iv
~ PAGE SIX
\
Here's How One Woman Keeps
In Touch With Her Soldiers
Down in Bat Grove, North Carolina, Mrs. Dorothy Freeman meets many
boys from Camp Croft. They are welcome visitors in her home and to
them she is always “Aunt Dot.” Mrs. Freeman has kept contact with
these boys after they have left Camp Croft through the medium of letters.
There were forty-eight boys. There are probably more now. One of them
is Clifford Fink, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Clifford Fink of Shavertown, now
stationed in British Columbia, and
referred to in the following letter
which Mrs. Freeman wrote to ‘her
boys’:
The Letter
Late one cool October afternoon,
the 11th to be exact, my family and
I were returning home from a little
visit with my husband's brothers
" and wife in a South Carolina town,
and as was our custom, when com-
ing into the foothills of the Blue
Ridge Mountains, we were doubtless
saying to ourselves: ‘The nearer
home we get, the more beautiful
it is!” and this we can say very
truthfully. We never yet have quite
decided which is our loveliest sea-
son: The spring pageant starts with
a great variety of tender green
leaves, and then in quick succession
come the dogwood blossoms cov-
ering the mountainsides, as it were,
with drifted snow; the rosy clouds
of flowers on the red-bud trees; the
orchid and purple colors of
>
|
The boys were thrilled with their
many new adventures as soldiers
and told us story after story about
their camp life, each one more in-
teresting than the last, and each one
praising our army, its officers and
men, its food and its routine, with
not one word of criticism or com-
plaint. And so the hours passed
away into the night, and at one-
thirty a. m. they realized that for
the first time in weeks they failed
to hear taps, and I realized that we
had failed to entertain the boys,
but had so thoroughly enjoyed be-
ing entertained by them.
The next day being Sunday they
attended the morning service with
us at our little church, adding an
impressive and military touch to the
service and bringing home to all of
us the seriousness of world condi-
tions today.
After dinner we took them sight
seeing, up and down our lovely
streams, back to the lake, to the
Bottomless Pools, to the very top
the | of Chimney Rock mountain and to
Judas trees; the fairy-like flowers | numerous other beauty spots in our
of the vari-colored azaleas, and then | co tion. In passing through the vil-
the gorgeous rhododendrons that | lage a regular bevy of youngsters
complete the picture.
|
greeted me with “Hello, Aunt Dot,”
Is this the most beautiful time | a most familiar occurence to me,
or is it the Autumn just after the | but it somewhat surprised the boys,
first frost? Then a wonderful tap-
estry of crimson, scarlet, red, gar-
net, purple, beige, orange and
mauve, punctuated with the green of
lofty pines is flung over every slope,
with often a sixfold curtain of blue
mountains for a background.
I might go on telling about our
Summer season with waving fields
of snowy daisies and queen Ann's
lace, or stretches of sunny golden-
rod, but now I am reminded that
I have not been asked to tell about
the beauties of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, but about a “chain of
brave boys,” who are responding to
our country’s call.
To get back to October 11th, as
we drove along we came upon two
young soldiers plodding up the road.
We hoped we could make room in
our car for these boys, for we knew
that on this so little travelled road
they would. not have many chances
to ride, and proudly enough, we
were anxious for them to get into
the real depths of our mountains be-
fore dark fell; and so we stopped
and rearranged our accumulated
bundles with their help and found
we had plenty of room, so eager
were they for the ride. Both boys
were Philadelphians, “stopping” at
Camp Croft, and this was their first
week-end away from camp, and also
their first trip to the South, so they
felt they had lots to see and so little
time in which to see it.
By now we had reached Lake !
