!> I muni) nyi \
. Last week’s column on inter
esting service men and women who
were stationed at New Bern’s
neighboring military bases during
( World War II has occasioned con
siderable comment.
Not included in the list was Sgt.
Stan Grady Marl, who did duty
down at Cherry Point back in 1943.
Donning a Marine uniform took
him out of circulation temporarily
as a top flight composer and ar
ranger.
Formerly associated with the
late Earl Carroll, whose “Vanities”
were the toast of Broadway, he
created the arrangements for some
of that famed producer’s most suc
cessful musicals.
Among his accomplishments was
collaboration in the writing of such
hits as “It Looks Like Rain in
Cherry Blossom Lane”, “Lost,” and
“You’re A Heavenly Thing.” '
Though still a youngster, he was
well-known in show business, hav
ing appeared as a featured pianist
at places like Hollywood’s Cocoa-
nut Grove and N.T.G.’s Florentine
Gardens. At one time he played
with Guy Lombardo, and prior to
coming to Cherry Point was given
assignments with Marine bands at
Washington and San Diego.
While in Hollywood he came in
contact with many screen celebri
ties, and got to know some of them
rather well. His favorites, he said,
were Lana Turner and Cary Grant.
“Miss Turner has much more
than physical attractiveness,” he
told us. “In real life she is charm
ing and unaffected and posses.ses
. plenty of personality. As for Cary
Grant, he’s the same way off the
screen that he is on, and that’s
good enough for anybody.”
One of our memories of those
World War II days concerns Major
James M. Norwood of the U. S. Air
Force. While serving with the di
rector of intelligence in Washing
ton’s massive Pentagon, he gave
his Marine friends at Cherry Point
an English bulldog for a mascot.
The gentle but vicious looking ca
nine was named Duffy O’Gallagher.
Getting rid of Duffy was about
the biggest mistake that the major
ever made. Up in Washington, the
Air Force officer got lonesome for
the English bulldog, so when he
made a routine flight in this sec
tion he landed at Cherry Point to
pay his respects to his former pet.
Unfortmwtely, he didn’t get to
see Duffy O’Gallagher during his
short stop there. The pooch, pin
ing just as much as the major and
feeling c(uite poorly, was in New
Bern consulting a veterinarian.
Needless to say they were soon re
united, and lived happily ever after
until Duffy’s death.
Maybe you’ve forgotten, or nev
er did know, that one of the serv
ices rendered by the USO club
on North Craven street during the
war period was the making of re
cordings for servicemen to send
back home.
On Mother’s Day particularly,
dozens of Marines, soidiers and
sailors sent messages'all over the
country from New Bern. They were
cheerful missives, and all of them
were pretty much the same. “Mom,
I’m all right, my buddies are swell,
and the folks in town are nice.”
And always there was the inevit
able plea too for Mom not to wor
ry, and the usual questions about
Mary, and the gang, and Mr. Jones
down at the store. Most of the serv
icemen .sat for an hour or more,
writing down in advance what they
planned to say. They didn’t want
to get stage fright in front of a
microphone, and forget what they
intended to tell the folks back
home.
Some of New Bern’s war mothers
went to the USO club too. aopept-
ing an invitation to make a record
for their boys in service. They
were nervous and hesitant, ti-ying
to hide their heartaches as they
The NEW BERN
5^ r.
-eKLY
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1959
NUMBER 24
> GOBS OF GOBBLERS—A. Etlbanks and his daughter,
-ray» are alniost lost in the midst of these jbrojize," big-breast^
ed turkey on their Jones County farm. It^s a new enter-
prize for Eubanks, who hopes to reap his reward in time
for some last-ndnute Christmas shopping. Does this scene
give you a h#fdc©ring for a hefty druinsticfc, ora serving of
giblet gravy?—Photo by Billy Benners.
New Bern Citizens in Favor
Of Khrushchev's Visit to U.S
How do New Bemians feel about
the scheduled visit of Russia’s Pre
mier Nikita Khrushchev to the
United States?
Well, a survey by The Mii-ror
reveals overwhelming approval
here. Few believe that the Soviet
leader’s unprecedented meeting
with President Dwight D. Eisen
hower will bring an international
melting in the cold war, but they
think the effort is justified.
People are pretty much like tom
cats in one respect. As long as they
are arguing with each other, there
is apt to be little actual fighting.
So, the average New Bernian fig
ures, these talks between Ike and
Nikita are all for the best.
Because he is a Republican, the
President has never been overly
popular in this Democratic strong
hold. His failure at times to assert
firm leadership in the past didn’t
enhance his prestige in New Bern.
However, Eisenhower’s stock has
risen tremendously here as a result
of his successful trip to England,
France and Germany. A new con
cept of the President is much in
evidence hereabouts, and this no
doubt is why New Bernians ex
pect Ike to at least hold his own
when he joins the top Communist
boss at the conference table.
Mayor Robert L. Stallings, Jr
would hardly set himself up as a with the typical local viewpoint,
spokesman for fellow citizens in “I have complete confidence in
this historic town, but his own the President,” says the mayor,
opinions on the matter coincide | “and ayi hopeful that his conversa-
talked reassuringly to their flesh
and blood on far-flung battlefields.
“Be good, Jimmie,” they would
almost whisper, “and take care of
yourself. I wish you could be here
to see the baby. New Bern is grow
ing, but the Elks Temple is still
our only skyscraper.”
Such was our wartime era, in the
tense and tragic ’40's.
tions with Khrushchev will relieve
tension, and possibly accomplish
understanding. I doubt that there
will be any material change, but
we should at least feel better for
having made the effort.”
As a matter of fact, Stallings
takes the line of reasoning that the
United States had no alternative in
agreeing to the talks between these
two high ranking figures, since
peace is our objective.
FISHING ON WILSON CREEK
—Photo by Billy Benners.
“I am sure that the President
will not enter into any secret
agreements,” adds the mayor, “and
I am equally sure that our friendly
Western countries abroad have the
same faith. It was vei-y gratifying
to see the way the United States
and Eisenhower were recognized as
the leaders of the free peoples of
the world, when he went abroad
recently.”
what Stallings said, when we in
terviewed him, was repeated time
and time again by other New Bern
ians questioned by The Mirror.
Worrying most folks, however, is
the possibility that an attempt
might be made to do physical harm
to Khrushchev during his stay in
Washington and his tour to the
Pacific coast by way of Ames and
Des Moines, Iowa.
Citizens here, and throughout
America, are fearful of the reper
cussions that could come from such
an event, especially if it resulted
in an assassination. In that connec
tion, g native New Bernian and
the husband of a New Bern girl
are both playing important roles in.
the precautionary measures that
are being taken.
Captain John L. Sullivan of the
W’ashington Police Department^
(Continued on back page)