The following article was written in the Roundup office from dispatches filed by Frank Hewlett, of
United Press, and Bill Boni, of Associated Press:
MOGAUNG VALLEY - Delayed reports again emphasized the resourcefulness and courage of
Merrill's Marauders against the Japs in the Northern Burma campaign.
From the rugged, jungle-tangled range in the eastern Mogaung Valley have come the first stories of the
rescue of a "lost unit" of the Yank infantry which has been spreading havoc behind Jap lines.
Pack artillery was dramatically parachuted to combat the enemy's infantry and to clear trails ahead
of a relief group of combat-wise Marauders, who successively overwhelmed strongpoint after strongpoint during the
advance towards their surrounded comrades.
DECISIVE BATTLE
The decisive battle of the resuing forces was fought just north of Nhpum Village, roughly 15 airline
miles northeast of kamaing. In two days alone, the succoring force, moving along with air-dropped supplies and
supported by strafing and bombing attacks, killed at least 300 Japs. Several enemy bodies were found in trees, where
they had been piched grotesquesly by the force of 500-pound bombs.
In order to cut the main Mogaung Valley road at Inkanghtawng, the force which was later trapped made
58 river crossings in eight miles to reach its objective. Pinned down by two batteries of Jap mortars, they held off
16 enemy charges at their perimeter and killed 300 of the attackers while losing only two killed and suffering 10
wounded.
A call from Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill went to Maj. Ed Hancock for the artillery for the rescue force.
Merrill's crack supply officer asked for volunteers with pack artillery experience and, within 20 minutes, more than
enough appeared from the muleskinner ranks, many of them veterans of the SW Pacific. S/Sgt. John Acker, of Bessemer,
Ala., headed the unit, and his section chiefs were Sgt. George Lowe, of Noma, Tenn., and Pvt. Thomas Averitt, of
Richmond, Calif. One of the gunners was Pvt. Isaac W. (Little Chief) Ross, of Cherokee, N.C., full-blooded Cherokee
Indian.
Two hours after the guns were 'chuted, Ackers' gang had them assembled and firing at point-blank
range at the enemy.
HEROIC ACTIONS
While the Americans were advancing to aid their besieged comrades, Chinese infantry covered the jungle
trail to their rear, thus joining with Yanks in blocking any Jap attempt to outflank the main Stilwell forces in the
Mogaung Valley by northward penetration through the mountains.
Fighting near Nhpum brought recommendation for an award to T/Sgt. Linwood Clemens, 28, of Lewistone,
Me., veteran of New Georgia fighting. Against Jap snipers and pillbox firing, he worked his platoon up a steep hillside
and drove a wedge into the enemy lines which enabled the rest of the force to advance.
Two Ohio lads, Pfc. Harold C. Dibble, of Cincinnati, and Paul R. Bickneel, of Norwood, were credited
with saving a wounded buddy after another of their squad was killed by a sniper trying to effect rescue. When Dibble
and Bickneel started crawling forward, the sniper again opened fire. But an American light machine gunner saw a rustle
in a bamboo clump and gave it a burst, drawing the sniper's fire away from the rescue twosome.
Reconnoitering a small stream, scouts suddenly came upon an elephant with a Jap on its back and three
more behind. Sgt. George Fike, of Corpus Christi, Tex., knocked the rider off with a tommy gun burst, while other men
in Fike's section killed two of the three Japs trailing the pachyderm.
Troop Carrier Command C-47's swooped so low they repeatedly drew enemy small arms fire when they 'chuted
the artillery. Other cargo ships delivered needed supplies to the rescue mission, which were transported by pack mule
to forward positions from the dropping fields.
COLLEGE BEAUTIES LAST RESORT FOR HEART-SMITTEN CHINA G.I.'S
CHINA - The G.I.'s at a post here named their Red Cross Club "The Last Resort."
Naturally, the closest they came to American girls en masse was in a magazine. So when opportunity
knocked, it found an open door to the romantic pulse beats of the khakiclads.
The opportunity came in the form of a copy of Scam, paper of Smith College, well-known eastern school
for girls. The paper was sent to an American worker, Robert Schnitzer, who had formerly taught at Smith.
The paper ran a story about the forming of a club called "The Last Resort." It told of the vain
attempts to find dates for girls due to the manpower shortage.
So the G.I.'s of "The Last Resort" in China wrote to the girls of "The Last Resort" in Shangri-La.
They asked for sponsorship of their club by the coeds.
Another copy of the paper arrived, telling of the adoption by the girls, with plans for exchanges of
photographs and supplying of a correspondence list for "hostesses in absentia."
As one G.I. put it, "College only lasts four years. I got to get back there before they're all graduated.
Just imagine all those luscious gals waiting."
