NEARLY 4,949 COPIES OF THE
ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE
HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY
AND TO COURT? SERVICEMEN
»w«b' ■0m*a3tt}0b '*•
yv,** rfi
NEARLY 4,000 COPIES OF THE
ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE
HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY
?jixi\ass&i*xs}G5*vs&,-: ■
VOLUME XLVIII—NUMBER 101
Williamaton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, December 21, 1945
ESTABLISHED 1899
Christmas Seal Sale
Far Below
Fixed For Chapter
Latest Reports Show That
t $946.25 of $1,450 Quota
Has Been Raised
The annual sale of Christmas seals,
advanced in support of the fight
against tuberculosis, is lagging bad
ly in this chapter, according to a
report released this week by Mrs.
Joel Muse, chairman for the Wom
an’s club, the sponsoring organiza
tion. According to the chairman’s
report, $946.25 of the $1,450 quota
has been raised, and donations and
responses to direct appeals are
dwindling to a low point, it was de
clared.
Of the 629 letters mailed direct,
316 replies have been received. Most
of the answers brought in $2, but
quite a few persons returned the
stamps and made no donation. In
addition to the contributions made'
by direct mail, seal bonds were sold
4 in the amount of $292.25 by Mrs.
Elbert Sherman. Farm Life School
raised $30.68 and the local white
schools contributed $72.85. No direct
reports have been received from the
other schools in this chapter, but it
was reliably learned that Hassell
and Oak City reached and passed
their goals. Local colored citizens,
according to a preliminary report,
have already raised $93.00.
The sale is nearing its close in
the county, and those in charge
* who have heard appeals from those
carrying on the relentless light
against tuberculosis are anxious to
have Martin County go over the top.
Those persons who received direct
letter appeals and who have not
answered them are most urgently
asked to do so today.
A report from Robersonville where
a separate sale is in progress, states
that the first supply of stamps had
been sold, that the response there
4 was very encouraging.
Early reports on the 1945 Christ
mas Seal sale indicate a lag in re
turns for the State, as a whole, in
spite of the fact that during the im
mediate postwar years the American
public should be strengthening its
guard against tuberculosis. Determ
ined efforts will be continued to
reach the State’s Christmas Seal
sale goal of $285,000, it was announc
ed by Frank W. Webster, Executive
Secretary of the North Carolina
’* Tuberculosis Association.
Webster pointed out that past
wars have been followed consistent
ly by increases in tuberculosis, al
though it is too early to predict in
the United States the effect of World
War II in this respect. There has
been a sharp increase in tuberculosis
however, in Europe and Asia, where
this long-term disease has had a
number of years to make its destruc
* tion known.
The state and community goals in
the 1945 Christmas Seal sale should
and must be met, Webster said, in
order that the voluntary tubercu
losis organizations may continue and
even augment their programs of
health education and case-finding
in bringing in check the greatest
killer of youth in our nation. The
appeal for funds to fight tubercu
4 losis is made only once each year,
Webster continued, but the import
ance of the Seal sale as a means of
controlling tuberculosis through ed
ucation cannot be minimized.
A1 lotte(l$5 L8999.00
For Soil Practices
——«
Martin County has been allotted
* $51,899 for its soil conservation pro
gram in 1946, it was announced this
week at a meeting of community and
county Triple A committeemen in
the courthouse last Tuesday. The
total will be broken down and al
lotted to the v,.ii ,tjua districts, offic
ials explaining that the payments
wilt average about 75 cents an acre
for all the crop land in the county.
The 1946 work sheets will be pre
pared shortly and made ready for
* consideration by the farmers some
time in January, it was learned.
As far as it could be learned there
will be no major changes in the 1946
farm program, but it will be possible
for the growers and committeemen
to work out plans so larger pay
ments can be earned.
Thirty-seven committeemen at
tended the meeting.
* On January 4 and 5, committee
men will receive applications for the
1945 soil building payments. No es
timate could be had, but the total
for the current year will approxi
mate $40,000 or possibly more.
-«
Announce Special
Christmas Program
On Sunday at 5 00 p m , the choir
of the Williamston Christian church
supported by several younger mem
bers of the church, will present i
Christmas program.
