North Carolina Newspapers

DAT WAB BOND DAT —MW Hum THE ENTERPRISE OVE* THE FOR VICTORY •Itfc UNITED STATES WAR BONDS*STAMrS VOLUME XLVI—NUMBER 52 Williamson, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, June 29. /9 ESTABLISHED 1899 Meeting Will Consider Plans For Eliminating Public Meeting Will Be Held In County Courthouse Monday -».— Chairman Hugh G. Horton Urges Officials and Civic Leaders to Participate In compliance with a proclamation issued by the Governor of North Carolina on June 23, setting forth July 5, as North Carolina Day of Dedication for the purpose of study ing conditions and taking such or ganized steps as will effectually end idleness or loafing that may exist in this county, Hugh G. Horton, chair man appointed by the governor, is calling a public meeting at the court house of Martin County in Williams? ton on Monday, July 5, at 11 o’clock a. m., at which meeting all business leaders, farm leaders, ministers, po lice officers, sheriff and deputy sheriffs, court officers, judges, coun ty commissioners, mayors of all the towns in tiie county, members of all women’s, Kiwanis, Rotary, Ruritan and Lions clubs, health and welfare workers, school leaders, selective service officials, civilian defense workers, members of the press and all other public-spirited citizens are urged to attend and take part in the meeting and assist in the appoint ment of committees to deal with this problem locally during the remain der of the emergency. No plans for handling the vagran cy problem have been definitely ad vanced, but as a part of a state-wide movement, the action in this county will follow a pattern in keeping with the emergency, it is expected. No session of the county will be held that day in deference to a study of the pressing problem. In his proclamation, Governor Broughton said: “Work is no longer merely a privi lege or opportunity; it is a high patriotic duty No man or woman, white or colored, in North Carolina -sr irtel s Arw-rica to-day.-has «*ny moral right to loaf or be idle even for a part of the time. We are con fronted with the most urgent need for productive manpower in the his tory of our nation. Farm labor and industrial labor are absolutely indis pensable for the protection of the national welfare and for the success of our men in arms. Under these (Continued on page four) Raise $202.00 For Crippled Children Results of the participation of Martin County in the sale of seals for crippled children, sponsored an nually by the North Carolina League for Crippled Children, have been announced by Miss Mary Taylor, chairman of the program in the coun ty. A total of $202.00 was collected, one-half of which will go for the benefit of the crippled children in Martin County, the other half to be sent to the State fund. The amount collected this year far exceeded the total last year, last year’s fund being $136.18. When the program was first begun in the coun ty total collections usually averaged about $35. Words of commendation were received by the Martin County Department of Public Welfare for activity of school ph.ildren-, individual citizens ;n the campaign. Any indigent child that is report ed to the Martin County Welfare De partment may receive aid from the funds. This aid includes crutches, wheelchairs, X-rays or any treat ment needed by a child handicapped in this manner. Most of the seals were sold by school children befoie the schools in the county were closed. Schools and their totals are as follows- Wil liamsion Grammar School, $tn 7#t Williamston High School, $13.72; Hamilton, $460; Oak City, $&.SE,. Jarnesville, $8.20; Bear Crass, $7.80; Robersonville, $8.26; Everetts, $2.67; Gold Point, $1.00, making a total of $66.18. Colored schools and their contri butions are, Dardens, $3.00; Salis bury, $1.50; Oak City, $3.00; Cross Roads, $1.00; Whichard James, $1.75; Jarnesville, $2.50; Williams Lower, $2,50; Woolard, $'.48; Everetts, $1.48; Robersonviile, $3.03; Williamston, $10; Corey ,50c; Spring Green, $1.00; Smith wick Creek, 50c; Hamilton, $1; Biggs, $2, making a total of $36 24. Sales to individual citizens and civic organizations were. Williams ton Lions Club, $10; Williamston Wo man’s Ciub, $5; Williamston Junior. Woman’s Club, $10; Williamston Ki wanis Club, $5; Robersonviile Junior Woman’s Club, $5; Robersonviile Ro tary Club, $250; Infantile Paralysis Fund, $5, W. I. Skinner, $5; G. H. Harrison, $5; J. M. Saunders, $5; D. R. Davis, $5; Dr. and Mrs. E. T. Wal ker, $5; Mrs. Carrie B. Morrison, $5; making a total of $72,50. USE STAMPS The sale of $5 use or motor ve hicle stamps is progressing slow ly at the post office here. Assis tant Postmaster F. E. Wynne said yesterday. I.ess than 100 of the stamps have been sold to date, and the little stickers