Monthly Archives: August 2022
Getting ready for the next mission – Aparri
With his thoughts still focused on his R&R in Australia, Everett “Smitty” Smith landed back at Lipa City, P.I. only to discover that a mission was scheduled. The last remaining organized Japanese group, the Shabu Forces, were holed up in the northeast corner of Luzon and General Swing had organized the Gypsy Task Force to take them out. On his orders, this unique unit would include “all Camp MacKall veterans.” This would include men from the 187th Infantry, the 511th, the 457th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, a platoon from the 127th Engineers and two platoons from B Company. Despite Gen. Krueger’s disapproval, Lt. Col. Henry Burgess, now 26 years old, would be the commanding officer. (Smitty was at the ancient age of 30, one of the oldest paratroopers besides one other soldier and a few of the officers.) Col. Lahti (31) would be CO for the reserve unit.
Col. John Lackey, CO of the 317th Troop Carrier Group/5th Air Force, with very little notice, began loading 54 C-47s and 13 C-46s at 0430 hours, 23 June 1945. His plane was the first to leave Lipa airstrip and the constant rumbling of the planes soon became “Vs” in the open skies. Within the transports, every man appeared as a clone to the next. Individuality was lost among the uniforms, bundled parachutes and rucksacks filled to capacity with ammunition, first-aid, water and C-rations.
Each man stood and checked the chute of the man beside him when the “Gooney Birds” lurched at 0900 hours; the smoke flares from the forward Pathfinders were spotted and green lights flashed for the paratroopers. The stick of men hooked up to the static lines and proceeded to jump into vertical development. With mandatory, disciplined silence, the traditional battle cry, “Geronimo,” is only heard within the imaginative faculty of 1,030 men. All these diverse personalities would react separately to the same experience.
Each man, for his own reasons, volunteered for the perilous duty that might end his life. Each man went through various stages of development and arrived at the same destination. Each man had been chosen for their good health, general toughness and honor. A jump into combat is reality in its most crystalline form.
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Military Humor – 
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Current News – U.S. Airborne Day, 16 August 1940 – Present
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Farewell Salutes –
Nelson Bartlett – No. Smithfield, RI; US Navy, USS Tarawa
Peter G. Byrd Jr. (104) – Beaumont, TX; US Navy, WWII
Alexander Carlyle (100) – Grand Forks, CAN; RC Air Force, navigator
Frank Deppe – Grand Rapids, MI; US Army, WWII, ETO
Peter J. Girardi – Mount Vernon, NY; US Army, WWII, ETO, 385th Infantry
Hal Hatch – Portland, OR; Civilian, WWII, welder, Navy Shipyard
John Hutchinson – Wallaceburg, CAN; RC Air Force, WWII
Robert M. Kelliher (100) – Riverdale, IL; US Army Air Corps, WWII, B-24 pilot, 461st Bomb Group
Homer Lester – Pulaski, VA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, HQ Co/2/187/11th Airborne Division
Whitney Newcomb Jr. – Jonesport, ME, US Navy, WWII
Beuford Webb – Ft. Worth, TX; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 511/11th Airborne Division
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This is here… Just because…
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Getting Leave on Australia!
8 June 1945, Cpl. Everett Smith found himself and four others from the division on leave in Australia and Smitty was determined to have a good time! Those that went to Brisbane on the same orders for TDY were:
Lt. Col. Francis W. Regnier MC HQ 11th A/B Div.
Major George K. Oliver INF HQ 11th A/B Div.
T Sgt. Manuel C. DeBeon Jr. 187th Glider Infantry
Tec 4 Beverly A. Ferreira HQ 11th A/B Div.
The orders were signed by Major E.W. Wyman Jr., Adjutant General
My father never told me very much about his R&R and probably for a good reason. (For one, my mother was always around listening.). He did say that when he first arrived in Australia, he wanted a haircut and a shave. While the barber was working on him, he remarked that the pores in Smitty’s nose appeared enlarged. My father answered, “You spend five months in the jungles of New Guinea and see what your nose looks like.” Dad said after that, his money was no good. Everyone in the barbershop made such a fuss over him that he never got a word in edgewise. They were so extremely grateful to anyone who helped to stop the Japanese. Smitty did always tell me he wished he could make a trip back there; he thought Australia and her people were great, but sadly, he never did.