“The Journey of a White Gift” is
the production being used. It is a
Christmas story and song program
Miss Evelyn Griffin will be th<
4 reader. Mrs. W. C. Manning, church
organist, is directing the music. Mrs
V. J. Spivey and Mrs. G. H. Woola-c
have charge of all arrangements.
The pastor and congregation wil
welcome all friends in the commun
ity who can attend.
Big Rush Is On At The Local
■Post-Office At--Present-Tmiei
Top unnuai holiday season rush is
under way on s,i pxtenxhv
the local post office this. wc-eklrSR?
master W. E. Dunn stating yesterday
that all the facilities of the office
are being taxed to capacity in handl
ing the enormous task. Additional
workers have been employed, but
even with their help, the regular
force can hardly handle the calls
and demands without some delay.
The office will remain open Satur
day afternoon this week to help re
lieve congestion caused by incom
ing mails of ever-increasing size.
In a single day this week, the of
fice canceled 12,000 pieces of letter
mail, not to mention several hundred
packages and canceled by hand.
Over 75,000 pieces of letter mail
have been canceled since December
10th, and in-coming packages are
running well into the hundreds
while Christmas cards ann ■ other
Jjffi^^^L|eJi£r_jriail are running into
xen^oitnousan'ds daily.
Most of the Christmas cardr this
year are going at the one and one
half cent rate, the postmaster ex
plaining that had they been mailed
at the three-cent rate he believed
the office would' have taken in suf
ficient revenue to go first class next
year. Present indications are that
the office will miss the $40,000.00
figure by about $2,000, Mr. Dunn
was quoted as saying.
While most federal offices and
business houses will enjoy a two
day holiday for Christmas, the post
office will be closed on Christmas
day only. Christmas affords many
a holiday, but for the postal work
ers it offers a burdensome and try
ing task, one to handle and have
done with.
Twenty-nine Cases In
The Recorder’s Court
MEETING
Meeting in special session
here Wednesday to hear com
plaints against the refunding of
$24,000 Hamilton Township road
bonds, the county commission
ers heard no objections and the
bonds will be offered for sale
in due time.
Before adjourning, the board
members discussed plans for
handling World War II veter
ans' affairs under the Bill of
Rights. Named veterans’ ad
mist ration officer for the coun
ty at the regular meeting held
earlier this month, Mrs. Wheel
er Martin, Jr., submitted plans
for handling her new duties and
reviewed the work with a repre
sentative from the State office.
Mrs. Martin plans to open an of
fice in her home on East Main
Street about the first of next
month, it was learned.
Mrs. Della B. Bowen
Funeral Wednesday
—.♦
Funeral services were held Wed
nesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock for
Mrs. Della Bullock Bowen who died
at her home near here last Monday
night about 8:30 o’clock. Rev. L. E.
Shaw conducted the last rites at the
home and interment was in the fam
ily cemetery near by.
Mrs. Bowen had been in declin
ing health for a year or more, and
her condition had been critical for
several months.
The daughter of Jack Bullock and
the late Mrs. Bertha Jenkins Bul
lock, she was born in this county
27 years ago, and was married to
Dave Bowen about three years ago.
Besides her father and husband,
she leaves a brother, George Bul
lock, and a sister, Miss Irene Bul
lock, both of this county; ten half
brothers and half-sisters, Bettie,
Christine, Magdalena, Jannie, Sadie,
Mavis, Surrey, Jack, Samuel and
James Earl Bullock, and several
step-children, Charlie and Mack
Bowen, Bettie Mae Bowen, Mrs. Jno.
I Williams, and Mrs. Renfrew of Wil
mington.
-*
Justice Jno. Hassell Has
Two Case« In His Court
Troubled by a severe cold, Justice
John L. Hassell handled very little
; business in Vdr.-Mv.wt.. during th»
early oart of this week. Only two
cases were called and both of them
j were sent on up to the county court
for trial.
Charged with speeding, James T.
Wilson was bound over under bond
in the sum of $50, and Edgar L. Keel
offered $150 bond in the case charg
ing him with drunken driving.
