Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 HAWAII AUSTRALIA NEW GUINEA PHILIPPINES JAPAN

24th Infantry (Victory) Division Veterans' Association

VOLUME III JUNE, 1950 NUMBER 3 LARGE CROWDS XPECTED TO CONVENTION COMMITTEE GATHER SOON HAVE PLANS WELL at the Morrison. UNDERWAY FOR AUG.

Chicago Committee at Work and Making Plans For the Biggest and Best 24th Reunion Ever!!

The Convention Committee, headed by formation will be published In the July "Spike" O'Donnell, has been hard at work issue of the "Taro Leaf". (Note: We prom­ for the past several months. Arthur "Tiny" ise to get the next issue out In early July. Maybaum was designated as the Chairman We are very sorry that this issue is so late, for the Chicago Convention Committee, and but we have been holding out for last min­ this Committee has been growing with each ute information about the guest speaker, meeting. The Chicago Committee hold reg­ etc.) . ular meetings on the second Friday of each The Convention Committee requests that month. At these meetings they discuss the you all bring trophies as it is desired to progress made during the month that has set up a really fine Trophy Room this year. passed, and they make plans for the future. Your trophies will be well guarded. Last Hotel arrangements have been completed year General Woodruff went all out in work­ with the exception of the exact number or ing up a fine Trophy Room, and we would dinner reservations, which can not be de­ like to have another group of trophies, even termined until the reservation cards have more this "year than we had in New Yor'k. been mailed in. These cards are attached Spike O'Donnell asks that all Regional in Chicago to this issue. PLEASE MAIL THEM AT Chairmen l'eally get out 11.11(1 boost the Con­ at Madison & Clark Sts. ONCE! In addition to these cards, please velltion and get as many men trol1l their drop a post card to "Tiny" Maybaum at respectiVe areas as possible interested ill Aug. 11, 12, 13, 1950 1018 West 65th Street, Chicago 21 , Illinois, attending. In a recent commnnication frolll in order that the Chicago Committee will Neil Young, we could read between the lines As the time for the Convention draws know who to expect. nearer no doubt you are wondering what and tell that he and the boys in his area to expect and who you will see. There has The Committee is planning some enter­ are really boosting this Headqnarters and been more enthusiasm in the last two months tainment and will arrange to have tickets the Convention Committee. Anyone desir­ than ever "before. Letters of inquiries have to various broadcasts and perhaps theatres. Ing any further information is asked to drop been rolling into this Hqs. at the rate of fift een to twenty a day, therefore, a large We will know more in June and this in- a line to this Hqs., to Spike O'Donnell 01' turnout is expected. Inquiries are being Arthur Maybaum. answered as fast as possible, but this issue should clear up a few of your questions. The following were recently pro­ moted to full Colonel : At the moment we do not know definitely W-I-L-L S-E-E Y-O-U I-N C-H-I-C-A·G-O! who our Guest Speaker is going to be, since J ames Purcell, Division Signal Of­ we are waiting for an acceptance to our ficer. invitation. The main thing however is to Donald }<'orney, Division Finance get to Chicago and meet with old buddies. Officer. Major General Kenneth F . Cramer will Max N. Cizon, Division Adjutant MENU? ? be Master-of-Ceremonies, and we all know General. that with the General at the wheel a very TURN TO PAGE 4. Harold Liebe, Division Artillery. in';eresting_program will be awaiting us. COL. 2. (Continued on page 5) HAWAII AUSTRALIA NEW GUINEA PHILIPPINES JAPAN CHICAGO 1950 Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 Page 2 THE TARO LEAF LT. COL. DICK LAWSON VISITS FATHER WALTER FARAWAY-PLACES FAMILIAR TO 24th VETS SENDS HIS BEST TO ALL FORMER 24th MEN Dick contacts many former 24th Div. men on trip to the far East and Orient- The (ollowing is an extract from a letter received from Father Walter by Col. Max During late November and December, 1949 On 11 December Di ck flew on to Tokyo Cizon. Dick Lawson made a quick trip by air from via Okinawa and paused a day before pro­ ceeding to Kor-ea. In Tokyo he bumped in­ 'I received a letter from Father Walter Washington, D. C. to the Philippines, Japan extract follows : "Nuwer just moved out of and Korea on Army business concerning to SOMERS DICK, 24th Div. Engineer dur­ his foxhole in Vienna to a better one in a the current worldwide U . S. military as­ ing the Leyte and Mindanao Campaigns, and BOB HAWLEY (Formerly of Div. Hq.) now castle complete with golf course, etc. WhIt sistance program. Before starting, he culled a foxhole? Tomorrow (20 Dec. ) I'rfl off aga1n over his "Taro Leaf" file' and listed the with G-2 of GHQ. He had a delightful visit and lunch with "JUDGE" ALVA C. CAR­ to make the rounds for two months. Don't addresses of all 24th Div. Assn. members know where I'll be on Christmas, probably located along the way. His research paid PENTER (former Div. JAG) and his charm­ ing new Australian wife. "Judge" now heads on the high seas. When I get back in Feb­ off. The result would serve as a model for ruary I'm going to make a quick trip to future 'AssoclaUon travelers. General MacArthur's Legal Division of SCAP. All of the above may be reached Guam to try and pick up some surplus­ lumber, generators, anything. By February In California he was unable to telephone by mail addressed to APO #500, c/o P.M., San Francisco, Calif. He also looked up 15th I hope to be back at Yap and have a all of those on his list but he sent most couple of weeks to make up that album of of -the-m ·peatcar.ds .sa,.ying "Hello" and "How PAUL W . A UREI",L_ LM.lied. Translato.ffi.A1l.d. _ , Interpretors Section attached to 24th Div. t11eJJtVtston I promised you. On my last about contributing Items for the 'Taro trip I met with an accident making a land­ Leaf'?" In his hurry he addressed a card during Hollandia Campaign-M. K . Nakano's boss), now General Manager for the Ameri­ mg at. Satawal Island. The ship stopped to Bob Gicker in San Francisco but neg­ Its engmes about a half mile from the reef lected 1.0 write . the note on the other side can International Underwriters Corp. in Ja­ pan. In looking for Paul, Dick ran into LT. and I had to go ashore in a small boat of the ·card. No wonder Bob returned the through the surf. A big wave picked up card with a big (?) on the blank side of COL. CHESTER whom some of you will re­ member as the Commander of the Amphib­ ~he boat and ~olled it over like a log, hurl­ the card. In addition, Dick sent cards to mg. all of us mto the churning waters. In NORMAN ANGELO, ROGER HELLER, R . ious Training Center at Toorbull, near Bris­ bane, Australia back in 1943. trymg to save my mass kit as \\'.ell as my­ L. EmSTACHY, CONSTANTINE COVOT­ self I was badly cut on the arms and lei?;s SOS and HOMER KIRKHAM. During his week's stay in Korea, Dick by the coral. Two days later my left arm found 1st LT. DONALD E. ALLEN (24th was swollen from an infection but one shot He flew on to Hawaii 25 November in a Div. PX Officer in Japan) now PX Officer of penicillin cleared that up. I'll not forget Navy "Mars" plane and managed to contact for the American Mission in Korea. Dick to pray God to bless you all abundantly.'" DICK GOEAS, a long-time former member found time to visit the di sputed 38° Parallel of the Div. Hq. G-4 Section. Dick (Goeas-tilat which divides Korea into two feuding forces, is) is In business for himself as an account­ and the Korean Infantry School and was ant in Honolulu. He tried but failed to con­ privileged to have dinner with ' Syngman Relatives of Sgt. tact M. S. AITKEN also in the Honolulu Rhee, President of Korea, and the Korean area. Samuel B. Fike Eager Minister of National Defense, Sung Mo Sihn. To Hear From Men Who In a MATS C-54 Dick then Hew on to Dick returned to the U. S. just before Manila, P. I., via Johnston Island, Kwaja­ Christmas, by the way of the Aleutians Served With Him lein and Guam. There he worked for ten Anchorage, Alaska and Seattle, Washington: days with the Joint U. S. Military Advisory Sgt. Fike, Co. I 21st Inf. killed Nov. 10, He tried to reach JOHN CLARK (Former 1944 on Leyte, P. 1. Please write to Mrs. Group and Philippine Armed Forces offi­ Div. Chemical Officer) but couldn't decide cers but found no former 24th Div. person­ H. S. Haywood, 818 Wesh W ay Drive, Abi­ which of the many "John Clarks" in the lene, Tex. nel. He was, however, greeted like a long Seattle directory was the correct one ' lost brother by SECRETARY KANGLEON furthermore, It was 2:00 A.M. Seattle time'. of the Philippine Dept. of Nat'! Defense, who, some of you wiII recall, commanded Our roving Association Historian has done a Philippine Army regiment on Leyte dur­ what all of us would like to do-and had a 24th Div Non-Com ing. the. memorable Leyte . Jjampa,ign . . lot of fun doing it. Incidentally, he took along ' a 'supply 6f"Taro Leafs"-(tne NYC Wives Open Drive Convention issue) and scattered them like propaganda leaflets in strategic spots along KOKURA-The 24th Infantry Division's the way. If the boys in the "faraway-places­ annual March of Dimes campaign got under­ THE TARO LEAF with-strange-sounding-names" don't find out way with a bang when the Rockerettes, about the 24th Div. Assn., it won't be Dick Issued Quarterly by the 24th Infantry Lawson's fault. wives of NCO Club 24 members, sponsored (Victory) Division Veterans Assn. a gala carnival at the club's annex at Kit­ P. O. Box 447, Danville, 111. Thanks to Dick Lawson, and T believe we agata Dependent housing area recently. Pro­ ROBERT J. DUFF, Editor envy him in being able to make such a trip ceeds of $265.54 raised during the all-day Subscription, $2.00 annually, free to member1 of and renew old acquaintances-I know this the Association. editor does! Dick has not only made a good event were presented to Chaplain (Lt. Col.) OFFICERS h!s.torian, but has devoted his time (in ad­ R. J . Hearn, campaign chairman, by Mrs. dItIOn to regular duties) to getting to­ Norman J . Ward, Rockerettes Club presi­ Ross W. PUr1ifull, President gether our "Remember" Items. (Formerly Copt. in 34th Inf. ) dent. Detroit, Michigan Volunteer workers who constructed the Wm. V. Dovfdson, Treasurer ~~~d~:~:r.o~tN.CJ.1. in G-2 Sec., Div. Hq.) stalls and decorated the club for the oc­ Hotel Reservation casion included : M/ Sgt. Norman J . Ward Robert J. Dull, Secrerory and Samuel Love, Division G-2 section; (Formerly Major in G-4 Sec., Div. Hq. ) Cards Are P. O. Box 447. Donyille. III. M/ Sgt. Lynn W. Johnson, chemical section, Enclosed Father (Chaplain) Chris Berla, Chaplain SFC Carl Jones, athletic instructor, Kitagata (Formerly 19th Inf. Chop.) Dependents School; Sgt. Guido ;Renda, EM Percy Janes Gen. Hospital MAIL Battle Creek, Mich. Them TODAY! Club skward; M/ Sgt. Estell C. Jeffrey; SFC l!. Col. Richard H. lawson, Historian Albert 1. Hartley, Inspector General section; (Formerly 24th Diy. C:/S) Sgt. N. E. Felton, 24th Signal Company, and 1408 Abingaon Rood Arlington, Va. Sgt. Earl R. Otwell, Kitagata Annex steward. JUNE 1950 Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 Page 3 WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS 24th Landing At NOTIFY SPIKE OF THE 24th INFANTRY Hollandia Recalled IF YOU ARE (VICTORY) DIVISION ATTENDING 20 APR. 44 - 20 APR. 50 All members and non-members who 'xiII "A Big Picture Summary" Ex 24th men of the 'Vashington Area attend the convention are asked to notify gathered for a luncheon '20 April, 1950 at Spike O'Donnell. the Officers Club, North Post, Ft. MYel', Virginia. A swell turn out was reported. 'Ve know you will send the enclosed card Capt. Kenneth Deans (formerly with 24th to the Morrison but it will make it easier Div. Arty.) was in <:harge of arrangements. on the Committee if you will notify Spike Editor's Note: Many "after-action" as well as the hotel. The committee must reports have been written, and volumi­ More of these get-to-gethers in all areas make reservations for the Banquet, so let nous military histories now are be­ will do much in the advancement and wel­ it know soon. Remember-your wife will ing compiled on the campaigns of fare of the Assn. eat too- 'Vorld 'War II. However, thousands of sol({iers of both "rank and fil/:)" may never see them or may not care to wade through such masses of de­ tailed information to find the stories of their own units. Therefore, for the .' Feaders of the "Taro Leaf", the war history of the 24th Division has been carefully summarized for publication in four installments, designed to give each of you the Division's "Big PIc­ ture". The four proposed installments LOP S M T S. will cover: l. Pearl Harbor through New HOLLANDIA. Guinea 2. Leyte 3. Mindoro and Luzon 4. !\findanao It is with sincere regret that the hundreds of fascinating small unit ac­ tions and personal accomplishments must be omitted from this condensed summary, but it is hoped that full justice can be done to them in separ­ ate accounts from time to time in the "Taro Leaf". Your own eye-witness versions of such actions are urgently solicited by the Association Historian.

