CBI Theater – April 1945
400,000 PAY TRIBUTE TO DEPARTED LEADER IN SIMPLE LAST RITES
Roundup Staff Articles from 19 and 26 April 1945 issues
The body of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 31st President of the United States, was lowered to its final resting place in the soil of his Hyde Park, N.Y., home this week as 140,000,000 Americans from Washington to New Delhi paid tribute to their leader.
The last rites at the White House and at Hyde Park were of extreme simplicity to follow through to the end the Lincoln-esque democracy that has characterized the 12 year and 80 day duty of President Roosevelt as head of the Republic of the United States.
A special train brought the body from Warm Springs, Ga., where he died of cerebral hemorrhage last week, to Washington, D.C., thence on to his native State of New York.
As the President’s casket was carried into the White House the Marine Band played Lead, Kindly Light.
HUMOROUS TIMES IN WAR!
Cpl. Joan Reidinger was a “little scared,” she admits, when Maj. Gen. George E. Stratemeyer, Eastern Air Command commanding general, invited her to tea recently.
It seems that Joan had written a poem entitled The Army Goes to Tea for Yank, and although the verses went on to “rib” the brass for their take-off on the British customs in India, Stratemeyer liked the poem; hence the invitation. Here is The Army Goes to Tea:
I should like to see the captain,” said the colonel to the WAC,
“I’m sorry, sir, he isn’t here, but he will soon be back.”
“But come, we’re going on a flight; the plane, it leaves at three.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” the WAC replied, “the captain’s out to tea.”
The telephone it jingled, and the WAC with voice of cheer
Said, “Colonel Doodle’s office, but the colonel isn’t here.”
“This is General Snipe,” the answer came, “so tell me, where is he?”
“I’m sorry, sir,” the WAC replied, “the colonel’s gone to tea.”
“I’ve got to get an order through,” the irate major said.
“If we don’t get some rations soon, my men will be all dead!
Please take me to Lt. Snoot, I know my point he’ll see.”
“I’m sorry, sir, Lt. Snoot has just stepped out to tea.”
And so it goes across the world, wherever tea they serve,
This strange civilian custom that the officers observe.
But if you’re just a poor G.I., you’re frowned upon, you see,
If you should try, at four o’clock, to stop your work for tea!
AIR SERVICE COMMAND BASE, INDIA – The guide books say, “If a snake crawls onto your body, freeze in your tracks! The snake will not harm you and will soon go away.”
Cpl. Pleasant C. Templeton, photo lab wallah of an Air Service Group, had the unpleasant opportunity to test this theory while on guard duty one recent night.
Stooping over to avert the icy wind and blinding rain of the winter monsoon, Templeton felt a “sizeable” snake creep up into his lap. Remembering the advice, he remained perfectly still while the reptile playfully investigated such curiosities as his luminous-dial wrist watch and shiny overcoat buttons.
Friend snake apparently had read the same guide book and behaved accordingly. Fifteen minutes later, he wriggled off into the grass. Templeton still can’t comb his hair down. – Cpl. RAY LOWERY.
10TH AIR FORCE USING P-61 PLANE IN THEATER
HQ., 10TH AIR FORCE, BURMA – Presence of the P-61 Black Widow in the India-Burma Theater has been officially announced by the 10th Air Force.
During the past months, this deadly night fighter, operating under a blanket of security restrictions, has practically wiped out all nocturnal Jap raiders from Burma skies. Today, for lack of its particular type of target, the Black Widow has been transformed into a fighter-bomber, blasting retreating enemy forces with 500-pound bombs.
With its twin engines and twin tails, the Black Widow resembles the P-38 Lightning although much heavier and carrying a three-man crew – pilot, observer and crew chief. Its climbing power, tremendous speed and special radio detection equipment enables the P-61 to achieve great tactical surprise on enemy aircraft.
The 10th Air Force’s Black Widow squadron is commanded by Lt. Col. James S. Michael, veteran of North Africa and Italy campaigns. His operations officer is Maj. Thomas N. Wilson.
