The battle of the Belgian bulge approached a climax this week as units of the American Third and First Armies hammered heavily from two directions against shoulders of the salient.

Already the southern side of the shrinking bulge has been dented more than eight miles by the Third Army troops under the command of Gen. George S. Patton. Extent of the First Army drive was not disclosed.

At the same time reports of heavy eastward traffic within the wedge of Marshal Karl Gerd von Rundstedt troops suggested a possible German withdrawal from the Belgian wedge.

However, the Germans opened a now offensive against the Third and Seventh Army units along the 70 mile sector from Saarbrucken to the Rhine and at one place southeast of Bitche made gains to a depth of five miles.

Also heavy increase of enemy troop movement behind the Siegfried Line in Saarland and Palatinate were reported and a communique said German units were across the Biles river in the sector east of Saareguemines.

These fresh blows in the south were delivered on New Year's day, but the weather has worked against the Nazis in their drive since clear skies have permitted complete aerial support of the American ground troops in that area.

Since the Third Army launched its counter-thrust against the German offensive December 22, they have taken a total of 7,825 Nazi prisoners.

The Russian Front

In fierce house-to-house fighting, as savage as any fighting yet to occur on the eastern front, Russian troops were continuing their forward drive in the streets of Budapest, the Hungarian capital.

Although the Red Army has not officially estimated the strength of the German garrison in the capital, it reported that more than 10,000 Nazis had been killed and 30,000 wounded.

The Russians now hold more than 1,000 blocks of the battered capital which the Germans are yielding house-by-house as they are blown out by the Red troops.

How the estimated 2,000,000 civilians are now hiding inside the city as the battle rages around them can only bo imagined.

Soviet guns of all calibers are battering deeper inside the city and sometimes dueling with German tanks and self-propelled artillery at less than 100 yards range.

The Pacific Front

Two new American landings on strategic Mindoro Island in the Philippines about 150 miles south of Manila were made Wednesday evening as American superforts intensified their aerial warfare against the Japanese homeland. The landings were made without opposition.

The aerial front on the Pacific flamed over a wide area. Besides the superforts which hit the Jap homeland, carrier planes attacked Formosa and the Nansei Islands. Southwest Pacific fliers sank or set afire 25 Nippon ships west of Luzon.

A large force of B-29's, directed for the first time from new Superfort headquarters at Guam, struck Nagoya, the Japanese airplane center on Honshu Island.

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Cpl. Clyde A. Murray, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Murray, of Kenova, who was wounded at Brest, France, is recovering in a hospital in England. He will be returned to the United States for specialized treatment in the near future.

T/Sgt. Albert Sansom, of Cherry Point, N. C, and Sgt. Herschel Sanso, of Camp Edwards, Mass., have been visiting their mother, Mrs. Elsie Sansom, of Wayne. Another son of Mrs. Sansom, Pfc. Chas. T. Sansom, has been in New Guinea for more than a year.

Allen Crockett, of the U. S. Navy, Viewport, R. I., who was spending a three-day leave with his family in Wayne, was stricken with appendicitis Tuesday of this week and was taken to Memorial hospital, Huntington, where he immediately underwent an operation.

Pvt. James H. Anderson, son of Mrs. Dora Anderson, of Ceredo, who was wounded in France, is now a patient in Bushnell General hospital, Brigham City, Utah. While in a hospital in England, he was visited by his brother, Frank Anderson, of the Medical Corps.

Pvt. Junior F. Smith, son of Mrs. Drucilla Smith, of Ceredo, is recovering in a hospital in Alaska from injuries suffered in an accident. He has two brothers in service, S/Sgt. Donald L. Smith, recuperating in a hospital from wounds received in action in France, and Robert Smith, at Fort Sill, Okla.

Pvt. Leo Finley has returned to Camp Polk, La., after spending several days with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Adkins, of Kiahsville.

Mosser and Harold Maynard, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Maynard, of Kiahsville, are both with the U. S. Army in England.

Pvt. John Canterbury, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Canterbury of Kenova Route 1, has won the right to wear the "Wings and Boots" of the United States Army paratroops. He has completed four weeks of jump training during which time he made five jumps, the last a tactical jump at night involving a combat problem of landing.

Pvt. James R. Little of 1812 Oak street Kenova, and S/Sgt. Fred F. Cyrus of 1707 Chestnut street Kenova, celebrated their third Christmas overseas at a party given by members of their outfit for approximately 700 local orphan children. They are members of the 12th Air Force stationed in England.

Pvt. Charlotte Faye Kirk of Fort Gay, a member of the WAC, recently left first WAC training center at Des Moines, Iowa, for duty with the Army at Wright AAF, Dayton, O.

Pvt. Fred E. Thompson, son of Mrs. Bell Thompson of Fort Gay Rt. 1, is assigned to a processing company at the redistribution station at Camp Butner, N. C. He recently returned after 28 months overseas duty in the American theatre of operations, where he served as a ward man in a station hospital. He holds the American theatre ribbon.

Albert W. Jordan Jr., 24, of 123S Wayne avenue, Kenova, has been promoted to the grade of staff sergeant, according to a recent announcement at this 15th Air Force heavy bomber base in Italy. Gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber, Sgt. Jordan is a member of a group commanded by Col. Thomas W. StSeed of Etowah, Tenn. The group has flown more than 145 combat missions against targets in southern Germany and the Balkans. Sgt. Jordan entered the service April 6, 1942. He has been awarded the Air Medal.

Sgt. Leston E. Vance of Wayne, has been awarded the Combat Infantry badge for taking part in the fighting in the battle of Metz in the European theatre of action. He is the husband of Mrs. Vina Vance of Wayne. Sgt. Vance is a member of Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army.

Pfc. Truman Cook, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Cook of Webb, was killed in action September 15, somewhere in France, the War Department has notified his parents. Two other brothers of Pvt. Cook are in the service. Pfc. Bert Cook is also serving with the Infantry in France and Pvt. Ben P. Cook is with the engineers in Italy. Pfc. Cook was buried in an American cemetery.

Dewey Pack of Wayne, recently discharged from the United States Navy, has been admitted to the Veterans hospital for treatment.

First Lieut. Wayne G. Thompson, son of Mrs. R. J. Thompson of Wayne, has been slightly wounded in the cheek and neck by Jap snipers on Leyte. One of the first air officers to land on the island, Lt. Thompson was wounded when the Jap air force dropped several hundred paratroopers behind American lines before the island was secured by MacArthur's forces. He has been awarded the Purple Heart.

Garnet Gene Baker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Baker, of Lick creek, who has been with the U. S. Army for some time, was seriously wounded December 22, on Leyte Island. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have two other sons in the U. S. Navy, Selbert and Hollis Baker, both in the Atlantic area.

Sgt. Homer Loar, stationed on Greenland for the last 18 months, and Mrs. Loar of Dayton, O., are spending a 30-day furlough with Sgt. Loar's parents, Mr. and Mrs E. F. Loar Sr., of Chestnut street.

Sgt. Ernest E. Moore, of Dunlow, who has been in the U. S. Army for three years, has seen service in England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He has been wounded twice in the past five months and is now in a hospital in England. A brother, Pfc. Ulyssis H. Moore, has been slightly wounded and is also in a hospital in England. They are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Milt Moore, of Dunlow.

