NEWS OF OUR MEN and WOMEN IN UNIFORM
November 15, ‘44
Dear Editor:
Hello friends, just a few lines today. First of all I wish to thank the Business Girls and all those whom have made possible this excellently chosen gift. I think all soldiers will find it useful. Also thanks to the Sioux Center News for making arrangements to send this paper by first class mail. I find it a great improvement since we arrived in Europe. The News was always from 8 to 10 weeks old. This made the news too old to be of much interest. Now that my father has it sent first class, my last two issues are only three weeks old.
So soldier friends, if you are having the same trouble I had, try first class mail. It may help you.
At present I’m in an Army hospital recuperating from a ruptured appendix operation, which took place Sept. 24. I’m expecting to go back to duty soon.
We took part in the invasion of southern France on August 15, as a part of an airborne task force, and landed by Glider.
This invasion was mild compared to what it could have been as the enemy was unable to get organized in time to halt such terrific force, until most of France was taken.
Ted Goslinga, who is also from near Sioux Center, is also in this hospital. I pay him a daily visit at his bedside. He is doing fine. Ted and I both found that the treatment here is good considering conditions here.
These American nurses are very friendly.
I have a clipping from our Army newspaper which might interest many. The Germans are known to have used this scheme before.
This will be all for this time. Let’s hope for a speedy victory. A very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.
As ever, T/4 Cornelius Schelling
Clipping sent in by Cornelius Schelling:
NAZI MUSIC INSPIRES ARIA
BY U.S. ARTILLERY
(By G. K. Hobenfield, Staff Corres.)
With the 1st Infantry Division in Germany—It was 2200 hours and very quiet. The artillery had died down, the mortars had stopped and there was no machinegun or rifle fire.
Without warning came the strong rhythms of “Don’t Be That Way” by Benny Goodman’s Orchestra. Outpost men looked at each other. Men raised up in their foxholes. The general attitude was “Wottinell gives, anyway?”
The record ended and a voice with a slight German accent said in English over a loud speaker system, “Did you Yanks like that one? Stick around, here are a few more.”
Then followed, “St. Louis Blues,” “You’ll Never Know,” “One O’Clock Jump,” Begin The Beguine,” and “Dogging Around.”
The looey called the captain. The captain called the colonel. The colonel told the captain, “Tell our mortar men to get ready to give them a little stronger American music.”
The last strains of “Beat Me Daddy” ended, and the German announcer started a long spiel.
“Can’t you Americans see the uselessness of fighting a losing battle? What is the use of fighting and dying? To save the world from communism! To save the British Empire? What are you Yanks doing so far away from home, and fighting on German soil?”
“Let’s get sensible about this. How about letting up on the shelling? What do you say to a good night’s sleep?”
The captain gave a mortar sergeant the awaited signal. One barrage after another of 60 mm, 81 mm, and 4.2 mortar shells landed in the German lines. The artillery sprang into action from behind.
No more music. No more speeches. Just American ammunition preaching its own kind of propaganda.
Source: Sioux Center News, December 7, 1944 (photo included)
