before his induction, working as a shop machinist at the American Broach & Machine Co.

He was inducted into the Army's quartermaster corps, reporting at Detroit last April.  Following the usual stay at Fort Custer, he was sent to Camp Lee, Va., the to Fort Dix, N.J., and later to Fort Meade.  He received his sergeant's stripes in December.  His present duty is with the heavy maintenance until of the Fort's ordnance section.

Sgt. Lienaux is not the only member of his family showing his patriotism in deep measure.  His father invests 30 per cent of his earnings at an Ann Arbor business place in War bonds.

Leaves for New York

Frederick C. Hunswell, 22, one of the few Ann Arbor men in the merchant marine, left Thursday to report at New York where he will assume active duty aboard ship.  He is the son of Richard C. Hunswill, 527 S. Fourth Ave.

Enlisting Aug. 31, Fred was sent to the Great Lakes naval training station for four weeks and then to West VIrginia for three and a half weeks for training as a machinist.  Prior to enlistment, he was employed as a machinist at the bomber plant.  Fred is a life-long resident of Ann Arbor and attended Ann Arbor High school for two years.

More Chelsea Enlistees

Two more names of Chelsea residents are to be added to the list of men from that Washtenaw village who have enlisted for service with the Army Air Corps.

The newcomers are Pvt. James Hugh Barkley, 18 years old, and Pvt. David Winans, 23.  Barkley enlisted for Air Corps duty on Armistace day, Nov. 11, reporting at Detroit and being sent to Fort Custer two days later.  Winans, who will serve with the Air Corps ordnance department, reported at Custer on Nov. 5.

Barkley, the son of Mrs. Blanche Barkley, is a native of Chelsea, having been born there Jan. 26, 1924.  Before joining the Air Corps, he was employed at the Dexter Produce Co.  He has a brother, John L. Barley, who is an Army inductee stationed at Fort Custer.

Winans took three years' experience with the Johnson Optical Co. office in Ann Arbor with him when he began his Army service.  The son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer E. Winans, he was born in Highland Park April 26, 1917, and was graduated from Chelsea High school with the class of 1925.  

Winans also has a brother in service.  He is Seaman Charles Winans, how at the Dearborn naval training school.