Herbert Pauley, S. 2/C, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Pauley of Kenova, is in the Southwest Pacific. His brother, Earl Pauley, S. 2/C, is on special duty somewhere oversea.

Tillman Adkins, S. 1/C, spent a five-day leave with his family near Wayne, last week.

Charles Edward Booton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Booton, of Booton, recently enlisted in the U S. Navy, and is taking his training at Great Lakes, Ill.

Pvt Walter C. Davis, of Fort Jackson, S. C, who spent the Christmas holidays with his wife and children, of Prichard, Rt. 2, has returned to camp.

S/Sgt. Robt. A. Davis, husband of Mrs. Mary A. Davis, of Shoals, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Davis, of Wayne Rt. 1, has been transferred from Salina, Kansas to Kearns, Utah.

Cpl. Roy A. Davis, of the armed forces, has returned to Camp Cooke, Calif., after spending a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Davis, of Wayne Rt. 1.

Sgt. Homer T. Richards of Fort Dix, N. J., recently spent a 15-day furlough with his mother, Mrs. Salona Richard, of East Lynn Rt.

Pfc. Erwin E. Wooten, of Hot Springs, Ark., is spending a 30-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Aley Wooten, of East Lynn Rt. A brother, Pvt. Earl A. Wooten, is stationed in the Southwest Pacific.

Pvt. Walter Mills, of Washington. is spending a 21-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Mills, of East Lynn Rt.

Pvt. Scott Epling, son of Mack Epling, of East Lynn Rt., has been wounded in England.

Jay Finley, Jr., of the 32nd Troop Carrier Squadron, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Finley, formerly of Stiltner, now of Detroit, was killed in a plane crash December 6 on Leyte island. In addition to the parents, he is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mable Finley, of Detroit; five brothers, Byrd and Abby, both oversea; Charley, of Detroit; Frank and Leonard, at home; four sisters, Mrs. Ruby Tabor, of East Lynn; Yvonne, Joan and Susie, at home; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Napier, of Kenova.

Pvt. Loval M. Burris, son of Mrs. Gladys Burris, of Prichard R. 2, has been promoted to private first class. Pfc. Burris is now with the U. S. Armed forces in the South Pacific, assigned to the 29th General hospital as a mail orderly, and is now in his second year oversea.

Pvt. Norville R. Bradshaw has been transferred from Camp McCoy, Wis., to an oversea address, New York.

Sgt. Taylor Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Smith, who has been in Alaska for two years, is now visiting home folks at Sidney, on a 21-day furlough.

Service men recently wounded in action, include, Pfc. Wm. P. Hightower, son of Felix A. Hightower, wounded in the Southwest Pacific; T/Sgt. Glenn Jonas, son of Walter Jonas, of Missouri Branch; Pfc. James B. Newman, husband of Mrs. Betty J. Newman, of Lavalette, and Sgt. James R Wilson, son of Mrs. Bonnie I. Wilson, of Kenova, all wounded in the European area.

Pfc. Carl Scarberry, husband of Mrs. Virginia Sostil Scarberry, of Kenova, was wounded in action in France, December 10. He has been in service two years and oversea with an Infantry unit since last September.

First Lieutenant Woodrow W. Mills, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Mills, of Kenova, has graduated from the Medical Field Service School at Carlisle Barracks, Pa. He received his M. D. degree from the Medical College of Virginia. Lieut. Mills visited his parents and wife last week end.

A/C Leslie H. Workman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Workman of Wayne, was recently transferred to Concha Air Field, San Angelo, Texas, where he is taking a 24-week course in bombardier training. One other son of Mr. and Mrs. Workman, Lt. Harold E. Workman, who has been overseas for the past 20 months is now in the Marshall Islands.

Cpl. Harley M. Pearson, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Pearson, of Huntington, formerly of Wayne, is serving with the 397th Infantry Regiment of the 100th Division in Eastern France.

Charles Hunter, U. S. Marine, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Hunter, formerly of Wayne, has been promoted to corporal. Cpl. Hunter has returned to his base in Massachusetts after spending several days with his mother in Huntington.

Howard K. "Buddy" Bates, Mo. M. M. 3/C, son of Mrs. Melba Buskirk, of near Wayne, is now in Cuba.

Second Lieut. Elmer E. Koonz, 28 years old, of Westmoreland, was killed in Germany November 25. Lieut. Koonz has served in England, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. Before entering the service, he was employed by the Sinclair Glass Co., of Ceredo. He is survived by the widow, Mrs. Fern Black Koonz; his parents, in Northville, Mich.; his grandmother, Mrs. S. E. Hill, of Huntington.

Homer Smith, who is with the U. S. Army in China, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jennings Smith, of Wayne, was recently promoted to First Lieutenant.

Pvt. Earl Craft has been transferred from Ft. Lawton, Washington, to Camp Barkeley, Texas.

Pvt. Homer E. Edwards, of Wayne, has been transferred from Lowry Field, Colorado, to Midland, Texas.

Pvt. Clarence E. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Smith, of East Lynn, who left recently for the U. S Army, is now at Fort McClellan, Ala.

Ray Russell, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Russell, of East Lynn, left last Friday for the U. S. Army.

Pvt. Coy Spence, rifleman, of Stiltner, is a member of the 350th infantry regiment which recently took Mt. Battaglia in northern Italy and held it for seven days of almost continuous German counterattack and close-quarter fighting.

Sgt. James Barbour, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Barbour, of Wayne, has arrived at the Herington Army Air Field, Herington, Kansas, where he is assigned to the Motor Transportation section. Sgt. Barbour has served in the infantry in Hawaii and the Southwest Pacific theatre.

Sgt. Andrew A. "Lefty" Miller, former employee of the OLO Gas company at Wayne, has been killed in action in Germany, the War Department advised his parents Monday. Sgt. Miller was a native of Danville, W. Va.

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Completing one of the best years on record, the Wayne County Bank anounced that the total capital resources of $1,404,357.78 were the highest in the history of the bank.

The board of directors, holding their annual meeting, voted a four per cent semiannual dividend, making a total dividend of eight per cent paid during the year, and reelected all directors and officers.

Also Dr. Glen Johnson, president, reported that the bank showed a $364,994.30 increase in total deposits for the past twelve mouths.

Officers of the bank are Dr. Glen Johnson, president; Etta R. Prichard, vice president; Byron Smith, cashier and S. E. Adkins, assistant cashier. Directors are Byron Smith, Dr. Glen Johnson, Etta R. Prichard, R. G. Prichard, Charles W. Ferguson, M. J. Ferguson, S. E. Adkins and W. D. Click.

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(WCN - 1/26/1945) MISS JONES HEADS WAYNE HONOR LIST

Miss Margaret Jones, sophomore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Jones of East Lynn, led the semester honor roll of the Wayne high school with an average of 95.4, principal C. H. McKown announced. Others who led their classes were Miss Iva Jean Baisden, senior, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Baisden of Wayne, route 2, 93.75; Miss Faye Jones, junior, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charley Jones of East Lynn, 93; and Kenneth Dyer, freshman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Dyer of Wayne, 93.