are due to be placed on the windshields of all cars, trucks and motorcycles by Thursday of this week. The office has a supply of 1,500 of the stamps and they may be purchased at the post office or from the carriers on the RFD routes. Seventy-two County Registrants Placed In “C Draft Group _—— Few Olliers in the Non-Farm Group Also Classified By Draft Board Handling eighty-one cases recent ly, the Martin County Draft Board placed seventy-two of the number in the “C” classification, meaning that most of them were farmers and not subject to the draft, at least not any time soon. Those men placed in the 2-C and 3-C groups are farmers. Two or three 1-C classifications were announced, and in those cases, the registrant had been transferred to another board and had been accepted by the Army or he had volunteered and had been accepted. Those men placed in 1-A-H have no grounds for deferment other than age, the draft limiting its calls to men under thirty-eight years of age at the present. Those men plac ed in 3-A are married and have chil dren, meaning that they will not be called until the draft starts taking fathers. Those listed in the “B” class ifications are in essential industry, i and. those in 4-F have been rejected ' The classifications: Wilson Eld ridge Ambrose, w, 3-C. Robert Guy Eakes, w, 3-C-Il Nick Baker, c, 1-A-H Samuel Steward Brown, w, 3-C George Andrews, c, 3-C Arthur Thomas Rose, w, 2-B George Howard, c, 3-C Robert Taylor, w, 3-C Robert Mitchell, c, 2-B Donner Warren Ange, w, 3-C-H Henry Williford, c, 3-C Hubert Alphard Perry, w, 3-C Bernard Swain Harrison, w, 3-A William Kenlem Stroud, w, 3-C Joe Harvey Farmer, w, 3-C Leslie Mooring, c, 2-C-H James Robert Cobb, c, 3-C Webb Ward, c, 3-C Homer Stokes, c, 3-C Milton Ross Smith, w, 3-A Jessie Lee Andrews, c, 3-C Evan Bryant Cherry, w, 3-C Willis Bryant, c, 3-C Melvin Hubert Coltrain, w, 1-A-H Marion Gray Waters, w, 3-C John Tichard Medford, w, 2-C Chester Terry, w, 3-C Elijah Thomas, c, 3-C ^onunuea on page iourj -« Firemen Get Couple Of Calls Yesterday -m Idk for 30i. e weeks, the local fire department received two calls in rapid succession yesterday after noon, neither one of the calls amount ing to very much. The first call came around 5 o’clock when fire threatened the store of R J. Harduson, farmer-merchant liv ing on the Jamesville Highway in Williams Township. A small portion of one of the walls was burned and damage was comparatively slight. About thirty minutes later, the firemen were cniied to the home of Ahe Spruill on White Street. Spruiii was- burning out his chimney and the sparks fired the roof. A small area was burned. 143 SHORT v _ Compliance reports or land measurements in this county are 143 short of the goal, the office of the county agent announced this morning. Approximately 1, 450 farmers have already meas ured their lands and reported their measurements either to their respective committees or to the agent’s office where they are being tabulated lor delivery to the State office. Those farmers who have not yet measured their lands are again warned that no tobacco marketing cards will be made available to them and no farm payments of any kind will be al lowed until the measurements are made and reported. CpI. Irvin C. Griffin Has Narrow Escapes In Tunisian Battle l . ... ««r-- _ Story of tlio Campaign hi Africa -<«■ In one of the most interesting let ters so far received from “fighting men,” Corporal Technician Irvin C. Griffin, young son of Mr. and Mrs. S Claude Griffin, of Williamston, tells about the campaign in Africa. The letter was written soon after the campaign was brought to a suc cessful close in Tunisia, but it just reached this paper last week-end. Those battles back yonder that Americans so anxiously followed are brought nearer home to the people of Martin County by Corporal Grif fin’s letter. He was in the thick of the fight and had several narrow’ escapes. The young man had very little to say about himself, hut ap parently he’s getting along very well. His letter: I guess you thought that I had quit writing but the censorship was so strict until yesterday.. that there ■wasn’t much to write about. Now that the campaign is over we are per mitted to write almost anything, so I'll try to give a brief summary of the action I have been in. We were part of the invasion force to take Algiers on Nov. 8th. The original plan was for us to slay there and let the English come on to Tunisia, hut on Nov. 15, we got a call from the English wanting all mobile forces to join them. Ours be ing an artillery unit wo were the first American outfit to “hit the road". We left Algiers in the morn ing of Nov. 10. Our trip across the mountains was a little rough at times hut we still made good time in reach ing the