LETTERS
(Continued from page 2—Sect C.)
and yards away. At another time,
in port, three midget subs were
destroyed in the immediate vicin
;ty, one of them about two thous
and yards off the port beam. It is
hard on the “Old Lady’s” ribs to
have destroyers dropping depth
charges close aboard but she much
prefers them to torpedoes. It is
also distressing for the crew to
see one of our own ships flaming
not too far away as testimony of
what can happen. We have had
the Nips so close to us that we
have felt quite conscious of Divine
protection. They could be no clos
er to us—and still miss. Of course
we know that til's “Old Girl” can
“take it.” She does not have to
prove it to us.
Not very long ago two men were
landing on the quarter deck
■watching a Jap dive bomber climb
into the sun as the ship began
firing. Suddenly the Nip was lost
in the sun just as he started to
dive. They decided to get behind
frmour as quickly as possible. One
esitated a moment and the other
passed—right over the top of him—
leaving a heel print about half way
down his back. Snuggled down be
hind the armor, the first man
murmured "Lord, I know your
hands are on my shoulders, but I
did not realize you had put on
so much weight.” The bomber
made a hit not far away, but no
harm came to the ship.
During the last few operations
'things have quieted down and most
of the “glamor" comes from
fueling destroyers as they come
alongside. We have done this so
much that now the boys break out
a big canvas sign with "Welcome
to AO-BQB57. Oil and Gas, Hot
Dogs and Ice Cream.” An “AO"
is a tanker. On the canvas, be
side the gas pump, is pictured a
beautiful (?) girl attired in
.^‘brevities.” The Visiting destroyer
^personnel have quite a laugh on
us. Recently we had some fun at
the expense of a “poor little” de
stroyer pup. As the "can” came
along side the dog walked the
deck in solitary granduer — the
canine king of the Pacific Ocean
Areas. One of our carpenters had
an idea and a little spare time. He
constructed a wooden dog on
wheels; the next time we fueled
this destroyer the pup discovered
that his regency was apparently
being challenged! He spent most
of the operation barking insulting
remarks at the wooden dog pulled
around by one of the sailors. Some
of the men laughed at the pup’s
antics and anger that we could not
tell whether they were laughing or
crying. With laughs far and far
apart this one made up for many.
Life in port has been quite ex-!
cept on occasion. We have had
excellent movies, our softball team
with thirteen wins and our bas
ketball team have had an oppor
tunity to take on the teams from
other ships; our boxing squad has
stretched its winning score to sev
en team victories, and our mail is
coming regularly. Our food is ex
cellent and life not too difficult.
Only one thing would make our
happiness more complete; the of
ficial news that our work was
done and we were homeward
bound. Of course we want to fin
ish it once and for all so that it
need not be done again.
We hope that this letter reaches
you in time to say "Happy East
er.” We expect to be very busy at
that time, now that we have the
Japs on the run, but if you keep
us in mind m your prayers we
know that we shall be safe.
“Hey Bud! How about the Old
Lady! I’ve a new coat of paint and
a couple of new planes. As a mat
ter of fact I look pretty good and
am all stocked up with provisions
for a hundred days at sea. Tell
them to remember the Old Gal!"
All right, folks kindly remember,
the “Old Gal”. She has a tremen
dous wallop in her for the enemy
but she is very good to “her
boys.” We are proud of the old
BB-57—The U. S. S. South Dakota.
A Friend,
RAY BARRINGTON, Sl/c.
Germans
March 25, 194t
Mr. Wilson:
It has been quite some time
since I was in Roanoke Rapids sc
I thought that I would drop you
a few lines to find out how all
the boys are doing.
Mother sends me the Herald
each week and it is really a bright
spot in mail call for m<>.
I would like very much to hear
from all the boys that I used to
run around with if they will write.
I suppose you know by now that
we were the first Infantry Divi
sion to cross the Rhine River.
Jerry is really on the run but I
wish the people back in the states
would not be too optomistic.
Enclosed is an Easter card from
the Division.
I guess you know Major Jimmy
Sears is here too. Going to look
him up when I get a chance.
I have been alternating between
forward observing and excoating
the battery. I have seen both ends
of this war and all I want i£ to
end it quicky so we all can re
turn home.
Wish you would tell Mr. M. D.