The complete honor roll is as follows :

Seniors: Iva Jean Baisden, 93.75; Helen Frasher, 93.6; Holena Baker, 93.4; Billie Garrison, 93.16; Patricia Flournoy, 93; Elizabeth Vinson, 93; Janice Osburn, 92.33; Eldon Johnson, 89.6; Geneva Crockett, 89.5; Kyle Smith, 89; Donald Cade, 88.25; Mary Adkins, 88.2; Fernando Adkins, 87.77; and Charles Wilson, 87.7.

Juniors: Faye Jones, 93; Mary Francis Salmons, 92.5; Thomas Herald, 90.75; Jo Ann Smith, 90.5; Nola Dyer, 90; Ernestine Jones, 89.2; Cornelia Saunders, 88.5; and Wilma Jean Tabor, 88.

Sophomores: Margaret Jones, 95.4; Asbury Adkins, 95.25; Roy Mills, 93.75; Ross Thompson, 92.2; Clestia Vanover, 91.4; Flora Ross, 90.77; Charles Ferguson, 90.4; Beulah Adkins, 90; Thursey Frasher, 89.84; James Mitchell, 89.9; Paul Ross, 88.75; Mae Toney, 88.2; Roberta Dean, 88.2; and Elinor Blankenship, 88.

Freshman: Kenneth Dyer, 93; Lorene Adkins, 91; Bill Tabor, 91; Cora Osburn, 91; Dallas Carey, 91; Bonnie Johnson, 90.8; Betty Hollister, 90.6; Evelyn Booth, 90.2; Dallas Hall, 90; Lovelle Arrowood, 90; Jay Francis, 89.25; Mary F. Brumfield, 89; Sylvia Romans, 88.8; Violet Carter, 88.8; Ruth Kerns, 88.34; Joyce Dean, 88; James Mullens, 88; and Eloise Dean, 87.67.

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Pfc. Paul P. Perry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Pearle Perry, of Dunlow, was a member of a signal section wire-crew which recently interrupted their routine work long enough to capture a 14-man German patrol. After capturing the patrol, Pfc. Perry and the other five men narrowly escaped death when one of their prisoners tossed a grenade.

Crawling down the shallow ditches on either side of the road, the wire-crew was trying to string a line from battalion headquarters to the line companies somewhere in the Vosges mountains. The squad had left their jeep a mile and a half to the rear in heavy snow drifts and were nearly through to the companies when the Germans spotted them approaching a blasted bridge. Instantly a barrage of mortar shells cascaded on and about the road. Only a miracle kept the crew from being hit.

After the Germans had eased up their fire, the crew continued their advance toward the bridge when they suddenly flopped under any cover they could find and peered cautiously toward the bridge.

Coming down the road on the other side of the river, marching single file, were fourteen snow-caped Germans on patrol, but they hadn't seen the American squad and continued to advance right up to the edge of the bridge.

The American squad leader pulled himself up on one knee, drawing a bead on the leader, and yelled out, "Halt!" The Germans froze in their tracks, slowly raised their hands as they saw that they were covered. Sherman, motioned with his left hand, "Kommen Sie hier,', he shouted. The Germans made their way across the broken span to where Sherman and his crew crouched, and the sergeant stepped forward to begin to search them.

He had just started on the first man when one of the Germans in the rear made a swift movement from under his enveloping camouflage cape, and a live potato-masher grenade flicked out into the midst of the men. There was a mad scramble as Germans and Americans flung themselves to the ground on top of each other and waited for the explosion. There was a muffled bang as the igniter went off, and then silence. The grenade was a dud.

The signal men got up, prodding the Germans with their rifles, cursing. They finished the search, producing two Sehmeissers, several K-98's, three pistols, knives, grenades and a flare gun.

Slowly the twenty men returned to the American lines and turned over their catch to a company commander who in turn sent them to the prisoners' cage. The signal crew returned to their job, but oncoming darkness and an artillery barrage prevented them from putting the line through until the next morning.

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A total of 21 men, 20 of whom are fathers, have been ordered to report for induction into the armed forces March 20 by selective service board two. The complete list is as follows:

Artie Elliott of Cove Gap, Winchester Adkins of Stiltner, Homer William Ferguson of Dunlow Rt. 1, Billie Thomas Lester of Fort Gay Rt. 1; Junior Joe Taylor of Wewanta; Herman Jenkins Wiley of Cove Gap; Millard Taylor Rice of Sidney; George Brumfield of Crum; James Ratcliff Jr., of Crum; Wilbur Jay Tomblin of Prichard Rt. 1; Curtiss Hoover Moore of Dunlow; Donald W. Pratt of Grassy; Charles Wallace Vanhoose of Prichard Rt. 1; Orville Porter of Dunlow; Donald Carlos Lycan of Fort Gay; Bernard Blake of Prichard, Sampson Haney of Wilsondale; Clarence Watts of East Lynn Rt. 1; T. W. Maynard of Wilsondale, Fred Swathwood of Prichard Rt. 1; Edward Herman Bowen of Stonecoal.

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A new graded school building for the Town of East Lynn has been authorized by the Wayne county Board of Education and construction will begin immediately, M. J. Robinett, county superintendent of schools, said.

The building will be located on a six-acre tract about one-fourth mile south of East Lynn on state route 37. When completed it will replace the present two story, four-room building located on Little Lynn creek.

The school will be a four-room, modern brick building. Priority on material has already been granted by the War Production Board and the school board hopes to get masonry completed with this year's funds.

The school is being financed by the balance of the building fund which amounts to approximately $12,000.

Jay Damron of Wayne has been employed as construction foreman. The building was designed by Franklin Bowers of Huntington.

The present school building at East Lynn has been condemned by the state fire marshal.

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(WCN - 5/4/1945)

The Ceredo-Kenova high school senior class will present a three-act farce, "The Nutt Family," May 4, at 8 p. m., in the high school auditorium. The cast, above, is left to right, first row, Bill Willis, Nell May, Dorothy Napier, J. J. Canterbury, Mildred Overacre; second row, Mrs. Nana Hutchinson, director, Charlotte Smith, Billie K. Mays, Agnes Thompson, Vivian Wheeler; third row, Chester Hayton, Jackie York and Jimmy Hall. Doris Moore, also a member of the cast was absent when the picture was taken.

The senior class of Buffalo High School will present a three-act comedy, "Professor How Could You?" Friday at 8 p. m., in the school auditorium. The cast, pictured above, is, left to right, first row, Charles Hatten, Audra Teubert, Thelma Carr, Lafe Chafin; second row, Hope Dunkle, Lory Hatten, Opal Alley; third row, Hiram Rutherford, Lorraine Felty, and George Keyes; Miss Violet Puckett is director.

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Pfc. Floyd Adkins, who captured three armed German soldiers with only an entrenching shovel, has been awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action while participating in the fighting around Bastogne.

Pfc. Floyd Adkins was attached to the 401st Glider Infantry as an assistant bazooka man when the unusual episode took place. His company had been ordered into a wooded area outside of Bastogne to guard against a possible tank attack.

Upon reaching their position the two-man bazooka team observed tanks moving in their direction. They jumped into a foxhole and Adkins immediately started to load the rocket launcher. As he raised the shell toward the bazooka he saw three armed Nazi soldiers in a nearby foxhole.