Lure, a spot much too beautiful to
describe. On account of the lateness
of the season, the resorts were not
open, which left us to admire na-
ture undisturbed, but with the ques-
tion of a place for two tired and
hungry soldiers to spend the night
quite pre-eminent in their minds. I
‘thought of two of our boys being
away, one also a soldier, leaving
two vacancies in our home and
hearts, which two so likeable lads
so far from their home could so
nicely fill. “Why don’t you come
home with us,” I asked, “we would
so love to have you.” With one ac-
cord they seized even the sugges-
tion of an invitation and we were
assured we had two very grateful
weekend guests.
Chimney Rock, the busy little vil-
lage just above Lake Lure, was
brightly lighted by this time, and I
thought the boys might like to ram-
ble around there in search of a bit
of amusement perhaps, and sug-
gested they stop for an hour or
so, and then come up home. Again
with one accord they said: “Oh no,
we'll go on ‘up home’ now, you're
‘stuck’ with us.”—And so Joe and
Bud were the first boys in uniform,
aside from our own, son, of course,
to be with us, and we all felt very
proud indeed to have two such fine
boys of Uncle Sam's, as they had
already proven to be, under our
roof. :
I had heard the problem of en-
tertaining the soldiers discussed at
various times, and began to wonder
just what steps to take. Having
had a house full of boys for a num-
ber of years, with three sons of our
own and their many friends always
in and out, I already knew how true
the old saying is, “The way to a
man’s heart is through his stom-
ach,”’—so off to the kitchen I went;
but not alone, for Joe and Bud fol-
lowed me and offered to help, but I
assured them I did not need any
assistance in preparing the light
supper we were to have;—and re-
calling it now,—the dish of the
hour was southern baking powder
biscuits, for when, Joe saw them he
exclaimed: “Oh baby-doll, hot muf-
fins!” No, Joe wasn't from the
South. ’ : :
for they asked me if I were related
to all of these, whereupon I ex-,
plained that I had been in contact
with, and worked with, and dearly
loved little children all my life, and
that all of them everywhere have
| always. called me “Aunt Dot.” And
so that subject was dropped.
After a very delightful afternoon
we returned home again for another
snack and more “hot muffins,” as
Joe persisted in calling my biscuits,
so I promised Joe I would show
him what hot muffins are some day.
In the evening we drove the boys
part way back to camp, leaving
them at a busy intersection where
they would not have any trouble
catching a ride, and so would ar-
rive back in camp to report on
time. We so thoroughly enjoyed
their visit that we resolved to keep
open house for them and all soldiers,
and told them we hoped they would
return and bring more of their
buddies, ‘especially those who were
too far from home to go there on
"week ends. A few days later I re-
ceived a lovely note of thanks from
both Joe and Bud, and they began |
it with “Dear Aunt Dot”, which
proved to me ‘their appreciation of
my meager efforts to make them
feel entirely at home. This incident
gave me the inspiration to be “Aunt
Dot” to soldiers also.
The following weekend Joe re-
turned and brought Cliff, another
Pennsylvania boy, equally as fine
and as loveable ‘as Joe and Bud,—
and so my family of boys grew and
grew and is still growing. I keep a
guest log for “My Boys” and every
time one comes he registers and
leaves his camp address, and from
then on I write to him regularly
once a week. Some of these boys
we have met through others, some
we picked up on the highways, and
some I found advertised in the
paper as “Lonesome” and asking for
mail. By the time my soldier cor-
respondence list included seventeen
boys, I thought that surely iy
could write to so many boys whom
I never knew before, I should be
able to write to our own local boys
in service. When I made a survey
of them and found we had twenty-
one, I wondered how I could possi-
bly write thirty-eight letters a week,
aside from my already elongated
correspondence list and my regular
home duties. To solve this problem
I got a mimeograph machine, and
wrote each of our local boys that I
wanted to “adopt” them as ‘one
of my boys, if they would in turn
adopt me as their “Aunt Dot”: and
so today I have forty-eight boys to
whom I write once a week with the
assistance of ‘Minnie O’Graph.”
