Nebraska Newspapers

    The Frontier
_ . .. - -——
LXIV O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1943 NO. 26
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O’NEILL OVER TOP IN
WAR FUND DRIVE
Following is an account of con
tributions by O’Neill’s citizens
during the recent United States
War Fund drive. The campaign
was in charge of Rev. Kenneth
Scott who handled all details of
the drive in a very efficient man- i
ner. He was assisted by members !
of the committee: Mayor Kersen-!
brock, Ted McElhaney, Edith
Davidson, A. E. Bowen and Dr.
O. W. French who made the col
lections in the business district.
In the residential section of O’Neill
the following acted as solicitors:
Mrs. F. N. Cronin, Miss Berna
dette Brennan, Mrs. Hugh E.
Coyne, Mrs. Tom Green, Miss
Anna McManus, Mrs. Leo Mullen,
i Mrs. Mabel Gatz, Mrs. Gerald
Graybiel, Mrs. Letta M. Sexsmith,
Mrs. John Osenbaugh.
The drive amounted to $1450.00
which oversubscribed by $386.56
the assigned quota of $1063.44.
Herewith is the list of the names
and amounts subscribed:
Donations of $25.00
Art Cowperthwaite, Dr. O. W.
French, Tri State Produce, J. A.
Mann, Biglin Bros., Harding
Cream Co., Ed Gallagher, Asimus
Bros., J. D. Cronin, Jj J. Harring
ton, O’Neill Livestock Commis
sion Co., Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Mer
riman, W. J. Froelich, H. J. Bir
mingham.
Donations of $20.00
Coyne Hardware, Seth Noble.
Donations of 15.00
Midwest Motor Co., Brown Mc
Donald Store, O’Neill National
Bank.
Donations of $10.00
L. A. Burgess, C. W. Porter,
Ralph Walker, J. B. Ryan, R. W.
Weisser, O’Neill Photo Co., Ray
Shellhammer, A. E. Bowen, Ralph
Leidy, O’Neill P. C. A., Central
Finance Co., Spelts-Ray Lbr., Co.,
Dewey Schaffer, H. J. Hammond,
J. C. Penney Co., Msgr. J. G. Mc
Namara, Rev. Kenneth Scott,
Helen Sirek.
Donations of $8.00
Council Oak Ssore.
Donations of $6.00
H. A. Yocum.
Donations of $5.00
Beatrice Harris, Ted McEl
haney, James W. Rooney, Mrs. Ed
Flood, A. A. Hiatt, Chet Calkins,
Rev. and Mrs. D. J. Park, Stan
nard Store, Frank Pruss, C. H.
McManus, Shelhamer Oil Co., L.
%. D. Putnam, F. B. Harty, Jack Vin
y cent, Stanley Soukup, Frank
Clements, Harrison Bridge, Gold
en Hotel, C. E. Stout. Ed Camp
bell, O. M. Herre, H. L. Lind
bers, D. R. Mounts, Tim Harring
ton, Ben Harty, Edith J. David
son, Jas. Davidson & Sons, Mrs.
M. R. Sullivan, J. B. Grady, F. N.
Cronin, J. Ed Hancock, Mabel Mc
Kenna. W. F. Finley, L. W.
Reimer, R. G. Tomlinson, R. E.
Moore, B. Rentschler and Anna
O’Donnell, P. J. McManus, Ralph
Rickley, K. D. Fenderson, Anton
Toy, B. T. Winchell, Harold E.
Weir, McDonough Paint Store,
John Kersenbrock, Gatz Bros.,
Miss Elsa Raabe, Anoka-Butte
Lbr. Co., Lawrence Jonas, Rev.
Daniel Brick, Leo J. Mullen, Mark
Howard. Mary E. Carney, Mrs.
Jim Corkle, Vic Halva, Mrs. John
Carr, Mrs Chris Yantzi, Mrs. Jim
Kelly, Lorain Will, Ira George,
Donations of $4.00
Mrs. M. F. Scharping.
Donations of $3.00
Anna Donohoe, Miriam Kubi
chek, Paul W. Moreman, Kathryn
Wood, A. P. Jaszkowiak, H. F.
Gilday, W. B. Gillespie, R. B.
