PAGE SIXTEEN
THE ECHO
august,
News^rom Former Employees Now In Serdc
EXPRESSES APPRECIATION
The following letter from a Pri
vate in New Guinea refers to the
cigarettes which are sent to the
fronts bearing a stamp stating they
are contributed by the men and wo
men of the Ecusta Paper Corpo
ration, makers of the cigarette pa
per:
Dear Sirs:
I am at the present time detail
ed to the Red Cross in a combat
area. I am writing to your employ
ees to thank them for the ciga
rettes they have donated to the
boys overseas.
Although the Army makes it a
point to keep the soldier supplied
in combat and a short time there
after, the materials of war have an
understandable priority.
When the boys are “hurtin’
for a smoke they sure appreciate
the Red Cross and you, the people
who make their work possible.
Yours truly,
David F. Cummins (Pvt.)
Sgt. Fred Hutchinson Has Seen Much
Action In European Theatre Of War
HAS BEEN OVER FRANCE
AND GERMANY
Tell everyone I know “hello”
for me.
I am now at an operational base
in England, where I’ve been for
only a few weeks. There are a lot
of things that we don’t get, but
otherwise we’re making out pretty
good.
We’ve been over France and
Germany a few times, and it’s pret
ty rougiu We’re busy since the in
vasion has begun.
Write when you can.
As ever—
John Lyday (S. Sgt.)
IS IN FRANCE
There isn’t much to write about
Prance because I haven’t been here
long enough to see much of it, but
I guess I’ll know what it looks like
before I ever get back home. What
I have seen of it sure is not like
good old North Carolina.
I haven’t seen Captain Bolt in
the last three days. This must be
the point where we part.
We are in a camp now for Re
placements. From here we go to a
unit and battle and then, if we’re
lucky and. it ends soon, I hope it’s
home.
Tell all the folks back at Ecusta
I am thinking of them and hope
some day I’ll get to see them all
again, and I hope that isn’t too far
off.
Chris Costanza (Pvt.)
Former Gumming Operator
Has Literally Been “Keep
ing Them Flying”
I "
A NINTH AIR FORCE TROOP
CARRIER BAS^;, EUROPEAN
THEATRE OF OPERATIONS —
Tech Sergeant Fred J. Hutchinson,
former Ecustan, is now with the
ninth troop carrier command of
the Ninth Air Force in the Euro
pean theatre, after seeing service
in North Africa, Sicily and Italy
during the past fifteen months.
One of Champagne’s gumming
operators, he left its employ to
join the ranks as a volunteer in
December, 1941.
Realizing a long standing desire
to become an airplane mechanic,
he now literally “keeps ’em fly
ing.” As flight chief he is in charge
of all maintenance on several big
C47 airplanes. A brake specialist
too, he fixes them so that no pilot
need run out of runway when
“coming in hot.”
In North Africa he was engaged
in flying duties, was awarded the
Air Medal for flying as crew chief
in the spearhea^ng troop carrier
flight which hauled paratroopers
into Sicily on D-Day.
A veteran overseas unit, his
troop carrier organization, now a
part of the Allied Expeditionary
"Air force, carried fighting Yank
paratroopers into the Cherbourg
Peninsula on D-Day.
Asked about his favorite pastime
in the ETO, he replied quickly,
reading the Echo,” which he re
ceives regularly.
Sees Real Action
PROMOTED TO T. SGT.
Staff Sgt. Clyde *‘Speedy” Jones
was superintendent of the Refin
ing Room before entering service
in Feb., 1943. He was recently pro
moted from Staff Sergeant to Tech
Sergeant. He is a crew chief on a
B-24 stationed somewhere in Italy.
READS ECHO UNTIL “WEE”
HOURS
Care of Fleet Post Office
New York
Thank you for the first Echo I
have received since I’ve been
overseas. Was so thrilled I stayed
up most of last night reading the
news that makes me think of
home very much.
Wasn’t surprised a bit when I
saw that Divola C. and BiU N
were engaged.
Sure would have liked to have
been there for the Fourth of July
picnic — to win the underwater
swimming contest like I did last
year!
Any letters anyone’ will write me
will be very gladly received.
Keep up the good work in buy
ing war bonds, and some day we
will all be homc^ together.
Yours truly,
Virgil L. Barrett (Sl-c)
HOT WEATHER THERE
New Guinea
I was just thinking how won
derful it would be to be back at
Ecusta, so I decided I would drop
you a few lines.
I am in the best of health. It's
a beautiful day here—sun shining
bright and pretty, and just as hot
as ever.
Rastus Smith (Kc.)
NOW AT NORFOLK, VA.
