PAGE FOURTEEN
THE ECHO
AUGUST,
News From Former Employees Now Iti'Servic
WITH THE “BEACH-JUMPERS”
The first copy of the Echo I re
ceived came like a bolt from the
blue and was certainly a help in
filling in those odd moments in
boot camp. If the other Ecusta
boys in service enjoy the Echo
as I do, then you are doing a real
job in helping to keep their morale |
up.
I am with the amphibious forces
—what we c^ll “beach-jumping.’
Here we are being taught to use
all sorts of small arms and guns.
When I finish I will be sent to
an LST for duty.
Now let me write a little about
my brother. He worked for Ecusta j
in the Inspection Department for
a short while. Perhaps you remem
ber Bill Pearce? He went into the
army about five months after I
went into the navy, and was ship
ped over to Italy five months la
ter. Nearly a month ago he was
cited for gallantry in action and
given the Silver Star.. He was in at I
Anzio Beachhead and the break-1
through into Rome. Needless to say,
I’m green with envy.
Good luck to all of ydu at
Ecusta.
Yours truly,
Richard W. Pearce,
(Radio Technician 2-c)
A Flying Tiger
Now In England
SHORT WEEK FOR SOLDIER
It’s always good to hear from
friends back home. Letters play an
important part in the morale of
the men overseas.
When I wrote you last I was on
the Island of Corsica. Since that
time I have come back to Italy.
I have had the pleasure of visiting
a few of the towns and cities
among them, Rome. It is really a
nice place. Reminds me most of the
States of any place I’ve been over
here. It isn’t a place I’d want to live
—so don’t worry. I’ll be back at
Ecusta as soon as we can finish up
the job, and I don’t believe it can
last too much longer.
It’s nice to learn Ecusta is in
full swing. I know 48 hours seem
long to some who work there, but
to a soldier it would seem a short
week. When we are on the job we
are lucky if we get a half day each
week, and are subject to call 24
hours out of the day—not to men
tion the pay! So you do see what a
wonderful place Ecusta is.
I noticed the June issue of the
Echo was mailed to me first class.
I appreciate this as it came through
in about the same time as a letter.
It is a paper we all look forward
to receiving as much as a letter.
Remember me to my friends at
Ecusta and Brevard. Keep the
paper moving because the boys do
enjoy their cigarettes.
As ever,
Raleigh T. Waldrop (Pfc.)
S. SOT. W. BRUCE PETTIT,
above, is a member of the “Fly
ing Tigers,” now stationed in
China. As a radio operator on a
B-25 Mitchejl bomber, Sgt. Pet
tit has been overseas about eight
months. He was employed by
Ecusta as a Chemical Laboratory
helper and was inducted in Au
gust, 1942.
SGT. HORACE SMITH, above,
is now stationed in England with
a heavy bombardme^it group. He
was one of the first Ecustans
to enter service—in April, 1941.
He was a third hand in the Ma
chine Room.
In The Infantry
Sister Takes Place
.c.
SAW HOLY FATHER IN ROME
Somewhere in Italy
I’ve just received the May edi
tion of the Echo, and I am enjoying
it very much. I was surprised to
find my picture in the paper.
I have visited Rome and got to
see the Holy Father.
Sincerely,
Raymond Nicholson (Pfc.)
IN TANK BATTALION
Pvt. William W. Gillespie is now
in Italy with an armored tank bat
talion. He was with the allied
forces in the capture of Rome,
Italy. Pvt. Gillespie has been over
seas 11 months. He left Ecusta in
1943, had basic training at Fort
Knox, Ky., and Camp Campbell,
Ky.
R. M. “MIKE” MYERS, Chief
Petty Officer, re,-enlisted in the
Navy in February, 1942. Before
Pearl Harbor he served three
and one-half years in the Navy.
Myers has participated in three,
major naval battles in Atlantic
and South Pacific areas. Since
he has been stationed in San
Diego as instructor. He was em
ployed in the Inspection Dept.
Incidentally, his sister, Evelyn
Myers, has taken his place in
Inspection, same shift and same
machine.