Tunisian border. We pulled into position on the streets in Mejez el-Bab on Nov. 19 and from there un til a W’eek ago things have really been popping. When we reached Mejez we dis covered that we had passed the Eng lish and were supporting a small force of French infantry. After a short time in the streets of Mejez it was discovered that Jerry was only a few hundred yards away and that we were within machine gun range of them. So we were not long in mov ing back a couple of miles. However before we moved back two “Mess Kit” 109’s cams-aver us--on patrol (Continued on page four) -* Few Cases Heard By Ration Board Panel —•— The combined ration board gas and tire panels have checked very few gas-tire records and heard very few alleged speeding cases during the past two weeks. Quite a num ber of speedsters have been caught in this county and while their cases were heard in the criminal courts, they were directed to their respect ive boards for uc-tion on gas rations. Recent cases heard in this county include the following: W. E. Holliday’s case, called for a systematic check of tire and gas rec ords, was transferred to the Pulp Mill board. Wm. Taylor, Parmele, was direct ed to submit tire inspection records. The R. H. Clayton speeding ease was transferred to the board at Bay boro. L. L. Blake, Parmele, was direct ed to submit a tire inspection rec ord. The case against Richard Reeves was transferred to the Pitt County board. Reeves, when questioned on Monday night, said his boss had giv en him a loose ”C’’ coupon to haul tobacco Native of Countv •/ Dies in Oakbor-o -<3> Joseph Bryant Purvis, a native of this county, died at his home in Oak boro last night following a heart at tack. He had been ill for a very short time end news of his death came ~.s a shock to relatives and friends here. About a year ago he underwent' ueatiYierit n* a Che,,.tic hospital, but he was in his usual health just a short time before he was stricken fatally. The son of the late Jule Purvis and wife, Annie CoITielu Purvis, he was born in the Spring Green community about 45 years ago. In early man lood he was married to Miss Hattie Floyd, of Hamilton. He lived there s number of years, moving to Oak ooro in Stanly County about eight years ago to engage in the mercan tile business. Besides his wife he leaves four children, Grace, Lucille, Billy and Joe ,and two brothers, Julius Purvis if Belhaven and Whit Purvis, Sr. of Scotland Neck, and two sisters, Mrs. L,. T. Fowden, of Williamston, pnd Miss Mildred Purvis, of the old home near Spring Green. Funeral arrangements had not been completed early this afternoon, but according to tentative plans the iast rites will be held Wednesday afternoon at the home, interment following in the Oakboro Cemetery. TOWN . FARM IN WARTIME Incentive For Seamen Reemployment rights for merchant seamen who leave civilian life to serve in the American Merchant Marine have now been established by law, Chief D. W. McClellan, North Carolina enrolling chief for the Mar itime Service, has announced. Un der the law. the same reemployment rights given men joining the Army or Navy are granted fo seamen, and Chief McClellan, who is conducting an intensive campaign for vitally needed seamen in the state, said that he hoped the law would eliminate one of the main obstacles to recruit ment of manpower for the growing merchant fleet. He urged North Car olina men between 17 1-2 and 50 to contact his office at the Masonic Temple- Building, Raleigh. Farmers To Get Tools More than 50 hard-to-gel items needed on North Carolina farms will be provided by a WPB order to manufacturers and wholesalers to set. aside specific quantities. This ac tion puts into effect an emergency program worked out under WPB’s Office of Civilian Requirements to make available at retail outlets serv ing farmers supplies needed to in crease food production. The list in cludes such items as auger bits, bat teries, chains, chisels, drills, grain scoops, grease guns, harness, hoes, fractional horsepower motors, pails and tubs, pipe fittings, pliers, screw drivers, shovels, tire pumps, valves and wrenches. Average Income lip. But— In July, 1940, the average Tar Heel had an income of about $47.92. Mili tary expenditures in that month amounted to approximately $1.50 per person. In April of this year, income per capita was 1.8 times what it was in the middle of 1940 -$85.03, but if the average North Carolinian had been asked to pay April’s war ex penses on the spot, it would have on page iuui; C. Alex Nicholson Killed By Falling Tree Early Monday —<t— FiiimtuI Service for l{e*t[K‘cle(l Yonn^ Man iYmliii" Word from itrollirr -<t> Struck on the head by a falling tree while working In the logwoods in Poplar Point Township, Carroll Alex Nicholson, local