PEARL HARBOR THROUGH NEW GUINEA First of Four Installments The events of 7 December, 1941 at Pearl merah Bay, New Guinea, 500 miles behind on that other mile-long, thirty-foot-wide­ Harbor, shocl,ed the 24th Infantry Division the Jap positions in Papuan, New Guinea. beach with all equipment and supplies for a with its first taste of war, and a bitter taste We, on the West, and the 41st Division monEiI. Having thus delivered us, the Navy it was. The Japs not only gave us a taste, Landing Team 30 miles to the East, at Hol­ left to escape Jap air raid reprisals. It was thev rubbed the newly born Division's nose landia, were to advance and seize the three a Division Commander's nightmare and, ex­ into Oahu's red dirt that day. For days we Jap airfields 17 miles inland between Lake cept for General Irving's wise insistance on had the jitters-seeing imaginary Jap land­ Sentani and the Cyclops Mountains. 'Ve nsing the Depapre beach, things might have ings everywhere-paratroops, gliders, sub­ did it in record time-by overcoming some been even worse. marines, transports, signal flares, etc., etc. terrific terrain obstacles as well as our own Then we settled down to organizing our de­ initial fear of the first "baptism of fire". The surprised Japs cooperated nicely, fense of the North Sector of Oahn against Our main landing beach was a beautiful however, and backed hastily into the sur­ the Jap landing we felt sure would come. mile-long stretch of sand-with a treach­ rounding swamps and hills, firing wildly When no enemy appeared, we went into in­ erous swamp behind it-and no roads what­ over their shoulders. By the time the Jap tensive jungle training for that expected ever. The other beach, at Depapre, was area commander got out his order to "drive movement into combat in the Southwest wide enough at first for only two small the American devils Into the sea", it was too Pacific. landing craft at a time, with a dangerous late, and the airfields were ours. Gen. Mac­ tight approach through a break in the coral Arthur's practice of ordering landings where Finally, after a seemingly endless eighteen -but, at least, there was a road-steep, the Japs were not expecting us, again had months, we moved in 1943-to Australia, muddy, and crossed thirteen times by worked perfectly. near Rockhamptoll in Queensland, ,l).nd streams. (Cont. on page 4, Col. 2) trained some more. Early in '44 we moved again to Goodenough Island, north of Milne The 34th Infantry was in I Corps' floating Bay, New Guinea and trained and staged reserve (the lucky dogs) and joined us later. there for our first real campaign. Jock Clifford's Battalion of the 21st Infantry BILL DAVIDSON SEZ: landed in buffaloes at the narrow Depapre 'With a large assortment of attached troops beach and drove toward the airfields for all "We can always use money!" we became the "Noiseless Landing Team" they were worth. The rest of the 21st In· HAVE YOU PAID YOUR which, under the I Corps' "Reckless Task fantry, the 19th Infantry, Division Artillery, Force", was to land amphibiously 22 April Division Headquarters and all the "spare 1950 DUES? '44 in a g1ant pincers movement, at Tanah- parts" units piled up before dark on D-day