Capt. Walter A. Storck, who, at 38, is probably one of the oldest active fighter pilots in the service, is flight leader of the Black Widows. In the past 16 years, Storck has accumulated more than 6,000 hours in the air, flying everything from an L-5 liaison plane to the newest jet-propelled aircraft.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor – CBI style –
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Farewell Salutes –
Leonard Applebaum – Bronx, NY; Merchant Marines / US Army
Robert G. Buchert (100) – Cincinnatti, OH; US Army Air Corps, WWII, Sgt. Major, 152nd AAA/11th Airborne Division
Frank C. Carlucci III – Scranton, PA; Defense Secretary to Pres. Ronald Reagan
William Clark – Canberra, AUS; RA Air Force, 692 Squadron
William Flowers – Topeka, KS; US Navy, WWII
Walter Kane – Ware, MA; US Army, WWII
Fred Love – Delray Beach, FL; US Army, Medical Corps
John McIntyre – NZ; New Zealand Army # 477617, Vietnam
Carolyn Losee Spears – Westfield, NJ; US Navy WAVES, WWII, Chief Petty Officer
Harold Wilkerson – Clinton, IA; US Army, WWII, ETO, 1277 Engineers, Bronze Star
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Posted on June 7, 2018, in Uncategorized, WWII and tagged Air Force, Army, aviation, CBI, History, Military, Military History, Pacific War, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 78 Comments.
Omg that snake story though….
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Can you just imagine? I’d still be running if it was were me!!
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I cannot imagine sitting in the dark for 15 minutes while a snake crawled over me. I would hate them for the rest of my life.
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Indeed!
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Very nice roundup, GP.
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Thanks, Jennie, much appreciated.
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You’re welcome, GP.
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Enjoyed the post!
I would say if a snake crawled into my lap, Id run, but I don’t know that I’d be able to! I would probably freeze in fear, thereby following instructions! (Plus, I would run so slow, I wouldn’t get too far, anyway!!)
Cute poem-and probably all too true!!
Blessings~
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Glad you enjoyed it, Robbye! We can’t talk about statistics of war in every post – that would bore the pants off anyone – including me!!
And, as far as I know, that poem does speak the truth! haha
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I did! You are right, we need a little relief! However, your post are all fascinating and informative!
Blessings~
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Thanks once again, Robbye!
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You are very welcome!
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Love that poem.
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We need a smile now and then, eh?! I know I sure do.
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I think it was a sense of humour/humor that kept many of the forces going during those major wars.
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Oh, I’m sure you’re right, Pete. Many other professions do the same. I’ve heard of police and surgeons joking around during a serious event. It is a coping mechanism.
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It’s good to know what to do if a snake ever crawls onto my body – though I’m not sure that I could “freeze in my tracks. Screaming, running, etc. might be more more style. 🙂
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And i just might be the one running in front of you, Sheryl!! 🙂
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Nice, I am going to reblog this one for you.
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Thank you very much.
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It’s good to remember what must never be forgotten.
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So well put, Maureen. Thank you very much!
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Dear.GP Cox,
How is you?:D
USA-N/Korea’s meeting will start!!:D
Strong partnership between Australia, the United States,NZ and Japan etc..is important in the Southern Hemisphere.
We must not be divided by China!!
By the way,
Do you know Mr.陳用林 (Chen)?
Mr. Chen’s first secretary, Former Chinese Sydney Consulate General, who exiled politically in Australia in 2005 said,
“Australia is the most successful Infiltration work in China.”
BOOK;「Silent Invasion: China’s Influence in Australia」 published in Japan in February 2018,
Author is Mr. Clive Hamilton.
He wrote,
“From politics to culture, real estate to agriculture, universities to unions, and even in primary schools, he uncovered compelling evidence of the CCP’s infiltration of Australia. It is no exaggeration to say the CCP and Australian democracy are on a collision course, with the CCP determined to win, while Australia looks the other way.
Thoroughly researched and powerfully argued, SILENT INVASION is a sobering examination of the mounting threats to democratic freedoms Australians have for too long taken for granted Yes, China is important to Australia’s economic prosperity; but, Hamilton asks, how much is sovereignty as a nation worth?~~”
Have a Good day!!:D
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The more we learn, the scarier it gets, eh? No, I had no idea this was going on. I knew Australia had quite an Asian population, but not that much from China! Yikes.
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Yikes!! XD!!!
If you would like to ask auther;Mr.Clive Hamilton some questions Directly,
here↓ 😀
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Thank you, Nasuko.