young man, was killed instantly early yesterday morning. His skull crushed, he died instantly. Driving a truck for Critcher Bro thers .local timbermen and mill op erators, Nicholson was waiting for the woods crew to finish cutting a load. One tree was sawed of* at its base, but it lodged in another. The sawmen cut down a second tree and when it tell the first urn was push ed over on the young man, pinning his head to the ground. It was neces sary to use a tractor to free the body. The son of Joe and Nannie Ben nett Nicholson, he was born near Wilhamston on January 1, 1917. A few years ago he married Miss Eve lyn Rogers, of near Williamston, and they made their home on North Haughton Street. Up until a few months ago he was employed as a truck driver for Saunders and Cyx and was recognized as a dependable worker and a good citizen. When the owners made some changes in their plant, the young man accepted a job witli Critcher Brothers. The young man was regular in his attendance upon the services of the local Pentecostal church and was highly respected. Besides his wife and parents he leaves two children, Charles Clay ton and Gene Carroll. He also leaves five brothers, J. B. Nicholson, View Nicholson, Noah and Joseph, all of Williamston, and Daniel, who is sta tioned with the armed forces in Wis consin, -and a sister, Jean Audrey Nicholson, of Williamston Funeral services w ill be held at the home Wednesday afternoon at 4 o’clock by the Rev. Mr. Little, pas tor of the local Pentecostal Holiness Church. Interment will follow in the local cemetery. Torn Skinner Doesn't See Hou> We Can Lose Writing from the far Pacific, Tom Skinner, Williamston young man who has seen plenty of action in the cur rent war, says: “Was glad to learn through the En terprise that so many “rugged" boys from Williamston were caught in the last draft. If you could send them out to us instead of to Sammy Tay lor they might get RUGGED instead of plain rugged. I don't see how we can lose now, with all those boys in the Army. Would give a month’s pay to see Paul Simpson and some of the others cleaning a “head”— (That’s latrine in the Army.)” Tom concluded, “Will be seeing you over some week-end — what | week-end?” Hitler and Company [Expecting Allies To ITa^eli Attack S.^ ptei^gaaBiaaa fill' Divisions From Russian Front While secrecy still surrounds inva sion plans as far as the Allies are concerned, Hitler and Company yes terday stated that the attack would be launched on or about Saturday of this week. The prediction gained only passing notice and drew no comment from Allied official sources Appar ently Adolf Hitler and his gang be lieve something is brewing, one re port stating that he is driving the conquered people to defense tasks in many areas, that fifty German di visions are being withdrawn from the Russian front. The last act may be recognized as a defense measure or it may he that Hitler has aban doned virtually all hope of launch ing another all-out offensive against the Russians. It is quite likely that the German people are fairly well convinced that the invasion is al-«ady underway, that they recognize destruction and defeat in the relentless air alt. The round the clock air attacks on Germany have been maintained through the eleventh straight day, the raiders attacking Hamburg and Cologne last night with telling effect. The Americans, blasting St. Nazarie and other bases in tin- occupied coun tries yesterday, are again streaking across the Channel today. Working under the Middle East Command, Liberators attacked Ger man airfields and bases in Greece on Sunday. Little news has been heard about operations against Sicily, but surely something is popping in that area. Vast movements of Allied fleets have been reported in the Mediterranean during the past few days, aggravating a severe case of jitters for the Italians and Germans. The air war continues on the Pa eilic with telling effect on Jap in stallations <it Kiska where a drive similar to the one at Attu is predict ed. American submarines pushed to the front recently when they sent eight Jap ships to the bottom, boost ing the count to 190 sunk, 29 proba bly sunk and fifty damaged. One the Russian front, the tier mans admit reverses in the fighting along the Donets River, and another report stall:, that tin Ru.-,.