THE RECORD
SPEAKS . . .
Martin County’s highway ac
cident toll was materially boost
ed last week-end when motor
ists turned over, smashed and
crashed in Robersonville, Bear
Grass, Williamston and Poplar
Point Townships, not to mention
several who ditched their ma
chines in various parts of the
county during the Saturday snow
storm.
'Hie accident count is fast mov
ing on toward a new record in
the county and die main nohuuy
season is still ahead.
The following tabulations of
fer a comparison of the accident
trend: first, by corresponding
weeks in this year and last und
for each year to the present time.
Fiftieth Week
Accidents lnj’d Killed Dam’ge
1945 5 4 0 $ 1,725
1944 1 1 0 500
Comparisons To Date
1945 85 47 6
1944 70 44 6
17,475
13,037
-e
Court Is Not To Meet Again
Until Last Day Of
This Year
♦
Judge J. C. Smith and Solicitor
Paul D. Roberson whittled down the
size of the docket when they called
twenty-nine cases in the Martin
County Recorder's Court last Mon
day. Aft r st. .tightening out the
docket, a-r| a few defendants, too,
the offici. Is recessed the court until
the last M tnday in the year.
During I he session last Monday,
the court collected $500, including a
forfeited bond in the sum of $100. A
fair-sized crowd was in attendance
upon the session which lasted until
about 3:30 o'clock that afternoon.
Proceedings:
The case charging Roscoe Little
with non-support was nol pressed.
Charged with reckless driving and
operating a motor vehicle with im
proper brakes, Booker T. Mizelle was
found guilty of the second count and
was fined $10 and taxed with the
cost. The defendant had previously
executed bond in the sum of $100 and
when he did not appear on Decem
ber 3, the court ordered the bond
forfeited.
Judgment was suspended upon the
payment of the cost when it was
pointed out to the court that James
LeRoy O’Mart, charged with careless
and reckless driving, had paid for
the damage done to the prosecuting
witness’ car.
Entering a plea of nolo contendre
in the case charging him with an as
sault with a deadly weapon, Lester
Morgan was adjudged guilty and was
sentenced to the roads for four
months. The court suspended all but
the first fifteen days of the sentence
upon the payment of a $25 fine and
costs. The defendant is not to violate
any criminal law during the suspen
sion period of one year.
Eli Armstead, charged with drunk
en driving, was fined $50 and taxed
with the cost. The court recom
mended that no driver's license be
issued the defendant for one year.
Charged with an affray, Cole Cow
in was sentenced to the roads for
six months. The term was suspend
ed upon the payment of a $75 fine
and costs. Notice of appeal was
given and bond was asked in the sum
of $100.
Charged with an assault with a
deadly weapon, B Moore was found
not guilty.
Henry L. Harvey, charged with
drunken driving, asked for a trial by
jury, and the case was automatically
placed on the superior court docket
for trial next March.
Pleading not guilty in the case
[charging mm with indecent expos
ure, L. L. Britt was adjudged guilty
and prayer for judgment was con
tinued until December 31.
The case charging Joe Hardison
with an assault with a deadly weapon
was continued until December 31.
Pleading guilty of assaulting an
other with a deadly weapon, J. T.
Perry was sentenced to the roads for
sixty days. All but the first two
days of the sentence was suspended
for one year upon the payment of a
$20 fine and cost. The defendant
was also directed to pay $10 to Ivory
Clark, the prosecuting witness, and
$7.50 to Dr. Early for medical ser
vices. Judge Smith also directed the
defendant not to be found publicly
drunk during the next twelve
months.
A continuance was allowed until
December 31 in the case charging
William Midyette with indecent ex
posure.
Lewis Daniel, charged with allow
in gan unlicensed driver to operate
a motor vehicle, was fined $20 and
taxed with the cost.
Charged with operating a motor
vehicle without a driver** 1 iteme,
Joseph Gray was fined $20 and taxed
with the cost. The court recommend
(Continued on page aiz)
-%
Christmas Service ^^.iday
In Piney Grove Church
—
A Christmas service will be held
in the Piney Grove Baptist Church
Sunday night at 7:00 o’clock. All
members are asked to be present anti
the public is cordially invited.