Since his rifle had been damaged by shell fragments earlier in the fighting, Pfc Adkins without hesitation scooped his entrenching shovel from the ground outside the foxhole and pointed the handle directly at the Germans.

Taking no chances with the business end of the shovel, the enemy soldiers complied with his motion to duck down into the foxhole. The bazooka was then loaded and fired.

Upon rising from the hole after the shell exploded, the enemy was again looking down the handle of Adkins' shovel.

He again motioned them into their foxhole. After the last round of ammunition had been fired and a direct hit made, the three Germans raised again only to be motioned from their hole by Adkins with his shovel.

The march back to the company headquarters was an unusual sight—three German prisoners being herded along by a red-headed Wayne county boy and his entrenching shovel. Twice on the way to the rear lines, the group was dispersed by strafing air craft. After each attack Pfc. Adkins rounded up his prisoners and started off again. When he reached the command post he was joined by a buddy armed with a sub-machine gun. While the sub-machine gun eased the tension the Germans were more terrorized with what the outfit calls the "Adkins Rifle."

Pfc. Adkins is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Berry Adkins of Stiltner. His wife, Mrs. Inez Adkins, resides in Huntington. He is a cousin of 1st Lt. Boyd N. Adkins, also of Stiltner, who is credited with bringing down a Gorman plane without firing a shot.

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Hitler and Mussolini Are Reported Dead

The Allied world waited in grim confidence today for the final Nazi collapse under pressure of arms if not by wholesale capitulation.

Berlin, greatest city of the European continent, and the greatest city ever to be taken by storm in the history of the world, fell Wednesday afternoon to the Russians. The Soviet triumph came after 12 days of the deadliest street fighting. 70,000 German defenders were captured.

Wednesday all German land, sea and air forces in Italy and southern and western Austria—estimated at nearly 1,000,000 troops—were surrendered unconditionally to the Allies by their German commander.

The Allies were pressing the attack against the crumbling Nazi fronts amidst conflicting rumors of Hitler's death, peace offers and the possibility that the German nation might be swept by civil war. However, the possibility existed that Doenitz might continue the fight from Norway.

In the north, the British by-passed Hamburg, broke German resistance northeast of the Elbe and captured the Baltic port of Luebeck to split the north German pocket and sealed off Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein.

A field dispatch declared the will to fight had gone out of the German armies of the north and that the end of the fighting might come in hours or at the most in days in the opinion of Allied commanders.

Gen. Patton's Third Army was driving down the last 30 miles toward Salzburg and the last 44 toward Berchtesgaden after capturing Hitler's Austrian birthplace of Braunau. Other of his troops advanced at least 25 miles into Austria to within 18 miles of Linz and about 40 from the Russians west Of Vienna in a maneuver to encircle Czeckoslovakia.

As fighting in the capital reached a conclusion, the Second White Russian Army continued an armored-pointed drive of 20 miles a day across northern Germany, captured the Baltic port of Stralsund, to drive within 63 miles of the British forces on the lower Elbe river.

Supreme Allied headquarters announced the capture of a million and a half men, including 150 generals and admirals. Field Marshal Von Rundstedt was one of the latest generals captured.

It was apparent that the American Third and Seventh and French First Armies had struck so swiftly in the south that the Germans had no time to man and stock the magnificent defense country in the south.

The Pacific Front

On Okinawa the Tenth Army troops were reported to have fought within rifle range of the three main southern cities on the island and to have eliminated one half of the original Japanese garrison which totaled about 60,000 men.

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1939

Sept. 1—Germany launches invasion of Poland.

Sept. 3 — Britain and France announce that a state of war exists with Germany.

1940

April 9—Germany Invades Norway and Denmark.

May 2—Germans repel British attempt to invade Nazi-Norway.

May 10—Germany invades the low countries. Churchill becomes prime minister.

June 2—Four-fifths of British troops extricated from Dunkirk.

June 10—Italy enters the war.

June 18—Nazis occupy Paris.

June 22—French accept German's peace terms.

1941

April 6—Germans invade Yugoslavia and take command of Greek-Italian front.

May 1—British driven out of Greece.

May 10—Rudolph Hess lands in Britain by parachute.

June 1—German paratroopers take Crete.

June 22—Germany invades Russia.

Dec. 7—Japanese make sneak attack on Pear Harbor, the Philippines and Hong Kong.

Dec. 8—U. S. declares war on Axis countries.

1942

April 18—Doolittle leads American fliers in bombing of Tokyo and other Japanese cities.

May 6—Corregidor surrenders.

May 9—American forces defeat Japanese fleet in the Coral sea.

July 1—British Eighth army halts Rommel at EI Alamein.

Aug. 19—Commandos raid Dieppe.

Oct. 26—Battle of Solomons starts.

Nov. 8—U. S. troops land in North Africa.

1943

Feb. 3—Germans lose the battle of Stalingrad.

May 12—Tunis and Bizerte fall, ending German resistance in North Africa.

July 10—Allies invade Sicily.

July 25—Mussolini out, Badoglio becoming premier.

Sept. 3—Allies land in southern Italy.

Sept. 8—Italy surrenders unconditionally.

Nov. 20—Americans invade Gilberts, Makin and Tarawa.

Nov. 22—Roosevelt, Churchill and Chiang Kai-shek meet at Cairo.

Nov. 28—Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin meet at Teheran.

1944

Jan. 22—Fifth army troops establish Anzio beachhead.

Jan. 31—Americans invade Marshall Islands.

Feb. 16—Pacific fleet attacks Truk with heavy Japanese sea and air losses.

Feb. 29—Yanks Invade Admiralty Islands, overrunning Los Negros.

Mar. 4—First All-American air raid smashes Berlin.

Mar. 15—Allies level Cassino.

Mar. 30—Red army drives into Romania.

Apr. 10—Reds recapture Odessa, last major Russian city in hands of Nazis.

Apr. 22—U. S. troops land along 150-mile front on Dutch New Guinea.

May 8—Russians recapture Sevastopol and the Crimea.

June 4—Rome falls.

June 6—Allies begin invasion of France.

June 15—U. S. Invades Marianas.

June 16—German robot planes attack England.

June 17—French invade Elba.

June 26—American troops enter Cherbourg; Russians in Vitebsk.

June 29—Yanks bomb Bucharest.

July 3—Reds take Minsk.

July 9—Caen falls to British troops.

July 19—Leghorn, Ancona fall to Americans.

July 21—U. S. troops invade Guam.

July 30—Russians reach East Prussian territory.

Aug. 3—Rennes taken by Americans.

Aug. 5—Americans enter Brest.

Aug. 7—Russians seize Polish Galicia oil fields.

Aug. 12—Florence freed by Allies.

Aug. 13—Allied troops invade southern France.

Aug. 22—Romania sues for peace.

Aug. 25—Paris liberated.

Sept. 1—Allies overrun World War I battle fronts.

Sept. 9—Russia grants Bulgaria an armistice.

Oct. 1—Calais, French channel port, falls to Allies.

Oct. 11—Russians reach East Prussian border.