-dans are itneVSiTig iTn ge iTuTnfie'fVT'uV TVieil i'ri VtYe Velikie Luki sector. Even after the reported withdrawal of fifty divi sions, it is estimated that the Ger mans have around 200 divisions in Russia. (Continued on page four) --—— Gas Stolen From Everetts Station Forcing a lock on a pump, robbers stole a small quantity of gasoline from the J. E. Barnhill filling station in Even Its late Sunday night or early Monday morning. No- accurate cheek on the amount of gas stolen could be made immediately, but it is esti mated that twenty or twenty-five gallons were pumped out of the lank. The thief “borrowed” three live-gal lon cans from an old garage store room nearby, and he is believed to have filled them and loaded his car tank. Officers stated this morning they were working on a clue, and that an arrest would possibly follow. NEW QUARTERS V—-j The Martin County Draft Board, located for about two years in the old Martin County Bank building, corner of Main and Smithwick Streets, has mov ed to new quarters in the Town Hall. The board, its records re quiring additional filing cabi nets, needed larger quarters. Oc cupying three rooms, the hoard is now located on the second floor of the town’s municipal building. Potato Prices Remain Unchanged This W eek i 1 hj |>rm"‘mi ni Likely \s (Government Goes (In Markets in Stale < riling; Prices l’re\ailing On N irginia Markets, Late Reports Show -* Dropping last week to the floor level of $2 25 per hundred pounds less ttvrty cents for bagging and grading, potato prices are holding fairly firm to that figure on the lo cal market today. While no support ing reason could be given for it, there , is a certain amount of optimism en tering the marketing at this time. Whether the market will rally and offset the depressed conditions that i struck last Wednesday is a matter of | speculation. Buyers were said to be ! holding aloof to the North Carolina ■ markets, but with, the government entering the picture, it is understood that regular trade operators are keep ing a close watch on shipments and I quality. It has again beets pointed out that the "rotten condition ot early North Carolina potatoes moved to market : had a depressing effect on the entire crop in this section. The quality of later shipments was said to be bet ter, and once the black mark is re moved, it is believed prices will ap proximate the ceiling figure. While potatoes have been moving out of this state at $2.25 per hundred less the 30-cent charge, Virginia report ed a firm market with prices hold ing to the ceiling figure. A report direct from the local mar ket today stated that the quality of the offerings was much improved, that the farmers apparently are ex ercising more care in harvesting the crop than was the case early last week. “Once we can start delivering quality potatoes to the northern mar ket.. in a sound condition, we believe the price will rally,” a representative of tlio market said this morning, add ing that a rotten potato is high at any price. Deliveries to the local market have declined slightly in volume, but the market is operating at about capaci ty Approximately thirty ears have been shipped from this point with an additional six car, now standing on the siding. Reports from over the state indi cato that farmers are marketnig the life* i ROUND-UP v Limited in scope, the regular week-end round-up of alleged law violators reflerts a varied attack on law and order. While the number of drunks led the list, the jail blotter shows there were cases charging drunken driving, assaults and an affray. Five persons were arrested and jailed during the period. Three of them were white, and the ages of the group ranged from 18 to 4t> years. In addition to the arrests, Highway Patrolmen cited about seventeen alleged speedsters and one or two drunken drivers to the court. Gravity Of Rubber Tire Situation Is “Cited By Official Dijiffint' Rajmlly info iJh* (M< Slock I’ilc of i<ilr Tirr« lo (airs Itnllim; “The seriousness of the tire situn tion has been brought home to us,’ C. C. Martin, chairman of the County War Price and Rationing Board, saic today, with the announcement tha sufficient recappable used tires art not available to meet the needs 01 those wiio must have them and that the government lias been forced tr meet the situation by releasing mort than a million low-quality used tires to bo sold to motorists holding Grade 111 rationing certificates. "The tires are part of the supply purchased last fa 11 and winter un der the idle tire purchase plan. They are called emergency tires and art branded with an O into the side wall to identify them,” Martin ex plained. The emergency casings are not fit for recapping but can he made serv iceable lor limited use either us spares or on low-mileage cars. Mo torists may purchase the tires through their regular dealers win Wl-iW them through the pliers. Ceiling price to the consumer on tiie emergency tins is one dollar each, Martin said, with dealer:, per mitted to make additional charges when they repair tires before selling them. “The release - I these poor quality tires emphasizes the fact that the na tion has to squeeze every possible mile from its rubber supply,” Mar