News of our Boys in the Armed Forces: April 12, 1945

Willie B. Barganier, CPhM, U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Barganier, Rt 4, Andalusia, has graduated from Training Command Field Medical School for hospital corpsmen. CPhM. Bargainier will be assigned to a Marine Corps combat unit going into the field. Barganier was born Aug. 3, 1920, in River Falls, Al., and graduated from Red Level High School in 1940. He was employed by Andalusia Development Co. before enlisting in the Navy in Oct. 1940. He has served in Pensacola, Fl., Gulfport, Ms., Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Camp; Pendleton, Ca. He was promoted to his present rank of Chief Pharmacist Mate in Sep. 1944.

Joseph M. Brown, Ensign, U.S. Navy Reserve, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Brown, 317 Dunson St., Andalusia, has recently been commissioned as an officer in the Navy after graduating from the Naval Reserve Midshipmen’s School, Abbott Hall, Northwestern University, Chicago, Il. After completing the four-month school, he will be assigned to the fleet as a deck officer.

General Dupree, Staff Sgt., U.S. Army, son of Mrs. Annie Dupree, Lulu, Fl., and husband of Mrs. Valeta Davis Dupree, Rt. 3, Andalusia, has been assigned to the base squadron, First Troop Carrier Command, Pope Field, N.C.

Arkus M. Bray, Corporal, U.S. Army Air Corps, son of Mr. Henry G. Bray, 205 Barton St., Andalusia, has been promoted to Sergeant. Sgt. Bray is a gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber and has taken part in missions to bomb Giessen, Kiel and other German war production centers. He is a member of the 446^th Bomb Group commanded by Col. Troy W. Crawford of El Paso. Tx. This veteran group has completed more than 200 missions as part of Maj. Gen. William E. Kepner’s 2^nd Air Division. For 13 straight days in February, the Liberators bombed rail yards, road junctions, weapons storage dumps, communications and industrial systems vital to the German war effort. Before the Allied armies crossed the Rhine, the Liberators bombed enemy supply routes in the area. Sgt. Bray entered the service in Nov. 1940 and received his wings in Harlingen, Tx.

Lonnie L. Kirkland, PVT, U.S. Army Air Corps, son of Mrs. K.V. Kirkland of Sanford, Al., is a carpenter with the ground echelons at a B-29 base in the Marianas. He and his group have been commended by Maj. Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, commander of the XXI Bomber Command: “Your determination, skill, and courage have delivered a stunning blow to the empire of The Rising Sun. Combat crews and hard-working maintenance and staff people are to be heartily commended for their accomplishments during these historic operations.” Throughout eight days of sustained bombing attacks. PVT Kirkland and the ground staff worked night and day, virtually without rest, to keep the Army Air Force bombers in the air striking the enemy. PVT Kirkland entered the armed forces in Dec. 1943.

Bob J. Willis, Capt., U.S. Army Air Corps, son of Mrs. W.C. Willis, McKenzie, Al., came home to visit his mother and his wife, Mrs. Veralyn Talley Willis, 223 Crescent St., Andalusia. Mrs. Veralyn Willis is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.W. Talley of Andalusia. Capt. Willis has just completed 21 months of service in the Pacific theater, flying transport planes, delivering our troops and supplies to the islands which we have attacked. When he arrived home on Mar. 22,

he was greeted by his wife and two-year old son. Capt. Willis has been in the service for three and one-half years and says he likes the men who are out there doing their job. He entered service as a cadet and was commissioned as a 2^nd. Lt. after nine months. He leaves Monday to report to the Army Ground Forces Distribution Center No. 2, Miami Beach, Fl.

Corporal Malcon Caton Dies in Pacific Area

Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Caton of Rt. 3, Red Level, have received a message from the War Department on Apr. 3^rd, stating that their son, Malcon Caton, Corporal, U.S. Army Air Corps, died on March 19^th on Bick Island. No information as to the cause of death was given. Corporal Caton, who was 26 years old, had been with the ground forces of the Army Air Corps since late 1943. Bick Island is one of the many islands in the Netherland Antilles group. Corporal Caton was a devout Christian and spent much of his time for the betterment of the Church. Just two days prior to his death, he had mailed his mother the sum of $30. Dollars, with a request that it be given to the church where was a member. Mr. and Mrs. Caton have another son, Captain W.R. Caton, U.S. Army Air Corps, who is serving in the European Theater of Operations in Germany. The many friends of the deceased sympathize with his immediate family in their profound loss.

PFC. Earl R. Mock Missing in Action

Mr. and Mrs. G.B. Mock, Rt. 1, Red Level, have received a telegram from the Adjutant General of the War Department, stating that their son, Earl J. Mock, PFC, U.S. Army, is missing in action

since March 4, 1945. PFC Mock entered the service in June 1943 and has been serving in combat with the 30^th Infantry Regiment in the European Theater. Since he went overseas in Jan. 1944, has participated in amphibious landings in France. He was wounded on Aug. 24, 1944, and spent four months in a hospital in England. He was returned to his command in Dec. 1944 and has been in combat until the time he was reported missing. PFC Mock was with his unit when they received a Regimental Citation in Jan. 1945. His parents were told that further details or information would be given as soon as received.

Jack E. Clower Receives Air Medal

Jack E. Clower, Flight Officer, U.S. Army Air Corps, son of Mrs. G.C. Clower of Marietta, Ga., and husband of Mrs. Martha L. Clower, 315 Dunson St., Andalusia, has been awarded the Air Medal for “exceptionally meritorious achievement while participating in sustained bomber combat operations over enemy occupied continental Europe.” Flight Officer Clower is the copilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress taking part in bombing attacks over Germany. He is a member of the 384^th Bomb Group, a veteran unit that has completed more than 300 missions in the European theater. Clower graduated from Andalusia High School and was employed at Brookley Field in Mobile prior to joining the military in 1943.

— John Vick