JAP RAILROADS AND STORAGE DUMPS GET BLASTED AGAIN The Tenth Air Force gave the Japs no respite in Burma this week. Communications and storage facilities were singled out as the primary targets. Heavy bombers attacked an escorted enemy convoy far south of Rangoon on Jan. 15. Hits were made on a cargo vessel of 7,000 tons. Debris was scattered over the sea, the crew was seen to abandon ship and the vessel was reported to be in a sinking condition when our planes left. Another vessel of 5,000 tons was believed damaged as the result of near misses. One the same day, fighters attacked enemy targets in northwestern Burma. Poor visibility handicapped observation of results, but an enemy headquarters north of Maingkwan and a footbridge at Taipha Ga were reported to have been bombed and strafed. The next day heavy bombers resumed their search for enemy shipping in the area south of Rangoon. An attack was made on a vessel of 150-foot length but no hits were reported. A few hours later, medium bombers attacked the railroad yards at Maymyo, scoring direct hits on rail junctions and engine shops. A concentration of rolling stock at Monywa was the target of a second formation of mediums. Many hits were reported. On January 17, medium bombers again blasted rolling stock at Maymyo. Many additional freight cars were destroyed and damaged, and a section of the main line was cratered. The China Air Task Force busied itself in action against enemy installations in Northern Burma and Western Yunnan. Bhamo, advanced enemy storage base, was made practically untenable. B-25s and P-40s in fighter-bomber missions and sporadic strafing destroyed warehouses, gasoline storage dumps, munitions and miscellaneous installations. Barges, tugs and other shipping in the Irrawaddy River, adjacent to the concentration point, were destroyed, set afire or badly damaged. At Chefang, Mangshih, and other points along the Burma Road, gasoline dumps and enemy transportation were strafed with undetermined damage. On Jan. 16, a large force of enemy aircraft attempted an attack on an air base in Western Yunnan. Outnumbered more than three-to-one, P-40s intercepted the attacking planes and took the offensive, scoring seven confirmed victories over Zeros with four other fighters probably destroyed. One enemy bomber was also believed destroyed. From the entire week's operations, only one of our planes was reported missing. |
Award Given For Heroism Under Fire Lt. General Joseph W. Stilwell, CBI Theater Commander, last week received the Distinguished Service Cross from the War Department for heroism during the Burma campaign. Uncle Joe, who spent most of his time running all over the forward areas like a herd of sheep (to the despair of his staff), was often endangered not only by aerial bombardment, but Jap artillery fire and once by machine guns. While talking one night with a Chinese captain in the front lines, a Jap machine gun only a few hundred yards away cut loose with a blast that wounded the Chinese in the face. Stilwell was about three feet from injury and possibly death upon that occasion. The citation follows: "For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous bravery in action while in command of the Chinese forces in Burma during the spring of 1942. "His presence and personal example in an exposed position in the front lines of a Chinese division on April 23, 1942, inspired the unit to a renewed effort which resulted in the capture of Taunggyi. While at this position, General Stilwell was exposed to concentrated rifle, machine gun and mortar fire which inflicted heavy casualties on the Chinese troops in the immediate vicinity. "On April 28, while visiting the entire front of two Chinese divisions, he spent considerable time with one of them and, while on the ground, directed the readjustment of the forces. During the entire campaign he personally directed operations in positions which were subjected to continuous enemy aerial strafing and frequent air bombardment, with utter disregard for his own personal safety. "His outstanding example of courage and leadership in direct contact with the enemy prolonged, at a critical time and place, the resistance of the forces of the United Nations against a better armed and determined enemy, who still maintained the powerful impetus of initial assault against the Allied forces." |
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Beech-nut for beetle-nut. Pvt. A. M. Lennon offers one of the camp helpers a sample of a famous old American brand of chewing tobacco. This fellow found it so good that he wanted some more. Lennon didn't say how he liked beetle-nut. |
1st Sgt. Marvin T. Hunn gets a shave from Saif Ali, camp barber. Here, the barber comes to you instead of going to him. |
