The Command Post - Oct. 20, 1944 - China-Burma-India Theater of World War II

VOL. II. No. 7 OCTOBER 20, 1944 FOR U.S. ARMED FORCES PRECENSORED FOR MAILING

B-29s LAUNCH
SIX RAIDS ON
FORMOSA AREA

   Six huge raids in six days, beginning last Saturday, were launched at Formosa by the B-29 Superfortresses operating from China bases.
   The important bases of Tanian, Talao, Okayama and Helo were all hit on Formosa, which the XX Bomber Command communique calls the most important target south of Japan proper.
   On Saturday's opening raid, the greatest force of B-29 Superforts ever sent out successfully, attacked the Formosan repair base and supply depot at Okayama. The weather over the target was good and returning crews reported considerable damage.
   In the six days raids warehouses were destroyed in the Talao dock area, buildings utterly wrecked at Heito, airplane hangars heavily damaged at Tainan, and many assembly plants, hangars aand buildings ravaged at Okayama airfield.
   In addition, a XX Bomber Command communique adds, "all Japanese air strips in the Formosa target area have been made unserviceable due to the bomb damage by the Superfortresses.
   At the same time that the communique was being released concerning the raids, Maj. Gen. Curtis LeMay, commanding general of the XX Bomber Command, toild newsmen at a base in China that not a single B-29 has been shot down by enemy fighters on any of the nine missions the Superforts had made up to that time. The B-29s during this time have downed 37 Japanese planes, probably destroyed 36, and damaged 59.

Okayama Field, Depot, Shops
Suffer New B-29 Technique
By JOHN J. ANDREW
United Press War Correspondent    (The following eye-witness dispatch was written on a portable typewriter setting on the navigator's table of the Superfortress "Himalaya Hussy."
   Correspondent Andrew, a former U.S. Navy Midshipman, is classified a "totally disabled veteran." The Navy gave him an honorable discharge after a year's seige with malaria. It said "unfit for combat duty." He has been in the CBI four months.)
   ABOARD A B-29 SUPERFORTRESS BOMBING FORMOSA - We arre now circling four miles above the China coast, grouping our formation for the first Superfortress bombing attack on Formosa.
   Five Superforts have joined the "Himalaya Hussy" as she banks over and heads across the Formosa Straits towards the target - Okayama Air Field, site of a great Japanese air depot and repair shops.
   The pilot, Capt. James E. Lyons, 24, Stockton, Calif., has flown tyhe "Hussy" for the last four hours through dense overcast. Most of the time he had been flying on instruments. As predicted by the XX Bomber Command's weatherman, sunshine appears as we head acroos the Straits and visibility is more than 20 miles.
   The Bombardier, Lt. Eugene R. O'Brien, 22, Albany, N.Y., sitting in the green house up forward calls, "Formosa - dead ahead."

JOHN J. ANDREW

   From this height the coast line looks like the peaceful shores of California, until one notices billowing clouds rising for more than 10,000 feet. One formstion has already visited Okayama. As we start our bombing run, we see this first formation heading back towards China on our port side. Now we can see the runways and installations ahead.
   This raid is testing the new technique for the Superfortresses - formation bombing - the same as developed by Major General Curtis LeMay, Commander of the XXthe, in Europe.
   O'Brien opens the bomb bays as our formation close up. The "Hussy's" co-piolot, Lt. Col. Robert E. Greer, 29, Huntington Beach, Calif., who is chief of maintennance and supply for the XXth, id flying as co-pilot today. To enable us to fly closer to the lead ship, Lyons asks Col. Greer to take over controls as he's riding in-board to our leader. Both Lyons and Greer have pipes clamped between their teeth.
   We can now see puffs of flak [above] and below our formation
   "Bombs away," calls O'Brien, as all the ships empty their bellies simuiltaneously. The interphone crackles from the gunner in the rear of the plane who reports, "The flak is coming up close on both sides." Black puffs are now coming dangerously near the wings. The Japanese seem to be getting our plane in range.
   All concern over the flack disappears when the right gunner, S/Sgt. Howard J. Cyr, 34, Chippewa Falls, Wis., cryptically reports over the interphone, "Captain, there is a bomb hanging in the rear bomb bay."

