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With the 5th Army in Italy – PFC. Ertise Armstrong, son of Mrs. Mattie Armstrong, Rt. 4, Andalusia, has been cited by his regiment of the 36th “Texas” Infantry Division. He has been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for participation in combat with the enemy while serving on the 5th Army front in Italy.

The enlistment of four more Covington County 17-year-old youths in the Navy was announced by W.D. Paisley, Recruiter in charge of the Navy Recruiting Station in Evergreen. Those boys who enlisted last week were James Mack White, Rt. 6, Andalusia; Walter Thomas McDaniel, Rt. 3, Opp; Walter Cyrus Balkom and Collis Howard Thorn, both of Falco. Recruiter Paisley stated that he will make regular visits to Andalusia each Monday and Friday and will be located at the Court House.

With the 5th Army in Italy – SGT. Cecil B. Fleming, whose wife, Opal, resides at 29 Carlton St, Andalusia, has been promoted to Staff Sergeant. He is a squad leader with the 85th “Custer” Division of the 5th Army in Italy.

Aviation Cadet Carlos O. Beasley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Beasley of Andalusia, has completed two-thirds of his pilot training at 2150th AAF Base Unit, Bush Field at Augusta, Ga. He will report to the Eastern Flying Training Commands, Advance Flying School, for the final phase of his training.

Seaman Roy J. Kelley, 25, husband of Thelma Kelley, Rt. 2, Andalusia, has enrolled in an intensive course at the Electrical Naval Training School, located on the Purdue University Campus, Lafayette, Indiana. Successful completion of the course will see the Bluejacket graduate with the petty officer rate of Electrician Mate Third Class.

SSGT. Walton Powell Arwood, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Arwood of River Falls, Alabama, and husband of Mrs. Margie Peters Arwood, Andalusia, writes the following news concerning his injury, “On June 24th, I was in an automobile accident. A jeep turned over on me and I was hurt pretty badly. It mashed my back, stomach and right shoulder. I had two 14 stitch cuts on my head and another 13 stitches on my forehead. My nose was fractured and a blood vessel burst in my right eye and I had a gash in my back. I’m OK now and back with my outfit. My right eye is still bloody and they’re still doctoring my back. My worst hurt is my right shoulder. I’m afraid I’ll never quite get over it.”

Friends of Powell may write him at this address: SSGT. Warren P. Arwood, 20421432, HQ Battery, 936 F.A. Bn., APO 464 c/o Postmaster, N.Y., N.Y.

Seaman First Class, Lester Thomasson, U.S. Navy, arrived in Andalusia Sunday to spend a short leave with his wife, Mrs. Beatrice Thomasson and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Thomasson of Rt 4, Andalusia. Seaman Thomasson has been in the Navy for a year and has seen combat in the Pacific while serving as a naval gunner, aboard merchant ships. Before joining the Navy, he was a shipping clerk for S.& B Manufacturing Co. in Andalusia. He says that the boys in combat are anxious to get the war over with so they can return home.

An 8th AAF Fighter Station, England – 2nd Lt. Thomas D. Teel, son of Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Teel, 407 West Ave, Opp, Al., is now piloting a P-47 Thunderbolt at the VIII Fighter Command in England. The 24-year-old Lieutenant is a member of a fighter group led by Lt. Col. Philip E. Tukey, Jr. of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Flying the big Thunderbolt as a fighter-bomber, Lt. Teel has been hammering the Hun ever since D-Day. He has been attacking German ground positions, bridges, railroads, marshalling yards and chasing Jerry troops, tanks, and trucks all over France with withering machine gun fire from his eight 50-caliber wing guns.

Author’s note: In a letter from the War Department dated Sep. 11, Teel’s parents were notified that he had been missing in action since Aug. 29.

1st Lt. O.L. Johnson, Mrs. Johnson and little daughter, Patricia Ann, spent the past week with Lt. Johnson’s mother, Mrs. S.E. Johnson, at her home on Sanford Rd. in Andalusia. Lt. Johnson has seen service in the Canal Zone and many other points since entering the service two years ago.

Lt. Maury Powell of Camp Rucker spent the weekend with his aunt, Mrs. J.C. Powell in Sanford.

The many friends of SSGT Aaron Smith, who was reported wounded on July 5, will be interested to know that he is doing fine and that he visited his brother, Maron, before returning to a rest camp. His nose-gunner, Lt. Ray Baker, went along with him. He and his brother are in the same theater in Italy. They sure had a good time together.

Bluejacket Clyde C. Powell Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Powell, Route 2 of Andalusia, is now qualified for Third Class Signalman Petty Officer. He graduated from Naval Training Schools [Signals] at the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. He is awaiting further orders to the fleet.

Seaman Thomas Jefferson Patrick, husband of Mrs. Frances Padgett Patrick, 113-A River Falls St., Andalusia, is receiving initial training at the U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois.

John Vick