Mellor, Fred Saunto, E. F. Quinn,
Esther Harris, G. C. DeBacker,
Miss H. Gallagher, Helen Mullen.
M. H. McCarthy, Paul Beha, J.
D. Osenbaugh, Mrs. Fred Lowery,
Ted Rustemeyer, Mrs. Levi Fuller,
Rev. R. Koepp.
Donations of $2.50
Thad E. Saunders, H. L. Bennet,
Elizabeth Harbottle, Edna Couch,
(Continued on page Eight)
L. G. Gillespie Injured
In Car Crash Monday
♦ L. G. Gillespie met with an ac
cident last Monday morning,
while on his way to a fire down
near the Northwestern tracks, the
bulk station of the Lindberg Pe
troleum company. Mr. Gillespie
was riding in the car of Mr. Wells,
an Omaha insurance man, when a
small truck of the Wallace Oil
company and driven by Mr. Banks
an employee, while on the way
to the fire, struck the Wells car,
near the front of the car, throwing
open the door and Mr. Gillespie
was thrown from the car to the
pavement, severely bruised and
badly shaken up, although no
bones were broken. He was taken
to the O’Neil] hospital where he
is still confined and will be there
probably another week. The car
was severelly damaged and has
been sent to Omaha to be repair
ed. The small truck was not
badly damaged.
From what we have been able
to learn the Wallace car did not
stop at the stop sign, coming on
to Fourth street, and crashed into
the Wells car going south on
Fourth street, about the center
of the street. The truck was
going east on Clay street
Births
Mr. and Mrs. Hurtig, of Page,
a boy on Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Cleo Fenish, a
girl, Monday.
v'f -
Delinquent Registrants
Will Be Rounded Up
Delinquent registrants were
warned on Thursday of last week
of an intensive crackdown plan
ned by the Nebraska Selective
Service. Effective November 1,
local boards will turn over to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
and the United States Attorney
for prosecution the cases of all
registrants between 18 and 38
years who failed to report in re
sponse to induction orders,
Additionally, the boards will
prepare to induct as soon as pos
sible, without regard for order
number or dependency, all eli
gible men who failed to keep
their boards informed of changes
in address and jobs, or to respond
to classification questionnaires.
Accoring to Brig. Gen. Guy N.
Henninger, local boards also have
orders to publish after Novem
ber 1 the names of delinquent
registrants.—From Omaha World
Herald, dated October 29.
Boys Inducted In Service
October And November
The following named boys were
inducted in the Army and Navy
in the month of October:
Army
Lloyd Eugene Retke, Atkinson.
Duane Henry Dorr, Page.
Richard George Smith, Cham
bers.
Navy
Roy L. Ries, Atkinson.
The following named Holt coun
ty boys to be inducted in the
month of November:
Atkinson
Francis Ferre Davis
Paul Delmar4 Parshall
Ivan Bernard Bacon
Charles Jerome Ford
Charles Harold Kubart
Ivan Allen Kliment
Freddie Harold Niebauer
Nicholas Sylvester Schmit
Ralph Kenneth Seger
O'Neill
Robert Henry Lamb
Jack Alfred Dailey
James Anthony Arbuthnot
Percy Albert Watenpaugh
Clifford Wayne Bridge
Edson Leon Sargent
James Francis Hood
Joseph Wesley Conorro
Francis Joseph Musil
Stanley Joseph Peters
Amelia
Grant Leland Price
George Lloyd Enbody
Ralph Raymond Barnes
Middlebranch
Dale Arthur Waring
George Grant Hendrick
Eugene Clark Hansen
Page
Lloyd Cork
William Earl Sorensen
Edwin Gilbert Grubbs
Stuart
Leonard Colson
Lonnis Edward Otto
Chambers
Willard Ervin Thomson
Iven Casper Walter
Ewing
Richard Roy Pruden
Spencer
Mervyn Everett Asher
MORE JEFFERS, AND
FEWER PROFESSORS
One of the most outstanding
feats in war production was done
by William M. Jeffers, of Nebras
ka, former rubber director, in
building up facilities to supply
this nation with synthetic rubber.
In about a year he had the pro
gram completed and the rubber
rolling out. He then resigned
and went back to his job of rail
roading.