Oct. 17—U. S. troops enter Aachen, important German border city.

Oct. 20—American forces under General MacArthur invade Philippines.

Nov. 4—All German forces driven from Greece.

Nov. 20—French troops reach Rhine river in drive for Belfort Gap.

Dec. 17—Nazi Gen. Von Rundstedt opens counteroffensive in Ardennes.

Dec. 21—Nazi drive through Belgium checked.

1945

Jan. 8—Nazis give ground in Belgium.

Jan. 17—Warsaw falls to Russians.

Feb. 3—Big Three, Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill start Yalta conference.

Feb. 5—Siegfried line pierced by U. S. 3rd army.

Mar. 5—Cologne entered by U. S. 1st army.

Mar. 8—U. S. 1st army troops cross the Rhine river.

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Pfc. Enos Marcum - Son of Mrs. Margaret Marcum, Stonecoal.

Pfc. Garnet Gene Baker - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Baker, Branchland Rt. 2.

Sgt. Charley Dingess - Son of Mrs. Sarah Dingess, Stiltner.

Emmett Preston, Jr. - Husband of Mrs. Deryle Preston, Fort Gay.

Pfc. Norman Pauley - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Pauley, Fort Gay Rt.

Richard L. Lakin - Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Lakin, ForT Gay.

Seibern Finley - Son of Mrs. Hulda Finley, East Lynn R.

S/Sgt. Walter Preston - Son of Mrs. Cuzzie Perry, Wayne.

2nd Lieut. Elmer R. Koontz - Westmoreland

Pvt. Daniel K. Eversole - Kenova

Cpl. Joseph Akers - son of Mrs. Rebecca S. Akers, Kenova Rt.

Sgt. Leston Vance - Husband of Mrs. Vina Marshall Vance, Wayne.

Fisher Pyles - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Pyles, East Lynn.

Pvt. Conrad Siegle - Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Siegle, Kenova.

Henry Noe - Husband of Mrs. Betty J. Noe, Kenova.

Sgt. Omer J. Perdue - Son of Mrs. Grace Perdue, Wayne Rt. 1.

Robt. J. Meade - Son of Luther Meade, Dunlow, died in Jap Prison

Dorsel E. Plymale - Brother of Rothel Plymale, Genoa.

Frank Creasy - Son of Mrs. Ora Keesee, Wayne.

Pfc. Guy B. Jordan - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Jordan, Kenova.

Pvt. Jess W. Lett - Son of Mrs. Nannie Lett, Sidney.

CPO Fulton P. Moore - Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Moore, Kenova.

Ezekiel Fry - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Fry, East Lynn.

Gerald Ross - Son of Evermont Ross, East Lynn Rt.

Radioman Allan Wright - Son of Mrs. Margaret Wright, formerly Ceredo.

Ensign Woodrow Radcliff - Husband of Mrs. Mary Radcliff, Kenova Rt.

Sgt. Claude McCoy - Son of Mrs. Jane McCoy, Fort Gay.

Eldon Martin - Reared by Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Ferguson, Wayne.

Pvt. Raymond Lucas - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Lucas, Ceredo.

Sgt. Herbert B. Wright - Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wright, formerly Wayne.

Curtis Osburn - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Osburn, East Lynn Rt.

Chas. Eugene Branham - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Jas. F. Branham, Glenhayes.

Dorsey Salmons - Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Salmons, Missouri Branch.

Bayless Malcolm - Son of Mrs. Orpha Malcolm, formerly Lavalette.

Pvt. Chas. E. Ellis - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Ellis, Prichard Rt.

Pfc. Carl C. Lucas - Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Lucas, Westmoreland.

2nd Lt. Geo. R. Brinker - Son of Mrs. Jeanette Brinker, Kenova.

Sgt. Chester Webb - Son of Mrs. Frankie Webb, Sidney.

Pvt. Howard Ailiff - Son of Mrs. Lewis Ailiff, Fort Gay.

Pvt. Jas. D. Fry - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Oney Fry, Radnor.

Cpl. Chas. Cain - Son of Walter Cain, formerly of Wayne.

Harry Franklin Wheeler, A/S. - Kenova

Cpl. Robt. Harold Adkins - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey Adkins, Winslow.

Lt. Geo. D. Johnson - Son of Dr. and Mrs. G. D. Johnson, formerly Whites Creek.

Pfc. Wm. H. Lemaster - of Fort Gay.

Pfc. Paul H. Gibson - Son of Mrs. Emil Gibson, Shoals.

Navy Lt. Eustice N. Keesee - Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bill Napier, Wayne.

Pvt. Chester Asbury - Son of Frank Asbury, East Lynn Rt.

S/Sgt. Howard A. Smith - Son of Mrs. Maranda Smith, Westmoreland.

Wm. James Adkins - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Elba Adkins, Stiltner.

Dave Branham - Son of John Branham, Glenhayes.

Pvt. John Sanders - Son of John M. Sanders, East Lynn Rt.

Pfc. Conley O. Adkins - Son of Mrs. Belva Adkins, Branchland Rt.

Pfc. Fred Workman - Grandson of Mrs. Melissa Crum, Doane.

S/Sgt. Jerry Bartram - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Bartram, Fort Gay.

Pfc. Wm. Thomas Wallace - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Wallace, Ferguson.

Pfc. Lowell Mathews - Son oF Mr. and Mrs. Col Mathews, formerly Wayne Co.

Capt. Bertram Morris - Son of the late B. E. Morris, Kenova.

Pvt. Leonard Mathis - Son of Mrs. Sibbie Mathis, Kenova.

Lt. Frank W. Bailey - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Wise Bailey, Kenova.

Marine Cpl. "Jerry" Van Sant - Son of Mrs. Tudelle Hughes Van Sant, formerly Westmoreland.

Pfc. Jas. M. Spaulding - of Crum

Buddy Mitchell - Grandson of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Arthur, formerly East Lynn.

Sgt. Wm. Franklin Shelton - Son of Mrs. Kate Southworth, Kenova.

Chas. C. Hardgrove - Kenova.

Pvt. James Queen - Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Queen, formerly Wayne Co.

Pfc. Eugene Woods - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Woods, Kenova.

Pfc. Orvalee Maynard - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne E. Maynard, Kiahsville.

Pfc. Truman Cook - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Cook, Webb.

Jay Finley, Jr. - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Finley, Stiltner.

Sgt. Gail H. Spurlock - Formerly Wayne.

Pfc. Wm. Wayne Hutchinson - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Hutchinson, Huntington Rt. 4.

Sgt. Andrew A. "Lefty" Miller - Wayne

Sgt. Selvin Stroud - Son of Paris Stroud, Missouri Branch.

Pvt. Chas. Cecil Stump - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Stump, Kenova.

F. O. Joe D. Barringer - Kenova.

Pfc. Ernest Parker - Son of Mr ond Mrs. Chas. Parker, Kenova.

Pvt. Willie L. Adkins - Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Adkins, Lavalette.

S/Sgt. Ralph Daniels - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Wade Daniels, Wayne Rt.

Sgt. Basil Crabtree - Son of Rev. and Mrs. Carmi Crabtree, Fort Gay Rt.

Pfc. Jas. M. Mathis - Son of Mr. ond Mrs Lonnie Mathis, formerly Wayne Co.

