Santa's Toy Shop: Beckley plant churns out trucks for troops
At Houchins Lumber on Whitestick Street, Cary Houchins runs a wartime toy shop making 112 dozen small delivery trucks daily from mill dropings. Twenty workers, mostly Beckley residents including widows and mothers, craft bodies nicknamed yellow dogs and hand them to a purchasing firm, while son Donald serves in the Army Air Corps in Florida.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Norma Canner Register
Cary Houchins
Houchins Lumber Company
Whitestick Street
Houchins
Santa’s Toy Shop
Almeda Karnes
Calloway Heights
Beckley
Donald Houchins
Mechanical Division
Army Air Corps
Florida
Pvt. Smith Reported Wounded in Action in Europe
Mr and Mrs A A Smith of Daniels report their son Private Thomas Walter Smith 20 of the 16th infantry was slightly wounded in Germany on November 17 This marks his second slight wound in Germany since enlisting in March 1942 He trained at Fort Thomas Kentucky Fort Jackson South Carolina and Fort Meade Maryland He is currently in England doing light duty and has not received furloughs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
A. A. Smith
Daniels
War Department
Thomas Walter Smith
16 Infantry
Germany
Smith
Raleigh Register
Robert A. Smith
South Pacific
England
France
Shady Spring High School
Sophian Receives Unit Citation In Italy
Corporal Tony Romeo of Sophia, a cook in the veteran 15th AAF heavy bomber group, earns near the Distinguished Unit Badge. In an Italian base ceremony Major General Nathan F. Twining presented the streamers for outstanding duty. The citation notes the July 25 attack on Vienna area airdrome installations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tony Romeo
Sophia
15Th Aaf
Italy
Nathan F. Twining
1Ath Army Air Force
United States of America
Farmers Urged to File 1944 Tax Returns and Estimates
County Agent H B Thomas announced farmers must file by March 15 with farm schedules or submit an income tax estimate by January 15. If a return is filed before January 15 the estimated return is not required.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
H. B. Thomas
Beckley Internal Revenues Office
Dumas Council to Meet Sunday in Beckley
Representatives from southern West Virginia parts of Ohio and Virginia attend the Dumas Council of the 45th district gathering in Beckley on Sunday December 17 with Grand Exalted Ruler Dr A Finley Wilson as guest speaker Also on the program are Attorney Stewart C Carlhoun and Sam Scott grand master of social sessions An emancipation banquet closes the year on Monday January 1 at Stratton high school cafeteria for John Scott lodge members and Maggie L Temple 738
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dumas Council
West Virginia
Ohio
Virginia
Stratton High School
John Scott Lodge
Maggie L. Temple
Staff Sergeant Atkins Prepares to Engineer B-24 Bomber
Staff Sergeant Alvin af. Atkins of Odd is in the final training phase as aerial engineer for a B 24 Liberator at Walla Walla Army Air Field Washington, base of the Fourth Air Force. Combat crews are formed there and final training is given after a specialist school.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alvin Af. Atkins
Odd
Walla Walla Army Air Field
Aashington
Fourth Air Force
Walla Walla
Beckley Area Men Wounded in European Action
War department notice lists eight Beckley area men wounded in action in Europe. Names include Pic Walter Q. Bell Coal City, Pvt Charles M. Falls White Sulphur Springs, Pvt. Sydney L Plumley Ravencliff, Pvt. James C Pugh Beaver, Pvt. Clarence N. Smith Lookout, Pvt. James K B Taylor Glen Morgan, along with Randall Beverly and Barne H Lusk.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
War Department
Pic
Walter Q. Bell
W. M. Bell
Coal City
Randall
Beverly
Hattie
Wolf Pen
Charles M. Falls
Elsie C. Falls
White Sulphur Springs
Barne H. Lusk
Ida, Lusk
Cyclone
Damage suit filed against Seid Bez in West Virginia
A $50,000 damage suit was filed in the circuit clerk's office for Oliver Peck of Sophia now a veteran patient at Huntington hospital. The suit accuses Seid Bez, operator of a Sophia general store, of injuring Peck in a May 6 fight including a broken hip. Thornhill represents Peck. Lilly and Lilly and W A Thornhill are cited. Peck, a World War I veteran, had helped his brother Dr C M Peck in Sophia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Oliver Peck
Sophia
Veterans’ Hospital
Huntington
Seid Bez
Lilly and Lilly
Charleston
W. A. Thornhill
Beckley
Thornhill
Peck
Bez
Huntington Hospital
Maintiff
C. M Peck
Sophia Soldier in Navy Course
Henry D. Parks Jr 24 husband of Vergie Parks of Sophia was enrolled in an intensive electrical naval training program at the St Louis Missouri naval armory. Selection was based on recruit training aptitude tests with a course covering electrical tools soldering wiring diagramming and repairing telephone circuits plus electricity and magnetism theory. Upon completion he will graduate and be assigned to sea duty or a shore station to advance to electrician's mate third class.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Henry D. Parks, Jr
Vergie Parks
Sophia
