Looking back....the year was 1943
World War II Stories
Holdenville and Hughes County has always been known for their patriotism. There are few if any World War II veterans left in our county. We must make sure that what they did and the sacrifices they made are never forgotten. Continuing today we are going to look back at some of our past heroes using news clippings from WWII. We will also be sharing some interesting stories from that era.
45 th Is County’s Own Division; Her Sons Now Fight in Sicily
“Crack” Unit Started on Road to Berlin Back in Fall of 1940
That funny-shaped flattened triangle of land marked on the globe as Sicily during the last few days has become as familiar to Hughes County homes as E. Main Street or the north “40”.
That’s where their boys are, 200 of them fighting in the 45 th division, under Major Gen. Troy H. Middleton.
The 45 th , known far and wide to army and civilian alike as the “crack” division, spearhead of the European invasion, has more Sooners than representatives of any other state. It has more Hughes County men than any other one unit of the armed forces.
War began for Hughes County with the 45 th —one of the nation’s first four national guard divisions called into active service in September, 1940.
The boys who had been reporting more or less casually for guard drill every Thursday night were ordered to report to Fort Sill September 25 th of that year.
Two outfits comprised the local organization: the 160 th Field Artillery Service Battery, commanded by Capt. Clark H. Cordell, including 84 enlisted men and three officers and Co. L. 179 th Infantry, commanded by Capt. Everett A. Duell, including 99 enlisted men and four officers.
Since that “M” day, the personnel has changed considerably, although there are many of the original men and a few of their officers still in the division, some of them with the same organizations and others in other units.
Duell, Now Major Duell, is still with his old organization; Major Cordell was transferred and is stationed at Harlingen, TX, gunnery school.
Lt. Walter Atkins, now Capt. Atkins, was named to command the service section when Capt. Cordell transferred to the regimental staff. He is now on duty at Brooks Field.
Lt. John R. Turner, an assistant staff officer in the service section, now a captain, is with the division in Sicily. Lt. Alton M. Moore, now a captain, with the division, reported for duty in August 1941. He was in the reserve.
Capt. Hugh M. McConville, now Major McConville, of the 179 th , reported for duty in Oklahoma City, as adjutant Sept. 13, 1930. He has been in North Africa for the past several months, serving with another division.
The two outfits left Holdenville separately, the service battery going by truck on Sept. 23, the other by train Sept. 24.
It was exciting and thrilling in three years ago peacetime to see the soldiers leave— for what they thought was just a short stay. There was a parade in the rain, two bands and excitement!
They were at Fort Sill until February, 1941, letters home telling of the hardships of army life—leaky tents, no light or heat.
On Feb. 28, 1941, the 45 th was transferred to Camp Barkeley, at Abilene and army wives and families got their first taste of “camp following.”
Its first big maneuvers came in September, 1941, were directed by Major Gen. W.S. Key, one time Wewokan, new commander of U.S. forces in Iceland. He headed the division until October, 1942 when he was assigned to England as provost marshal for the U.S. forces on the European theatre.
The war games were in the swampy 200,000 acre area around De Ridder, LA. After maneuvers, the year for which they had signed up was ended and some of the 45 th came home. Most of them are now back in service through one route or another, many of them serving overseas.
Their second year was spent at Camp Barkeley, Fort Devens, Mass., Pine Camp, and Camp Pickett, VA—then it was overseas. Below is given a list of Hughes County men serving in the 45 th , according to records available to the Daily News. It is incomplete, because of various transfers and may include a few names of men who have transferred to other divisions.
Persons knowing of men who are in the 45 th are asked to report their name and rank as soon as convenient.
Co. L., 179 th Infantry: (Ranks are given only when known positively). Major Everett A. Duell, Lt. Edward L. Balmain, Ace E. Bundy, William G. Garner, John W. Leader, Lt. Harmon L. Buckley, Decalb Dennis, William R. Johnson, Kreth H. White.
Jack Kibby, Roy C. Kibby, Carl A. Magee, Loran T. Pettit, Jack R. Sparks, John Ahaisse, Charles E. Baxley, Arthur E. Bedwell, Leonard P. Bise, Isam Bowlegs, Jack B. Bruner, Lenard Callaway, John Crella, Rahleigh Enochs, Albert Fare, Elbert W. Fare, Tom Fixico, Leslie Haines, Melvin Halbert, Thomas Hall, Wayne Harber, Thomas Horn, John Jackson, Siemen Kernell, John Kelly, Howard Lovett, Danny Marshall, Tom Marshall, Cruede Martin, Edgar Millard, Elgin Moore, Carol Mouser, Meredith Norman.
Archie O’Kelley, Clarence O’Kelley, Rufus Parks, Glen Peters, Charlie Pinion, Bobbie Roberts, Tony Rosco, Ernie House, Fred Salazar, Virgil Sherrin, Kelley Shields, James Shores, James Slay, Roy Smith, Judas Spencer, Silas Spencer, Foley Street, William Venable, Bruce Wilkins, Jess Wilson, Bill Yarbrough and James Moses.
Service battery, 160 th Field Artillery: Capt. John Turner, Lt. J.B. Millard Tyhson, Warrant Officer Eugene Roberts, Warrant Officer Gilbert Wiseman, Master Sergeant Jodie Reese, Staff Sgt. Charles Bankston, Mass Sgt. R.C. Parsons, Supply Sgt. Troy Cale, Sgt. Orville Mullinax, Oscar R. Gorden, Tech, 4 th , Clarence Browon, Tech Lacy Cole, Cpl. Russell Weaver, Pfc, Chester N.Caldwell, Pvt. Jessie Valenzuela, Howard Bates, Reece Langdon and Angel Lowe.
Gerald Herd, Freddie Gusch, Virgil Edwards, Clarvel Greer, Carl Stone, Eddie Rupe, John Edwards, William Dunn, Lester Wright, Max Beshears, Henry Thompson and Jessie Colbert.
“Scotty” Asks For Two—Day Extension: And Gets Five!
“Scotty” Wilson, one of Uncle Sam’s “navy boys” home on furlough, has every reason to believe the biblical assurance that if you ask you shall receive.
Scotty wired his commanding officer at New Orleans for a two day extension of his furlough. The commanding officer went “Scotty” one (or is it three) better and gave him a five day extension.
So Scotty can prolong his sojourn home until July 16 th . And is he tickled.