Ernest Adkins - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Golden Adkins, formerly Wayne

Sgt. Chester Milum - Son of James F. Milum, Kenova.

Maj. Wm. S. Bowen - Son of Mr. and Mrs. French Bowen, formerly Wayne.

Cpl. Joseph Akers - Son of Mrs. Rebecca S. Akers, Kenova.

Pfc. Robt. A. Hatfield - Grandson A. W. Fuller, Ceredo.

Billy S. Queen - Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Queen, Crum.

Pfc. Elmer Adkins - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Parker Adkins, Stiltner.

Harold L. Daniels - Son of Mrs. Mary M. Daniels, Westmoreland.

Pfc. Norville R. Bradshaw - Wayne.

Lt. Lucian Burns Johnson - Son of Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Johnson, Kenova.

Pvt. Millard C. Jordan - Kenova.

Pfc. Charles E. Dalton - Webb.

Pfc. Glen R. Copley - Glenhayes.

Cpl. Vernon M. Boys - Husband of Mrs. Edna L. Boys, Prichard.

Pfc. Wm. L. Varney - Son of Mrs. Ruth Varney, Crum.

Cpl. Hardwick Berry - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Berry, Lavalette.

Pfc. Normal Adkins - Son of George Adkins, East Lynn Rt.

Marine Pvt. John Lowell Watson - Brother to Mrs. Clyde Toney, Wayne Rt.

Pvt. Ira V. Ellis - Son of Mrs. Ester Ellis, Prichard Rt.

Pfc. Irvin J. LeMasters - Son of Mr. and Mrs. D. LeMasters, of Westmoreland.

(The above is a list of Wayne County men killed in action compiled from the files of the Wayne county newspaper.)

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(WCN - 6/1/1945)

Col. Robert H. Chance, a regimental commander of the 4th Infantry Division, pins the Bronze Star award on Pfc. Paul P. Adkins, above right, of Prichard, a litter bearer in the 377th Medical Collecting company of the Sixth Army Group. Pfc. Adkins was cited for heroic achievement in action near Bruyeres, France, on October 26, 1944. As a member of a litter squad, he evacuated a wounded soldier from a forward position in full view of the enemy positions and in an area that was at the time under heavy shell fire and small arms fire. He spent 21 months overseas.

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Two blows of unparalleled magnitude struck the Japanese this week that may hasten the end of the war by months. First, the United States Air Force unleashed the atomic bomb—the most terrible destructible force ever harnessed by man—against the Japanese homeland Monday. Second, the Soviet Union declared war against Nippon Wednesday and sent a large ground force smashing into Manchuria against the Japanese troops stationed there.

President Truman disclosed that the first use of the bomb—containing more power than 20,000 tons of TNT and producing more than 2,000 times the blast of the most powerful bomb ever dropped before—was made Monday when it was dropped on Hiroshimo, Japanese army base with a population of about 350,000.

The famed Russian army which rolled to Berlin against the Germans was reported to have battered across the eastern frontier of Manchuria at several points along a 300-mile line extending southward from Hutou to Hunchun. Early reports indicated that a vast pincers movement was being carried out against the crack Kwantung Army, pride of Emperor Hirohito's forces, massed in Manchuria against the long awaited attack by Russia.

Would Be 7 Miles From Center Of Huntington

Construction of the tri-state airport at the Wayne county site about three miles south of Kenova on route 75 seemed assured today, and it appeared probable that construction might get under way by next spring.

Although an official statement has not been made in regard to the Wayne county site, the Huntington city council airport committee was understood to have agreed on the Wayne location.

Maxwell W. Flesher, Huntington city attorney, and ex-officio member of the airport committee, declined to discuss the selection but announced officially that the committee has requested Mayor Fiedler to call a special meeting of the Huntington council for 6 P. M. Monday to receive the committee's report.

If the Huntington city council agrees to the airport site, as it seems practically assured that they will, their decision will definitely assure the location of the airport in Wayne county, and the work of financing the airport will begin immediately.

Seven Miles Prom Huntington

If only one mile of road were built from the Spring-Valley drive across Twelvepole to the airport at Ward's place on the drive the airport would be placed within seven miles of the Hotel Prichard in the center of Huntington.

However, since the state road commission has already agreed to reroute U. S. highway 60 through West Huntington along the old street car right-of-way, the drive to the airport would be shortened to only a few minutes.

Tentative plans before the war called for all stop lights to be removed along the new route, thus from the center of Huntington to the airport would be a nonstop drive on the best of highway.

In addition, the airport would he situated on highways connecting it with all parts of the tri-state. Route 75 would provide a direct connection with eastern Kentucky and Ironton, O., and at the same time provide connections with the southern end of Wayne county and Mingo county by U. S. Route 52. The town of Ceredo would be connected with the airport by the country road which now runs from the traffic light about a quarter of a mile south of the airport. Huntington would he connected with the airport by the Spring Valley drive and the improved U. S. Route 60 which is scheduled to be built after the war.

The only obstruction which would have to be removed from the airport site would be about two miles of high tension wires.

The Wayne county airport site, which would be located about three miles south of Kenova at Sweet Run and include approximately 700 acres of land, has the support of the Chamber of Commerce of the city or Huntington. A meeting of the Huntington city airport committee was held Wednesday morning and it was understood that a decision had been reached to definitely recommend the Wayne county site for purchase as the location of the airport.

Fulfills All Needs

Included among the reasons for selecting the Wayne county site—aside from it being the center of the tri-state area, was the fact that it fulfilled every aeronautical, engineering and economical need demanded for a class four airport and probably a class five airport.

The Wayne county site lies in almost the geographical center of the tri-state area. Approximately 171,000 persons are included in a radius of 15 miles and 135,000 people in a 10 mile radius of the airport according to the 1940 census.

Since the Wayne county site is the center for the entire tri-state area, the probability of another airport being built is minimized as the present site would make such action uncalled for.

Would Be In West Virginia

One reason that the Wayne county site has received such favorable attention is that it falls in West Virginia. Since the airport is intended to serve the tri-state area, it is hoped that all tri-state cities will support the financing of the airport, however, the major proportion of the airport will be financed by the city of Huntington. It seems logical that the Huntington city council would agree much more readily to sponsoring an airport located in West Virginia.

The Wayne county court has already set aside $1,500 for an airport project if it is located in the county. Cabell county court has made $75,000 available either for an airport or hospital purpose, and the city of Huntington has set up an item of $50,000 for city-wide planning and airport purpose.

A total of $129,500 is immediately available therefore to finance airport preliminaries.

Two other airport locations have been under consideration by the Huntington airport committee. A location at Monei Park was frowned upon because of a power line and other obstructions, and the Harveytown site, also lying partly in Wayne county, was excluded because of the irregular terrain that would be costly to put into shape for an airport, it was disclosed.

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1941

Dec. 7—Japanese sneak attach on Pearl Harbor.

Dec. 6-United States declares war on Japan. Invasion of Philippines and attack on Guam and Wake started by Japanese.

Dec. 10—General MacArthur starts battle of Manila.

Dec. 25—Japanese take Wake. Hong Kong falls.