CURTIS E. LEMAY

   Since the Superforts bomb bays are sealed, no one can crawl to the back and kick the bomb loose, so O'Brien tries salvoing the bomb several rimes. Intermittently he calls to Cyr over the interphone to check wheter the bomb has freed itself yet. The "Hussy" is now in the thick of flak. The interphone is alive with chatter, Lyons breaks in with, "Get off that God damn interphone until that bomb is clear."
   The whole crew's attention is now turned to the bomb bays as O'Brien tries all the tricks of his trade to release the bomb. Finally Cyr reports, "The bomb is clear lieutenant," and the feeling of all is expressed by our tail gunner, T/Sgt. Mike Smola, 28, New Bedford, Mass., wh yells an unsuppressed "Whoope."
   With the bomb out of the way, Lyons calls his gunners to keep a sharp look out for any fighters and to report how our bombs fell. All say that they landed smack on the target, belching flames and smoke into the air.
   Engineers officer, Lt. Mike Knezevich, 26, Milwaukee, Wis., has reved up the "Hussy's" horses for the "break away." Now the Superfort, as she leaps forward at a terrific speed, exhibits one of the reasons why Japanese fighters have failed to shoot down a B-29 to date.
   Thye gunners, Pvt. Jamers M. Moffit, 26, Meadville, Pa.; S/Sgt. Francis C. Hodgeton, 22, Houlton, Me. and T/Sgt. Charles W. Sullivan, 22, Goreville, Ill., all report that no Japanese fighters are to be seen.
   We are now over the Formosa Straits again heading home. We had been over Formosa less than five minutes.
   Crew members now settle down for a lunch consisting of tomato juice, cheese and crackers, cookies and candies. Our radio operator, T/Sgt. Richard By. Haynes, 31, Portland, Ore. tunes in a Japanese propaganda radio station on the Philippines which is playing swing music and telling how they are winning the war "in news casts."
   The navigator, Lt. Maxine B. Montgomery, 27, Amarillo, Texas, who charted us to the target, and who is plotting our course home is sitting at his navigator's table. He has just looked over at me as T put the finishing touches on this and issued this statement on the raid: "Kinda dull wasn't it?"

Wrench, Pick Or Clippers
All In A Day At Myitkyina

   MYITKYINA :- Life was never like this (see pix below) in the Training Manual in Uncle Sugar, men of the Air Service Command have learned since they moved in alongside Ge, Stilwell's forces last Spring where they have entrenched and encamped on the "Ole Mitch" hot strip for the maintenance and supply of aircraft.
   Because Myitkyina has become the "biggest-busiest little airport in the world," rivaling Reno's slogan claim to fame as a city. ASC men have been busy as switch engines.
   The "Burma Peacocks," commanded by Col. William S. Pocket Jr., of Detroit, are currently on the job on the banks of the Irrawaddy. They relieved Col. Andrew L. Castleman's veterans of Africa and Italy who had occuoied the field right after its capture by Gen. Merrill, the Chinese and Chindits.
   The following pctures tell their own story of Air Service Command work and fun in North Burma.

ALL THE COMFORTS OF - WELL ALMOST
Haircut just like home - ah, yes. Left to right at the Hangar Tonsorial Parlors: Corp. John J. Demma, Utica, N.Y.; Pvt. Samuel Crabtree, New Orleans; Sgt. Harry Fragola, Utica, N.Y., in the chair, and Corp. Richard E. Herman, Detroit, with the clippers.

MORE WORK
A P-47, grounded on the rice paddy near the Jap perimeter, below Mogaung, was "cannibalized" for parts and assemblies by the ASC men who went to the scene of the wheel-less landing via jeep and foot power, and carried out the salvage.

THEY KEEP THEM WINGING
"Dope and fabric" they call it - and this type of repair is done by teams of ASC experts in their hangar tents.

TRENCH, NON-COMBAT
The old familiar chore - need we say more. (CBI Air Service Command photos).

TREMENDOUS POST-WAR HELP NEEDED IN CHINA

WASHINGTON (ANS) - Almost $3,500,000,000 worth of relief supplies will be needed by China in the first year after liberation, a Chinese Government commision said Wednesday, in disclosing a request for a third of that sum from the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.
The war ravaged nation will need 10,000,000 tons of imported supplies in the first 18 months of peaCE, during which restoration of transportation will be the first necessity, the statement said.

HELLO
S/Sgt. Ralph Braunstein, Brooklyn, N.Y., greets S/Sgt. Paul Lindsey, Jamestown, N.Y., as he boards an ATC polane at an India-China Division base.