HAWAII AUSTRALIA ~IEW GUINEA PHILIPPINES JAPAN CH ICAGO 1950 Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 Page 4 THE TARO LEAF At Home And Abroad BILL OF FARE PRESIDENT'S EDITORIAL What you eat at the reunion will not It has been almost fiv e years s ince the The following article was forwarded to end of the war. During these post-war years the " TARO LEAF" Editor by Robert Solo­ interest you as much as just being with most of us have once more become "civil­ mon, Editor of the "34th INFANTRY IN­ your old buddies, but here's the dope ians" a nd have worked with fervor to re­ FORMER". This article was edited by Colo· on the chow. gain the time we lost in the service of our nel Lawson and forwarded to the 34th In­ country. We have realized our hopes, am­ fantry Association for approval and veri­ bitions and dreams made in muddy fox­ fication prior to being received by the MENU FOR holes. The plans w e made "over-there" "TARO LEAF". 24th INFANTRY DIVISION have now become realizations "over-here". From the Editor of the "34th IN­ Funny, though, how sometimes in the FORMER": " I hope our article meets with VETERANS ASSOCIATION evening you get to r emembering ______satisfaction. The 34th Association is look­ BANQUET 12 AUG. 50 remembering the time you and Joe______ing forward to future issues of the "TARO or the time the "Sarge" ______And then LEAF", and expect to be. at the Chicago there was H a rry,____ rcmember f!arry? __ ~_ Convention in force." Fresh Seafood On always kee ping everybody happy, always had Tomato Ravigol/e a joke. Gosh, I wonder what happened to • • those guys, you think. It would be good to From JOE TIJERINA in San Antonio, see them again. Think of the stories you Texas: " "I have a friend who was like a Hearts of Celery Mixed Relishes could swap______probably a little exagger­ brother to me and I had to leave him be­ ated by now but neverthe less, it would be hind when I was wounded and I never saw a lot of fun. him again, because I was flown back to the Half Roast Stuffed Chicken But why not make these "daydreams" U. S .. A. . .' . I . wQ.nd ~.r if YOU could please more than just dreams? You can see Joe, furnish me with his address? His name is Harry, the Sarge and a ll the resL____ _ LEVY SANCHEZ, Co. G., 21st Infantry. Whipped Potatoes N ew Peas just by planning now to attend the 24th (His former home state was Colorado)." Division Association Convention in Chicago, Anyone knowing Sanchez, please contact August. In the midst of hand·sha king and JOE TIJERINA; 327 South San Saba Street, Head Le/luce Salad With back·slapping renew old acqua intances and San Antonio, Texas. 1000 / sland Dressing fo rgotten faces. Sitting in the Cocktail • Lounge of the Hotel Morrison over a few tall cool ones you can once ag-ain relive MRS. ANNA L. ERWIN, Route No.2, Sultana Roll With Melba Sauce yoUI' war·time experiences amidst laughter Blackwell, Oklahoma writes in part: "In re­ and gaiety with a few sad moments and gard to my son who was in the 24th Division unspoken thoughts while you drink a toast and killed May 26, 1945 on Mindanao, I Coffee to those who never returned ______would like to know if you knew him? He was a first scout for the 24th Division. His Plan now to a ttend the annual conve ntion 'name was Wilburn Erwin, 19 years old 'at Rolls & Butter ______that's the Hotel Morrison, Chicago, the time he was killed. If any of you boys Illinois, August See yon there______who were with him let me hear from you; I have been so anxious to see or hear from Ross W. Pursifull, some of his buddies. I am a lone. Signed Pres ident his mother, ANNA L. ERWIN." Anyone who knew 'Viiburn is urgently requested P . S. There will be planned activities for to drop Mrs. Erwin a line. A copy of the PEARL HARBOR THROUGH the women too so plan to bring your. "TARO LEAF" is being forwarded to her. NEW GUINEA (Continued) wife. She too, will enjoy meeting the buddies you've talked so much a bout. • • • A communication was received from Despite the futile Jap defense, the rapid BASIL TUSSION regarding the Reunion. seizure of the airfields was not easy. The 11th FA VETERANS' Glad to hear from you Basil. Send us your one·and-only ox cart road from Depapre fell $2.00 membership fee and forward the e n­ to pieces when the first truck went over it, ASSOCIATION FORMED closed card to the Hotel Morrison for your a nd could not be used again for wheeled reservation. vehicles for a month. Therefore the 21st In· The lIth FA Veterans' Association was fantry, leading the drive on the airfields, formed following World \Var 1. All persons had .tQ. I:!e. sllPpli.ed by a long. grueling., hand who served honorably ill the lIth FA dur­ MR. ARTHUR "Tiny" MAYBAUM will be carrying system, manned and protected illg World Wal's I a lld II are lIIembers. Re­ tinier when he is completed his work as largely by the 19th Infantry and artillery­ IIniolls are held annually over the Labor chairma n o[ the Chicago Convention Com­ lIIen , whose guns were immobilized- which Day weekelld. The 25th reunion was held mittee. Tiny is hard at work and is really later was supplimented by occasional air last year iu Baltimore. A roster ill booklet making the necessary contacts [or us in drops of supplies. form is published periodicall y listing all Chicago ! lIlembers nud lates t home addresses and Those seized a irfiel(ls, litera lly covered contains abont 2,350 llames at present. Any­ * with wl'ecked J a p pl anes were a n awesome one desiring further inforlllation s hollid con· sight to behold- but we couldn't stop there. tact the SecretarY- l'Ir. Robert J. SlImmers, \Ve received a nother line from BILL VER­ All three regiments and the Reconnaissance BECK, USMTB, APO 676, c/ o PM., New 81 Ampe re P a rk\\,ny, Ea ti t OrangE', New Jer· Troop fanned out for miles arollnd Lake sey. York. We were te mporarily out of " TARO Sentani ill a huge manhllnt for fteeing Japs. LEAFS" when you wrote, Bill, but will The natives joined ill the s port and the send you extras of this copy for your dis­ res ults were highly satisfyillg. By the time tribution down there. the campaign elided, offi Cially, the score • s tood at 15 of our own killed as compa red Do you like the TARO LEAF? * * with 1800 Japs killed and 500 captured. Does a nyone have the address of Bob Unknown hundreds were left to die in the Do you wont Hawaiian Music Barron, (S-2, 1st Bn. 34th)? If so, contac t New Guinea swamps. in Chicago? - Then, him and a lso forward his address to this Hq. The 34th Infantry was detached from the BILL DAVIDSON SEZ: Division bl'iefty, to help the 41st Division We are a lways glad to hear from boys in the seizure of Biak Island, 400 miles fur· "We con always use money!" li ke Bob J. Rentschler, 1901 Leighton Ave. ther \Vest, but rejoined us in time for our Anniston, Ala., who are interested in the next anti biggest campaign-Leyte. HAVE YOU PAID YOtJR Assn. 1950 DUES? (Cont. on page 10) DON'T FORGET 11, 12, 13 AUGUST 1950 DON'T BE AWOL JUNE 1950 Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 Page 5

COMPANY "1", 34TH INFANTRY ON CORREGIDOR Rise of 19th Infantry THE STORY Co. was subjected to many banzai attacks Band Has Been Rapid by Japs who kept coming out of the tun­ (as told by Vic Backer) BEPPU. - The 19th Infantry Drum an(\ nels night after night. During the fifth Bugle Corps, organized in March, 1949, by Ordinary infantrymen as welI as glamor­ night the Japs made their last and most M/Sgt. Marvin O. Simpson and SFC Ersal determined effort to retake Malinta. The ous paratroopers helped to re-capture ~olTeg­ Bevilock, Company G, became a complete First Platoon, led by Sgt. S. Schorr, stood idor. As the parachutes of the 503 A.l rbO'l·ne band during its first year of operation. Capt. the brunt of the attack alI night long and Infantry fill ed the air over Corregldor on Edgar R. Fenstemacher is OIC. It is the held the Japs at bay. Before dawn there first musical organization within the regi­ 16 February, 1945, the landing craft of the was a lulI before the Jap attack which 3d Battalion, 34th Infantry under Lt. Col. ment since 1944, when the regimental bands Edward Postlethwait assaulted the beach. proved to be their last assault on "I" Co. were consolidated into the 24th Infa ntry Di­ vision band. Men of "I" Company were in the first wave During that charge the men of "I" Co. which pushed in close behind a preliminary First Platoon started to run short of am­ Converted into a band in Nov. 1949, the air and naval bombardment. As they picked munition but Sam Snyder's daring and quick corps has played for visiting dignitaries such tlteir way'- has tily across the heavily mined thinking avel'ted that disaster. Quickly as Lt. Gen. W'alton H. 'Valker, command­ beach toward the small valley between "Top­ grasping the situation, he jumped out of ing general, Eighth Army, a nd Maj. Gen. side" and Malinta Hill, they were met by his foxhole and creeping and crawling un­ John B. Coulter, commanding general, 1 mortal' and machine gun fire from hidden der fire, rounded up and distributed all Corps. The organization also pl a ys for pa· emplacements. available ammunition to the beleagured men. rades, guard mounts, sporting ever,ts and At sunrise many dead Japs lay only a few drill periods every morning. After neutralizing all the resistance In the feet from the "I" Co. position. This was While still a drum and bugle corps last lowland, "I" Co. was assigned the task of the last Jap resistance on the Island. November, the band traveled to Kokura for retaking Malinta Hill where the Japs were the Thanksgiving Day football game, and firmly entrenched in the tunnels which There isn't space to list the brave deeds was hig hly complimented by Maj. Gen. 'Vil­ honeycombed it. To retake Malinta meant and the names of alI the heroes of "I" Co. !iam F. Dean, CG, 24th Infantry Division, climbing directly into the mouths of the but the 24th Division proudly salutes Lt. tor its fancy drills and smart appearance. Japanese guns. During one of the many Paul Cain, Lt. Kenneth E. Yeomans and Sgt. The band is presently under the leader· skirmishes Sgt. Owen C. Williams was kilIed Persinini, for their outstanding leadership, but not before warning his squad of a hidden s hip of Cpl. Daniel Silva. FFC RicJrard Al­ in the execution of a difficult and dangerous varez, Service Company, is the drum major. Jap sniper. After reaching the hilltop "I" mission. In addition to its duties as a band, the unit is also part of the security platoon of Hq. and Hq. Co. From Army Times.