Dec. 26—Japs bomb Manila, despite fact it was declared open city.

1942

Jan. 2—Manila surrenders, Mac-Arthur's forces flee to Bataan.

Feb. 15—Singapore falls.

Mar. 17—General MacArthur lands in Australia to lead Allied forces.

April 9—U. S. troops on Bataan surrender.

Aug. 7—U. S. marines land on Guadalcanal.

1943

Sept. 5—Allies land on New Guinea.

Nov. 2—U. S. marines invade Bougainville.

1944

Jan. 29—U. S. lands troops in Marshall islands.

June 10—Marines invade Saipan.

July 19—U. S. forces land on Guam.

Oct. 17—Invasion of Leyte on Philippines gets under way.

1945

Jan. 10—Invasion of Luzon started by Yanks.

Jan. 30—U. S. landings north of Bataan seal peninsula.

Feb. 4—American troops enter Manila.

Feb. 15—U. S. first air raid on Tokyo.

Feb. 17—Marines invade Iwo Jima. Army lands on Corregidor.

Feb. 26—Philippine commonwealth returned to Filipino people.

Mar. 17—Iwo Jima captured with marine casualties of 19,938.

April 1—Invasion of Okinawa started by 100,000 troops.

May 24—550 superforts firebomb Tokyo.

May 27—Chinese capture Nanking.

June 12—Australian troops invade Borneo.

June 21—Okinawa campaign successfully ends. Aparri captured by Yanks.

June 28—Luzon declared completely liberated.

July 2—Australians landed at Balikpapan.

July 17—British warships join U. S. 3rd fleet.

July 24—U. S. 3rd fleet successfully attacked Japan's greatest naval base on Kure, Honshu islands.

Aug. 3—B-29S bottle up Japan with mines.

Aug. 4—MacArthur takes over command of Ryukyus.

Aug. 6—Atomic bomb destroys most of Hiroshima.

Aug. 7—Superfortresses hit Toyokawa naval arsenal.

Aug. 8—Russia declares war on Japan.

Aug. 10—Japan asks for peace terms.

Aug. 14—Japs accept unconditional surrender terms.

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(WCN - 9/28/1945) LIEUT. FERGUSON DESCRIBES B-29 MISSION OVER JAPAN

The following letter was received from Lt. Charles W. Ferguson describing a B-29 bombing mission over Japan:

Dear Editor:

I have been meaning to write you for several days now but with the war's ending things are and have been in more or less a state o£ confusion. Now we are all marking time, hoping and praying that it will not be long until we can come back to our homes, our loved ones and friends and settle down becoming, we hope, as useful citizens in a world of peace as we have been as Men and Arms in a world at total war. What is most strange to us is the size of the world that used to seem so big but now in an age of advanced power and travel seems the size of an apple. For instance this letter will take from 6 to 9 days to reach you, and 20 years ago it would have taken two months.

Guam and the Marianas Islands are now one large, linked chain of unbroken acts of democracy and liberty. I don't mean to wave a flag, but if you could see this place from the air and meet the men here, you would quickly see why there was no chance of us losing this war. It is unbelievable the fighting, suffering and misery we had to pay to take these islands from the Japs in order to strike Tokyo. I may be sticking my neck out to say this but if the American people ever become so blinded to the fact that our nation must be prepared, stay prepared, Heaven help us. We are no longer isolated from the rest of the world but now the rest of the world leans over our own backyard fence watching our every move. We have only ourselves and our blindness to blame for the loss of thousands of our boys' lives when we refused after the last war to stay prepared and sometime later refused to fortify these islands that we had then. At what cost? Boys who would now be alive have not lived to see our victory and the world at peace again. Yes, sad as it is, it is the truth. I am no prophet but we can not afford another world wide war. We will destroy ourselves.

I would like to tell you how the fight for victory seemed to us in the Superfortresses. You understand, of course, that I am only speaking for myself and of what I saw. I think possibly the best way to do that is to tell of one complete mission from start to finish. Most of our missions were flown at night because they were all burn jobs; however, we sometimes flew a daylight raid against some particular target we could not knock out by fire bombs. The mission I will tell you about was a raid against Mito flown the night of July 29th. Mito was a town, notice I say was, of about 150,000 people northeast of Tokyo about 73 nukes. It was extremely important from the standpoint of a railroad center for through it the supplies flowed into the Tokyo plain, the most important center of manufacturing, agriculture and center of population in the Japanese Empire. We knew that if it was knocked out this entire area would be forced to slow flown, if not stop its war effort against us for quite some time. We were alerted for the mission at about 9 a. m. the morning of the 29th and general briefing was announced for 3:30 p. m. The rest of the day was spent in checking the plane, our own equipment, writing letters, and talking of the coming mission. At 3:30 we all went to General briefing and there we were given the following information: The name of the target, why we were hitting it, how we would hit it, the route up and back, where rescue ships and planes along route would be, synchronized our watches, and were given a time schedule until the time of take off. Then we went to specialized briefing where each man on the crew was told his particular job on the mission. Our schedule until take off ran like this: mess at 4:30, trucks at 5 p. m. where we were taken to the planes with our equipment, start engines at 6:30, take off at 7 p. m.

On our take offs we always weighed with bombs, gas, men, plane and equipment about 140,000 pounds which is a lot of weight to be flying up in the air. Our runways are over a mile and a half long and we used every inch to get into the air. Just after we take off there is a 400 foot cliff that drops down to the ocean so we were always glad when we got in the air high enough to see Guam behind us. The navigator gave the pilot the course to fly and we were headed for the Empire of the Rising Sun. It was not quite dark and the gunners kept flashing lights so other planes would not ram us. I had the radar set on now and was busy picking up islands, ships, other planes when I could and helping the navigator. We made the first leg of the trip at 5,000 feet and arrived at Iwo Jima which was almost half way to Japan without any trouble. When we neared Japan you could feel yourself tightening up and could tell the boys with you in the crew were doing the same thing.

About half an hour off the Japanese coast we put on our flak suits and helmets over our other equipment. They weighed about 40 pounds. Our other equipment consisted of a May West life vest, a C-l vest with signal flares, first aid, maps, food, parachute, .45 pistol, long knife, canteen and ammunition. We were pretty well weighted down.

About 20 minutes off the Jap coast I picked it up at about 70 miles and took over control of the plane. All the lights were out, all radio identification equipment was off. No one spoke over the interphone and when I gave the pilot a correction I almost scared myself to death. I guided the plane into the point of land where we were supposed to strike and got myself relocated again to head for the target. Below us there was a solid cloud so if we had not had radar we could not have gone in because we would not have known where we were. It was then I realized why we needed radar and even though I had been a bombardier, I had spent four months in the states at Victorville Army Air Field learning it, but let some one try to tell me that there.

The gunners and everyone who could see out were on the look out for planes, both our own and the enemy, flak and search lights. I couldn't see out, I had no windows. About then everything started to break loose. The tail gunner reported a plane and the pilot cautioned him not to shoot unless it made a pass at us because the flashes would give us away. Mike, the left gunner, reported a plane left. Ray, the bombardier, told me over the interphone there was a fire up ahead and he believed he would be able to see the target. He also reported flak directly ahead. The fellows who could see reported search lights all around trying to break through the clouds but they could only see the reflections. I started giving Ray checks by radar to drop the bombs, when I was about half way through he called me and told me he could see the target and would take over. The heat from the fire below had caused a hole in the clouds and we bombed visually for the first time in many missions. I went up to the gunners window and looked out for my first real look at a target fire and Japan for the only way I had seen it before was in the radar scope. I have never seen a fire so big. It looked like some one had dumped the fires of hell on earth at that one spot.

