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The NEW BERN
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Survivors of theBataan-Cor-
regldor death march, a parti
cularly brutal chapter of World
War n, are currently holding
their annual reunion at Fontana
Village In western North Caro
lina.
One of the marchers who
didn’t live to make any of the
reunions was New Bern’s Pete
Cook, a kid we taught In Sun
day school. Wounded and weak,
he died on the Bataan penin
sula, strip of rugged, heav
ily forested land 35 miles
long and from 12 to 20 miles
wide.
Pete paiitclpated In the stout
but hcqieless defense of this
Philippine Island during a
siege of three months. When
200,000 Japanese finally ac
complished the Inevitable, the
Invaders forced several
thousand Americans and Fili
pinos to march more than 70
miles to prison camps.
Hundreds of ailing and wound
ed men died of thirst and star
vation along the way, and pete
was In the lot. More fortimate
was Robert Conderman, another
New Bern youngster who fre
quented Albert "Crabby”
Crabtree’s Union Point Club.
Death for him was quick and
merciful. He was mowed down
trying to reach his plane. In
the Initial air attack on Wake
Island.
Preservation of what we call
the American way of life has
never come cheaply. All of us
need to periodically remind
ourselves of this grim fact by
visiting the lawn of the Craven
county courthouse, and reading
the names on the memorial
staff standing there.
Few mortals, living or dead,
are forgotten quicker than our
home town military heroes.
Who, for example, meeting
Teddy Sh^mu on the street
recalls that he was our most
decorated service man of World
War n?
His bravery as a combat
pilot with Chenault’s famed Fly
ing Tigers earned him safety
In the States, but he chose to
serve his country further as
as a test pilot, and sustained
critical Injuries so lasting that
he still requires dally medica
tion. His medals was stored
In a bureau drawer, and he
never brags about them.
When we speak of Pete Cook
and Robert Conderman, who
didn’t come back, and Teddy
Shapou, who did, we voice our
gratitude to every New Bernlan
and every other American who
has defended our heritage on
land and sea and In Rie air.
Admittedly, most of us do
think of our war heroes on
Memorial Day, Armed Forces
Day and the Fourth of July,
If only for a fleeting Instant.
However, we live In a busy
and decldely disturbing world,
so for the balance of the year
our thoughts are largely de-
What did Pete Cook and
Robert Conderman, and all
New Bernlans who made the
supreme sacrifice die for? If
they were alive they probably
couldn’t fashion their words
Into a flowery analysis, and
wouldn’t want to. But make no
mistake about It, they knew.
They died for your right to
vote In a free election, to crltlze
officials of our dty, county,
state and naticm for their acts
as public servants In a posi
tion of trust and solemn re-
(Contlnued on page 2)
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WHO WILL IT BE—One of the 12 girls above is destin
ed to wear Miss New Bern’s crown Saturday night at
the New Bern High School Auditorium. Picture left
to right are Diane Provo, Cheryl Cobb, Marjorie Cara-
won, Yvonne Cahoon, Phyllis Coates, Linda Peterson,
Brenda Greene, Susan Hill, Patricia Soufas, Marie
Gerlack, Linda Benners, and Nancy McDaniel.—
Photos by Billy Benners,