Shortly after he resigned it was
suggested that he had better re
turn and see that tires were made
out of the new rubber supplies
available, as tire companies claim
ed they were short-handed. In
reply, Mr. Jeffers said he finished
the job he was chosen to do—get
rubber; that the shortage of man
power in the tire industry is not
nearly as serious as on American
railroads. He said that in his let
ter of resignation to the Presi
dent, he told him there was a
shortage of tire fabric for which
the War Production Board was
responsible, and that the question
of manpower shortage had been
repeatedly called to the attention
of the War Manpower Commis
sion. He said that Colonel Dewey
and others who worked with him
on the rubber program, under
stand it throroughly and that if
Dewey will demand the ultimate
in support of the rubber program
from the rubber companies, the
War Production Board, and from
the War Manpower Commission,
the rubber program will come
through. “There are practical
men in the OPA who, if given the
opportunity to head up the rub
ber problem within the OPA, will
do a job.”
The Jeffers philosophy of get
ting production, which he did
with rubber, one of our most
scarce articles, is what this Na
tion needs more than policies and
theories which promote short
ages. Bounteous supplies, reason
able profit, and such regulation
as is needed to prevent profiteer
ing, is the real American way of
doing business.
We need more Jeffers and fewer
professors.
The Lions Club held a business
meeting at the Golden Hotel
] Wednesday evening.
CREDIT DUE LOCAL
MERCHANTS
Probably no business has had
more burdensome detail to com
ply with in carrying out rationing
and price regulations than hdve
the retail stores of the country.
Almost overnight, their buying
and selling methods were revolu
tionized, and their banking and
bookkeeping greatly complicated.
On top of that, they have faced a
manpower shortage more serious
than most businesses. Only the
inbred ingenuity and determina
tion of the American merchant
could have met the impact of such
drastic changes, and at the same
time maintained service to con
sumers.
Official data appears to demon
strate that retail food distributors
have fared worse and performed
better than other more articulate
and better organized groups.
Chain food distributors are in a
large measure responsible for
holding the “Cost of Food Index”
at a relatively low level com
pared to average earnings of Uni
ted States labor.
It is apparent from the Index
figures that retail food distribu
tors cannot properly be charged
with “profiteering” and the Index
may well indicate the justifica
tion for certain price adjustments.
It is but fair to give credit to any
industry that has made such a
record as have the food stores
under such drastic operating con
ditions as they must meet.
Armistice Day Program
Parade at 9:30 a. m., with the
O’Neill High school band, school
children, members of the Ameri
can Legion and men in uniform.
Following the parade there will
be a program rendered at the
School Auditorium, consisting of:
Band Concert
Vocal selection, Students of St.
Mary’s Academy.
Vocal selection, Students of the
O’Neill High school.
Address:
According to an agreement sign
ed by the busines men of the city
some months ago, most of the
business places of the city will be
closed on Armistice Day, Thurs
day, November 11.
Foot Ball game at 2:30 at the
Park between O’Neill High and
the Neligh High school teams. At
the half, during the game, there
will be a very impressive program
put on at the grounds by the
O’Neill High School band and the
members of the American Legion.
DATES’WITH YOUR
GOVERNMENT
Processed Foods: Blue stamps
X, Y and Z good through Novem
20. Green stamps A, B and C
(Book 4) good November 1 thru
December 20.
Meats and Fats: Brown stamp
G good October 24 through De
cember 4. Brown stamp H good
October 31 through December 4.
Brown stamp J good November
7 through December 4. Brown
stamp K good November 14 thru
December 4.
Sugar: Stamp No. 29 in Book
4 good for five pounds November
1 through January 15, 1944.
Shoes: Stamp No. 18 in Book 1
good for one pair indefinitely.
Airplane No. 1 stamp in Book 3
good November 1.
Fuel Oil Period No. 1 coupon
in 1943-44 sheets good for 10 gal
lons per unit through January 4,
1944. Period No. 2 good Novem
bed 30 through February 8, 1944.
Period No. 3 good November 30
through March 14, 1944.
Gasoline: Coupon No. 8 in A
Book good for three gallons each
through November 21. Only B
and C new type coupons with
words “mileage ration” printed on
the face aer good for supplement
al gasoline purchases at rate of
two gallons each. All coupons
must be endorsed immediately.