tin continued. "W. M. Jeffers, the rubber czar last week telegraphed Price Administrator Prentiss M. Brown calling attention again to the situation, lie sib id we are in a ''critical’ period, and called upon Mr. Brown to direct rationing boards to do everything m tlioir power to get the cooperation of the commun ity in the conservation of rubber.” The text of the Jeffers telegram continued: “Wo do not want to he forced to impose any new and more drastic regulations other than limit (Continued on page four) County Man Home On Short Furlough A membei of the U. S. Merchant Marine for some months, Wm. C. Fagan, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Fagan, of Dardens, < xperienced many 'J ' I..'.1 |l .. .W.V>* JM, ' > ■ 5 . , the American Army in Africa the early part of the year. Returning home for a short furlough, the young man brought shrapnel and shells that struck his boat. Married last Friday in Ports mouth, the young man will spend a few more days in the county before reporting for a special assignment in the Norfolk area. Fanners In The County Cure First Tobacco from New Crop Tobacco harvesting and curing on an unusually large scale for this sea son of the year got underway in this county yesterday, reports stating that the work is being launched in near ly every section of the county Farmer Edward Corey, as far as it could be learned, was the first to harvest a barn in the county. A barn was pulled from the fields on the old Sitterson farm near Williumston last Friday. Lester Griffin harvest ed a burn Saturday, and State Rob erson, who usually leads the curing parade, followed about third. Har vesting is fairly general today. Just now the outlook is not as bright as it was a few davs ago. Dry weather is causing much.of the crop to blossom out before the leaves have matured. Strong winds yesterday ag gravated the dry spell and whipped the leaves badly. It would appear now that the crop will be a light one, but ruins even now will make a great deal of difference in both weight and quality. It will be a week or more befoer the harvesting work reaches a climax. Tobacco worms in vast numbers are after the crop in a big way. “Not since 1911 have I seen them more numerous and more damaging,” Far mer S. Claude Griffin said yester day. The worms are hard to kill, some farmers stating that they are doubling the strength of poison prep arations in an effort to check the pest. It was stated that the supply of poisoning was not sufficient to meet the demand and needs, but it was learned today that more of the poison had been made available and that possibly no serious shortage in the material would be encountered. Croup Will Advance Recreational Plans -- The young People’s Organization is the tentative name that has been given to the newly sponsored recrea tional activities plan being formu lated by the Wilhamston Ministerial Association. Definite plans are as yet unformed, but more advance ment. is hoped to tic made at. a meet ing ot the newly elected advisory board and the executive officers in the Methodist Church tonight at 8:30 o’clock, announces Mrs. Paul Simpson, chairman of the new or ganization. The recreational program now be ing planned is to provide amuse ment that will be both worthwhile and attractive to the younger peo ple, the present war conditions hav ing curtailed many forms of recrea tion. Besides Mrs. Simpson, the follow ing at'e members of the executive board: Mr. Wheeler Martin, vice chairman Miss Alberta Swidc. sec - rotary; Mrs. Garland Woolard, treas urer. Representatives of the various civic organizations of the community make up the advisory board. These are: Mrs. M. M Levin, Williamston Parent Teacher Association; Mrs. John L. Goff, president of Woman’s ( lub; Mrs. II. O. Peele, president of Junior Woman’s Club; Rev. John L. Golf, president of Kiwanis; Dr. E. T Walker, president of Lions; Rev. !h T Hurley, president of Minister oil Association; Rev. Gene Crosswell, . i.asjoi of the Presbyterian Church; ! !)r W. T. Bur-ell, paster of the Bap tist Church. Members of both advisory board ; a,'d the executive officers are ex ] pected to be present at the meeting j tonight, says Mrs. Simpson. Ilrothers (»et Promotions In The Armed Services According to information received here this week, Albert L. and Walter Cooke have earned promotions in the Army. Stationed somewhere in New Guinea, Walter Cooke is now a staff sergeant in the Air Corps. The young man is an aerial gunner, and ! it is well established that he has seen much action in the South Pa cific. Stationed at Drew Field, Tampa, Florida, Albert was promoted to j staff sergeant recently in the Signal I Corps, and is also platoon sergeant ! instructing 52 men between the ages | of .18 and 20 years.