Henderson County TX

MILITARY NEWS

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Athens Weekly Review

January 6, 1944

Jakie A. Baumgardner

Jakie A. Baumgardner, son of Mr. And Mrs. S.H. Baumgardner of Athens, has completed the course of training in the Aviation Radioman school, Naval Air Technical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, according to an announcement by the center's public relations office. Jakie, former Athens High School student, enlisted on June 21, 1943, and received his boot training at Corpus Christi. He was a grocery store employee before entering the service.

Sgt. L.A. Harton, Jr.

Sgt, L.A. Harton, Jr., son of Mr. And Mrs. L.A. Harton, of Cross Roads, is enjoying a well-earned rest at his base in the South Pacific. He told his parents in a recent letter that he had just come through “the terrible battle of Tarawa.” Sgt. Harton, of the U.S. Marine Corps, was awarded the Purple Heart after being severely wounded on Guadalcanal during the battle for that island last year. He described the battle of Tawawa as being much more that Guadalcanal. “Terrible beyond description,” he said. “I hope I will never have to experience another battle like it.” The Marines promised his parents a more detailed story of the battle later, presumably after the men who participated in it are permitted to tell of their experience. Sgt. Harton entered the service in September, 1942 and went overseas on July 1, 1942. He was engaged in farming with his father before entering the Marines, and is a former student of Cross Roads school. Mr. and Mrs. Harton have two other sons in the service, Pfc. Davis Royal Harton, with a coast artillery anti-aircraft unit somewhere in the Hawailan Islands, and Pvt. Bernon Ray Harton, in the Marines and stationed at San Diego, California.

May 17, 1945

October 26, 1946

Sgt. Arval E. Gregg

Sgt. Arval E. Gregg, wounded in action in France last July 15, was transferred from Stark General Hospital, Charleston, South Carolina, to Harmon General Hospital, Longview, last Saturday and underwent an operation there Wednesday for the removal of shrapnel from the flesh of his left leg. Sgt. Gregg just recently returned to the States from England. His mother, Mrs. Lillie Gregg, a brother, W.O. Gregg and his grandmother, Mrs. Elva Dennis, all of Athens, and sisters, Mrs. Jesse G. Wilson and Mary Gregg of Dallas went to Longview, Sunday to visit him.

Cpl. Reginald E. Ray

Cpl. Reginald E. Ray told his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Ray, 600 Scott Street, in a recent letter from Italy that there are several boys from Henderson County in his outfit and that he and Joe Loden and John T. Kitchens are together all the time. In a letter written October 3, he said that “Joe Loden is sitting beside me writing a letter and John T. Kitchens is shooting the bull.” Mr. and Mrs. Ray have just received a box of souvenirs from their son, among them a scabbard he took from a German soldier, two rings, several kinds of money, watch chains and bands. Cpl. Ray has been overseas twenty-seven months. He took part in the North African campaign, went from here to Salerno and then to the Anzio beachhead and was one of the first Americans soldiers to march into Rome.

Richard Tanner

Richard Tanner of Malakoff, stationed in France, has been promoted to mechinist's mate first class in the Seabees, Naval Construction Battalion. Son of Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Tanner, the Seabee has been in foreign service since last April. His outfit was part of the invasion forces that struck Normandy on D-Day.

MILITARY NEWS

August 17, 1950

First Lt. Eugene D. Dennis

First Lt. Eugene D. Dennis, holder of the Air Medal, three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Disguished Flying Cross, is at home this week without so much as a scratch to show for the many close calls he had during thirty combat missions over Germany and enemy occupied territory. Nor did any of the lieutemant's crew receive injuries, although their plane was literally shot to pieces on some of the flights and was reported missing many times. On one occasion their bomber lost two engines. He is the son of Mr. And Mrs. J. R. Dennis of Athens and has been in the service four years and overseas eight months. He will report to Santa Monica, California for re-assignment upon expiration of his leave. The citation ofr the awarding of the DFC read, in part: “For extraordinary achievement while serving as a bombardier on bombardment missions over continental Europe, displaying great courage and skill. Lt. Dennis has materially aided in the success of each mission. The courage, coolness and skill displayed by Lt. Dennis on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.” The award was announced at an Eighth Air Force Liberator Station in England.

Sgt. Arve E. Gregg

Sgt. Arve E. Gregg, wounded on July 15, 1950 in action in France, told his mother, Mrs. Lillie Gregg, in a letter dated August 3 that he was in a hospital in England and is getting along nicely. He expects to be back in service soon. The soldier said he wished they had left him in France as he likes the climate there much better than that in England

Pvt. Barnes L. Lightfoot

Pvt. Barnes L. Lightfoot who has been stationed at Fort Bliss for the past seven weeks has gone to his new station at Camp Haan, California, after spending a ten-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Lightfoot of LaRue, route 2. The furloughwas the first he has had since entering the service nine months ago. He received his seventeen weeks of basic training at Camp Callah, California and has an additional seven weeks training before him. He also visited relatives near Baxter and Athens while he was home.

Staff Sergeant Glyn Trammell

Staff Sergeant Glyn Trammell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Perry F. Trammell of Athens, route 1, has been reported missing in New Guinea, according to a telgram received by his parents Thursday, August 10, from the War Department. There were no particulars. Sgt Trammell, with the Air Corps, entered the service April 3, 1942 and went overseas on October, 1943. He was born in Athens, March 23, 1920, attended school at Cross Roads and was employed by the AAA office in Athens prior to entering the service.

Submitted By Peggy Allen Trammell

Athens Weekly Review
Thursday, May 3, 1945

Mrs. Mollie Kale of Athens has received a telegram from the War
Department stating that her son, Pvt. William H. Kale, was slightly
wounded in the Phillipines on April 2nd. Pvt. Kale has been
overseas for 28 months.

Submitted By Fran Adair Bethea

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