Sometimes my letters are in the
form of a news sheet, giving them
a bit of humor, a religious thought,
1 some home news, a short story, a:
joke or two and a personal para-
graph. My boys are all so rapidly
being transferred from place to
place, that at present my letters
are reaching every coastal state in
America, and the Canal Zone and
even Alaska and Australia.
This little story is related to
show how so small a movement,
backed with interest and the desire
to fill a need, soon gathers a mo-
mentum of its own. My time and
efforts are amply repaid, for my
boys write beautiful letters of ap-
preciation, send me their snapshots
and photographs and even their
regimental pins, all of which I most
highly prize and treasure. I know
that by doing my little bit where
there is so much to be done, I am
putting a ray of sunshine into the
lives of these boys, and in thought
THE POST, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1942
TH
A4g smm——
i
THE LISTENING POST
By THE VETERAN
Bad choice marked the frontal attack made last week by Democratic
leaders of Luzerne County against business and industrial interests that
lately have sought economic additions that might overcome waning popu-
lation and earning power. If Wilkes-Barre Record honestly reported the
New Deal meeting at Hotel Sterling it was Senator Leo C. Mundy who
hurled ridicule at the community
boosters.
The Record quote on Mundy was
to the effect that two or three hun-
dred persons representing Wyoming
Valley had made useless visits to
Washington in efforts to have War
Production Board approve products
for local industrial expansion. Then,
according to the Record, Mundy fol-
lowed with the statement that the
interests here should understand
that all grants of the kind are made
on a political basis and the way to
influence them is through those
politicians who are the inside of
the administration. The senator in-
dicated that one man on the inside
could do more than the hundreds
appealing from the outside.
Assuming that Senator Mundy
told the truth, then the Democrats
have failed to recognize one of their
own important assets. Among the
most interested of the group visit-
ing Washington and vainly appeal-
ing for new plants are a group of
citizens who long ago indicated
their desire to assist the Demo-
cratic candidates. They are the
same gentlemen who always turned
the tide in favor of Congressman
Flannery and even supported him
when he decided to quit Washington
in favor of greater security as a
judge.
In the election for a short-term
congressman last Spring these ‘loyal
advocates of welfare in valley and
county went all-out for candidate
Dan Flood. They are still for Flood.
So, is would follow that if Senator
Mundy, who is Flood’s sponsor,
could actually overcome the disposi-
tion of Washington against fulfill-
ment of hard-coal ambitions it
would be in the nature of self-help
for him to see the proper persons
and put forward the proper argu-
ments among the powers control-
ing the nation’s destinies. Several
of the independent members of the
booster committee were greatly dis-
turbed by the Democratic leader’s
words. Some of them wondered if
they had not better withdraw their
support of Dan Flood. It is likely,
however, that Senator Mundy will
first be given a chance to explain.
Despite rationing and attendant
shortages it is a rare day that
passes without at least one party
being given at the Herman Kern
Inn, Harvey's Lake, testimonial to
a potential hero off to the war
camps. Reflected, of course, is the
popularity Mr. Kern has attained
from being one of the most popular
entertainers in all of northeastern
Pennsylvania. He will be remem-
bered here as a perennial star of
the community theatricals.
Erroneous information broadcast
on road openings caused many traf-
fic jams and undue convenience last
week, all of it affecting the use of
the main State artery known as
Number 11. Closed between Ply-
mouth and West Nanticoke last
Spring to permit relocation and
widening the road threw the bulk
of remaining traffic in Wilkes-Barre,
Hanover and Nanticoke, adding ex-
tra miles to a journey along the
Susquehanna.
Radio and newspaper announce-
ments at the beginning of October
reported completion of two lanes of
the new highway. But, when, in
response to the information, traffic
was again turned into the accus-
tomed route it was only to discover
that there was no thoroughfare.
General use of the important road
will be delayed until about Novem-
ber first. State highway officials
ought to adopt a ruling by which
only one notice shall be given the
public and that one of official
status right out of Harrisburg.