Appropriate Million
CfiiJars for Roanoke.
River Flood Control
Ru^s Island Reservoir And
Dam To Cost Thirty-one
Million Dollars
The $30,900,000 Buggs Island reser
voir for the Roanoke River in Vir
ginia and North Carolina can get
underway with a $1,000,000 appro
priation voted by the Senate last
week-end in a deficiency bill.
Although authorized by Congress,
this project became the subject of
heated debate recently both in the
House Appropriations Committee
and on the floor of the House. The
House restored the $1,000,000 appro
priation to the bill after the com
mittee had removed it as “the chief
bor.e of contention" among the flood
control projects in the measure.
When the bill reached the Senate
Appropriations Committee, Senator
Hoey (D-N. C.) and Senator Byrd
(D-Va.) requested the committee to
hold hearings before making the ap
propriation so that the proponents
and opponents to the project could
be heard. The committee completed
the hearings last week. Army engi
neers held hearings at South Hill,
Va., on December 5.
Only previous allotment for the
project had been $300,000.
The amount needed to complete the
concrete dam and powerhouse as a
unit in a comprehensive plan for
flood control, power and related pur
poses in the Roanoke River basin.
House hearings said, is now estimat
ed at $29,000,000. The estimated
amount needed to carry the project
on in 1947 is $3,000,000, the House
hearings stated.
Average annual flood control and
navigation benefits from the Buggs
Island project were estimated at
$207,000 and average annual value
of power at $1,748,900 in the House
Appropriation Committee hearing.
The Buggs Island appropriation
approved today by the Senate was
contained in a $125,275,000 appropri
ation for navigation and flood con
trol projects.
The amount is contained in a de
ficiency supply bill already passed
by the House. It puts water projects
back on a peacetime basis, as re
quested by President Truman and
Army engineers.
Victims Of Fire
Housed by Friends
—®—
Victims of one of the town’s worst
fires in years, the four families
housed in the K. B. Crawford apart
ments until last Monday are now at
home with relatives and friends. Mr.
and Mrs. Crawford moved in with
their son, Asa Crawford, and family,
on Grace Street, Extended. Mr. and
Mrs. Dampey Simmons are at home
with Mrs. Simmons’ parents, Mr.
and Mrs. L. P. Lindsley, on Church
street. Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Parker
are with the T. B. Brandons on
Grace Street, and Mrs. R. E. Peele
is making her home with Mr. and
Mrs. Joe Glenn on Marshall Avenue.
The household furnishings saved
from the costly fire are stored in the
homes of neighbors just about all
over town.
Speaking for the four families, Mr.
K. B. Crawford said he was deeply
grateful to all those who were so
helpful during the fire, that friends
from town and country, both white
and colored, rushed in to render
every service possible. “Everyone
has been so kind and thoughtful, and
all of us sincerely appreciate it all,”
Mr. Crawford said.
While the fire aggravates the seri
ous housing shortage locally and
proved a costly one for all the fami
lies, many have pointed out it could
have worso.
Trailer Runs Wild
And Strikes Truck
—»—
Tearing loose from its hitch behind
a small mail truck, a trailer ran wild
and crashed head on into a truck
driven by Charlie L. White near
Everetts last Monday afternoon. No
one was hurt. White said he saw
the trailer coming in his direction
but he could not get his truck out of
the way in time to avoid a crash.
The trailer was hitched to a truck
driven by M. G. Bryant, Patrolman
W. E. Saunders said.
Damage to the truck was estimat
ed at $100 and the trailer was
wrecked, the investigating officer de
claring that even the tires were ruin
ed in the crash.
Funeral For Gut Rigat Held
In Raleigh Church Thurtday
-»
1 Funeral services were held from
‘ the Greek Orthodox Church hi Ral
eigh yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o’
clock for Constantine (Gus) Rigas
local cafe owner-operator, who died
in a hospital here early last Mondaj
morning following a long illness. In
terment was in the family plot ir
Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh. Rev
George Stc-farxis, pastor, conductec
the last rites.
The body, after lying in state ai
the Biggs Funeral Home here, wai
removed to Raleigh Wednesday aft
ernoon.
