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OLD MAN ROAD NEW YORK - (UP) - Lord Louis Mountbatten was in a plane making a routine inspection tour, according to New York Post Columnist Leonard Lyons, when he looked down, studied his map, then asked, "What river is that down below? I don't see it on my map." Replied his aide, "That's not a river, that's the Ledo Road." |
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AVIATION ENGINEERS Dear Roundup: A recent release from the Office of War Information (Roundup - Mar. 15) stated that "A detachment of Negro Engineers, the 843rd General Service Engineer Regiment, using British and American equipment, first began work on the road at Ledo." According to the history of the Black Aviation Engineer battalion, it was the first American unit to begin work on the Ledo Road. Inquiries have been made, and it has been determined that the 843rd General Service Regiment did not work on the Ledo Road - Lt. Richard J. McDuffee, APO 689. (The OWI erred in its release to The Roundup. A check at I-B Headquarters disclosed that there never was an 843rd GSE Regiment in the Theater. Censorship does not permit release of the original Engineer Aviation Battalion designation. - The Editor.) |
FIRST CONVALESCENT
Dear Roundup: You ran a piece (Roundup - Mar. 8) headed "New Type Recovery at Calcutta Camp." Although we are interested in the good work of kindred units, it gives us a bit of a twinge to read of the Calcutta camp as a "new type" and one that "probably will be used as a 'model' camp for those planned in the future." Since we are rather proud of our work here, may we set the record straight without taking anything away from our friends at Calcutta. We believe that we were the FIRST camp of this type not only in the Theater but anywhere in the world. There have been other convalescent programs and rest camps, but we think the First Convalescent Camp was the first installation to set up as such for the purpose of physical and educational reconditioning. Originally carved out of the jungle and lacking facilities we would like to have for our work, the camp is nevertheless achieving gratifying and successful results. - Lt. Charles Boyle, APO 689. |
ANY TAKERS?
Dear Roundup: In a recent issue (Roundup - Mar. 8) there was an article regarding SOS troops volunteering for service on the Ledo-Burma Road. I and a lot of other fellows wish it could be amended to read ALL units in the India-Burma Theater. Unfortunately, we don't come under the SOS heading, so we will probably miss out on the opportunity to undertake a wonderful experience. I don't know how deep the feelings are that the other fellows have toward driving over the Ledo-Burma Road, but mine are deep enough to cause me to try to transfer into an SOS unit. At present I am a master sergeant, but the grade of private will be acceptable if I can get a chance to drive over the road to China. I hope that someone will read this and be interested enough to drop me a line - thereby giving me the opportunity to initiate a letter request for transfer. Army regulations say that an enlisted man must have permission from the commanding officer of the organization to which he is applying for transfer before submitting the original letter. - M/Sgt. Jesse W. Eyler, APO 690. |
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Chaplain James J. Minehan, standing, climbs into his plane with pilot Lt. Jerry B. Murphy to take off on a flying tour of various 12th Bomb Group Bases, where he holds regular Sunday services. |
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