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MEDICAL CORPS HERO IN BURMA
Marauders Respect Conscientious Objector
By FRANK HEWLETT United Press Correspondent
NORTHERN BURMA - With Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill's American volunteers there is a conscientious
objector who is known by every Marauder and is respected for his courage. He's Cpl. Daniel Hardinger, of Hicksville, O.,
who will "do anything and go anyplace" provided it doesn't necessitate his shooting Japs.
Medical Capt. James Hopkins, of Baltimore, Md., whose uncle was the late Johns Hopkins, described
Hardinger as the "bravest man I've ever seen." Hopkins won the Silver Star for gallantry in the New Georgia campaign.
There, Hardinger worked with him, treating the wounded. Last week when the platoon to which Hardinger
is attached needed ammunition, he volunteered to replenish the supply. Within a few minutes he returned loaded down
with priceless Browning automatic rifle and tommy gun ammunition. He crawled the last 50 yards under enemy fire.
Hardinger is easy to distinguish because he's one of the few members of Merrill's oufit who doesn't
carry a gun. He also insists on being "the point for his platoon" not because he likes the excitement, but instead
argues that he should be as "far forward as possible where he can reach the wounded as soon as possible."
Mountbatten, Pick Get Pushed Around By Lowly PFC
DEMON PICTURE-GRABBER COMPLETES ASSIGNMENT
By Sgt. SMITH DAWLESS
ALONG THE LEDO ROAD - Pfc. Dan Novak was desperate. The C.O. of his photographic unit wanted pictures
of Lord Louis Mountbatten, SEAC Generalissimo, who recently visited Assam. For two days, Dan had striven mightily to
get those shots, but alas and alack, whenever the admiral was free, it rained. Undaunted, Dan went along when Brig.
Gen. Lewis A. Pick conducted his distinguished British guest on a ride up the Ledo Road that Pick's hairy-eared
Engineers are constructing. Crossing the Pangsau Pass into Burma, the party stopped. The sun shone brilliantly. The
gods were indeed smiling for the G.I. photographer.
"How about some pictures?" demanded Dan, snapping into action, "That's what I'm here for."
Oblivious of rank and exhalted station, he began pushing his camera subjects around like a belligerent
puppeteer.
"Stand over there!" he ordered, herding Lord Louis into a good position. He grabbed Pick's arm. "Now
you make like you're showing him something down below."
Dan leaped forward to squint through his lens, dashed back to Mountbatten's side. "You won't like this,"
he admitted, pushing the famous chin to one side. "Gotta get that profile."
Back to the camera again. "You don't have to be crazy to be a photographer," he explained affably to
Lord Louis, "but it helps." Then something snapped. For the first time he realized to whom he was speaking. "Guess you
thin I'm a damned fool," he muttered with some embarrassment.
He took a step backward, and then - you guessed it - landed flat on his face in the rich mud of Burma,
while the entire party broke into resounding belly laughs.
P.S. But he got the picture!
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WASN'T GOING TO MISS PAY CALL
G.I. CHUTES TO FINANCE OFFICER
UPPER ASSAM BASE - While paying off at an isolated post here, the Finance Officer's attention
was brought to a scene going on in the sky, where a man could be seen bailing out. The excitement over, the officer
continued the sacred ritual.
Shortly afterwards, in walked the man who had hit the silk.
"Cpl. Wiggin, Alan B., sir," panted the soldier.
"What was wrong that you had to bail out of the plane, Wiggin?" asked the paymaster.
I din't stop to find out, sir. I just heard that Finance was down here and didn't want to miss
being paid," came the response.
He was paid.
French Indo-China Hit By 14th A.F. Mitchells
CHINA - According to a delayed communique issued from Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell's headquarters,
Mitchells of the 14th Air Force bommbed two railroad bridges and rail equipment between Vinh and Phu Dien Chau,
French Indo-China.
Buildings, railroad trackage, a locomotive and tender were destroyed. The bridges were slightly damaged.
Fighter-bombers attacked the Burma Road, north and south of Wanting, on the Yunnan-Burma border. Direct hits on the road
will necessitate considerable repairs before it can again be used. All aircraft returned safely to base.
WAR COST REACHING TRILLION-BUCK MARK
NEW YORK - America's cost for the present war is skyrocketing toward the $1,000,000,000 mark, it
was announced this week. This figure was reached by the Tax Institute Research Organization and disclosed by Executive
Secretary Dr. Mabel L. Walker.
The CBI Roundup is a weekly newspaper of the United States Army Forces, published by and for the men in China,
Burma, and India, from news and pictures supplied by staff members, soldier correspondents, the United Press,
OWI and the Army News Service.
The Roundup is published Thursday of each week and is printed by The Statesman in New Delhi, India.
Editorial matter should be sent directly to Capt. Floyd Walter, Headquarters., U.S.A.F., C.B.I., New Delhi, and should
arrive not later than Sunday in order to make that week's issue. Pictures must arrive by Saturday and must be
negatives or enlargements. Stories should contain full name and organization of sender.