Collier hello for me. '
Was out riding on the Autoban
Hiway, Hitler’s super road, and it
is a nice road but not so nice as
some of ours.
Will close for now, wishing and
hoping for a quick end of the
war.
Sincerely,
S/Sgt. Rufus Smith,
A. P. O. 78
C/o Postmaster,
New York, N. Y.
Rev. Topping
Will Speak
Reverend R. L. Topping, 915
Hamilton Street, will deliver the
baccalaureate sermon at the Bel
haven High School on Sunday
monrning, May 27, in the Christian
Church at Belhaven.
I Mrs. Orren Dowd of Greenville,
spent several days with Misses
Ruth and Vida Glover recently.
Miss Estelle Knight, of Durham,
was a guest of Miss Hazel Oobb
recently.
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, GARDNER'S DAIRY PRODUCTS
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I create this smoother Schcntey blended
whiskey bottled st dje "Peak of Flnoc^.
Blended Whiskey 86 Proof. Slaty par cast Groin Naotial Spirits. f|^ggg^P^
PURSUANT TO AN ACT OF THE 1935 GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA, and amended by
the 1942 General Assembly, an ACT to prevent RABIES
in North Carolina, I will be at the places designated and
at the time mentioned below to Vaccinate Dogs against ij
RABIES for the year 1945.
.The prices during these clinics will be one dollar
each, seventy-five cents of this amount will be credited
on your dog tax when our certificates are presented to
your tax collector.
Please make a note of the time and place most
conveniently located and have your dog at these clinics.
You may also bring your dog to our office at any
time during this time for inoculation.
MONDAY, APRIL 23rd
Halifax (W. G. Bass Store) _1 to 2 P. M.
Crowell’s (X) Roads_2 to 3 P. M. *
Caledonia Prison Farm (Main Office)_3 to 4 P. M.
Pierce's X Roads_4:15 to 5 P. ML i
TUESDAY, APRIL 24th
Darlington _1 to 3-»P. ML
Henry Willey's Store___2 to 3 P. M. |
Bellamy’s Store_3 to 4 P. M.
Heathsville___4 to 5 P. ML
Mr. Sam Lewis’_5 to 5:30 P. M.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25th
Aurelian Springs (Crawley’s Store)_1 to 2 P. M.
J. R. Liles Store_2 to 3 P. M.
Airlie _3 to 4 P. ML
J. A Chichester’s Store_4 to 5 P. M.
Anderson’s X Roads_5 to 5:30 P. ML
THURSDAY, APRIL 26th
_ Information Filling Station_1 to 2 P. M.
H. L F'aucette’s Store_2 to 2:30 P. M.
Charlie Colley’s Store_2:30 to 3 F. M.
Matthew Martin’s Store_3 to 3:30 P. M.
Bullington’s Store_3:30 to 4 P. M.
Kingtown (Cain’s Store) _4 to 4:30 P. M.
FRIDAY, APRIL 27th
Littleton (Mitchell’s Old Store)_12:30 to 2 P. M.
Bobbitt’s Old Store (Roper Spring)_2 to 2:30 P. M.
Hawkins Chapel Church_2:30 to 3:30 P. M.
Pittard’s Store_ 3:30 to 4:30 P. M.
MONDAY, APRIL 30th
Guy Moss' Store (Littleton Road)_1 to 2 P. M.
Hanibal Shearin’s Store_2 to 3 P. M.
Runty’s Store-3 to 4 P. M.
J. M. Sykes Store (Burton Street)_4 to 5 P. M.
TUESDAY, MAY 1st
Roanoke Rapids (Old Fire House, 2nd Street) _2 to B P. M.
WEDNESDAY. MAY 2nd
Rosemary (Rear' Patterson’s Old Store) _2 to 5 P. M.
THURSDAY, MAY 3rd
South Rosemary (Medlin’s Store) _1 to 2 P. M.
Shell’s Old Store-2 to 2:30 P. M.
Allie Powell’s Store_2:30 to 3 P. M.
Robert Powell’s Store_3 to 3:30 P. Ml
Homertown (Morris Store)_3:30 to 4:30 P. M.
Roanoke Junction (Esso Station)_4:30 to 5:30 P. M.
DR.W. A. CARTER
VETERINARIAN
WELDON, N. C. PHONE 5531
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