Solution of the delayed-mail
problem among the service camps
and centers all over the world
is being attempted by enlist-
ment of trained personnel. The first
effect is the offer of one of the rural
district's most experienced post-
masters to organize a new system.
Washington has made official an-
nouncement of the enlistment of
Postmaster Stanley Croop of nearby
Hunlock Creek. When it was de-
cided to seek trained postal people
the limitation on minimum eXperi-
ence was set at five years. Croop,
however, has had more than twenty
years experience.
There is no indication of when
a ———— ee —
and prayer I am ever at each one’s
side.
Fighting this fight with all our
might,
For Christ is our strength, and
Christ our right.”
My boys are already planning,
when they have won this war, as
they inevitably will, to have a
grand reunion here with us in our
lovely Blue Ridge Mountains.
Dorothy M. Freeman,
Box 27,
Bat Cave, N. Carolina.
final decisions will be made, but it
was indicated that the voluntary
act of Croop was marked as one
that reflected a high degree of
patriotism. In the first World War
Mr. Croop was a petty officer in the
anti-submarine patrols of the
United States Navy.
Ouster of John L. Lewis from
membership in the Congress of In-
dustrial Relations has long been
taken as settled business among
followers of Phillip Murray in
Washington. ‘As long ago ‘as three
weeks before the international con-
vention of the United Mine Workers,
under way this moment, trusted
agents of Murray informed leaders
of diversified union effort that, no
matter what might be decided by
the mine worker delegates in regard
to relationships between Lewis and
Murray, and between UMW and
CIO, the November convention of
the Congress, set for Boston next
month, will throw out Lewis.
The action results from the 1940
election campaign when Lewis
plumped for Wendell Willkie. Fail-
ure of organized labor to gener-
ously support Willkie caused Lewis
to sacrifice the presidency of CIO.
He had organized the Congress and
also had financed it. His resignation
was followed by rendering a bill to
CIO for more than a million dollars
in loans. Then Lewis had Murray
fired from U.M.W. of A. It is under-
stood the decision to oust Lewis
next month from CIO is a matter
of vengeance.
Silent for the most part since
1940, Lewis came back to the public
eye at the international convention.
His resumption of activities was
concurrent with belief in Washing-
ton that Willkie will be nominated
for the Presidency in 1944, not by
the Republicans but by the Demo-
crats. There had been a feeling that
the Roosevelt blessing to Willkie in
the latter’s trip to Russia and China
was a farewell greeting, an assur-
ance that Willkie would get so badly
involved among the United Nations
that his star would go into eclipse.
Instead, it appears that numerous
factions of national effort finally
have decided he is the only possi-
ble successor to the present admin-
istration. Which was good news
for John L. Lewis.
“THE OUTPOST
“
(Continued from Page 2)
—
=
California. It is sort of a refresher
course in Parositology, taking up
mostly the different kinds of Ma-
laria and Dysentaries that may be
found in the Islands of the Pacific.
This course will last for two months,
by which time we will be ready to
leave for our new base somewhere
in the Pacific.
Our stay here has been only tem-
porary, but has been spent in prep-
‘aration for the things that we will
[have to cope with when we arrive
at our new base. We are all spend-
ing some time on the range where
we learn to fire 30 and 50 caliber
machine guns, 20mm., pom poms,
5 inch, 3 inch and the Springfield
riflle. There is also instruction in
the 45 automatic and various other
sub-machine guns. We also have to
know how to tear down and as-
semble all these types of guns. You
may wonder why the medical corp
has to know about guns so I'll tell
you the reason. As you know from
the news that you obtain, the Japs
and the other Axis powers show
know quarter when they run across
any part of a medical unit so we are
going to be prepared for just that
sort of thing. The so-called enemy
has so far disobeyed the interna-
tional law about this sort of thing
and so our Government has deemed
it necessary that all Medical Units
be instructed in the use of fire-arms.