LARGE CROWDS EXPECT[D (Cont.) The complete details of services offered by the Morrison, and the pl.ans o,!tlined by the committee were pubhshed m the last iss ue of the "Taro Leaf", but as a re­ minder here it is again; we are to have the beautiful Mural Room for our meetings and the showing of the 24th Division Film, foul' parlors for our disposal which will be used for registration, committee rooms, and trophy rooms. The Elbow Room is a bar for our use at all times. All of these rooms are adjoining the first floor will make it much more convenient than being scattered throughout the hotel. You'll be able to roam around and see old familiar faces and talk about old fa· miliar places. Our memorial services ami banquet will be held in thE' Terrace Casino Room on the evening of the 12th. The First United States International Editor's Note: We believe that this eye-witness' description of a small unit's combat action is the Trade Fail' will be held in Chicago on Au­ type of story that every front:line soldier likes to read. If your company, platoon Or squad did some­ gust 7th to 20th, and many of you may want thing worth bragging about, let the "Taro Leaf" publish the story in order that other members of the war­ to visit this exposition while in Cbicago, time 24th Division may relive it with you. perhaps before the 11th 01' after the 13th. Many other places of interest to be found in Chicago are noted in Colonel Cizon's ar­ Official War ticle on page 11. Bring Your Pictures For Further Information TROPHY(S} Available See Col. Cizon's Article, Page 11 to the Action pictures taken by U. S. Combat CONVENTION cameramen in all theatres of World War Are your II, are now available to all veterans, Trophy Room will be Guarded All branches of service are covered in 1949-1950 DUES this distribution of glossy 4x5 actual photo­ graphs from the OFFICIAL Army, Navy, Due?? Air Force, Marine & Coast Guard files. Make checks payable to the Treasurer SEND IN CONTRIBUTIONS OR A complete list of all pictures avail~ble 24th Inf. Div. for general distribution can be obtamed ·PHOTOS ANYTIME. free of charge from: Official 'War Pictures, Veterans Assn. Forest Hills, N. Y.

HAWAII AUSTRALIA NEW GUINEA PHILIPPINES JAPAN CH ICAGO 1950 Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 Page 6 THE TARO LEAF

Lt. Col. Wm. T. Cameron NEW MEMBERS ,\ nthony J . Faro 105 Grovers Ave. 6341 South " :estern A ve. Winthrop 52. ~Ias s. Chica;.:o 36 , Illinois Tile following men have become members Ralph E. Floro FrRnk W . .i\1.unson 47 P ine SI. of the Assn. since the last issue of the 2305 E. 70th St. Swampscott, Uass. Chica~o 49, Illinois Taro Leaf was published. Sabino Lionetto Fred A. Paul 105 Neponset Ave. 7029 Greenv iew Ave. Roslindale 31, Mass. Incidentall y, an extra 500 copies of Taro Leaf Chicago 26. Illinois William .1. MiKutel were printed and mailed due to the many requests. Lt. Co. E. i\l. Postlethwait Also 2000 cards telling: of the Assn. were sent to 15 Vernon Rd. G·3 Section, Plans. HQ. Fifth Army Natick, Mass. non-members. 1660 E. Hyde Park Blvd. Note: If you're a new member and your name is Chica~o 15. Illinois Edward C. Nickerson not listed above) it is because we were swamped­ 37 Soper Ave. ':II. Robert S i Iberberg Weymouth 88. Mass. with correspondence and still trying to Ret this to 5535 N. Spalding Ave. Anthony Delach press. Bear with us and we will try to Ret it in Chica~o 25. !llinois next time. 805 Porter SI. Herbert Yoder Raymond Skrobuton Kalamazoo 13. Mich. 503 Ann Garden Apts. 10811 Avenue G Lt. Col. Dwight K. Foster Montgomery 7, Alabama Chicago, Illinois 236 James. SE B vron Miller Dr. Jim Waller Grand Rapids, Mich. . 845 Magnolia 250 North Water St. H . E . Guyselman P. H. North Litt le Rock, Ark. Decatur. Illinois 1323 Boston Blvd. Bobby Treadway A llon O. Wirz Lansing 15, Mich. De valls Bluff Ark. Brownstown, Illinois Russell A. Hagerman Pat Zarilla 704 S. Hayford St. Clem D. Evans 3221 W. Franklin Blvu. Lansing, Mich. 21 E. 7th St. Chicago, Illinois Tempe, Ariz. Tack Laird L. nert Ames Bobby Albri"h t 1423 Lemuel St. 620 Dixie Ann Ave. Woodlawn Annex 18 Muskegon Heights, Mich. Indiana University Kenneth Metcalf SacL'amento, Calif. Bloomington, Ind. Charles i\l. Delameter 1125 South Wilson Horton A. Bane Royal Oak, Mich. 1727 Hillside Rd. 1412 N. D. St. Santa Barbara, Calif. Richmond, Ind. John Oliver Paul E. Feleski 15'12 Franklin St. 46Ir· Green Street George D. Condes Battle Creek. Mich. San Diego 7. Calif. 111 6·119th St. Alvin C. Slaski Whiting, Ind. 2425 FulIer SI. Frank H . Moore Clifford Hanlin Saginaw, Mich. 141 SeQuoe a Dr. 1538 South K. St. San Anselmo, Calif. Loring L. Smith Elwood, Ind. 15899 Meyer St. Earl W. Myers Willard H. Reed Allen Park, Mich. 764 W . 106 St. 1211 W. 15th St. Los Angeles, Ca lif. Kenneth V. Deans Muncie, Ind. 419 Banning Ave. Frank L. Witte RORer \V. Richardson White Bear Lake, Minn. Route No.1, Thomas Ave. 1030 Lincoln, W. W. Gerber, Calif. William B. Ellis South Bend, Ind. (16) 820 Hawthorne Ave. Robert F. Danaher Jack Shackelford Minneapolis 3, lIIinn. 302 \Y. State Street 2312 E. 66th SI. Westport, Conn. Douglas M'Ontes Indianapolis, Ind. 1013 Jameson St. Robert M. Patterson Clarence E. Smith Route No. 3 St. Paul 3, Minn. Ablion, Ind. Chas. H. Upcraft Box 298 R. F. D. No.4 Greeley . Colorado 1007 Bryan St. Major H. C. Carstensen Wm. L. Brooman Austin. Minn. National Guard Bureau, The Pentagon 508 W. Second SI. Louis H. Wilkins W ashington, D. C. Peru, Ind. Box 8 Thos. J. Chaconas Charlie Anderson SI. Charies, Minn. 5101 13th St.. N. W. Linn Grove, Iowa Jack E. Brown Washington, D . C. Donald E . Bell R. F. D. No.3 Jamesport, Mo. Cal)t. Kenneth Deans 8 14 Orachard St. G·3 i\-IDW, Duilding T·7 Iowa City, Iowa Martin T. Delaney Washington, D. C. Ellsworth Mills R. R. No.5 R. F . D. Maj. Francis R. D ice St. Joseph, Missouri Room 3D544 Pentag:on Dawson. I owa David L. Mumpe r Washington, D. C. Fred Putz 618 S. Jefferson Lacona. Iowa Webb City, Mo. Ceci I J. Sisk 1628 Potomac Ave., S. E. James W. Brown. 1st. Lt. Lioyd L. Neff, Jr. Washington 3, D . C. 87th Inf. Rgt. 12th & McGee 10th Inf. Div. Kansas City, Mo. ~lajor E. F. Whitney Ft. Riley~, ·Kansas c/o National Guard Bureau John L. Stuart The Pentagon Bldg:. John L. Clubine 110 E. Vine Wash ing ton 25, D. C. R. F. D. No.4 Mexico. Mo. Independence. Kansas H. A. Wild Elmer Schachameyer 4861 Blag:den Ave.. N. W. Roy L. Frost 4976 Delor Washington 11, D. C. 1922 N. M'ain St. St. Lou is 9, Mo. Hutchinson. Kansas ~I /Sgt. Harry W. Carter, RA 6935148 Tom BUlldren HQs. F la. Military Dist. Leo E. Gordon Harlowton, M'Ontana Box 1170 310 W. Street Howard E. Cross Jacksonville. Fla. Emporia, Kansas 706 South 6th Edmund R . Collins Eugene E. Madden Bozeman, M ontana Hill City, Kansas Lakeland. Fla. George H . Kuti \\'alter Dismukes, Jr. T I Sg!. nen C. j\'leier 4069 Ames Ave. Fruitland Park, Fla. 5 02 Main St. Omaha, Nebr. Scott City, Kansas Oliver W . ~lcCali Kenne th Kinkle P. O. Box 84 Billy E . Youngman 196 Atlantic St. Wellborll, Fla. 4206 E . Steele Bridgeton, N. J . Wichita 10, Kansas I.t. Col. Wm. E. Crump. Jr. Lewis D. Medio Apt. 6, Bldg'. 1'·1500 John S. Bralliar, M. C. 3rd Ave. & Kings Hwy. Fort ~!cPherson. Ga. Franklin, K y. Hadden H eights, New Jersey Charles L. Hoag:land Ne lon K. Prince Paul M. Monaco Box 205 1302 Locust St. 19 Edison St. Home. Idaho Owensboro, Ken tuck y Bloomfield, N. Jersey I.a\"erne Bak e r foe H. Schappert John A. McManus 1i20 '/, \\·.,t Ga lena . 109 W. 5th St. 520 Grove St. Freeport. Illinois Covi ngton. Ky. Jersey City, New Jersey Robcrt E . Brent Carmel Wallace Robert E. Steger 734 E. [,t 1\ve. Box 259 708 Benton Ave. 1\'fonmouth. Jl/inois Praise. Ky. Cape May, New Jersey Fred ,\. Drufke :\ rthur I. Anetil ;-.25!) ""' aveland i\ ve. Great Road (Cant. on page 7) Chica),!o -! 1. Illino is Littleton. Mass. HAWAII ' AUSTRALIA NEW GUINEA PHILIPPINES JAPAN CHICAGO 1950 Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 JUNE 1950 Page 7