Perhaps the young lady, Joan, was the reason Smitty wouldn’t talk about his time on leave.
With his thoughts still focused on his R&R in Australia, Everett “Smitty” Smith landed back at Lipa City, P.I. only to discover that a mission was scheduled. The last remaining organized Japanese group, the Shabu Forces, were hold up in the northeast corner of Luzon and General Swing had organized the Gypsy Task Force to take them out. On his orders, this unique unit would include “all Camp MacKall veterans.” This would include men from the 187th Infantry, the 511th, the 457th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, a platoon from the 127th Engineers and two platoons from B Company. Despite Gen. Krueger’s disapproval, Lt. Col. Henry Burgess, now 26 years old, would be the commanding officer. (Smitty was at the ancient age of 30, one of the oldest paratroopers besides one other soldier and a few of the officers.) Col. Lahti (31) would be CO for the reserve unit.
We’ll have more on Aparri, Luzon next week.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Rex Allender – Cedar, IA; US Merchant Marines, WWII / US Army
Amador Barbosa (101) – Kansas City, KS; US Army, WWII, ETO
Charlotte Bendure – Centralia, IL; US Navy WAVE, WWII, PTO
Ottaway B. Cornwell – Beaumont, TX; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, 1st Lt., pilot, 4 FS/52 FG/12th Air Force, KIA
David Curtis (104) – Salt Lake City, UT; US Navy, WWII, PTO & CBI, USS Black hawk
Joseph De Lorenzo – Pine Brook, NJ; US Army, WWII
Agnes Dion – Springfield, IL; US Navy WAVES, WWII, parachute rigger
Alfred Giumarra – Bakersfield, CA; US Navy, WWII, minesweeper, USS Mainstay
Eugene Gollin – Long Island City, NY; US Army, WWII, PTO, Captain, communications
John W. Harman (100) – Rock Hall, MD; US Army, WWII, CBI, 866th Bomb Squadron
Thomas McNeill – Elmira, NY; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 503/11th Airborne Division
Floyd D. Simmons (102) – Hontubby, OK; US Army, WWII, ETO, medic (He had been the oldest surviving Choctaw veteran).
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C.B.I. General Stilwell & the 11th Airborne Division on Luzon

Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell wasn’t around, so caricaturist Don Barclay, who wanted to meet the CBI Theater commander to sketch his familiar features, did the next best thing – captured them from a photograph.
General Joseph W Stilwell along General Joseph W. Swing and Lieutenant General O. W. Griswold salute during the playing of the national anthem in Luzon, Philippines. General Stilwell shakes hands with several of the officers of the United States 11th Airborne Division. He pins a Silver Star on a sergeant and other officers. Recipients of awards march past. Location: Luzon Island Philippines. Date: June 9, 1945.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Rene Antil – Fitchburg, MA; US Navy, WWII
James T. Bailey – Randolph, OH; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, 101st Airborne Division
Ronald Barkel – Coopersville, MI; US Army, 11th Airborne Division
Patricia Ann Carroll – Los Angeles, CA; US Army, WWII / beloved comedian/actress
Charles Civil – Ocala, FL & Jarreau, LA; US Army, WWII & Korea
Malcolm Counsil – Nampa, ID; US Navy, WWII, USS Thompson
Anthony ‘Tony’ Dow – Los Angeles, CA; National Guard / beloved actor
Melvin “Bob” Kroeger – Flandreau, SD; US Army, WWII, PTO
George McLean – New Orleans, LA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, Sgt., 93 BG/8th Air Force
Ralph T. Potter – Galveston, TX; US Merchant Marines / US Army, WWII, ETO, Lt. Colonel (Ret.)
Eugene “Tex” Ritter – Unity, PA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, CBI, C-46 pilot, 1st Combat Cargo Sq./14th Air Force (over ‘The Hump’)
Michael Tarkane – Valparaiso, IN; US Army, WWII
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