County ‘E’ Bond Sales
Are Still Short of Goal
Poplar Point And
Williamston Only
Districts Lagging
Sale of Negotiable Hoods Is
More Than Double The
Assigned Quota
The Victory Bond Drive, the last
in the series of government finan
cing undertakings, is fast drawing
to a close with Martin County still
short of its “E” bond quota. Up un
til yesterday afternoc.., Martin Coun
ty citizens had invested $241,515.50
in “E" bonds, leaving the drive
short by about $1,500. The over-all
picture for the county is very good,
but in two townships—Williamston
and Poplar Point—the drive is far
from its goal.
Reporting on the drive, Chairman
D. V. Clayton said yesterday that
Williamston had purchased less
than half its assigned quota, and that
Poplar Point was $1,718.75 short of
its goal.
No material changes were report
ed in bond sales oy Jamesville, Grif
fins, Cross Roads, Hamilton, Hassell
and Goose Nest recently, but Rob
ersonville boosted its purchases by
about $5,000 to push its total to a
record high for the county. Bear
Grass added about $2,000 to its total,
and a few additional hundred were
purchased in Williams Township.
Poplar Point reported sales of $787.50
since ihe last report was released on
the 11th of this month.
A last-minute buying spurt is ap
patently developing in Williamston,
Chairman Clayton stating that good
ly numbers were buying “E” bonds
for Christmas presents, that quite
a few business firms were giving
their employees a bonus in bonds.
The chairman is still hopeful the
last-minute purchases will improve
the picture in Williamston and Pop
lar Point. "Nine districts in the
county are over the top, and we hope
to see the other two reach the goal
before the drive closes on December
31,” Mr. Clayton said.
While the sale of ”E’’ bonds lags
in Williamston and Poplar Point,
the sale of negotiables has gone for
ward rapidly to exceed all expecta
tions. Up until noon yesterday, in
dividuals had invested $538,500.00
in negotiable bonds and corpora
tions had bought $138,570.50 to boost
the total to $077,070.50 for negotiable
bonds. The negotiable bond quota
for the county was only $301,000.
A review of “E" bond sales by dis
tricts in this county follows:
Jamesville
Williams
Griffins
Bear Grass
Williamston
Cross Roads
Robersonville
Poplar Point
Hamilton
Hassell
Goose Nest
Quota
1 7,300
4,700
12v250
8,500
103,000
7,300
73,000
4,850
5,000
5,000
7,300
Sales
i 14,175.00
5,737.50
14.456.50
10,031.25
48.727.50
8,568.75
107,956.50
3,131.25
18.862.50
18,862.50
10,963.75
$243,000
—•
$241,515.50
Christmas Program
In Baptist Church
The public is cordially invited to a
program of Christmas music and
carols by candlelight at the Memor
ial Baptist Church Sunday afternoon
|at 5:30,
The traditional Candlelight pro
cessional will be used and each
member of the congregation, upon
!entering the church, ■wJVi.be present
ed a candle to be lighted prior to
the singing of “Hark, The Herald
Angels Sing,” The program will be
narrated and the musical counter
part will be sung by the combined
adult and junior choirs with the con
gregation participating in the singing
of the old familiar carols.
The program is arranged by and
under the direction of Ben E. Man
ning, organist and choir director, who
was discharged from the army last
week after serving 4 1-2 years as
chaplain’s assistant in charge of
music in the U. S, Army Air Forces.
It is hoped that this traditional
service may be especially meaning
ful this year. Let us dedicate this
hour in drawing apart from worldly
cares and strife, and quietly reflect
ing on the true meaning of Christ
msa, and on the promise of His com
ing to earth holds for each of us.
-'"'S'
Thieves Enter Dixie
Peanut Company Office
-•
Breaking a glass in the door, rob
• bers entered and ransacked the of
I ices of tiie Dixie peanut Company
here last Sunday night. Papers were
torn from files and scattered on the
floor, but nothing was missed, one
report said.
--"
Regular Services In The
Riddick's drove Church
i -—
Regular services will be held lr
the Riddick's Grove Baptist Church
Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Thii
will be a Christmas service, and tht
public is invited.