GOOD BYE
S/Sgt. Lindsey thinks he's seeing double when he gets off at the other end of the line and is met by S/Sgt. Charles Braunstein at another ATC base.

Twin Brothers Have ATC Passengers Seeing Double
   ATC BASE, INDIA - India is alleged to be the land of mystery and magic, and passengers arriving at this India China Division ATC base often are inclined to believe that the magician's art has been perfected when the door of their plane is opened and S/Sgt. Charles Braustein asked for their ticket.
   Most of them shake their heads in wonderment and - if they're GI's - start thinking of asking for a Section Eight, because they will insist, this same staff sergeant dispatched them from their previous stop.
   It sometimes takes a little explaining to straighten out the confusion. S/Sgt. Ralph Braunstein, a twin brother of Charles, is based at another ATC base. Both work in priorities and traffic, and it isn't unusual for one brother to dispatch a plane and the twin to greet it at the next stop. The procedure inevitably sets tongues to wagging and heads to shaking.
   The Braunstein twins, enlisted in the army on May 25, 1942 and have been in the CBI theater since January 1944. Their home is in Brooklyn, N.Y.

93 Day ‘Walkout’ Like Movie Scenario

   ATC BASE, INDIA - One of the longest "Hump" walk-outs recorded by the ATC's India-China Division is a 93-day trk which wore the shoes off the downed crew and furnished thrills worthy of a movie scenario.
   Airmen who experienced the adventure were Lt. Charles G. Allison, Montclair, N.J., pilot; Lt. Robert A. Engels, Ghent, Minn., co-pilot; Pfc. Edward A. Salay, Toledo, Ohio, radio operator, and Pvt. Rocco J. Commaratto, Brooklyn, N.Y., crew chief.
   Several months ago, the crew was flying a transport plane from China to an ATC base in Assam when an engine cut out. Lt. Allioson, realizing the plane did not have enough altitude to clear the jagged Himalayas, ordered the crew to get ready to bail out. As the others got the rear door open the second engine conked and the party "hit the silk."
   Pfc. Salay and Pvt. Commaratto landed in trees and were cut down by natives who quickly gathered. Lt. Engels landed on a mountainside and Lt. Allison wound up top a fence. The crew got together in ten minutes. Headman of a nearby native village, coached by an American missionary, handed the crew a card directing the men to the mission, five days' walking distance away, in the middle of the Himalayas.
   En route the men saw the wreck of their plane which had hit a rock and exploded. Lt. Allison said they were "exceedingly fortunate" to have landed where they did. He explained.
   "The natives a little to the South, who have not come into contact with the Missionaries, were decidely anti-social. They don't like any strangers. Also, had we jumped two minutes earlier, we would have come down in absolutely inaccessible, mountainous country."
   With the aid of guides dispatched by the native headman, the crew reached the mission. The airmen settled downw to await discovery by a rescue plane or rains to crush the ice and make out-going trails passable. They spent their time trying to signal passing planes, reading and listening to the radio.
   Nineteen days after their arrival, the rescue ship spotted the signals and dropped a 12-day supply of rations. Early the next month rains began and by the middle of the month the missionaryt decided it would be possible to get through the mountain passes.
   Accompained by the missionary, his son and 16 coolies, the crew set forth on the long trek to Burma - cutting steps in the mountain ice, climbing over enormous rocks, holding on by fingers and toes. The first day's travel was a blank because the path was blocked. The crew camped out in the snow and, as Lt. Allison put it, "darn near froze to death."
   During the descent down the mountain next morning to try another pass, Pfc. Salay lost his footing and rolled and slid more than 1,000 feet down a steep slope, luckily missing rocks and trees.
   The trek out was slow, progressing only ten miles a day. The men spent most nights in native villages. The rations dropped by plane gave out and the crew and its saviours had to subsist on rice obtained from natives. Shoes and clothing took a beating, and a horse had to be requistioned from a native village to carry Salay, whose shoes fell to pieces, making it impossible for him to continue afoot. Pvt. Commaratto struggled along on his inner soles.
   Lt. Allison recounts that Lt. Engles had "a couple rugged experiences." While moving along the face of a cliff on a woven bamboo cable made by the natives, the cable broke. Lt. Engles grabbed wildly at a projecting bush which, luckily, sustained his weight so that Pvt Cammoratto was able to reach down and pull him to the relative safety of a rock ledge. Had the ush given way, the Lieutenant would have been dashed to his death on the jagged rocks far below.
   On another occasion, Lt. Engles walked almost directly into an eight-foot king cobra, with hood expanded, which blocked his path. Lt. Allison describes the event thus:
   "Lt. Engels claims his quick draw would make Hollywood stars look as if they were acting in slow motion but he still was not quick enough to get a shot at the cobra which uncoiled and slithered away."
   Allison said voracious leeches, flies, lice and other insects bothered them continually. The crew reached a spotter station in Burma where they awaited the visit of a rescue ship, enabling the men to vary their diet with corn-willie. They also helped eat a 250-pound wild bear shot by one of the station's personnel. The walking rescue unit soon arrived with badly needed shoes and rations.
   The airmen travelled by jeep to a larger Army installation from which they were flown in a hospital plane to their base in Assam. They reached "home" just 93 days after their plane went down. After a physical examination the station surgeon pronounced the men "in excellent physical shape - probably in better condition than when the trip started."
   One of the crew replied:
   "That may be true, but it's a hell of a way ton get in shape!"