Tire Inspections: For B Book
holders, must be completed by
February 28; for C Book holders,
by November 30; for A Book i
holders by March 31, 1944.
Late applicants for War Ration
Book 4, apply in person at your
local board and present War Ra
tion Book 3.
____ I
Ibreezes from
> THE SOUTHWEST
By Romaine Saunders
j Atkinson, Nebr., Star Rt. No. 5
Down there at state headquart
ers they have Holt county listed
w'ith a few others as “past the
half-way mark” in the war fund
drive. I understand it should be
listed past the goal. It is not
like Holt county to do things by
halves.
The groups that make up the
faculties of our schools have been
regarded as conservative and
mentally balanced. It is some
thing of a surprise that at their
state and district meetings the
teachers took a hand in the “post
war” mess.
It is the sacred privilege of
the Yankee to approve or con
demn. The right to criticise too
often is untempered with a duty
to construct. Public criticism of
a congress comprising a group of
“yes men” has resulted in the
public constructing a congress no
longer dominated by Punch and
Judy.
Among quite some crowd of
men and women at a sale, the
latter had away and far the best
of it with clean faces and neat
attire. Many men were dressed
in slouch clothing, unwashed and
unshaven faces, brown tobacco
stains forming lines through the
stubble on dirty chins. Shave
and wash up, brother, that we
can make a better showing by
the side of the leaders.
Department store ad writers are
outdoing the circus boys in the use
of superlatives. Here’s a few
from a city store ad: The bright
er the better—an unexpected zing
with color this season! the subtle
flattery of lovely furred coats;
sparkle trimmings distinguish
after-dark styles; other chuck
frocks. Evidently there are
enough dizzy heads even in this
tragic hour to make this line of
gaff pay.
The condensed Gothic type—
like the Axis—are definitely on
the way out. It was said of a
Roman conspirator that “yon
Cassius hath an leah and hungry
look.’’ So hath the condensed
type, like an ill-fed cow that
barely makes it through till spring
as thin as a rail. The type is
neither handsome nor easily read.
Down in the city I did the poster
work for an entertainment organ
ization whose manager rejected
“slim type” with forceful words.
The Frontier has consistently |
stuck to the Caslons, of which
there are no better faces either
for readibility or art work. It j
stems back to Doc Mathews,
founder of the paper, who selected
the Caslon for his masthead.
Another expensive dream has
evaporated into the mists of for
gotten losses. This paragraph
from the Lincoln Journal tells the
doleful tale:
Commenting on the sale for
nominal prices of the expensive
houses put up on the Falls City
homestead now being liquidated,
Hyde Sweet says: “The intention
was to take a group of human
failures, install them on ten acre
plots, furnish them with modern,
well-equipped homes to spur up
their morale, and presto, make
them into No. 1 farmers, garden
ers,‘vegetable growers overnight.
Those new deal promoters forgot
that a ne’e-do-well in private
endeavor cannot be transmuted
from the dross of inability into
the pure gold of efficiency by
passing la ws, raking dough out
of the treasury and handing it,
over to them willy-nilly.’*
Someone has said that if a min-;
ister’s living fails to teach his
teaching fails to live. Over a
period of time I have had the priv- ,
ilege of the instruction and |
preaching of priest and preacher
of nearly every shade of belief as :
well as the Jewish rabbi. Some !
BONDS OVER AMERICA * « *
On the fringe of
West Virginia’^
Bethany College it
an old white frame
house, the home of
Alexander Campbell
a century ago. Son
of a Presbyterian,
he founded the Dis- .
ciples of Christ.
Home of Alex Campbell
Back the Attack
With War Bonds
H. Trotter, chief Nazi
labor recruiter in Bel
gium has just said: “The
church in its protest
against labor deporta
tions is taking a politi
cal action which has
nothing in common with
religion.”
Can Still Apply For
Ration Book No. 4
Persons who were unable to
make application for and receive
War Book 4 during the school
registration dates were advised
by M. E. Rawlings, district direc
tor of the Sioux City office of the
Office of Price Administartion,
that they could make late appli
cations at their Local War Price
and Rationing Boards after Octo
ber 31.