f"mes B. McDevitt NEW MEMBERS (ContJ 226 N. 2nd St. YAP NEWS LETTER NO.5 Richard Blatner Reading, Pa. B y Father W . J . Walter 827·7th 51. Deniamin Verbiski Buffalo 13. N. Y. . 107 South 6th Ave. Loui. S. Chambers Coatesville, Pa. Yap, Western Carolines 210 WashinRton Ave. Robert E. Willett, Captain C/ O CAU, Navy 3014 Oneida. New York Philadelphia Q;l-I Depot Steve Gambitsky 2AOO S. 20th St. F. P . O. San Francisco. Calif. 154 Boerum 51. Philadelphia 45, Pa. Brooklyn 6. N. Y. George P . King March 0, 1950 William P . Halaby 16 Larry St. No.3 Van St. East Greenwich. R. r.land Dear Friends and Co·Missionaries, Rochester 20. N. Y. 'lajor .Tames B. Jones 034152 Richard Harp Office of the P.M.S. & T. At 4 A.M. in the murky pre·dawn of Feb· R. D . No.2 H ill Road Clemson A&M ColleR;e ruary 18th, we Sighted Yap, a very dark lump Clemson, South Carolina Oneida. N. Y. scarcely discernable above the dark hori­ . Russell H. Jones .lames W. Truluck, Jr. West Sand Lake J 0 Maner Circle zon. I had been awake that early, impa· • New Yqrk F lorence. South Carolina tient to get aslJore, to read my mail. Then Lewis J. Kepler William E. Boyd for three hours the ship cruised back and 49 Anderson Ave. Route No.1 forth at one·third speed waiting until it Deferiet, New York BloorninR' Grove. Texas should be light enough to see the pass T. R. Kneeland Everett A. Cravens 49 Cloud Ave. Phillips. Texas through the coral reef ancl twist ;,ts way Franklin Square Gilbert O. Heaberlin down the winding channel to the anchorage. Long Island. New York 213 M'arion Dr. Since my departure from Yap last Decem· William Maiurro I.onR'view, Texas bel' 19th, the ship had logged over 3500 miles. 2232 E. 12th St. .loll n R. Porter Brooklyn 29, New York I had visited every island of our mission Box 142 parish. Robert E. Vorisek. M. D. Claude, Texas 78 Forrest Ave. Camille E. Boulay In this parish you spend more time 011 Locust Valley, N. York 174 Intervale Ave. Arthur S. West Burlin"ton, Vt. water than on land. It would be extra· Box 66 John S. Baldwin ordinary if you didn't. Our parish is mostly Chapin. N. York Box 638 ocean, 165,000 miles of it'," with :{carcely Sam R. May, Jr. Front Royal, Va. more than 100 square miles of land. The China Grove LI. Col. J. H. Hodges land consists of many very small islands North Carolina 122 North Wayne St. Howard J. Piehl . Arlington, Va. scattered like a handful of sawdust over the • Marion: N. Dakota John H. Rile.l' sea. These islands are so small that they Chas. W. Card Pound, Va. cannot even be seen except on the largest 546 Acker Drive Milton K. Skel!y of maps. On any map of the world they Mansfield. Ohio 508 Knol!wood Dr. (Parkwood) scarcely de'serve notice for you will dis· Rolla E. Clay Falls Ch urch. Va. cover them as very tiny specks under the 918 Mahoning Rd.. N. E. GeorR'e Faubion Canton 5, Ohio 6025 25th St.• N. E. name of the Caroline Islands. The western Donald F. Foltz Seattle 5. WashinR'ton half of the Carolines is the Yap Mission. Molly Stark Sanatorium Sgt. Harold Noll In the big world you live in the Westel'll Canton·Alliance Road RA 6589741 Carolines could easily be overlooked. Canton, Ohio 2nd Signal Co. Arden B. Luzader 2nd Inf. Div. 855 Marseilles Ave. Ft. Lewis, Wash. Yet our Mission was not forgotten as I Upper Sandusky, Ohio Jerome I. Bowstein found out as soon as I put foot ashore. A Geo. R. Parnaby 721 Clymer PI. big stack of Christmas mail was waiting 26858 Russell Rd. Madison. Wis. (rom you, my readers, friends and corre· Bay Village, Ohio Victor Hinze spondents. It seems all of you wrote, some Clayton L. Protsman 1211 Racine St. of you twice. That you should have remem· R. R. No.' 1 Racine. Wis. Elida, Ohio Fred D. Klinl(bail bered Yap in the rush of the Christmas or 1330 Church St. season is a sure indication that in the palace Percy Jones Hospt. Ward No.5, Sec. 4 Stevens Pt., Wis. of your soul there dwells a great King Who Battle Creek, Mich. Howard Martin reminds you to take care of His scattered Fred R. Thress R. 1. Waterford, Wis. sheep. Candy, cookies, nuts, canned goods, 111 W. 48 St. John M. Ross Ashtabula, Ohio needles and thread, razor blades, soap, Hammond, Wis. clothes and altar linens-more than enough John P. Watkins Francis J. Stockel 401 Fairmount. N . E. Hazel Green, Wis. to fill every stocking on Yap. Of course, Warren, Ohio Perry J. Wilder the natives don't weal' stockings, so there Major James B. Green Madison, Wis. weren't too many to fill. And the children Box 6 McNair Hall Carl Boyd never heard of Santa Clause and never re­ Ft. Sill, Okla. Route No.1 ceive presents at Christmas. However, the Torrington. Wyo. Marvin E. Lumm arrival of package calls for a celebration 102 W. Third St. Capt. Robert L. Hawley at any time of the year. A pound of candy Stroud, Oklahoma 948 Bay 51. Mountain View, Calif. goes a long way if doled out a piece at a Wm. BaeiR'hkJey 529·A Perry St. SR't. lIc Robert Holloway time. One piece is a great treat to a little Reading, Pa. RA 34139762 kid who bas never tasted candy before. Co. L 21st Inf. Nicholas DiRubbo APO 24·1% And one pound makes at least fifty of them 153 Groton Road Post Master, San Francisco. Calif. smile and say, "Sa hachugachug, Padire," Tyngsboro, Mass. "Thank you, Father!" Robert J. Cannady 4081 Howley St. Pittsburgh 24, Pa. BILL DAVIDSON SEZ: I remembered you all in my Christmas Willis L. Chilcote Masses and will continue to do so wherever P. O. Box 141 "We can always use money I" I may be. You are the Mission's only hope. Pittsburgh 30, Pa. \Vithout your help and prayers we might John G. Deegham Are your cont.inue to hang on but it would be im­ Renovo. Pat possible to make any progress at all. The Ralph Frantz 1949-1950 DUES quickest way to make progress is to make PP & L Farm Box 21 chapels as I shall proceed to explain. Frackville. Pa. Due?? William H. Hartman Only at Ulithi ancl Yap clo we have suit· 5831 Angora Terrace Make checks payable to the Treasurer able chapels. At two other places, Lamotrek Philadelphia 43. Pa. 24th Inf, Div. ancl Satawal, we llave little sheds too small Hitrry L. Kennedy Veterans Assn. Apt. No. 7-3848 Brownsville Rd. (Cont. 011 page 8) Pittsburgh 27, Pa.