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He’s spot on GP. The Chinese are buying up the country lock stock and barrel. Our Government the Liberal Country Party, ( same as the GOP) just allow them to buy up anything that takes their fancy. I’d like to know how these Chinese can be billionaires when they are supposed to be a communist country every one equal. You can’t tell me they got that money honestly in just a few years since Mao died.
We have whole suburbs here in Sydney that they’ve taken over and they have just about taken over the most expensive suburbs in all of Australia.
Australia largest dairy is now owned and controlled by them, and our State govt again Liberal /CP wants to sell off our electric supply lines to a Chinese so then they will control our power.
We have big problems
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Scary news, Beari.
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and getting scarier by the day
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True, so true!
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How about asking the author Australian himself ,Directly?:D
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I have been to his site.
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Reblogged this on Ace News Desk.
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Thank you very much!
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You are truly welcome …. Great post and a lot of work but really enjoyed reading it and had to share across all social media …. Ian
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Thanks again!
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Great post! Love the humor!
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Thank you, it was a fun one to put together!
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Welcome!
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Leuke humor en humor is ook nodig als mensen in oorlogssituaties het niet meer zien zitten.Het is een uitlaatklep voor frustraties
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Je hebt gelijk, Mary Lou! Sommige mensen dachten dat ik ongevoelig was door een humorsectie in mijn posts te plaatsen, maar ik voelde dat het een groot deel van het leven van de soldaat was.
Bedankt dat je altijd zo’n goede vriend bent en de tijd neemt om langs te komen.
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Definitely one of your different posts gp, thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining reading, love the poem, and it does typify one of the many idiosyncrasies of War Time thinking.
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I like the humor those editors came up with despite a war going on. It must have been a bright spot in a soldier’s day.
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Much appreciated!!
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You are very welcome.
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LOL That good conduct medal hahaha. Funny.
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I thought it was good. Love the humor those guys came up with back then!!
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Interesting post. Thanks, GP.
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Thanks, It’s good to have humor thrown in once in a while!!
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🙂
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I might manage the trick with a snake, but for me, it would be a spider that I would have to throw off! Corporal Templeton certainly was a very cool, and brave, man.
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Not me, I want that snake outta here!! I’d agree with the spider if it was a tarantula! I’ve had to laugh every time I read that Tea Time poem!!
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Enjoyed all the stories, but always marvel how everything stops for the British at tea time. Glad the General had a great sense of humor.
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I’ll bet the Cpl. was too.!! I could just imagine her reaction to finding out the General read it!!
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Reblogged this on Dave Loves History.
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Thank you very much, Dave.
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Cpl. Templeton reminded me of a time when I was a carpenter’s helper to a fellow who also did performances at schools handling rattlesnakes and copperheads. “They won’t bite if you aren’t afraid” he said. But I never was able to master that last bit.
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I don’t blame you – one creature I’d rather avoid!!
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Love the tea poem. My husband and I are probably one of the few people who have tea time at 5 pm everyday. Dinner at 8 or even later.
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I just had to have that poem. Can you just imagine how nervous she was when she got the invitation from Stratemeyer?!!
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I would be very nervous. Glad he had a sense of humor and liked the poem. The snake story is a good one too. I’d drop dead of a heart attack seeing a snake. I’m so afraid of snake, I can’t even look at a picture of snake.
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I know the feeling. They are just too quiet as they sneak up on you.
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I saw a black snake walking on the path around our lake. I ran so fast and never walk there again. Between the snake and the alligator, I don’t want to be too close to the lake. I look at it from my window. It’s safer.
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A good cup of tea is healing.
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Isn’t that poem a hoot?!! I couldn’t resist.
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yes
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A nice roundup, GP. I often wondered if Roosevelt would have used the atom bombs, had he lived. I don’t know enough about Truman, and maybe should read more about him.
Best wishes, Pete.
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FDR would definitely have used it. He had hidden the 3 billion dollar project from Congress and sooner or later he would have to account for it – same reason Truman used it. He made it plain in the 1950’s at a speech, he did not think twice about ordering it dropped (once he knew of its existence, that is).
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Thanks for that info, GP.
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No problem. Any time.
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Haha love the poem, and you can’t go to war without a good cuppa I’m sure! 🙂
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I will have to build another one some day.
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You’ve been quite busy with your research and Clarence’s material!!
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Clarence sent me a new story!
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I’ll look forward to it!
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Thanks for sharing this.
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