Mr. Rawlings also called atten
tion to the fact that A, B, and C
green stamps in War Book 4 be
come valid for processed foods on
November 1.
notables like E. Stanley Jones
and the late Billy Sunday, many
humbler brethren of the sacred
calling — some inspiring, some
with a gripping message, some
dull and lifeless. The first preach
ers to be sent on a mission had a
brief message. “ And as ye go,
preach, saying, The Kingdom of
heaven is at hand.” The message
was brief. Seven words. But
the message had something to do:
“Heal the sick, cleanse the leper,
raise the dead, cast out devils.’
A mission of deeds, not words.
We live today in a world-of words.
Church groups that are doing the
most to herd sinners toward the
“kingdom of heaven” are doing
something besides talking. The
first message was brief; the last
message is likewise brief: “Fear
God and give glory to Him, for
the hour of His judgement is
come.”
The winter’s stock of fuel is
stored away, bags of potatoes
stacked up, every glass jar and
bottle to which tops could be
fitted filled with fruit and vege
tables, along with “processed
foods” according to stamp quotas
in reserve. Jonathan and Ben
Davises scent with apple fra
grance a storage corner and the
lady of the house—an artist with
thread and needle—has patched
and put buttons on my old unions.
October drew to a close with a
snow fall, emphasizing the import
ance of all these winter provis
ions out on the prairie land where
you can be “snowed in” for weeks
at a time. It is not hoarding
but the customery forethought for
the cold months ahead. Follow- ,
ing a night and day of rain, dense
clouds through which neither sun
nor stars appeared, flash of light- 1
ning and crack of thunder intro-,
duced a snow fall. After many
days of prolonged sunshine that
touched the prairie with the gor
geous tints of autumn an inch or
more of moisture seasons the soil;
for the annual freeze lip- The
staccato note of prairie wolves
warned of weather changes. The
snow soon melted and sank away.
Before dawn Tuesday the morn- j
ing star looked down upon a land
scape dusted with hoar frost and i
an hour later the sun introduced
a calm, clear day.
A cordial and interesting letter
was received last week from
Montana Jack Sullivan. While
in O’Neill the past summer he
had planned to visit us but was
unable to do so and now writes
that he hopes to realize the fruit
ion of these plans “the next time I
go back home.” Much of the
pleasure of life centers around
our expectations, occasions we
look ahead to. Now I have some
thing to anticipate which an al
ways uncertain future holds in
store. “I enjoy your description I
of the prairie,” to quote from the
letter, “and your description of
the cloud effects are inspiring.” i
There is no greater compensation
for humble efforts than the sin
cere words of a friend. I quote!
again from the letter: “The clos
est I ever came to your ‘Home on
the Range,’ was on a hunting
trip, the last, I think I made dur
ing the Prairie chicken era. My
companions were a bunch, of died
in the wool hunters, Jim O’Don
nell. Charles Stout, Father Isadore
(Dick Dwyer), and the Enright
boys. I remember the flowing
wedls, the white faced cattle and
the endless stretches of meadow
land. The warm welcome we
were given by the farmers where
ever we stopped to get a drink of
water. Everyone we talked to
wanted to do something for us.
No where else where I have ever
been are the people more natural
and friendly than they are in and
around O’Neill. This quality of
its people, I think is what makes
O’Neill such a drawing card to
anyone who has ever lived there.”
Jack.—Gentleman Jack as he
was appropriately known— and
his brother Phil were two of the
“Michigan" boys who went to
Montana to carve out life’s des
tiny with bare hands. That Jack
has never lost touch with the old
home community discloses a re
markable loyalty to early memor
ies—memories of the warmth
of human friendships; of the boy
hood days in the great prairie
land, the flash of gold and purple
at sunset, the gathering of dark
clouds and the ominous roar of
an oncoming storm, the glow of
sunlight on dripping bush and
grassblade when the storm hast
passed. The treasurers of mem
ory are life’s floral bloom along
the rugged way.
Glad to hear from you, Montana
Jack, and look forward to a visit
with you not far hence.
Capt. Thos. Gaughen Has
Interesting Experience
Captain Thomas Gaughen, who
fills an important role in the war
effort as pilot of a plane used in
civic work connected with war
operations, is enjoying a vacation
at the home of his mother, Mrs.