They're a long way from home, but these fellows still enjoy their ice cream. Left to right are: Pfc. D. C. Lemp, Sgt. V. David, Sgt. C. R. Kinker, Sgt. A. M. Vria and S/Sgt. L. L. Derrington. This takes the place of a soda fountain. |
Recordings are a popular recreation in the day room. Pfc. L. Gafford reads an old comic section as Sgt. J. M. Boyd puts on his favorite platter. Pvt. C. W. Alexander and Pfc. H. Lane make their selections. |
Pvt. F. B. Masters trusts his prized fatigues to the dhobie walla. Bullock carts take the place of stream-lined trucks. |
Corp. M. R. Powell has a pair of G.I. shoes repaired by Munni Lal, the camp cobbler. All of the pictures on this page were taken by Pvt. James G. Doyle, who did a good job of recording camp life with his camera. |
S/Sgt. L. L. Derrington contemplates the purchase of a ring for the lady who became Mrs. Derrington the day before the Sergeant left the States. Best-selling item for jewel salesmen among our fellows is the star-sapphire. |
No can openers came in the first cases of rationed beer, but that didn't prevent Sgt. A. J. Bernherdt from enjoying his. |
Uanand, the camp tailor, has just finished putting the C.B.I. insignia on Corp. M. R. Powell's blouse. You don't have to hunt for the barber, tailor, cobbler, dhobie, etc., they're right on the grounds of the camp. |
"I wonder if we can get an American program," says Sgt. J. Salechuk as he tunes the radio. In the foreground (left to right) are Pfc. Roy Cherry, Pvt. C. Hyden, Jr., and Pvt. T. L. Gathright, who is absorbed in a book. |
T/5 L. Steinberg finds out something about the life of a camel. He didn't find out why camels always look bored. |
Sgt. V. David and Pfc. D. C. Lemp are told that they are friends and not customers as an Indian merchant tries to build up their interest in purchasing some carved ivory. Yes, these fellows made some purchases. |
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He dedicates it to all repairmen in the Theater. |
If you guys in India miss those American radio programs, you can tune in some recorded versions on the All-India Radio, 85.84 meters and 31.3 meters. On Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 9-45 p.m., there will be a half-hour show, "Your Broadway and Mine," starring George M. Cohan, Walter Huston, Victor Moore, Diana Barrymore and Betty Hutton. On Wednesday, Jan. 27, 10-05 p.m., Dinah Shore will present a half-hour of songs. |
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When soldiers go out and have some fun, They always forget about some other one. That someone's on duty every day, To see that these soldiers are safe at play. They call him names that we can't print, But they should sit down and try to think. These men are detailed for this tough job, So why go around and call him a snob? When a guy's in trouble, and things look bad, They call on this fellow, and then he's not bad. At the end they will say, "this fellow took up for me." And the fellow that did it was your American M.P. One thing to remember fellows when you're down and out, There's a fellow that will help you if he hears you shout. He will stand beside you and fight like hell. So do the right thing, and treat him well. Just remember fellows on your holiday, One of your buddies can't go out and play. You call him an outcast, and other names, But he's your buddy, just the same. We envy no one, try never to do harm. We're here to keep you safe, in every form. So if you see us on duty, please don't get mad. Remember we're here for you, and that M.P.'s aren't bad. - S/Sgt. GODFREY J. DARBY |
When reception is poor and the signal stinks And you think of bed and your forty winks And the PE coughs and pulls high jinks That aint war, that's hell. When your grease is cold and your rear guns fails With a Zero riding each of your tails And you curse your luck and bite your nails That aint war, that's hell. When you've hiked all night and your feet are sore And your throat's all parched and your clothes are tore And the C.O. says just ten miles more That aint war, that's hell. When you're climbing a hill and the motor's hot And the left read blows like a pistol shot You hope its a back fire but you know it's not That aint war, that's hell. When the whistle blows for the day's mail call And you're sweating a letter from your butter-ball And Jones gets a card and they say that's all That aint war, that's hell. When the chow bell rings and you hope for ham But the guy who cooks don't give a damn So all you get is a slab of Spam That aint war, that's hell. But when the war's been won by your nation And you dream of home with anticipation But the order says Army of Occupation Brother that will be hell. - Sgt. CARL BROOKMAN |
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