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Newspaper
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Location
Bluefield, West Virginia, United States of America
Date
Jun 28, 1945
Page
1
Bremerton dispatch reports the carrier Bunker Hill suffered 873 dead 19 missing and 264 injured during four hours of bombing and fire in the Okinawa battle. Vice Admiral Mitscher was aboard and remained with the ship until fires were controlled as crew recounted the raid and rescue efforts.
Australian forces on western Borneo push forward with gains in the Brunei bay region and the Seria Miri oil fields. Ground troops enter Beaufort, securing northern Labuan flank, and occupy Kuala Belait near Seria. Beaufort is a rubber export center and rail lines are being cut. Heavy air support accompanies advances.
San Francisco report cites Radio Tokyo saying allied troops landed on Kume Island near Okinawa with heavy fighting, but the claim is unconfirmed and mixed with predictions of other invasions. Domei notes a vague half way invasion line near Okinawa. no U.S. communique confirms Kume action. Kerama islands already under American control. Balikpapan assault details also follow two week Tokyo broadcasts.
Pacific fleet casualties from March 18 to June 20 total 9,731, lifting overall Okinawa naval losses to 46,319. Navy killed or missing 11,897. Japanese ground losses reach 111,351 with 9,498 prisoners. Ushijima and Cho bodies found on southern Okinawa.
Soup bones mailed to Washington as protest against CPA meat rationing reach Rep. Harless of Arizona and Sen. Hayden, unwrapped shanks with stamps and address cards. They say restaurant owners sent the bones to voice opposition to rationing policy.
Secretary of State Stettinius urged quick approval of the United Nations charter as Senator Connally predicted ratification in two to four weeks with limited votes. Delegates from San Francisco arrived amid a cheering crowd. Connally warned against delays and noted preparations for a Senate speech outlining the charter. He argued the US cannot remain isolated and the charter, though imperfect, could prevent further war.
Strikes spread across states east of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio, with near 100000 workers off. Detroit sheds over 50000 idle, Ford Rouge and other plants report thousands out. Packard, Budd, Hudson plants among those blocked, miners in Harrisburg Illinois and Kentucky halt work amid wartime shortages.
Roy Batten, 38, a former Spencer state hospital attendant serving 1 to 5 years for manslaughter in the death of patient James Virgil Cox, died at the state prison hospital after an operation for ulcers and ailments. His wife Pearl and two children survive.
A massive July Fourth parade planned in Bluefield to honor Staff Sgt. Junior J. Spurrier, Medal of Honor recipient. Evans Flag and Decorating will build eight to ten floats with bands and uniformed groups from across the area, plus a Bluefield Shrine drill team. The celebration continues with a Municipal Stadium ceremony and an all-soldier dance at the West Virginian hotel. Spurrier’s war record includes the town of Achain, France, and multiple decorations.
Lt. Gen. Leonard T. Gerow, commander of the U S 15th Army in Wiesbaden, directs unit leaders to pull GIs off K P duty and hire civilian staff. He says soldiers should sit at tables while Germans wait on them, a note counted as beautiful prose by GIs.
General MacArthur confirms the reconquest of Luzon with the 40 420 square mile island now liberated. He cites 113 593 Japanese dead and thousands more uncounted as losses while American casualties reach 3 793 dead 34 missing and 11 351 wounded. The Cagayan valley victory closes the northern Luzon campaign and positions US forces for further operations.
President Truman names Edward R. Stettinius as United Nations representative and U.S. Security Council member, accepting his resignation as secretary of state. Announcement suggests James F. Byrnes could become secretary of state, with Byrnes described as not currently in the government.
Charleston West Virginia June 27 Don McClaugherty secretary of the road commission announced an extension through July 10 had been ordered for the use of 1944 45 automobile license plates. He said issuance is ahead of past years but many plates remain unprocessed making timely delivery before the holiday unlikely due to July 4 falling on a Wednesday and no mail delivery on the preceding weekend.
A Sunday rally at Princeton Municipal airport runs from 1 to 6 PM to push the Seventh War Loan. Organized by Mercer County War Finance, the event showcases instructional and demonstrational flights by student pilots from Mercer and nearby counties. Bond booths will sell E series bonds to meet the county quota as pilots perform aerobatics.
West Virginia sailors recount the May 11 attack on the USS Bunker Hill off Okinawa as the carrier burned after being hit by Japanese planes. Marshal Boggs, Lacy Kershner, Michael Piotrowski, and Donald Myers describe daring rescues, fighting fires, and enduring flames as the ship fought for life at Puget Sound Navy Yard.
Gen Joe Stilwell debuts as commander of the 10th Army on Okinawa amid reports of allied landings near Kume island and potential invasion of China coast. He observes flag raising on hill 89 with 500 troops as Seventh Infantry wrests the last defense ridge, while scattered Japanese remnants and prisoner herding continue.
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