Ella Gaughan. He came Satur
day evening and plans to leave
for his base at Washington, D. C.,
this (Thursday) afternoon. On his
visits home Captain Gaughen al
ways brings generous gifts to his
mother. This time they included
a lovely wrist watch from South
America, a Shaeffer lifetime pen
and a box of Nylon hose. During
the week he has enjoyed several
hunting trips with friends. One
trip was in search of frogs for a
frog leg fry. It met with moder
ate success, netting eight frogs,
but it was decided another hunt
would have to be made before
the fry could take place.
Thomas’ friends will be inter
ested in some of the details of
his work which he could make
known. The ship he flies is a
C-54. It carries eight tons of car
go including the ship’s personnel,
wounded soldiers of the allies,
and prisoners of war. During
June, July and August he made
eighteen trips across the Atlantic.
The ship makes one stop after
leaving Washington, D. C. That
is at Newfoundland. From there
to London is twelve hours’ flying
time. From London he goes to
North Africa and on to Tunisia,
from there across Sicily. He av
erages 30,000 miles per month.
When the ship needs new motors
he returns to this country, and
while the new motors are being
installed is allowed time off ac
cording to the time he has spent
in the air. His leave this time
was twenty days, but he was de
layed two days in starting home
because of wartime traveling con
ditions and he must be back in
Washington. D. C., for two days
before starting on his next trip.—
North Bend, Nebr., Eagle.
Captain Gaughen is the son of
a former O’Neill girl. Miss Ella
Earley, daughter of the late Mr.
and Mrs. James Earley, pioneer
residents of the country north of
O’Neill and a sister of Edward and
James Earley of this city. He has
been an aviator for many years
and has visited relatives here
many times and is well known to
many of our people.
Crippled Children’s Clinic
Here Saturday, Nov. 6
The regular 90-day clinic for
crippled children will be held in
the O’Neill high school auditor
ium on Saturday, November 6th.
The clinic registration will be
from 7:30 a. m. to 11:30 a. m. The
examining specialists conducting
the clinic will be Dr. W. R. Hanna,
orthopedist, and Dr. J. A. Henske,
pediatrician. Children who are
not now receiving services under
the program may be admitted to
the clinic when referred by the
local physician. It is requested
that all registrations be made as
early as possible.
The Elks Lodge is furnishing,
without cost, a noon lunch to all
children and their parents who
are registered for the clinic ex
aminatiohs.
Hospital Notes
L. G. Gillespie, an accident
patient, was admitted Monday.
George Alderman was admitted
on Monday.
Miss Alma Bacon had her ap
pendix removed Wednesday.
Livestock Prices Advance
On All Classes Monday
Last week’s postponement of
immediate price restrictions on
live cattle resulted in a firm mar
ket trend on practically all classes
at the local market last Monday.
Prices were generally stronger
with some kinds showing a big
25 cents advance. Buying action
was good and all classes found
ready clearance. Receipts were
not as heavy in the cattle division
as in recent weeks, but the hog
alley was full to overflowing with
more than 1100 head on sale here.
The best grade of steer calves
on sale here and scaling 350 lbs.
paid up to $13.00. Heifers topped
at $12.50. Quality was barely fair
to medium without much room
for choice.
Yearling steers ranged in price
from $11.50 to $12.50. with a few
reaching slightly higher. Heifers
paid mostly $10.25 to $11 25.
Cow receipts were fairly heavy
again. Beef cows scaling around
1400 lbs. made $11.00. Those car
rying less flesh brought from
$9.50 to $10.50 or above. Com
moner grades cashed in the high
eights and lower nines. Canners
and cutters ranged from $8.00
drwn.
Hog receipts were very heavy
h- re. Bulk of the run consisted
of slaughter hogs, though there
was a good supply of feeders on
hand. Butchers topped at $13 65,
with a large share of supplies
scoring that figure. Sows bulked
at $13.40. Feeders averaging 135
lbs. brought $13.00.
A few sheep and horses wound
up the day’s offering. Next auc
tion on Monday, November 8.
Relatives here received word
that Pvt. Laverne Morrow, who
is in the Army Air Corp, had ar
rived safely in England.
