Manning Monitor articles ------ 1944

SON OF REV. COATES DIES IN FRANCE
Friends in Manning have been notified of the death of Pvt. Roland Homer Coates, son of Rev. and Mrs. Harry Coates of Puyallup, Wash.
The Rev. Coates was formerly a pastor of the Manning Methodist church.
Rev. Coates, an Englishman, came here from a charge in Canada. Later he was pastor of Broadway Methodist church in Council Bluffs for four or five years, before going to Puyallup, he was pastor of the largest Methodist church in Seattle.

The Coates family was well known in Manning and vicinity. Rev. Coates returned to Manning several times for special occasions such Memorial day addresses. While in Manning Rev, Coates was Masonic lecturer for the district which includes Manning.

Homer, as he was called, died from wounds received in action in France June 7. He was with the army medical corps.
He was graduated from Lewis and Clark high school in 1942 and had attended Whitworth college for a year when he was called into service.
He was in England almost six months prior to D-day.

Following is a copy of a clipping concerning Pfc. Darrell Spickler, a former Botna resident:
Pfc. Darrell Spickler Is One Man Special Weapons Company in Marine Unit U. S. Naval Hospital, San Diego, Calif.
Found! A one man special weapons company.

He is Marine Private First Class Darell Paul Spickler, 19, of Muscatine, Iowa, who during the battle of Tarawa, used a machine gun, a Browning automatic rifle, a Reising gun, a Garand Rifle, a 45 cal. pistol and a flame thrower, all within the 50 hours he spent on Betio Beach. Pvt. First Class Spickler is normally a No. 2 machine gunner, but at Tarawa he was called upon to use whatever weapon he could get his hands on, an he got his hands on plenty.
But in recalling Tarawa, he prefers to tell of an anonymous Marine sergeant.
He was a big lean lanky guy who took more chances than a Jap in Chinatown, said Pvt. Spickler. When we were starting our push between the sea wall and the fighter strip. he climbed on top of an ammunition dump to direct the fire of our machine guns against the enemy emplacements.

In the fact of the heavy traversing fire of the Japs he continued to spot for our guns. As we moved up, I had my last look at him and he was still perched on top of the ammo dump. A short while after. a direct hit exploded the ammo. We never saw him after that.
Wounded by machine gun slugs 450 yards off the beach, Pvt. 1st class Spickler made it to the beach and continued with the pitiful remnants of his machine gun unit for 50 hours of fighting.

Now convalescing here, Pfc. Spickler is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Spickler, rural route 5, Muscatine, la. Mr. Spickler is employed in the arsenal at Rock Island, Ill.
Two older brothers of Darrell's are also in the service.

S-Sgt. Evelyn Lacy Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lacy of Manning, has been advanced to S-Sgt. She had served as supply sergeant and commissioned officer.
She is stationed at Orlando, Fla. Her husband, Donald L. Johnson, is with an engineering regiment in England. He had been an instructor in engineering at Fort Belvoir. Va.
Mrs. Johnson states that she receives the Monitor regularly and is grateful to the American Legion and the Monitor for making it possible for her to get the home news which she appreciates.

Manning relatives have received word of the death of infantry Lt. Richard Harvey, killed in action in France July 10. Lt. Harvey was the husband of Joan Paysen of Green River, Wyo., formerly of Manning, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Paysen.
She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schrum of Manning; she also has several uncles and aunts living here.
The couple was married during the Christmas season last year.

Nothing Quite Like It!
Dear Sirs:
Just a word to give you the change in my address, and to thank you and the American Legion for the Manning Monitor. I know that you have been told this many times before and will also be told many times in the future, but there is nothing quite like reading the home news from a home paper.

I am now at Muroc Army Air Field, California, undergoing combat training as a nose gunner in a B-24. We fly for 5 hours every other day.
Haven't got more time right now to write more, but I will thank you again for the Manning Monitor.
Pfc. Benjamin A. Wagner.

Templeton Barber Cuts Hair in England
Headquarters, European Theater of Operations. Using a barber chair made from salvaged ordnance material, Private First Class August E. Dallman, 37, of Templeton, Iowa, operates the GI barber shop at a United States Army General Depot in Southern England.