ALL H IGHWAYS LEAD TO CH ICAGO - AUG. 11, 12, 13, 1950 Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 Page 8 THE TARO LEAF ~------YAP NEWS LETTER (Cont.) no more value than a sight·seeing trip Col. M. N. Cizon, Chief a round Manhattan Island. Office Service Infantry Division Veterans Association to be called cow sheds. That accounts for Of course there are many strange sights The Pentagon Building four of our sixteen island groups. The other to see, as I hope to tell you in later letters. Wa shington, D. C. places have nothing at all, so Mass is cele· But even sight'seeing would be no pleasure bl'ated in God's great outdoor cathedral out here. You have none of the conven· Dear Colonel Cizon: under the vault of the heavens. iences; your bed and boa'rd are the most I think you will be pleased to know that primitive; the life is really rugged. On one Wherever we have chapels the people when your organization meets in Chicago of my recent trips I met with an accident this summer there will be in operation a gather together morning, afternoon and going ashore at Satawal. The ship stopped evening fol' daily prayers. Wherever we huge Fair on our lake front which can pro· its engines a bout a hal[ mile off the reef vide for your members many hours of abo have no chapels the people get together and I had to take a small boat through the only when the priest comes. That ha ppens sorbing interest, wholesome entertainment breakers to the beach. I was the only white and relaxation. very seldom, only once in three months, man in the boat. Usually the natives are for the majority of islands. very skilful at steering through the pound· The Chicago Fair of 1950, with its 55 acres ing surf and I've done this many a time be· of exhibits and fun, will run from, June 24th Theirs is an unwritten language and the fore. But this just happened to be an off day. through Labor Day and we earnestly invite natives ca n neither read nor write. They A big wave picked up our boat and rolled your group to make the Fair its headquarters have no system of formal education and it over like a log, hurling all of us into the during non·session periods. their only opportunity for learning is see· churning waters. In trying to save my Mass ing and hearing. As soon as we have ac· The story which the Fair will tell is the kit as well as myself I was badly cut on story of this great land of ours. It will be qulred sufficient command of the language the arms and legs by the coral. Everything we'll have to write a prayerbook and cate· related entertainingly, through exhibits, to in the Mass kit was soaked. The water the fields of industry, agriculture, commerce chism and have them printed. Then we'll even seeped into the host box and ruined have to train catechists to teach the books. and science. And highlighting the over·all But -now, '{he only way the children learn half the hosts. Ma·ss had to be delayed two picture wlll be the presentation of a glorious hours while the vestments and altar linens pageant which will review our nation's his· is from hea ring their elders. At Ulithi were drying in the sun. Two days later where we have chapels and prayers are reo tory and point to the future promised by one of the coral cuts became infected and our pioneer heritage. cited three times daily in common, the five my left arm swelled. The veins took on a and si :~ ·year o!ds know their prayers so darker hue and could be trac~d almost to Soon we shall have literature detailing well that few children in the States could the shoulder. I was very sore under the the many attractions to be offered. Mean· ma tch them. On the other islands where armpit. But one shot of penicillin cleared while, you may wish to consider the Chicago we have no chapels no groups gather for that up and now I can laugh at the ex· Fair in your planning. You may be sure daily worship and the children are very ig· perience. that our Special Events department will de norant-even the ten·year olds can scarcely pleased to work with you in arranging de· bless themselves. The difference between Your generosity this Christmas has been simble block admissions and seating. And islands where we have no chapels and is· overwhelming. Your many letters show to you and your officers I extend a cordial lands where we do is like night and day. great zeal a nd interest in the missions. invitation to be my personal guests at the So we need chapels, first of all, to help The least they deserve are prompt answers. Fair sometime during your stay in the city. s pread the Faith. Don't think me lax because of the long de· lay in replying. Only when I am "at home" I will be happy to learn from you how we There is another very urgent reason for on Yap can I send or receive mail, and that may be of assistance in making your meet· erecting chapels as soon as possible. On all is only four times a year. During the present ing here a more enjoyable one. islands except Ulithi, the paga ns are in the year these are the times when I'll be "at Very truly yours, great ~ajority. Animism is their religion­ home"-l) February 15th to March 15th; a religion of spirits, spells and charms. 2) May 15th to June 15th; 3) August 15th Crosby M. Kelly And the people are very superstitious. They to September 15th; and 4) November 15th Executive Manager have shrines or groves where their magi· to December 15th. All my correspondence cians and medicine men invoke the aid of will have to be done during those four pe. spirits and cast spells. Their shrines are riods of the year. But most of the time Remember? usually stone cairns of very drab and un· I'll be living back in the Stone Age, out of prepossessing appearance. If we erected reach of the Post Office and cut off from MALARIA DISCIPLINE '" even the simplest type of church furnished civilization. Pray for us! with altar, crucifix and candlesticks, statue While the 24 Division was resting and ' Stations of the Cross, we would have and staging at Hollandla this little a shrine worth a million dollars to the native Sincerely and devotedly yours in Christ, incident is reported to have happened; eye. As a consequence we'd be considered and should be of particular interest very powerful magicians backed by spirits William J. Waiter, S. J. to those who remember the strict rna· more powerful than their spirits. The na· laria discipline in the Division during tives would then be more readily dis posed that period: It seems that Col. "Lil" to hear the truth about God and forget their Lyman, CO 21st Inf was on his way superstitions. to the CP when he passed a gronp of men participating in sports. There Last September I mentioned that the Yap was nothing unnsual about that ex· Mission needed a minimum of twenty·seven Hotel Reservation cept that several young men were chapels to operate efficiently. We do have Cards Are stripped to the waist. Col. Lyman some chapels, five on Ulithi (30 islands), stopped his jeep and proceeded to and two on Yap (four islands). I also men· Enclosed snap the nearest man to attention tioned that $300 would build a small chapel and to point out in no uncertain terms suitable for most islands. The mere men· MAIL that shirts were to be worn at all tion of our need brought a $700 responsa Them TODAY! times. The young man replied, "Yes, Do you know of anyone who wishes they Colonel, I'll get my shirt" and picked could do a million dollars worth of charity it up and put it on. The newly donned but have only a few hundred ? Tell them shirt had a nice bright star on the about our work. collar. It is reported that this young However, to make good Christians of our Air Force Bn asked the Colonel to people your prayers are more necessary leave the Air Force area in not too than any material assistance. The Faith is DON'T FORGET friendly a manner. Col Lyman's feel· a free gift of God which we can only offer ings in the matter have never been to our people. Our Lord said, "No one can TO PAY YOUR DUES! ascertained. come to Me unless the Father draw him." The only foolproof method of making con· * Contributed by Capt. Claude H. Hall verts is prayer. Without your prayers all now in the Pentagon, Washington, D. this traveling around the ocean would have C. with G-2, Department of the Army. Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 JUNE 1950 Page 9 Remember?

POINT OF VIEW " "Ace" Powers, Liaison pilot of the 11th PA Bn will probably never forget n one·sided "dogfight" he had with two Jap Zeros over Leyte back in '44. To those o[ us who witnessed it, his account of the affair is as unforget­ able as the engagement itself. It happened up arounc] Breakneck Ridl\'e. Powers was up in his cub plane awaiting instructions after completing a highly successful fire mission on a Jap supply dHmp. Suddenly a Jap Zero dived out of the clouds above him, filling the air with lead but miracu­ lously missing him. Powers put on a demonstration of acrobatics 'and evasive flying, the like of which had never before seen in those parts, ca­ reening groundward to lower and safer altitudes. A second Zero made a pas~ but also missed. By then, Powers was maneuvering in among' the trees head­ ing [or home and setting a few speed records while he was at it. A few seconos later he came to. a skidd.ing halt on our small landing s trip. 'Ve had seen the whole encounter from the ground and had "sweated alit" his desperate flight, but no one said anything when he stepped from his plane. Shoving his ca.p back on his Ilead. he gave this classic ver­ sion of the affair: "By gawd, this is sure my unlucky day. A minute ago I had two Jap Zeros cornered up over Shopping for souvenirs to send home is a favorite off-duty pursuit of 19th Infantrymen_ Above typi­ Breakneck Ridge and didn't even have col Doughboy Kidd (right ) ond Pvt. Carl Huey, price Japanese footwear at a street stand in Beppu. my .45 with me."