Electrical Naval Training School
St. Louis Missouri, Naval Armory
Blue Jacket
Nea
Beckley Factory Location Blocked by Lacking Facilities
Fugiff secretary of the Beckley chamber of commerce informed Naboshek Gurian and Lindenbaum Accountants in New York that Beckley cannot host a factory. The city lacks space, railroad and air connections needed for a plant employing about 300 workers for men’s clothing.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
WR. Fugiff
Chamber of Commerce
Naboshek
Negro Porter Heads Local Bond Drive As Major General
With six days left in Raleigh county Sixth War Loan, only three four star generals remain. Beckley Hardware workers lead the effort with Kelsey Levy at 9000 and C E Gray at 8125 as others, including Don Heaberlin, join as generals. Several workers reach major and colonel ranks while several women near 500 and 1000 marks in series bonds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Raleigh County
Kelsey A. Levy
Beckley Hardware
C. E. Gray
Don Heaberlin
Willie Hairston
Porter
South Oakwood
Gordon Sowder
Ruth Gumn
Ruth Smith
Ada Johnson
Lucinda Bailey
Hazel Cook
Margaret Wolfe
Elizabeth Dobbins
State Guard Plans Recreation Room For Beckley Company
A Beckley state guard committee plans a recreation room and rifle range for 38 enlisted men of Company H. Sgt Edward Hedd es announced the plan with Sgt P W Burk heading the committee. The armory room will be shared as a recreation room and rifle range while US Army films on invasions will be shown for training. Weekly meetings are Tuesdays at 7 30 p m. Eligibility for 1 year enlistment includes full uniform rifle pack gas masks and gas capes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Beckley’ Company H
State Guard
Edward Heddes
P. W. Burk
Hedrick
Nited States Army
Ihe Jmen
Beckley Company
Com-I
Promotion for Eighth Air Force Gunner in England
Staff Sergeant Robert L. Phillips of the 385th Bombardment Group in England is promoted from sergeant to staff sergeant. He serves as top turret gunner and aerial engineer on a B 17 Flying Fortress. Phillips is the son of Claude S. and Lilly Phillips of Beckley West Virginia and previously worked as a machinist for Republic Steel in Massillon Ohio. He entered the Army Air Forces in April 1943 after training at Keesler Field and Buckingham Field.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Eighth Air Force
England
Robert L. Phillips
George Y. Jumper
Natoma
California
385Th
Set
Phillips
Claude S. Phillips
Lilly Weights Addition
Beckley
West Virginia
Republic Steel Company
Massillon
Ohio
Army Air Forces
Keesler Field
Mississippi
Buckingham Field
Ft. Myers
Florida
Raleigh Wright Begins Naval Recruit Training at Great Lakes
Raleigh I Wright Jr 17 son of Raleigh L Wright of Glen Daniel begins initial naval training at Great Lakes Illinois. He undergoes seamanship drill and naval procedure instruction as aptitude tests determine future assignment to a naval school shore station or immediate sea duty. Upon completion he will receive a period of leave.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Raleigh I. Wright, Jr
Raleigh L. Wright
Glen Daniel
United States Naval Training Center
Great Lakes
Ilinois
Naval Service
Pine Grove Man Advances in Army Rank
Earl George of Pine Grove receives promotion from second to first lieutenant in the Quarter Master Corps.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
War Department
Earl George
Pine Grove
West Virginia State Guard Praised for Training Recruits
Cadet William F. Mitchell First Lieut. W J McElrath and Second Lieut Lawrence E Pruett are noted among about 1300 officers and enlisted men in the West Virginia state guard which has been highly praised for its training work before induction.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jany
William F. Mitchell
W. J. McElrath
Lawrence E. Pruett
West Virginia State Guard
Missing in Action Pfc Harold P Cottle Reported in Germany
PFC Harold P Cottle, 80, reported missing in action since November 24 in Germany per word received by his brother Patrolman Ross Cottle of Beckley police and ratified by the War Department. Also noted Private John R Harris Jr transferred to Fort McClellan Alabama for basic training and Private Robert E Griffith to Fort Knox Kentucky for basic training. War Fund drive nears half quota with total contributions at $49 003 02 toward $50 000 goal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cottle
Ross Cottle
Beckley
Jetter
P. F. Cottle
Spencer
Pfc
Harold P Cottle
War Department
Pfe. Cottle
Germany
Pvt. Griffith
Robert E. Griffith
George D. Grifffith
228
6Th Street
Fort Knox
Kentucky
Raleigh County
Brig
Lillybrook Coal Company
Aly Killarney
Harris
John R. Harris, Jr
John R. Harris
Dry Creek
Fort McClellan
Alabama
Also Mentioned on This Page
Santa’s Beckley
Cary Houching
Cvt
Thomas WV. Smith
Sophian
Pennsylvania Casualty Co
Backiag
Heber St
Justice, Dist
Mar
Carl C, Bennett
Agent Hinton
W. Va
Chas
E. Webb
Agent
Union
We Var
Atkins
Beckley Area
NAVY
ML. Hope
Negro Porter
Robert Phillips
Raleigh Wright
Britain
Cologne
E. M. Payne Co
Reckley, W. Va
Intar ‘Beckley
Kanawha Street
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