Pfc. Dallman, a Templeton barber in civilian life, is a member of an ordnance base depot company stationed at the Service of Supply invasion headquarters.
He has been cutting the hair of the men in his unit since its activation two years ago at Camp Shelby, Miss.
Built on a step-like platform, the "chair" consists of a seat from an army weapons carrier, mounted on a brake drum. The ingenious device allows the seat to be turned in the best barber chair manner.

"I try to make the boys feel at home," said Pfc. Dallman. And he does just that.
His stories are hysterically funny.
Old newspapers and magazines are available for waiting customers, and a varied assortment of pin-up girls covers he walls of the shop.

Still Interested
U. S. Naval Advance Base Personnel Depot. San Bruno, Calif. Dear Manning Monitor:
Tho I haven't lived in Manning for the past four years, I'm still interested in the activities of my home town.
I met Frank Bliefert here at this Advanced Base and he let me see his Monitors that he received. He also said that If I'd write you, and let you know I was in the service you'd send me a copy.

I can't express the feeling I got by seeing our old home town paper again after all these years. Only it was great, makes you feel like. being back home again.
I've been in the U. S. navy since November of '43. Took my "Boot" training in Camp Bennion at Farragut, Idaho. Was lucky enough to make my third class petty officer rate after my completion of training. Now I am second class petty officer.

Since I've been in the navy I met only two home town boys Edwin Johnson and Frank Bliefert and it really seemed great to see them and to find out the news from home.
I'd really appreciate receiving the "Monitor" and the news it consists of.
Thanking you very much, I remain, sincerely yours,
Vernice Mock.

Sent to Advanced Flying School
Altus (Okla.) Army Air Field Aviation Student Tage S. Ledet. 28, son of Mr. and Mrs. Miller Ledet, route 1, has reported to the AAF Training Command's advanced flying school here to begin the last lap of his military pilot training.
In Altus AAF two-engined training ships he will learn the technique of flying the multi-motored bomber or fighter plane he will be piloting overseas, and in ground school he will further perfect his technical knowledge of combat subjects.
Upon graduation 10 weeks later he will be awarded the silver wings of an AAF pilot and appointed a flight officer or commissioned a second lieutenant.

Charles Newell Is Missing In Action
In Air Force Lincoln Twp. Resident
Staff Sergeant Charles Albert Newell, tail gunner on a B-17 flying fortress, is missing in action, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Newell of Lincoln township, learned Thursday.
Staff Sgt. Charles Newell Sgt. Newell was recently awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial combat.
At that time, Sgt. Newell, who was stationed in England, had participated in 15 bombing missions over Germany and the enemy occupied countries of Europe.

Prior to his enlistment in the AAF on August 7, 1943, he was employed as an aircraft worker for the Glenn L. Martin Company at Omaha.
He has been serving overseas since May 28, 1944.

D. F. C. to D. A. Baumhover
An Eighth Air Force Liberator Station, England.
The Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to T/Sgt. David A, Baumhover of Carroll for "extraordinary achievement in aerial combat" The announcement was made by Major General James P. Hodges, Commanding General of a Liberator Bombardment Division.

He is an engineer gunner on a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber and has already participated in 30 bombing missions over Germany and enemy occupied Europe.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Baumhover of 226 North Walnut Street, Carroll.
Before entering the army Oct. 26, 1942, Sgt. Baumhover was employed as a gas station attendant by McCullough and Beiter. He attended St. Peter and St. Paul's. Sgt. Baumhover received his combat training at Wendover Field, Utah, before coming overseas in March, 1944.
Besides the DFC, he also holds the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters to it.

Templeton Man Receives 'Wings'
The largest class in the history of San Marcos Army Air Field, Texas, Central Flying Training Command field received their wings as aerial navigators in the Army Air Forces here Monday, adding new strength to the growing legions of U. S. air power.

Winning their commissions as second lieutenants or appointments as flight officers, were men from 46 states and the Territory of Hawaii. Included in the class were student officers ranging from the grade of captain to chief warrant officer.
A member of the class from this vicinity was Second Lieut. Paul P. Kohorst, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kohorst of Templeton.

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