Our organization is fairly well
trained now so we are ready to
leave at a minute's notice. Will
close now as the chow call just blew
and I wouldn't want to miss it.
Hoping that everything in the Back
Mountain district is coming along
fine.
Roberts, H. B. Ph. M. 2/c
LION ONE
Moffett Field, California.
We're beginning to get things
straightened out now, but that
LION ONE at the bottom of
your letters still has us guess-
ing. We enjoy your letters a
lot. By a coincidence Mrs.
Major dropped in the office with
a snapshot of you and Emily
the morning your letter arrived.
She says your interest in phar-
macy started back in the days
- when you used to run errands
for the Doctors Rumbaugh—
Bditor.
OPEN LATE FRIDA
Y AND SATURDAY NIGHTS!
On the MARCH for VICTORY
All our markets are prepared to do thei i i
t [ : eir part in this great March for Vict
that of {ipplving the right kind of nutritious foods at the os bi 1
prices. We're on the march, everyone of us, to do our best for you—and victory.
Fancy Calif. TOKAY
GRAPES 2 1)¢
Solid Heads Danish
Cabbage
No.
single pound 2c
Fancy Apples
Washed Carrots /
Mo. | POTATOES Fresh Dug
Potatoes
20°35 625
Mcintosh and
Other Varieties
I Yellow SWEET
3 ss 13c
6 ~ 25°
29°
i5 Ib—full peck 37c
0
——v
£4
Small Genuine Spring
LEGS LAMB
SmallWhole Shoulders™29c
Quality Lamb Breast ™ 19c
Tender Lamb Liver » 2Qc
Tender Broad Chops » 3%c
Fancy Rib Chops
Loin Lamb Chops
» 48c
» 49c
Tasty
Meaty
SCRAPPLE
ft 15°
Swift's Premium Products !
Asst’d Meat Loaves * ™ I5c
Fancy Head Cheese ©» 25c
Quality Blood Tongue ™ 29c
Tasty Smoked Sausage »35c
Brookfield Pure Pork % 39°
SAUSAGE
Fillets of
Fancy
Fresh Sea Trout
OYSTERS
Fresh Baked—FRUITED RAISIN
Quality Sea Foods !
Halibut Steaks Jo"
Fancy Lobster Tails
Snow
» 38c
» 39c
» 29c
mn I§c
39°
Sea Perch
pint
can
Enriched by using a yeast high in Vitamin
Fine Quality .
Macaroni
Spaghetti
Supreme Bread
BREAD ‘~10°| *
large
loaves 17c
B1 content, Niacin and Iron.
Glenwood
Delicious
/ Apple Sauce
Jar202. 99°
4 ns 25¢c
WAR
Tomato Puree /=onos
Farmdale Q AND
Brand can C STAMPS
Calif. Lima Beans
4sC0 Corn Meal
4sc0 Corn Starch
asco FARINA
CRACKER MEAL
2-13
223°
2 ::17¢
6¢C
24-02
pkgs
13-0z
pkg
Pure Grapefruit Juice
Dandy Oyster Crackers
WALDORF Tissue
CLAFPS | | rLoUR
ws ] §C 5:.18c¢
SELOX 2:29°
IVORY | CAMAY
Soap Flakes or Toilet Soap
SuOW 3 ces 20c
Oc LAVA
24 | 3756
Prices in This Ad Effective to Close of Business Saturday,
2 3% 27c |
ors 18€
large
pkgs
med.
pkg
large
pkg
October 10, in Your Nearby Acme.
Nabisco Oysterettes **10c: 2 2lc
Scott Toilet Tissue
11
9 rolls 15¢
3-13
Sweetheart
Toilet ic
Seap * ic
when you buy 3 cakes |
at the regular price,
Windex 2"°25c¢
For easier window clearing.
IVORY
3:29"
4
4:23
6:5 29c¢
large
cakes
med.
cakes
‘o
— TT ——
ERATE RS Sa -
i
}