The Wolf

by Sansone

Engineer Helps To Fly Bomber Home

   The Silver Star was awarded recently to T/Sgt. George V. Sisson, Shawaville, Va., aerial engineer on a B-24 (Liberator) of the Seventh Bombardment Group, Tenth Air Force, Easteern Air Command, for "gallantry" and "methodical coolness" displayed after his bomber had been crippled by enemy fire over Japanese-held territory.
   Sergeanr Sisson was manning the top turret gun of his B-24 on a mission deep in Burma when heavy fighter oppostion and intense anti-aircraft fire were encountered. After a number of fighter attacks had been fought off, the bomber was severely damaged.
   Leaving his turret, Sergeant Sisson immediaytely drained gasoline from a punctured auziliary tank, thius preventing a disastrous fire. The bombardier had taken over the controls, since the co-pilot had been killed and the pilot wounded, and Sisson helped him to fly the crippled plane until an emergency landing field was sighted. The B-24's hydraulic system had been shot out, so Sisson had to crank the landing wheels down by hand. By this time the wounded pilot had recovered slightly and, with Sisson's help, he brought the aurcraft safely to the ground.
   Sergeant Sisson holds the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as the Silver Star.

Depot Crews Ship Massive Crane To Myitkyina By Air

Chalking up another amazing feat of transportation this week, were the U.S. Army Engineers, and the Air Transport Command, when they shipped a huge heavy-weight power shovel to Brig. Gen. L. A. Pick's headquarters at recently liberated Myitkyina. The job was done in the remarkable time of only four days. September 26th General Pick sent his urgent request, specifying that the shovel must be in operation by October 1st, and four days later, bright and early on the morning of October 1st, the big crane was rarin' to go on a tough construction job in northern Burma.
The city of Myitkyina is jot on a railroad, and oits approximately 210 miles from the railhead to which supplies are shipped. It was impractical to carry the shovel to Myitkyina by any means other than air. When the men of the Air Transport Command were informed of the problem, they agreed to assign six C-47 transport planes to the job, and September 28th was set as the day for the actual loading.

Crew of Engineers loading the frame of the Quickway crane into one of the six C-47 planes used in the shipment to Myitkyina. The overall length of this one piece alone is over 26 feet and it weighs 4460 pounds. (Signal Corps photo).

