Manning Monitor article ------ 1943 St. Sgt. Herbert Hoover Visits St. Sgt. Herbert Hoover was weekend visitor at his mothers home and at the Labert Stahl home. He was on his way to Pocatella, Idaho from Miami, Florida where he had just finished school and received his diploma. Herbert has received a number of diplomas in different accomplishments and has been praised highly for an, upright standard as a clean-cut instructor. He is a physical instructor. Manning Monitor articles ------ 1944 Letter Tells About Rome Mrs. Herbert Hoover has received the following letter from her son, Herbert, who is with the American forces in Italy: The letter is dated August 13. Dear Mother: Just spent three days in Rome; it sure is nice. There are not many bombed buildings there at all. We stayed in a modern hotel; we had clean rooms and sheets, almost like the States. The first place we visited was the old Catacombs, you know, where the Christians hid during the persecution, there are tunnels 25 miles underground. A Catholic priest took us through and we went down a depth of 125 feet. It was just like they left it a thousand years ago. Next we went to the Coliseum, that is where they threw the Christians to the lions; next we went to Vatican City and saw the Pope and went through St. Peter's Cathedral; you have no idea how beautiful it is inside as they don't allow cameras. We also visited the oldest building in the world, that was a prison where St. Peter was chained to the floor, the hook is still there; also the spring that came up through the floor to give them water in there and it still has water in it. The towns leading into Rome have all been destroyed completely. There are no buildings left standing at all and all the families moved into Rome. There are over four million people in Rome now so you can figure the size of it. On the way back we stopped at Pompei and saw Mount Vesuvius and the ruins of the old city. Well I will close now and try to get another letter off in a few days. The war will be over soon, I think. I haven't seen any one from Manning as yet. Athletic Instructor Overseas 15th AAF in Italy-Staff Sergeant Herbert C. Hoover, 25, 1047 Elm Ave., Long Beach, Calif., is serving as an athletic instructor in a Liberator heavy bombardment unit. In addition he is the sports editor of the group newspaper and movie projectionist in charge of entertainment at the base. Enlisting in the Air Corps June 1941, Hoover took his basic training at Stockton Army Air Base and won the light heavyweight championship at a boxing tournament held there. He has been over-seas since March, and is authorized the European-African-Middle East Theater Ribbon with the Battle Star for his part in the Italian campaign. Hoover attended the Manning high school and played football on the school team. Prior to entering the service he was employed by the Smith and Benson Arcade, 247 Locust Ave., Long Beach. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert A. Hoover, Manning. Manning Monitor article ------ 1945 Herbert Hoover in Honor Group 15th AAF in Italy.Staff Sergt. Herbert C. Hoover, 25, 1041 Elm Ave., Long Beach, Calif., was among those honored when his Liberator bomber group received the Distinguished Unit Citation. The award which included both ground and flying echelons, was in recognition of a devastating attack against the Florisdorf oil refineries in Vienna. Sergt. Hoover, an athletic instructor, is one of the hundreds in the ground echelon who, by devotion to duty, helped to make the mission a success. He attended the manning high school and was employed by the Smith and Benson Arcade until his enlistment in June 1941. Arriving overseas in March of 1944, he was assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force and holds the Theater Ribbon with two Battle Stars in addition to the Distinguished Unit Badge. His mother, Mrs. Anna Hoover, resides in Manning.

Herbert Charles Hoover