COLUMN: ‘News of Our Boys in the Armed Forces’ – January 25, 1945

Woodrow A. Harrelson, 1st Lt., U.S. Army Air Corps, husband of Mrs. Dorothy Harrelson and son of Mr. and Mrs. Ive M. Harrelson of Rt. 2, Andalusia, has recently been assigned to the Navigation School of the Army Air Force Training Command, San Marcos Army Air Field, Tx.

Lt. Harrelson earned his wings at Lubbock Army Air Field, Tx., in Jan. 1943. Lt. Harrelson, who is a combat pilot, recently returned from the Pacific theater where he took part in missions over New Guinea, the Netherland East Indies, and the Philippines. He has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross [DFC] and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

Cecil Owens, PVT, U. S. Army, formerly of Andalusia and the son of D.O. Owens, Rt. 6, Andalusia, has recently arrived at the Welch Convalescent Center in Daytona Beach, Fl. Pvt. Owens has served in the South Pacific for six months and has been awarded the Purple Heart for injuries received in combat. He was employed by the Gulf Shipyards in Mobile before his entry into the Army in January 1944, at Ft. McClellan, Al.

Henry Lucene Soles, PVT, U.S. Army Air Corps and Samuel Eugene Soles, PVT, U.S Army Air Corps, twin brothers, whose parents are Mr. and Mrs. Elonzo E. Soles of Gantt, Al., have both been assigned to the Chemical Warfare Section of the air depot group of the Air Technical Service Command, Tinker Field, Oklahoma. The twins are both graduates of Rawls High School in Covington County. Prior to their induction in August 1943, they were both employed by the Mobile Air Technical Service Command. They were stationed at Kelly Field, Tx. before their current assignment.

Five Covington County men are undergoing basic training at the U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois, at this time. They are: SN Jesse E. Brawner of 307 Church St., SN Harvey K Bringhurst of Rt. 3, SN Russell D. Johns of 240 Opp Ave., SN Edward D. Peterson of Rt. 1, all from Andalusia, and SN Ashford R. Henderson of Falco, Al.

Aaron Smith, Staff Sgt., U.S. Army Air Corps, of RT. 4, Andalusia, has been assigned to the Army Air Forces Redistribution Station 2, Miami Beach, Fl. After two weeks of examination, along with rest and relaxation, he will be reassigned. Staff Sgt. Smith has just completed 50 missions while serving seven months in the European theater as a gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber. He joined the service in Nov. 1942 and has been awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. He was credited with shooting down one German plane.

 Joe K. Page, PVT, U.S. Army Air Corps, son of Mr. and Mr. Joe M. Page of Andalusia, has reported to the Army Air Forces Training Command, Keesler Army Air Field, Biloxi, Ms., to determine his qualifications to take the pre-aviation cadet exam. He will undergo a series of medical and psychological tests to determine the type of air crew training for which he is best suited. After that, he will be sent to the Army Air Forces Training Command to begin training as a pilot, bombardier or navigator.

Arkus M. Bray, PVT, U.S. Army Air Corps, son of Mr. H.G. Bray, 205 Barton St., Andalusia, has been promoted to Corporal. He is presently assigned to the Army Air Field in Casper, Wy.

Word has been received by Mrs. Lina Kirkland of Sanford, that her husband, PVT Lonnie [Pat] Kirkland, U.S. Army Air Corps, has landed safely somewhere in the Marianas Islands. PVT Kirkland has been working with B-20 bombers in the engineering department of the Air Corps. Before leaving the States, Kirkland joined the squadron orchestra and will be spending much of his pastime playing in the orchestra.

Oscar M. Dykes, YN3, U.S. Navy, has returned to Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fl., after spending 15 days leave with his wife and mother, Mrs. W.H. Dykes. Mrs. Dykes also has a son, Wilson Hubbard Dykes, ARM3 [aerial gunner], U.S. Navy, who has been assigned to sea duty having completed training at the Long Beach Naval Training Center, Ca.

Jack Jay, Tech Sgt., U.S. Army Air Corps, has returned to Roswell Army Air Field, N.M., after spending a 10-day leave with his family. Jay has been in the Air Corps for four and a half years and has just completed a strenuous course in a B-29 Bomber Mechanical School in Seattle, Wa. He says that his job is to “Keep these bombers in first class flying condition.”

John Vick