Editorial: Equal pay for equal work
…
Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
WITH U.S. FORCES IN ALGERIA – Norman Harrington is a sergeant, but he doesn’t even bother to wear his stripes. His only interest is in doing for the Army what he was doing as a civilian – superb photography.
Last spring, he spent $200 traveling between Maryland and Washington to pave his way into the right branch of the Army. He had a dozen people write letters of recommendation. He had no ambition to join the Army and become a truck driver.
His traveling money was well spent. The Army finally enlisted him in the Signal Corps photographic section – a round peg in a round hole. He even was excused from the redundancy of attending the Army’s photographic school and being taught stuff he already knew.
Today his teammate, Pvt. Ned Modica, says he is the best newsreel man in the Army.
Drive into uncaptured town
During their second night on African soil, the two photographers slept in another country schoolhouse – this time on desks. They actually only slept about three hours out of the first 60.
At dawn, a colonel rushed up and asked Harrington if he wanted to ride along on a reconnoitering trip Capt. Paul Gale was making in a jeep. Sgt. Harrington grabbed his cameras and jumped in.
Pvt. Harold LeBaron was driving. They drove several miles, passing troops on the way, and finally came to a small town. Sgt. Harrington took pictures of the local people and the shell-marked walls.
They were about ready to leave when some American troops came marching in. Only then did they realize they had unwittingly spent a nice hour in a town that hadn’t yet been captured!
Sniper’s bullet gets driver
They started back in their jeep to a command post several miles to the rear. Capt. Gale was sitting beside the driver, Sgt. Harrington was in the backseat. The top was down, and the windshield folded flat and covered – for a windshield can create a glare that makes a perfect target for snipers.
Everything was quiet. The Algerian phase of the war seemed about over.
Suddenly, Pvt. LeBaron fell over his steering wheel, and the jeep swerved. Blood splashed down over his uniform. He never uttered a sound.
A sniper’s bullet had killed him.
Sgt. Harrington reached over the body and grabbed the wheel. Capt. Gale got his foot around the dead driver’s leg and shoved the throttle to the floor. Two more shots zipped past but missed. The jeep roared on down the road and out of danger, with one man steering and another man at the throttle.
1 Like
Is victory fund the same as war bonds?
1 Like
$9 billion worth of bonds (the initial goal), yes.
1 Like
What’s the interest rate on this and when are they generally repaid?
1 Like
Quite low, around 3%, and they are generally repaid after a decade or so (sold at 75% of face value).
1 Like
U.S. Navy Department (December 13, 1942)
Communiqué No. 218
North Pacific.
On December 11, three Army “Marauders” (Martin B-26) scored two 500-pound bomb hits on a vessel formerly aground in Trout Lagoon on the island of Kiska and bombed and strafed shore installations.
South Pacific.
On December 11 at 6 p.m., Douglas “Dauntless” dive bombers supported by Army “Airacobra” fighters (Bell P-39) from Guadalcanal attacked a formation of 11 Japanese destroyers which was headed for Guadalcanal, apparently for the purpose of reinforcing and supplying Japanese troops on the island. Bomb hits were scored on 5 of the destroyers.
At 12:35 a.m. on December 12, enemy formation, which was continuing toward Guadalcanal, was attacked by U.S. surface forces guarding the island.
The enemy suffered the following damage as a result of this attack:
- One destroyer sunk.
- One destroyer set on fire and probably sunk.
- One destroyer damaged.
One U.S. motor torpedo boat was lost during this action.
On the morning of December 11, Army “Flying Fortresses” (Boeing B-17) dropped 155 100-pound bombs on the Japanese airfield at Munda on New Georgia Island. Clouds prevented observation of results. All of our planes returned.
On the morning of December 12, 7 “Flying Fortresses” escorted by Grumman “Wildcat” fighters scored four 1,000-pound bomb hits on the landing strip at Munda and dropped eighty 100-pound bombs in the general area. All of our planes returned.
The Pittsburgh Press (December 13, 1942)
GERMAN REPULSED AGAIN IN TUNISIA
AEF, British drive back 4 new attacks
British subs hit 4 ships in African convoy and shell Italy
By Edward W. Beattie, United Press staff writer
…
ALLIES RAID FROM ITALY TO FRANCE
U.S. bombers blast Rouen, bag 14 planes
4 more fighters downed by escort in raid on big mill city
By Sidney J. Williams, United Press staff writer
…
Odds are with us –
4 of 4,000 lost on troopship
Bombers, meanwhile, blast new Jap airfield
By Sandor S. Klein, United Press staff writer
…