I gave the pilots direction back out to the ocean and one hour later I turned the plane over to them and the navigator to take home. We all took off the equipment to rest a little for we had over a hundred pounds of it on for over two hours. We could rest easy for we were out of the range of enemy guns and planes. Now all we had to do was worry about enough gas to get home and other B-29's. You may have often wondered where lots of your pineapple juice, tomato juice etc., had gotten to, well I drank some right then and it was sure good. We passed Iwo on the way back just at daylight with 1,700 gallons of gas so we knew then we had enough to get home with. Everybody started talking over the interphone. I helped out by singing "I Want To Go Back To West Virginia" and "Those West Virginia Hills." I got quite a kick out of their kidding but I guess it was just my voice.

We landed back here at Guam 15 hours and 35 minutes after we had taken off. Trucks met us at the plane and took us to interrogation, where we told about everything that we saw, happened or we thought happened on the mission. As quick as we could get away from the interrogation we went to the Red Cross refreshment room, where we were given hot coffee and doughnuts. I guess a lot of folks have wondered where the money they gave was spent, and I am only one out of thousands that say the money they gave has given us more comfort and pleasure than words can describe. I am only a little man like most of the boys who fought this war, but we can all say, even if it is a little melodramatic,"Well done Red Cross, our thanks to you."

After that it was to bed with no reveille for that day. We slept or tried to sleep that day, the night that followed until alerted for our next mission 24 hours later. Close work but we did it.

We got reports and confirmations a few clays after the Mito raid. We destroyed 91 per cent of the town's area, one of the best bombing records yet. We here have been put in for the Presidential Citation for our group work. That's fine but that night was the Air Forces Birthday and 875 planes were over the Empire. We dropped more tonnage than ever before. We celebrated, yes, but such is the 20th Air Force made of. They are the greatest, the men of the 20th Air Force, and they are all men who have worked hard and have earned their right to live in the world of peace.

How long we will be over here before we get to come home we don't know. All we have heard so far is rumors and you know how they get started. I have never seen any place I like as much as Wayne county and when I get back just try to get me to live any place else. I like people and friends like we have there who will help you out if you need help and who are friendly. Every place I've been people try to impress you with how important and how good they are but at home you can be yourself and other people are just plain folks like you also. Tell everybody hello for me and that I hope I will get to see them before long.

Lt. Charles W. Ferguson

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(The following article appeared in the November 4th Issue of The Herald-Advertiser, and was written by Bill Belanger, city editor.)

With the construction of two new glass plants underway, expansion of a third to include a new line of products, plans for expanding a cooperage concern and a concrete products company, Ceredo and Kenova's program to promote post-war industries for that area are forging ahead. The new plants were brought to Ceredo and Kenova through Ceredo-Kenova Chamber of Commerce, of which Henry J. Stark is president. Plans are underway to bring more Industries into the area, Mr. Stark said.

Two new firms, the Huntington Glass Manufacturing Co. and the James G. Gill Glass Co., will begin operations as soon as buildings in Kenova leased for that purpose have been renovated and converted. The Union Concrete Pipe Co. is expanding capacity for concrete pipe and cinder blocks, adding units to make sewer and culvert pipe and has purchased adjoining property for a new garage in which the company's fleet of trucks will be equipped and serviced.

The Blue Grass Cooperage Co., owned by the Brown-Forman Distillers, Inc., is expanding as rapidly as trained personnel and additional equipment can be obtained, Joseph Mamer, manager, announced.

A new line of glassware for domestic use is being added to the Sinclair Glass Co., in Ceredo, necessitating an increase in payroll and personnel, K. E. Deitz, manager announced.

Preliminary work on renovating and converting a building leased from the Jeffrey-Dewitt Insulator Co., has begun and operations are expected to begin early in 1946, E. T. Barry, owner and manager of the Huntington Glass Manufacturing Co., said.

Construction and installation of equipment has already begun. The company will manufacture a line of glass tableware, including stemware, vases, champagne and all types of wine and liquor glasses, all of crystal. Approximately 76 persons will be hired to begin initial operations with a monthly payroll of about $6,000, Mr. Barry estimated. Arrangements for an outlet for the products, part of which will be sold in Huntington, have already been made. Monthly capacity of the firm was estimated to be about four to five thousand pieces. About 20 per cent of the personnel will be women.

Mr. Barry was formerly employed as manager of a glass plant in Weston.

James P. Gill, formerly employed by the Zenith Optical Co., has leased the building formerly housing the Al J. Boehm Lumber Co. at 1902 Pine street to operate a glass company making a line of luminous glass fixtures for fluorescent lighting, colored auto lenses, novelty and gift goods.

The plant is expected to commence operations the latter part of this month and will employ about 25 people with the expectation of employing about 75 as the company expands. A number of women will be employed in the packing department, Mr. Gill said. Preliminary construction of the lehr and the first tank, and renovations of the building are already underway. A weekly payroll of $1,500 when operations begin is expected.

Formerly furnace manager of the Westinghouse Co. at Fairmont, W. Va. Mr. Gill comes from a family of glassmakers, his father and grand father having made it their life work.

The Blue Grass Cooporage Co., employing approximately 20 people in the manufacture of white oak barrel staves for Brown-Forman is expanding as rapidly as additional personnel can he made. The company hopes to add heavy logging equipment and eventually employ from 40 to 60 people, Mr. Hamer said.

Annual payroll approximates $40,000 a year.

Rough stave billets for approximately 200 barrels are made daily and an average of two carloads a week or 25,000 pieces are shipped to a cooperage concern in Louisville, Ky., also owned by Brown-Forman, where they are made into barrels.

Only the heart of white oak can be used for barrels containing bourbon whiskies, Mr. Hamer explained. Barrel staves of inferior quality at present are shipped to Louisville, where they are disposed of for other purposes, but later will be disposed of at the Kenova plant.

Installation of a 12-ton tank and construction of a new lehr will enable the Sinclair Glass Co., to add a line of opalescent glass making bowls. The expansion will enable the plant to run continuously 24 hours a day and increase production by about 75 per cent. Payroll will be increased by about 25 per cent with about 30 per cent more employes added. The company's principal line has been ash trays and license lenses for automobiles.

Expansion at the Union Concrete Pipe Co., of which J. L. Richmond is president, will include installing a complete new bulk-handling cement plant with weighing larries to eliminate handwork in handling cement. A new Besser Super Vibro-pac block machine with a capacity for making 600 8x8x16 inch building units per hour with complete air handling equipment and lift trucks is being installed. This will triple present capacity, Mr. Richmond said.

A model T McCracken Pipe machine for making sewer and culvert pipe from four to 36 inches in diameter is being installed. Operating on a different principle from the machines now in use at the plant it will make in joints of four feet long.

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