" Contributed by ex·11th Field Ar­ tilleryman Lt. Col. Joe Hodges, now From Army Information Digest December 1949 in the Pentagon, 'Vashington, D. C. in t he Office of the Army Comptroll er. 24th Infantry HERE'S THE KIND OF Activated as the Hawaiian Divis ion on 25 INQUIRIES AND LETTERS February 1921, the 24th Infantry has never WE LIKE TO RECEIVE! been in the United States. Elements of -the 24th Inf. Div. Vets' Ass'n. Division saw their first action during the Dear Bob, attack on Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941. I have just received your card advising It moved to Australia in August and Sep­ me of the 24th Infantry Division Veterans' tember of 1943, a nd went on tile offensive AssOC iation, an organization I can assure in a landing at Dutch New Guinea on 22 you I knew nothing a bout. April 1944. By 6 June the Division had Enclosed find two dollars ($2.00) to cover my membership fe e and subscription to killed 1771 and captured 502 of the enemy. "The Taro Leaf". Two of its regiments assisted the 41st It gives me a great deal of pleasure to Division in taking two important airdromes. know that we have an organization of this On 20 October 1944 elements of the 24th kind and that they are holding regular Con­ ventions. formed part of the assault forces that in­ Many thanks for your card. vaded Leyte. Here the Division killed more Yours truly, than 7000 of the enemy. Elements of the 24th invadeo Mindoro and Marinduque Is­ (Signed) Robert H. Luhrsen lands, and one of its regiments spearheaded 417 Green Street the 38th Division's landing on Luzon. Rockton, Ill inois Troops of the 24th assaulted Corregidor and fought on Mindanao and smaller islands in the southern Philippines_ The Division BILL DAVIDSON SEZ: then went to Japan where it is now on oc­ Maj. Gen. William F. Dean "We can always use money!" ctrpation duty_ Commanding General HAVE YOU PAID YOUR 1950 DUES?

DON'T FORGET 11, 12, 13 AUGUST 1950 DO 'T BE AWOL ~ Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 Page______10 .______~___._ _._:T~H~E TAR 0 LEA F SCRAPS OF COMBAT HISTORY just behind them by the 3cl Bn. The regi­ me~t was never committed on this position GALA PARTY PLANNED Col. E. ~!. Postlethwait agaIn. The Jap position was taken only TO FETE BIRTHDAY From time to time the "Taro Leaf" will af.ter t~o weeks of hard fighting by the 38th OF THIRD ENGINEERS refresh your memories with scraps of com­ Dlv. USIng many heavy air attacks and sev­ eral 12 hr. artillery preparations by every bat history-unit (not individual) history gun in the Corps. \\lith 49 years of service behind them, 39 in the belief that usually not enough copie~ of which have been spent in continuous of official after-action reports were prepared The regiment on 8-9 Feb. went into semi­ foreign service, the Third Engineer Combat to be made available to the interested sol­ rest camps, merely patrolling to protect the Battalion will pause momentarily in their diers concerned. Furthermore the 24th Di­ XI Corps line of communications. current intensive combat preparedness pro· vision reports do not, as a rule, include de­ gram March 25, for a birthday party. tails of combat by 24'th Div. elements ' while The Battalion'S full day program, designed those elements were attached to other di­ 3d Battalion, 34th Infantry an CORREGIDOR to make the occasion a memorable one for visions or task forces. Yet, as members of its soldier-specialists, will start at 10 AM the . 24th Division family, those units are On Feb. 10th, the 3d Bn. received notice with a formal review and presentation of entitled to have their deeds and accomplish­ that it would constitute the amphibious a wards by the guest of honor, . Maj. Gsn. ments recognized, regardi'ess of whether landing force for the CORREGIDOR show. William F, Dean, 24th Infantry Division they were performed under Division Head­ T~at left only about 3'h days to prepare for Commander. Following short addresses by quarters control. salll'.lg on the 14.th and they were wild days; various unit officers and guests, the engin­ The 'first sueh scrap of combat history beggIng, borrOWIng, stealing reinforcements eers will retire to company mess halls for we offer you is the story of the 34th In­ an? eqnipment; drawing up detailed plans; the noonday meal especially prepared for bnefings; special training, etc. The 3d Bn. fantry'S bloody operations on Luzon and Cor­ the occasion. regidor, as related by an eye-witness, Lt. sailed the afternoon of the 14th in two LST's. Sports events of all types will be the Col. Edward M. Postlethwait, C. O. 3d Bn., afternoon's activities, 34th Int It is a factual, unembroidered On 15 Feb., Olle RCT of the 38th Div Originally organized at Fort Totten, N. tale of a fighting regiment in the perform­ Y., March 25, 1901, the companies of the ance of a difficult and costly combat mis­ made an assault landing at MARIVELES acr

ALL :,HIGHWAYS LEAD TO CHICAGO - AUG. 11, 12, 13,1950 Morrison Hotel Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 JUNE 1950 ------Page II

THIS IS CHICAGO? • • • by Col. Max N. Cizon So you want to know whether you can come to the Third Re­ tion in Chicago. The On Leong Tong, "Chinese City Hall," union in Chicago and have fun on your skinny pocketbook? 2216 S. Wentworth Avenue, with a Temple Shrine and Hall· of Justice on the third floor, is open for public inspection. Brother, at least three million of the people who live in and around Chicago will tell you "yes"-with some qualifications. SHANGRI-LA-222 North State Street-nice oriental rood, AND entertainment-AND expensive too_ You TOO can do it. WIMPY GRILLS, INC.-~f which there are no less than eight, The best th'ings in Chicago-its wonderful window displays, serving the All American Sandwich-The Hamburger, at Its famous streets, its large stores, its museums, its tremendous reasonable prices. views-cost little or nothing to see, IF the Little "Woman does not convince you that the "fur coat is a bargain." August is And a lot of other places too, to fit every appetite and pocket­ _Fur Month In Chicago! book. The people-they are 'the best shaw of all-are free, and even But, if you are a music lover, (and don't mind the mosquitqs), the wife or girl friend couldn't convince you otherwise. you can listen to some of the world's best talent at evening con­ certs under the stars at Grant Park, no admission charge. The But, let's start at the beginning. When you get off your train, Jackson Boulevard bus will deliver you right to the band silell plane or bus, treat yourself to a cab ride to the Morrison Hotel, -cost 13c-or you can take a leisurely stroll down the famous the Convention headquarters_ If you drive your own car, park it " Boul Mich" or State Street (the most concentrated retail shop­ and forget it until you are ready to go home. Downtown, (The ping district in the world ), but don't be a dope, Bud, take her Loop), traffic has been known to take an hour per mile, so use there at night when the stores are closed. Walking and gawldng the street cars, (15c), the city-owned elevated trains, (17c), or are the finest fun if your arches are in shape. T he concert doesn't the bus, (l3c). They will be cheaper and faster in the long-run. start until it gets dark (this gives the mosquitos a break too!) You want to go to a NAME place to eat? All right, but go there Don't fail to go to the tor lunch. The prices are usually scaled down at mid-day. H ere are some for you- ADLER PLAN ETARIUM, on the Lake front at Roosevelt Road. Open 10 to 5 weekdays with lectures at 11 an:d 3; 2 "fa 6 BLACKHAWK-a nice walk from the Morrison to 139 North Sunday and holidays with lectures at 2: 30 and 3: 30 _ Free Wabash Avenue, (that's east, toward Lake Michigan). Wednesday, Saturday a nd Sunday. Other days 30c. EITEL'S OLD HEIDELBERG-14 West Randolph Street, two ART INSTITUTE, at Michigan Avenue and Adams Street. World­ bfocks north of the Morrison. fa.mous collection of paintings, prints and sculpture. Open IVAN HOE-3000 North Clark Street-take the Clark Street car 9 to 5 weekdays; 12 to 6 Sunday. Free Wednesday, Satur­ north, right to the door-a "scary" place and a lot of fun, day, Sunday and holidays. Other days 30c. if you are in the mood for live skeletons. BOARD OF TRADE, Jackson and LaSalle Streets, Chicago's tall­ HENRICI's-71 West Randolph Street, just two blocks north of est building-605 feet to top of statue. World's leading Headquarters, (Spike O'Donnel's favorite spot for Brunch) grain exchange. Free illustrated lectures for gallery visi­ -if you like hard rolls, whipped cream for your coffee, tors. Open Monday to Friday 9: 30 to 1: 15 ; Saturday 9: 30 and some of the best food in town according to the real to noon. old-timers. CHICAGO ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, in Lincoln Park, 2001 BERGHOFF-17 West Adams Street, if you like a head on your North Clark Street. Exhibits depicting natural history or beer, and Wienerschnitzel. Chicago area. Open Tuesday through Friday 1 to 4 P. M.; Saturday and Sunday 10 A. M. to 5 P . M. Admission free. BOSTON OYSTER HOUSE-(a part of the Hotel Morrison) for sea-food. CH ICAGO HISTORICAL SOCI ETY, in Lincoln Park at Clark Street and North Avenue. One of the finest historical HOE SAl GAI-85 West Randolph Street-(I'm sure by now you collections in America._ Open 9: 30 to 4: 30 weekdays; 12: 30 know which direction Randolph Street is from Headquar­ to 5: 30 Sunday. Free on weekdays. Sunday and holidays ters)-for good Chinese food_ 30c. NOTE: However, I think you can get more atmosphere CHICAGO MERCANTILE EXCHANGE, 110 North Franklin at Chinatown's walk-downs--a seven or nine course din­ Street. The nation's largest market for futures in butter, ner for 77c. You don't have the "canned" music, but the eggs and other farm commodities. Open Monday to Fri· food-Yum, Yum. The BEST Chinese of Chicago like to day 9: 00 to 12 noon. eat there, so why not YOU? Take the south bound Clark Street cars to CHINATOWN, 22nd Street and Wentworth A venue, south of the Loop. Most distinctive foreign sec- (Cant. on page 12)