   Unusually smart head work on the part of the Engineers and Hq. Det. of Gen. Depot 2 dismantling team made it possible to get every piece in. The cutting torch was used only once. This team which had worked late into the night on the dismantling also began the loading process. Each part had to be carefully marked so that it could be reassembled in the shortest possible time, and again these men worked all night at their task.
   When the big planes landed at Myitkyina, unloading was begun immediately. The unloading equipment consisted of an "A" Frame, a GMC truck, and a 20 ton LeTourneau Crane, all of which had been previously flown in by the same method.
   Back in Calcutta a few days later, another wire was received from General Pick, and this time the General needed a Quickway crane. Some of the ATC officers balked on this equipment, however, when it was decided to try and put the 4460 pound, 26 foot crane into one C-47. One officer said it couldn't be done, and offered to bet some of the enthusiastic Engineers Rs. 25 that he was right. He had lots of takers however, and when the boys started to tear down the crane and stuff it in the C-47, using every possible inch of space, he changed his mind. The Quickway Crane was delivered at the Myitkyina airfield seven days later.
   Major William R. Ziegler, Engineering Supply Officer, said this week that he hoped this wouldn't start "another gold fish eating contest" and result in other units all over the world claiming they have bettered the record set by the local crew "but we do feel that we in the CBI Theatre should be proud of our achievements."
   High praise however, did com from Brig. Gen. Pick, who praised the "splendid spirit of co-operation" of all concerned in the accomplishment. General Pick pointed out that as time was of the essence in getting the shovel to Myitkyina, the arrival on time "contributed largely to the success of important military operations taking place in the area."
   Maj. Gen. G. X. Cheeves in a letter to Col. A. M. O'Dell, commanding officer of General Depot No. 2, said that as "our job is to supply and take care of the forward troops, this fine example of initiative and resourcefulness is an example of the way we must work. This is the sort of reputation we must earn. I desire to add my commendation to that of General Pick for the fine way in which you as commanding officer, and the officers and enlisted men under you, have handled this job."
   Singled out for special praise were Corp. Thomas T. Hughes, Pfc. Irving C. Benneau, Pvt. Heber Eaves, from Hq. Detachment, General Depot No. 2, and T/Sgt. William Tatum, Corp. David Vrialin, Corp. Schueyler Roberson, Corp. Barney A. Bucha, Corp. William N. Makinen from an Engineering Base Equipment Company. These men were commended for their part in the job by Major Arnold A. Seigel, Liason Officer, Advance Section No. 3, and his words were fully indorsed by both General Cheeves and General Pick.

FROZEN FOODS WIN COMMENDATION

   In an official communication from Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, General Depot No. 2 was recently commended for shipping frozen meat and ice cream to troops in the forwarded area.
   "Will you please convey," the commendation said in part, "to the sections of your headquarters . . . the appreciation of NCAC for the signal service which is being performed quite evidentally under difficult conditions."
   Addressed to the Commanding General of Base Section 2, the commendation contained an indorsement from Maj. Gen. Cheeves which added to those of Gen. Stilwell. Closing his congratulatory message, the Base Section 2 Commander wrote, "I desire that this fine effort be continued and enlarged."
   Lt. Col. A. M. O'Dell, Depot CO, passed the praise along to his command, giving particular credit to Major M. C. Coop for overall supervision of the project; Major Thomas R. Lawson for procuring the required facilities; Lt. Richard I. Bourell for administrative work; Sgt. Chatles D. Baker for ice cream production and packing; Sgt. Zackie W. Currie for transportation co-ordination and Corp. Billie L. Givens for preparation of the chickens for shipment.

ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME AIR LINES

ATC BASE, INDIA - Something new has been added.
CBI veteans who have sweated out many a weary and uncomfortable mile riding bucket seats in C-46 and C-47 airplanes on routes which stretch from Karachi to China will be pleased to learn that many of the India-China Division, ATC's planes on passenger runs

THIS IS THE ARMY
Pvt. Adam Schmitz, St. Louis, Mo., flight clerk on one of the new ATC planes equipped with recling, padded chairs, passes out reading material. Lush comfort of the new plane is contrasted with thebucket seats in which scores of CBI veterans have ridden in C-46 and C-47 planes. (ATC photo).

now are equipped with soft, recling seats and flight clerk service.
   In addition to their task of keeping passengers comfortable and happy, flight clerks keep the paper records for passengers and cargo, make sure that cargo is loaded and unloaded at proper stations and, in general, relieve the operation crew of the plane from the many clerical details involved.
   Flight clerks are graduates of a special school at Hamilton Field in Shangri-La. The ATC uses them not only in the CBI Theater, but also on transocian flights and interior hops in may other theatres all over the world.
   Among the flight clerks' stock-in-trade are playing cards, magazines, Army Special Service books, water and paper cups and even hot coffee on some flights. In short, the airline stewardesses have nothing on the ATC flight clerks - well, not much anyway.
   One hump-happy veteran, going home on rotation and having his first ride in one of these upholstered, super-deluxe service jobs, watched the going-on for several hundred ,iles, finally sighed deeply, turned to a fellow passenger and said:
   "Jeez, the only way this could be beaten would be to make these flight clerks WACs."
   (Ed's Note: Maybe he has something there!)

