October 25. 1943
THE MILL WHISTLE
Nine
Facts and Fancies from Fieldale
Sends Thanks to Friends
Pvt. Richard F. Martin, of the Ma
rines, now stationed somewhere in the
Southwest Pacific, wishes to thank his
many friends for the nice letters he
has received, and sincerely hopes they
will continue to write him.
Incidentally, Pvt. Martin is the proud
holder of a certificate presented to him
on December 30 ,1943. We do not have
full information concerning this cer
tificate but it is considered quite an
honor to own one.
Cpl. Lee B. Campbell, son-in-law of
Mr- and Mrs. J. W. Martin, was recent
ly promoted to his present rating. He
is stationed at Camp Mackall, N. C.
M''s. Campbell is the former Barbara
Martin.
V . . . _
Letters From Soldiers
It isn’t often that we print a com
plete letter, but in this case we feel
an exception should be made. These
letters were written by men who vol
untarily gave up all a man holds dear
in order to insure that all of us may
forever enjoy this privilege. In it they
tell, simply and clearly, how the men
in service feel about the war in general.
It is about what 90 percent of our mail
from soldiers usually contains. Read it.
Editor, Mill Whistle,
Dear Sir: I wish to thank you for the
splendid paper that I have been re
ceiving. I appreciate it very much
and read every bit of it.
We men in the service enjoy read
ing, or hearing, about those we left
behind. The Mill Whistle brings all of
our friends right into our barracks, or
as the case may be, tents.
I am now in Tennessee on maneuv
ers as part of the Second Army. Please
send my paper to the following address
(Given on request).
We all have oi}r part to play in this
fight and I know that the ones who are
at home want this over with as much
as those of us in the service. The only
favor I, or any soldier, asks from any
one is to do your bit, think, and do a
little more.
I came into the army of my own free
will. I’m married and have two chil
dren. You may say that it is partially
a selfish reason that I am here, and
you would be correct. I lived in a free
country, free to speak as I pleased,
worship God as I pleased, listen to the
radio, read any paper that I wanted to;
and if it takes my life to insure the
fact that mine, and other children,
grow up in the same kind of freedom,
then I am ready.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want
to die for my country. I want to be
able to live for her that she may be
even better.
Those that are home are making sac
rifices, and we appreciate it. We don’t
ask anyone to give up too much, but
we in the army gave up quite a bit.
I see where there is a new war loan
drive at home. If the people would
only think how badly the money is
needed they would be glad to do with
out some things and put a little more
into bonds and stamps. I’m no preach
er, or reformer, but I know that there
are very few soldiers that aren’t put
ting part of their pay into bonds. So
is it asking too much that those at
home do the same?
All of this leads up to this: We want
the people behind us; to really be be
hind us one hundred percent, and let’s
get this war over with. Every day that
we can shorten this war means that
someone’s life will be saved.
I thank you for reading this rambling
mess and want you to know that we
soldiers are ready to sacrifice plenty,
so keep up the good work at home and
maybe soon we can all be home witli
our loved ones.
Sincerely yurs,
SGT. VICTOR CUMBO.
^ ^
Mr. J. U. Newman,
Spray, N. C.
Hi Fella;
I just received another edition of
your little mill paper, which I receive
fairly regular and appreciate it very
much. In this edition dated August 16,
you wrote an editorial entitled “Peace
Around the Corner.” This article con
tained more truth than 80 percent of
the largest papers in the country ever
print and should not be confined to
so small a paper. It’s true that people
back there are too easy to mislead;
they don’t realize the bare facts of war,
simply because they do not have bombs
falling around them and shells whiz
zing by. Although I’m an M. P. now, I
haven’t been always. I fought with the
First Division on the invasion and
through as far as Elguettar in the
Tunesian campaign, where a bomb fin
ally caught up to me and now I’m lim
ited service. So don’t think I’m just a
talker from way behind the lines. Tank
destroyers are always up there. In clos
ing I’ll say give the folks more of that
kind of stuff.
Sincerely,
PVT. HUGH B. SMITH.
Watch Those Tires!
C. p. Wall, member of the local tire
rationing board, recently stated that the
tire situation is really getting critical
and holds no hope that the situation
will improve during the coming months.
On the contrary, it is expected that
the tire shortage will become steadily
more acute.
In view of this situation it would
seem unnecessary to point out that the
tires you now have on your car, regard
less of their condition, are the tires
that you will be using for the next few
months. It doesn’t matter how badly
you need tires, the fact remains that
there are almost no tires to be had.
Members of the rationing board earn
estly request that all car owners and
drivers take the best possible care of
their tires, otherwise there will be no
choice left except to store your car and
walk. For much as your rationing
board would like to accommodate you
it cannot be done when there are no
available tires to be had.
It is, therefore, to your own advan
tage, Mr. Car Owner, to make your
present tires last as long as possible.
V . . . —
This letter was written by an Ameri
can conscript: “Dear Colonel: After
four months of army life and much
deep thought, I have decided that I
cannot support my wife in the manner
to which she has been accustomed on
my army pay. Kindly accept my resig
nation.”
V . . . —
Although never officially married, a
Negro woman in Alabama was the
proud mother of five children and a
staunch supporter of her church. When
finally she lay on her deathbed, church
members felt called upon to show some
special recognition of her many years
of service. A committee met, deliberat
ed, and before the old women died, con
ferred upon her the “Honorary Degree
of Mrs.”
V —
Buy, Sell, Swap
LOST—1-A and T gas ration book.
Finder please return to R. E. Martin,
Blanket Weave.
V . . . —
FOR SALE — Collapsible, adjustible
drawing stand, $7, and rowing exer
ciser, $2. Apply R. L. Hirst, 204 Kings
Mill Road, Phone 503-W, or Karas-
tan Designing Department.
V . . . —
LOST — A brindle Boston bull dog,
answering to name of “Pete”. Belongs
to son in service. Finder please re
turn and receive reward. Phone
328-J, Spray.
V . . . —
FOUND — One wedding ring. Owner
may get the ring by seeing Mrs. Lula
Shelton, Rayon Mill, second shift.