HOME AGENTS
i ->
Accepting the positions made
vacant by the resignations of
Miss Mildred Pigg and Mrs. Mar
garette Ricks Pearce, home
agent and assistant, respectively.
Misses Elizabeth Parker of Sun
bury, and Garnette Crocker of
Seaboard, will enter upon their
new duties as agent and assistant
in this county on December 28.
The newly appointed agent.
Miss Parker, is a graduate of
Elon College, and her assistant.
Miss Crocker, is finishing her
courses at East Carolina Teach -
ers’ College this week.
Married to Chas. I.ee Hartsell
following her resignation a
short time ago, the former agent
is now making her home in
Greensboro. Her resignation
becoming effective January 1,
Mrs. Pearce will join her hus
band In Raleigh where they will
make their home.
Ten Martin County
Young White Men
(’ailed for Service
Hoys An* Galled One Day Too
Soon To Keiuain Home
At GhrifttniUH
Called one day too soon to bo in
cluded in those groups whose induc
tion has been ordered delayed until
after Christmas, ten Martin County
white youths were called Wednesday
to report to Fort Bragg for final in
duction. If they had been called to
report on the 20th, their induction
would have been delayed by official
order. As it is the young men are
almost certain to spend Christmas
in some service camp.
Six of the ten young men corne
from Martin County farms, the other
four holding various jobs in offices
or industry. Seven of the ten men
called are just eighteen years old,
the ages of the group ranging from
23 to 25 years. As far the records
show, all of those called this week
are single men.
The names, registration and last
given addresses are, as fallows:
Dallas Hopkins, RFD 1, Williums
ton.
Clifton Loelen Whitaker, Rober
sonville.
James Robert Bullock, RFI) 3,
Williamston.
William Bruce Whitehurst, RFD 2,
Williamston.
Harcum Mclver Roebuck. RFD 1,
Robersonvillo.
William Alfon/a Jones, RFD 1,
Williamston.
Benjamin Franklin Gurganus,
Vv illiamston.
Giles Ervin Stallings, RFD 1,
Jamesville.
Ellis Gray Keel, RFD 3, Williams
ton.
Maurice Edwin Roberson, RFD 1,
Williamston, and Newport News.
Roberson was transferred to the
board in this county from the Vir
ginia city for final induction.
Reported ill, William Alfonsa
Jones was unable to make the trip
with the other boys.
-<$
Property Found In
Excellent Condition
—$—
Making a quarterly inspection re
cently, the Martin grand jury found
county properties and offices in ex
cellent condition. No recommenda
tions were offered by the jurymen.
All guardian accounts were prop
erly filed in the clerk's office
County bonds were in order and all
records in the tax collector’s and
sheriff’s offices were up to date, 'file
several justices of the peace in the
county had filed their reports and
fines had been paid into the county
treasury.
The county jail was in a well kept
condition, and the prison camp, un
der new management for the past
several weeks, was found in a spot
less condition and offered a new ap
pearance both in and outside.
HOLIDAY
In keeping with a practice
generally advanced throughout
the state and nation, local mer
chants and other business hous
es will suspend activities two
days for Chirstmas, closing late
Monday and reopening their
iltiwa.v UiC fulloW iitfc Thtil.Ji.,
morning. A few business hous
es will close for the week, but
they are exceptions to the rule,
tom, The Enterprise will not
publish but one edition for
Christinas week. The la.,t paper
for the old year goes to press
tomorrow for next Tuesday, and
the shop will be closed all next
week. Several members of the
force are sick a-bed now, tut
they hope to be well and back
on Monday, December 31.
jas. S. Whitehurst
1 Reviews —
Carrier Shaugri-La
Martin County Young Man
^us On Famous Ship Dur
ing Pacific Campaign
Spending a 30-day leave with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. L. White
hurst. RFD 3. Williamston, AMM 3/C
James S. Whitehurst, a short time
ago, reviewed the record of the air
craft carrier, USS Shangri-La.