Stars Lash Back At Theatre Paper

   HOLLYWOOD (ANS) - The CBI "Roundup," a Theatre publication in New Delhi, this week came in for some round-house haymakers from no less a source than some of Hollywood's brightest stars. Actress Ann Sheridan, swinging out for herself in the nornets nest stirred up by the "Roundup" offered to "fight boy fashion, no holds barred with anybosy who thinks I, or any of the gang I accompanied, 'dogged' it in the overseas Theatre."
   The "Roundup" had complained editorially that some entertainers remain in CBI "just long enough to send out their laundry" and then "sneak back home" with a lot of publicity. Hollywood reaction was immediate and explosive, much of it in the same vein as that of Miss Sheridan's.
   Joe E. Brown, Joel McCrea, Paulette Goddard and Al Jolson were among those accused of developing an urge to return to stay home after discovering that CBI is "hot, wet and full of mosqutoes." Miss Goddard said it was regrettable that there are some few dissidents, but that thousands of letters she has received indicated many more were completely happy.
   McCrea said he had not been to CBI because he had not been invited, and Brown declined to enter the controversy because "I love those kids too much to criticize them." Jolson denied being booked for CBI at all.

New USO Show Will
Hit Commandtown Soon

   Fresh from five weeks touring in the "rice-paddy circuit" in China, USO Show 99 is due in Commandtown shortly, as a culmination of their 15 months of overseas trouping.
   Though not bolstered by any of the "name players," who shall be nameless in CBI, this gang of troupers have presented their stuff before GIs in North Africa, Sicily and Italy before coming to the CBI, and their hour or more show has been well received all over.
   MCing the show is Gene Emerald of the "Club Matinee" Air show over Chicago's Mutual station who also doubles with a few vocals. Jack Cavanaugh, a veteran Circus and vaudeville performer does some rope work, acrobatic dancing and local repartee. Joe Tershay is the magician of the show from San Francisco's International Settlement, and completing the group is Basil Fomeen, an accordionist who formerly lead bands in such spots as the Hotel Pierre and the Waldof-Astoria in New York. (Picture on the Picture Page)

JUST FOUR HOMESICK ROVER
BOYS FROM THE CBI THEATRE

   GIs who have served in India for 18 months and longer, may by this time be somewhat discouraged, and even find themselves receptive to the thought that once you get into CBI you can't get out. Not so, Ye Editor is in receipt this week of a bit of news that convinces him that anything is possible among the red-blooded American boys in the China-Burma-India Theatre.
   This week in Baltimore three of four soldiers who went AWOL in India, and used forged furlough papers to hitch-hike plane rides back to the States, were picked up and face probable court martial. All landed in Miami.
   One went to Erie, Pennsylvania, his home, but returned to Miami when his father refused to permit him to stay when he learned that he was AWOL. MPs picked up two others in New York City, and the whereabouts of the fourth is still unknown. (Editor's note: Maybe after he observed the deplorable conditions in the U.S. he thumbed his way back - i.e. no smokes, no gas, no steaks, etc.)
   Asked to comment on this amazing fete a War Departmenr offcial said "You could knock me over with a fender - if that don't take the rag offen' the bush."

NO EASING OF
PACKAGE LIMIT
FOR CHRISTMAS
Contrary to rumors to the effect that an unlimited number of Christmas packages may be sent back to the States, the Postal Officer, Base Section 2, announced this week that there will be no relaxation of the regulations and that the regular monthly allowance of one package, weighing not more than ten pounds, is still in effect.
There will be no special dispensation with regard to Christmas packages.

Christmas Mail Buries US APOs

NEW YORK (ANS) - Postal authorities reported this week that Christmas gifts for service men and women overseas has already reached an unprecedented volume, as the nation's families rushed to mail packages before the Oct. 16th deadline.
An estimated 14,000,000 packages were mailed in New York, and represented an increase of more than 10,000,000 over last year. The Chicago post office reported 6,000,000 packages, San Francisco 17,000,000, Buffalo 350,000 and 39 more carloada unsent, Kansas City 200,000, Washington 700,000, Atlanta 150,000 and Boston reported a volume much greater than last year.

NEW LEAGUE OF NATIONS
TO HAVE OWN DOMAIN

NEW YORK, Oct. 19 :- Discussing where the United Nations general organisation for peace and security will have its headquarters, Pertinax, in the New York Times, says: "A knot of important men, among whom are officials formerly in the service of the old League of Nations, have made it their business to have Geneva confirmed in its status as the International metropolis.
"The plan they puit forward is mature," he continues, "and it endows the New League with a territorial domain, the French district of Gex la Cote, and an outlet to Lake Geneva across Swiss territory. The little city of Rex is planned to be set apart for the 'Coiuncil of Security.'"