ROME, BERLIN—THEN HOME
Somewhere in Italy
After a long round-trip, I arrived
safely in Italy. I’ve seen a good
many places our boys have gone
through, and what a sight!
I hope to get to Rome, to Berlin
and home soon after. I’m with the
Aviation Engineers — a sort of
Seabee outfit of the Air Corps. I
had no idea this is where I’d wind
up, but the army is full of sur
prises. I trained for one thing,
then do a hundred others.
Good luck, and be sure to say
hello to all in the plant for me.
Sincerely,
Tony Sansosti (Pvt.)
PVT. TED SCHEPKOWSKI,
of Brevard, is in the infantry
somewhere in Italy. He has bec^n
overseas around two months and
in service since last January. He
took his basic training at Camp
Wheeler, Ga. His wife, the former
Miss Rachel Orr, is in Brevard
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
0. H. Orr. Pvt. Schepkowski was
employed in Champagne’s Hand
Booklet Department prior to his
induction in the army.
ENJOYS furlough
Washington 25, P'
I was blessed not very j
with a 7-day furlough .jUi
very naturally spent in the
of North Carolina. There should ^
more furloughs and longer ones
the army, but we want to ^
harder and get this thing ®
sooner.
I want to say here that it
me feel very good to see so ® .
familiar faces on my visit
It wouldn’t seem right going
and not visiting Ecusta,
Ecusta is part of home. *
about the bond reports, and_^ ;
have written you before;
in
iDf
a great boost to any person ^
uniform to know that the j
back home are helping as
you folks are. These things
be forgotten when we come [
and puff those blue stars ^
our windows. on
Please don’t take my
the Echo mailing list ever! «
the paper is like hitting th®
pot at mail call.
Must stop now. Duty call®' .
Sgt. Mary RWl^,
P. S. Np letter is compl®,
out a P. S., so here is
celebrate an anniversary
—one year a buck sergeant
am I tough?
%
Or
ft:
Ml
lOi
LST REALLY
Care of Fleet Post
New York, N. Y.
3 been receiving th® jjjs
and it has been appreciate ■
like receiving a long a®) ','
home, only it is more
letter. It would take f
page to bring the news tn®
r
I want you to know *
my visit through the miH
21st. It made me want to
work again. f
I am aboard my ship .
I have left the States. Boy' ^
■S
%
h
0
had some weather^—-
high as 120 degrees. The sU® jd-
in the day, then it clouds
I rains and the wind blows J ^ p
I never saw a ship that . > i
I this one does. I have ii li^f jhe
't ro^‘
storms and the ship didn’-
this one. You see, it has
and has a flat bottom,
jit roll like the dickens.
Yours truiyyg^)
William E. Green
SENDS GREETINGS TO HIS
BUDDIES
% Fleet Post Office, New York
I want you to know how much
I appreciate you people sending me
the Echo. Although I haven’t writ
ten to you lately and you never
knew my correct address, I receiv
ed the Echo just the same.
I noticed in my last letter from
home where you now have Air
Mail stationery made like cigarette
paper. It makes a guy fe,el good to
know people at home are back
ing him.
I would like to say hello to the
old shift in the Machine Room
and also to my Machine Shop bud
dies.
So thanks again for the Echo,
and good luck to you all.
As ever.
Hale Siniard (Shipfitter 2-c)
IS AWAITING AN OPE**^J^
Remount
Front Royal>
I am in the hospital hef
Remount Depot, but will P
out to some other hospit^
operation on my side-^^
what the doctor has tolo
haven’t much strength to lofl*
thing and can’t sit up
but will try to finish ^qC
I am wishing for the day ^
when I can come
to work because it is th
Iks
place in the world
work and it is in the
in the Union.
Give my regards to aH
at the plant.
tJie
William H.
if'
IS ON ITALIAN
Somewhere on
I am getting along jjg
good health considering j, I
tions one has to go thro a
be glad when the war N
I can be back in good ®
Carolina -once again- ,. vf,
Yours sincerely (P
Raymond Nicb^^s
'?fki
s
S(
S'f a
'
»1