ALL INFORMATION IS
RUSHED TO NEXT KIN
The War Department constant
ly is intent on providing for the
next of kin the maximum infor
mation available as to the Army
personnel who become battle cas
ualties. With regard to the miss
ing, just as with regard to the
killed, wounded and prisoners of
war, all information except the
small amount which may immedi
ately affect security is forwarded
to those concerned.
Uf the total of some ao.uuu men
who have been reported as battle
casualties through September 30,
1943, approximately 23,500 are
listed as missing. Most of the
missing were lost in the Philip
pines. They include 10,788 Philip
pine Scouts and 5,316 officers and
men of the U. S. Army. Some of
the latter still are being reported
from time to time by the Japan
ese government as prisoners of
war. Japan has not furnished this
country with lists of Philippine
Scouts who are prisoners.
From all other areas in the
world where U. S. Army troops
have been in action, 7,450 are re
corded as missing in action. A
number of these men may be sub
sequently reported as prisoners of
war in Germany or Japan and a
few may be reported as internees
of neutral countries. Some others
may ultimately be located and re
turn to duty.
When a theater of operations
reports the names of men listed
as casualties, the Adjutant Gen
eral of the Army immediately
notifies the emergency addressees
by telegraph. Care is taken to
see that the names are not an
nounced in the field and that the
first word goes officially to the
next of kin or the relative or
friend who is designated as the
emergency addressee. In the case
of missing soldiers the telegram
of notification gives all available
information, including the gen
eral area where the missing man
was in action.
As soon as further information
is received, the emergency ad
dressee again is notified by tele
gram or letter. Often the Adju
tant General is able to report that
the missing man has been taken
prisoner. Sometimes men tempor
arily isolated in battle make tneir
way back to duty, a circumstance
which is promptly reported to
the emergency addressee.
In a case where the enemy has
identified American dead and re
ported it through the Internation
al Red Cross, the Adjutant Gen
eral notifies the next of kin that
it has been determined that the
man previously reported missing
has been killed.
At least weeks and frequently
months elapse before reports that
men have been taken prisoner are
received from the enemy. In the
meantime, there is usually no in
formation at hand. The Adjutant
General reports immediately to
the next of kin all such informa
tion as he possesses or subse
quently receives.
To provide information as to
the essential facts on the casualty
status of each of the 85,000 men
who have been battle casualties
has been a tremendous task in the
face of obvious difficulties. The
reporting on casualties is done
from combat areas spread around
the world, some of them isolated
and all subject to the pressure of
battle action. The ebb and flow
of battle, the strain of continuous
movement and fighting, and the
limited nature of communication
facilities at the fronts make the
keeping of records in the field ex
tremely difficult. These records,
although naturally limited in de
tails, are nevertheles maintained.
O’Neill Boy Graduates
From Lowery Field
Pfc. Merrill C. Hicks, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hicks of
this city, graduated on October
25, 1943, from the Lowery Field
Colorado, Army Air Force Techni
cal Command, Armament SchooL
Merrill is a graduate of the
O’Neill High school with the Class
of 1941. After graduation he
went to the west coast and was
an employee of the Lockheed Cor
poration at Burbank, Cal., prior
to his induction into the army.
He was inducted at Fort Leaven
worth, Kansas, and had his basic
training at Lincoln, Nebr., and
shipped from there to Lowery
Field. He is 20 years of age.
George Koster, Niobrara,
Appointed Representative
It has just been announced by
Maurice E. Rawlings, district di
rector of the Office of Price Ad
ministration, that George G. Kos
ter has been appointed a local
board representative for the fol
lowing counties in Nebraska, un
der the jurisdiction of the Sioux
City district office: Antelope,
Boyd, Brown, Cedar. Cherry. Dix
on, Holt, Keya Paha, Knox, Rock,
! Pierce, Wayne and "Wheeler, and
| the following counties in South
I Dakota: Bon Homme, Clay, and
Yankton.
Mr. Koster resides at Niobrara
and will have his headquarters at
the local war price and rationing
board office in Center, Nebr. He
represents the district director in
the handling of all administrative
matters in the field. Mr. Roster’s
appointment became effective on
October 18, last.