Over 450 Members In CBI-Wisconsin Club

The membership of the CBI-Wisconsin Club has been swelled to 453 servicemen and women it was announced by the Executive Committee of the club this week. The club has set a goal of 500 members by the first of November.
At the same time it was announced that S/Sgt. Lawrence E. Schoenrock, the club's Vice-President had received a check for $50 from Walter S. Woodlaw, Governor of Wisconsis, as a contribution toward the gala Christmas party which the club has planned.

AT EASE
Enjoying the USO Show No.99 at the Victory House in Chungking are (Left to Right) Brig. Gen. William E. Bergen, former commander of the Ramgarh Training Center, Maj. Gen. Frank D. Merrill, Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, and Maj. Gen. Thomas G. Hearn, chief of staff USAF-CBI.

COME AND GET IT
Corp. Peter E. Erdman, Newburg, N.Y., stands by as "Duke" eats especially prepared mixture of dehydrated horse meat from GI helmet. Duke came to CBI from California.

CHOPSTICK SERENADE
Enjoying a 'real' Chinese dinner at a Commandtown restaurant as the guests of Lt. Yin Yah, Chinese aerial navigator, who also revealed the secrets of chopstick navigation, are, left to right:- Corp. Tommy Amer, Los Angeles, American-Chinese combat cameraman with U.S. Signal Corps; Lt. Yin Yah; LAC Danny Taylor, Blantyre, Scotland, of the Royal Air Force; Corp. E. E. Henning, Ossining, N. Y.. U.S. D\Signal Corps cameraman and Corp. George Cole, Ossining, N. Y.

K-9 KILLER
'Spike,' Belgian shepherd, reputed to be the meanest canine in Burma, in his dog house. Jap flag, part of which is visible, was taken from a Jap Spike killed while on patrol. Corp. Garland Clark, Richardson Park, Md., is Spike's CO.

CONTEST WINNER
M/Sgt. Howard M. Arnegard, right, of Hillsboro, N. D., winner of an open contest for the best, and now famous, Fourteenth Air Force insignia, is presented a Chinese silk banner by Maj. Gen. C. L. Chennault, commandiong general of the famous "Flying Tigers."

FRAMED
Lts. Helen, M. Whannel, Baltimore, Md.; Feloicia A. Poscius, Riverside, N. J.; Ethel C. Shilmover, Baltimore and Lilian L. Frances, Pueblo, Colo., (left to right) Army nurse framed in their train window by the COMMAND POST photographer as their choo-choo rolled in to Calcutta station.

MARINE MEMORIAL
A wooden cross rises above this memorial erected by U.S. Marines on Tarawa in honor of their comrades who died wrestling the Gilbert Islands base from the Japs last November. The memorial is near the beach where U.S. forces stormed ashore to win the South Pacific atoll in a bloody three-day battle.

MEMORY SONGS
Gene Emerald of USO Show No. 99, picks out a few old favorites for the boys in China at an informal get-together afteer the show. Smiling approval (Left to Right) are T/Sgt. Walter Conoly, Atlanta, Ga., Pfc. Jacob B. Ellis, Eldorado, Kan., Pfc. Norman L. Fallowfield, Detroit, Mich., and Sgt. Charles A. Cooper, Brinkley, Ark. The Chinese boy is not impressed.

SIGN OF THE TIMES
"You are entering Germany" a sign on the Belgian-German frontier alerts U.S. soldiers xrossing the border in a jeep.

TAYLOR IN NEW ROLE
Navy Lt. (jg) Robert Taylor, now a flight instructor, will act in 17 short films designed to train potential flight instructors. According to the Navy, they will constitute "a new approach to flight training."

THE COMMAND POST. Published weekly by the Headquarters of Base Section 2 for military personnel only. Lt. Lester H. Geiss, Director, S/Sgt. Harry Purcell, Editor; S/Sgt. Jesse Sincere, circulation; Sgt. Maurice Pernod, news; Sgt. Bernard Cohen, drama; Pvt. Adolph A. Reibel, reporter. Printed at the "Patrika Press"

Vol. II No. 7 ~ OCTOBER 20, 1944

Adapted from the original issue of THE COMMAND POST

Copyright © 2023 Carl Warren Weidenburner

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