REPRINTED FROM 24th Infantry (Victory) Division Veterans' Association 24TH INF. DIV. P. O. Box 447, Danville, Illinois V-DAY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION JAPAN NAME ...... _... _...... _...... COMPANY AND REGIMENT OR BATTERY .. .. . •...... • .... • ... _...... 25 % Of Payroll Saved HOME ADDRESS ...... _... _...... _...... Members of Company B, 21st Infantry ADDRESSES OF FELLOW-VETERANS ...... _.. __ ... .. _...... _...... •.. .. Regiment, saved $3,280 of their February pay in soldier deposits, 1st Lt. Charles Thomas, Company Commander, announced REMARKS. _...... _...... _... . _...... today. Th-ese savings represent more than 25 per cent of the total company payroll, DUES ENCLOSED_ ...... _...... Lieutanant Thomas stated. (PIO) ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES, $2.00 (Includes Subscription to TARO LEAF) Volume 3, Number 3, June 1950 Page 12 THE TARO LEAF

THIS IS CHICAGO (Cont.) Plan at home for: RADIO BROADCASTING. The following radio stations have a CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM (formerly Field Mu· number of programs to which a studio audience is admitted. seum). at Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive. An· Tickets can be obtained by writing in advance. In some thropology, botany, geology and zoology illustrated. Open cases arrangements for tickets can be made over the tele· 9 to 4 P. M. daily. Conducted tours weekdays at 2. Free phone. No admission charged. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Other days 30c. WBBM (CBS) 410 North Michigan Avenue. LINCOLN PARK ZOO, 2200 North in Lincoln Park. Home or WENR (ABC) Guest Relations Dept., 20 North Wacker Bushman, world·famolls gorilla and' more than 2,600 mam­ Drive. (Also TV). mals, birds and reptiles. Open 10 A. M. to 6 P. M. daily. WGN (MBS) 435 N. Michigan Ave. (Also TV). MAXWELL STREET MARKET, centering on Maxwell and Hal­ WLS (Prairie Farmer) 1230 W. Washington Blvd. sted Streets. Outdoor market place in an old·world atmos· WMAQ (NBC ) Guest Relations Dept., Merchandise Mart phere. Closed Saturdays. (Don't pran to eat here, please! Plaza. (Also TV) . Ye Ed.) TELEVISION SHOW, WBKB, 190 N. State Street. View· MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, 5700 S., 4800 W ., busiest civilian airport ing studio open to public when station is , on the in the world. A plane arriving or departing every three air. Tickets not necessary. minutes. Admission to special observation deck 10c. "There is something interesting to see and to do ... all of Swanky "Cloud Room" restaurant, where one can dine the time". As I am writing this I hear from my G·2 that a and watch the planes arriving and departing. Food ex­ Fair is being planned to take the place of the Railroad Fair cellent. Prices reasonable. held on the Lake front last year. This may cost you money, MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, on the Lake front at so I will leave it to you to find out about It--on your own. Who 57th Street. Acres of exhibits showing relation of science am I to spend your bucks? to industry. Open weekdays 9: 30 to 4; Saturday to 5: 30; One final important tip: DON'T change $2.00 (or $20.00) bills Sunday to 'I P. M. Admission free to all exhibits but the for strangers. AND none of the Chicago bridges are for sale, coal mine. Nickelodeon (weekly program of old·time movie they tell me! thrillers) and Microworld Theatre. Send in your reservation early. Write direct to Mr. H. R. SHEDD AQUARIUM, on the Lake front at Roosevelt Road. 132 Atherton, Sales Representative, The Morrison Hotel, Clark and tani,s containing 10,000 specimens of fresh and salt water Madison Streets, Chicago, Illinois. He promises to have enough fish . Open 10 to 5. Free Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. people a round to show yoU the way, if you feel you might get Other days 30c. lost.

Old Lady : "Doctor, were you in the war ?" FAMILY HAS FURNISHED MEN Doctor: "Yes, madam, I was a naval sur· geon." FOR 21ST INF. FOR 50 YEARS Old Lady : "My! How you young men do KUMAMOTO.-For 50 years the family late 19 28. During this time, the present Lt. O'Connor was born. ' specialize! " of 1st Lt. Harry O'Connor has been furnish­ ing the 21st Infantry with fighting men. In 1924, Lt. O'Connor's uncle, 1st Sgt. Currently assigned as regimental finance William Bailey, joined the Hawaiian Di­ "At any rate," said the auctioneer, "mine officer, he is the fifth member of the family vision at Schofield a s topkick of the 5th is a 'business that women can't take up." to wear the Gimlet insignia since his fight· Ordnance Maintenance Company. "Nonsense:" put in the strong·minded , ing grandpa; Sgt. Frank Silva, joined the ANOTHER UNCLE, M/ Sgt. J oe Stanley, lady. "A woman would make as good an regiment in quelling the Philippine Insur· came ,to the post in 1936 as sergeant major. auctioneer as any man!" rection at the turn of the century. When the regiment moved out at the be· "Would she?" retorted the o'ther. "You Shortly after General Malver, theinsur· ginning of World War II, this member or try and imagine an unmarried lady stand­ gent chieftain, surrendered to Company D, the fi ghting clan was retained on the Schoo ing up befOre a crowd and saying, "Now, 21st InL, Sgt. Silva retired. He now lives field staff where he is still stationed. gentlemen, all ' I want is an offer." in Hawaii wher e he pens his grandson Early in 1946, Harry O'Connor joined the lengthy letters on how to be a good "Gim· regiment on Honshu, Japan, as a private He gazed admiringly at the beautiful dress let." first class. Within a year he was returned of the leading chorine. , NEXT of the family to join the 21st In· to the U. S. to attend officers candidate "Who made her dress?" he asked his fantry was the lieutenant's father, T / Sgt. school. Following graduation and marriage companion. Harry O'Connor, who serv,ed with the r egi­ he returned to the ' Gimlets, at his own re­ ment at Schofield Barrack<3 from 1923 until quest.-Army Times, 11 Mar. 1950. "I'm not sure, but I think it was the police." -Voo Doo THE TARO LEAF 24th Inf. (Victory ) Division Veterans' Assn. Sec. 34.66 P. L . & R. The deal' vicar's wife had just died, and in consequence he wished to be relieved of. Box 447 U. S. POSTAGE his duties for the weekend, so he sent the ' Danville, ' III. following message to his bishop: Postmaster: Return Postage Guaranteed PAID "I regret to inform you that my wife has POSTMASTER - If addressee has removed and Danville, Illinois just died, and I should he obliged if you address is known, notify on form 3547, postage could send me a 'substitute ' for th"e week· for which is guaranteed. Permit No.4 end."

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H~WAIL AUSTRALIA NEW GUINEA PH ILIPPINES JAPAN & CH ICAGO in 1950!