Cpl. Thomas Dan Edens recently
visited in Brevard. He was em
ployed in the canteen before en
tering the service in February,
1943. Cpl. Edens was formerly in
Farmingdale, N. Y., but is now
gtationed in Norfolk, Va.
INFORMATION ON THE Mc-
CORMICKS
Pfc. Thomas N. McCormick, who
is in a Port Company, has been in
France for some .time now, and
among his first mail was the June
Echo, which he and his buddies
enjoy so much. He likes France
fine, but says living in a foxhole is
no picnic.
Sgt Melvin McCormick and Pfc.
James McCormick were in Eng
land the last we heard while Pvt.
Douglas McCormick was still in
Camp White, Oregon. The above
are all brothers.
Their sister, 2nd Lieut. Juanita
McCormick of the Army Nurse
Corps, has recently arrived in the
States from Corsica and is now on
leave at home, |
TECH SERGEANT FRED J.
HUTCHINSON, former Ecustan,
now airplane mechanic in a IX
Air Force Troop Carrier squad
ron in the European Theatre,
struck a pose (above) for a
street photographer while “do
ing the town” in a small city
near his base in Sicily when he
was serving there. (Official pho
to, Ninth Air Force.)
Sgt. David Sams
Is War PrMO""
A telegram from the ^
to the parents of Sgt. David ^
in Mars Hill, N. C., advises
David is a prisoner of war ^
many. Sgt. Sams recently ^
reported as missing in
Germany. A tail gunner on a ^
he received the air medal ot.
15th after completing 31
over enemy territory. He hao
commended by his com®*
officer for his bravery,
and spirit of co-operation.
overseas in January, 1943,
Africa and then to Italy- ^
entering service, Sgt
employed by Ecusta as a *
Plant helper.
R. W. MUSE MISSlNJiiSI
ACTION OVER GERW'"
— pi!®^
Lt. Rex “Red” W.
of a B-24, has been niJSS^jj}
j action over Germany
121st. He entered the air
November of 1942, trained
well Field, Ala., and Waln>J^
Ark. In October, 1943, he
his commission and wings
man Field, Seymour, Ino-
an inspector helper here-
FRANCE
CAN GET BANANAS THERE
Somewhere in New Guinea
I received two of the Echoes
this past week and was more than
glad to get them for they are real
ly a lot of company over here in
the jungle.
Boy, it is hot! There are plenty
of coconut and banana trees here.
We have cleaned up two places
in the jungle and got up our
tents—6-men tents.
I was very disappointed when
1 did not get my furlough, from
Camp Cooke. Well, tell my friends
and feUow workers hello for me
pd keep up the good work, for our
job will soon be finished and we
hope to join them again.
So, until we meet again—
As ever—
Ben H. Bishop (Sgt.)
iot
I have been in Fr®®?®gjj ^
while now, but haven’t
to travel around as mucn
like. «Jilt
We had a big “Fourth
over here. The townspeop ji
I out in full force with '
flowers everywhere.
fireworks, too!
This living in one I
another is getting me ^ tH*
I glad when I can get ha^^^
one spot in the N. C.
Give my regards to all-
As ptai
Bob Bolt
LONGS FOR blue:
IS IN TRAINING CENTER
Fort Knox, Ky.
I am getting along fine^ How is
Ecusta going these days? Gosh!
I miss that place—it’s just like
home to me.
I like this place. I am in the
Armored Replacement Training
Center, and it sure is a nice out
fit.
Tell all the boys to write when
they have the chance. Good luck
to you and all of Ecusta.
Your friend,
Oscar Gasperson (Pvt.)
I received our welcom®
while back but have he
busy getting settled
This country is a lot h ™
the other places, but
beat the Blue Ridge
Hope it’s not too long
get a chance to see them
I haven’t seen my hr®
but hope to soon. Ther®
few boys I knew at th j pe
was stationed before, h«
saw one of them. ^
Keep up the good
Jim McCormics
LOOKING forward
VISIT
This leaves me and
id
lJUW
Corsica fine as could ^
I see why we are
proud of the good oW
way. So teU all to
and stop complaini**^' i. W(i
I hope to visit get
APPRECIATJES ECUSTA
Corsica
I arrived here on Corsica and
have flown a bit already.
I enjoyed reading the Echo
while I was in the States, and I
would appreciate seeing one once
in a while over here.
After seeing the type of paper
they use in foreign cigarettes, one
really appreciates your product.
Sincerely yours,
H. P. Vannah, Jr.,
(Flight Officer)
soon, the next day 15
I hope we can visit ^
then return home.
Best of luck ’til this tn
Tell others to write. ^
Yours
in
Sh
Of
John ^
SAW capture /
Pvt. Bill H. Nicholso'g^jj^y
the allied forces kA
captured. Pvt. Nichols ’
employed in the '
the infantry
He left Ecusta in- A