Sioux City Officer Says Japan Can Have China as Far as He’s Concerned
Lt. Josiah Ringland Took Part in 45 Missions
“As far as I’m concerned the Japs can have China,” said Lt. Josiah A. Ringland, jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Ringland, sr., 2109 Palmetto street, who has just returned from nine months of duty in China.
As the copilot of a B-24 Liberator bomber, Lt. Ringland saw action all over China. He told of flying over the Hump 10 or 12 times but said that many supplies, especially food was not transported across because of the lack of space. This meant that they had to live on Chinese food which he did not particularly care for. He said most of their diet consisted of wild rice, brown sugar and buffalo meat.
When asked to relate an outstanding incident, Lt. Ringland said so many things flashed through his mind, and so many of them he was forbidden to tell that he didn’t know where to start. He said two dates he most remembered were Christmas eve and New Years eve.
Tokyo Rose had promised them bombings on both of those nights, he said and they got them. He said his entire New Year’s eve was spent in a B-24 circling the field and watching the bombs drop on the runways as the Japs hit the target. Finally his plane ran out of gas and had to land right in the middle of what he described as a “three alarm blitz.”
“In all the battles the P-40s, many of which are manned by Chinese pilots, gave them good protection,” said the lieutenant. “The Chinese cooperate with the American soldiers all right but as far as the country goes they are backward in most things. Dress, sanitation, and education are among the reasons why the Japs can keep China.”
He participated in 45 missions and was awarded the air medal and one oak leaf cluster and the distinguished flying cross. He received his commission from flight officer in December 1944.
He took his early training at Tucson, Ariz., and was at Lincoln, Neb., before going overseas. He was a student at Morningside college where he was well known in athletics when he entered service.
He is spending a 21-day leave here with his parents and his wife after which he will go to Miami, Fla., for assignment.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 16, 1945 (photo included)