Boarding the famous ship on October
29, 1944, about one month after it
was commissioned, the young man
was confident the Shangri-La had a
master part in hastening the end of
the war with Japan
"For instance,” he said, ‘‘we de
stroyed 185 Jap planes and damaged
204 others, a total of 389. We sunk
48 Japanese merchant ships and sent
to the bottom seven enemy warships.
In addition to that we damaged 89
merchant ships and 22 warships be
longing to Hirohito. For good meas
ure, our planes also destroyed 24
locomotives and damaged nine
others.”
Young Whitehurst, the only Mar
tin County man known to have been
on the Shangri-La, explained that
was the naked score, and he produced
a written story of the ship. The young
aviation machinist’s mate left a
short time ago to take his place
aboard the carrier which wer\,t
through the last months of the war
without a scratch from enemy guns.
Tlie first in the series of install
ments taken front “Over the Horizno"
on the Shangri-La appears below.
Other installments will follow from
time to time, just as they were re
leased by Seaman Whitehurst.—ed.
If (he Shangri-La Could Speak—
A little over a year ago, I was an
aircraft carrier fast nearing eomplc
toin for my commissioning. I had no
j crew, therefore I had no soul. I was
I just tons of iron and steel and brass
jshaped into the design of the nation’s
newest aircraft carrier. Potentially
I was a mighty weapon designed to
go to war to bring about peace, but
■ at that time I was mostly statistics.
1 had been authorized on August 7,
I 1942. as the twelfth ship of the Essex
Class and tile twentieth “CV" to be
commissioned. My keel had been
laid in Norfolk Navy Yard on Janu
ary 15, 1943, and the name ”U. S. S.
Shangri-La" had been assigned to me
on August 1(1, 1943. One hundred
thousand people had witnessed my
■ launching on February 24, 1944, when
II tasted my first champagne as Mrs.
James II. Doolittle eristened me.
The largest part of my crew were
completing their p re-commission
ing training at the Naval Training
• Station, Newport, R. I There, they
: were part of what was commonly
■ called "Magruder's Navy", going
through the rigors of fire-fighting
school, rifle range, swimming tests,
inarching and drilling, and listening
hour after hour in classes which
would lit them for duties they would
perform aboard ship. Others were
following a similar pattern at the
Navy Yard at Portsmouth.
I did not really come to life until
my crew marched up the gangway
and boarded me for the first time on
the morning of September 15, 19
j There, mustered for the first time on
my long (light deck, they listened to
tin' ship’s bells on harbor craft pro
claim high noon as Commander Jos.
K. Quitter, my first executive officer,
j passed the first official word, "All
hands, Attention!” From that time
on, 1 was alive and animated, and
| with my crew aboard me I could de
Iscribe anything that 1 did in the
term "We".
I was hot and humid under the
sunless Virginia sky on commission
ing day, but these were historic
moments passing only one: The read
ing of the commissioning directive
by Rear Admiral Felix Gygaz, USN,
commandant of the Navy Ward, the
acceptance of the ship by Captain
I James D Bari • "BN, my first
commanding officer, and the setting
of the first watch.
By these simple tokens, adminis
tered in profound solemnity, the U.
S S. Shangri-La became a full
tledgfed warship in the United States
Navy, but readin ss for battle did
not end there. For several weeks
while fitting-out was being complet
ed, we carried out normal routine to
the disturbing accompaniment of
welding torches, and chipping ham
mers, deck spaces afoul with rubber
hose, steel lines and construction
gear. By October 15 we were ready
for our one-day builder’s trial run
when we sailed out into the entrance
of Chesapeake Bay and conducted
drills, performed experiments and
executed various tactical maneuvers.
But the main e vent was left to Com
mander Wallace A. Sherrill, USN, of
Air Group 85, who flew a torpedo
bomber out from the Naval Air Sta
tion at Norfolk to make five land
ings and takeoffs from our flight
deck. At last we had wings.
Then followed more days in port,
more fitting out. around-the-clock
(Continued on page six)
Announce Services In The
Local Baptist Church
-*
Sunday school, 9:45 a. nrt.
Morning worship, ll o’clock.
Special candlelight carol service
at 5.30 o’clock. Public is invited.
There will be no training union
Sunday evening.
Wednesday, 7:30, prayer service.