Volume X
Number 33
January 16
1943
THE STATE
A Weekly Survey of North Carolina
Enured •* loeond cUi* m.iur. June I. 1033. >1 Itu Poilofflc* *1 IUIol(h. North Csrolln». under the Act of Meroh 3. 1878
North Carolina at War
Tremendous changes have laken place in
the State and North Carolina has taken the
lead in many phases of the war effort.
tty GERTRUDE S. CARR AWAY
North carom nians. m in
all previous wars in which the
United Staten has been engaged,
are taking major role» in the current
world conflict.
In line with it* pa*t patriotic en¬
deavor and spirit, the State is making
a notable record in modem warfare.
Tt has twice as many representatives
in the armed forces a* during the last
war. Frequently it has led all other
States in recruiting records.
There are probably more new serv¬
ice camps and extensions here than
in any other territory of the same size
anywhere in America. Practically
every typo of war training, for air,
land and sea, is under way within
Carolina borders.
The largest Army training post is
at Fort Bragg, the largest Coast
Guard Air Station at Elizabeth City,
the largest advanced training center
of the Marine Corps at New River,
and the largest Marine Air Station
at Cherry Point.
Camps and Bases
Maneuvers in the central portion
of the State during the past two years
have been of notable significance in
military history. The new Army posts
at Camp Davis. Camp Sutton, Camp
Butner, Camp Battle and elsewhere;
the aviation fields at Charlotte, Golds-
1юго
and many other points; the
irlider base at Maxton ; the planned
Marine glider center at Edonton; the
Navy blimp base at Elizabeth City
and other naval bases and schools;
the shipbuilding plants at Manteo.
Elizabeth City, New Bern and Wil¬
mington — all these and ninny other
defense and war projects make the
section second to none in military
preparedness and prominence.
A number of the key leaders and
many of the men cited for gallantry
in action are natives or residents of
this State. Maj. Gen. A. A. Vande-
grift and most of the heroic Marines
under him on the Solomon Islands
spent last winter and spring at New
River.
Maj. Gen. William C. Lee of
Harnett County bus attained fame as
a pioneer loader of airborne and para¬
chute troons. Brig. Gen. Caleb
Havnes of Surry County is taking a
main part in the North African in¬
vasion and fighting.
Although impossible to mention all
the numerous North Carolinians who
are upholding the military tradition?
of the State by winning official decora¬
tions. a few examples will hear testi-
monv to the heroic exploits of Tar
Heel* on the far-flung bn ttlef rents
throughout the world.
Maj. John L. Smith, Marine
aviator, formerly of New Bern, re¬
ceived a Nnvv Cross for shooting down
IP enemy planes. Once he hit four
Jap Zero planes in I
Л
minutes. He
led a Marine fighter squadron in the
Pacific war zone, which although al¬
ways outnumbered two to one and
sometimes four to one, brought down
83 Japanese aircraft in little more
than three weeks.
Lient. C. Earl Dickinson. Jr., of
Wrightsville Beach. ha« received four
Navy decorations. As a naval flier,
lie is credited with helping sink a
Japanese carrier off Midway Island.
Capt. Daniel K. Edwards, Army
Infantry officer, of Durham, was
awarded the Silver Star for gallantry
in action which inspired his fellow
soldiers to greater effort and success
in New Guinea.
Lt. Col. Stuart Wood. U.S.A.. of
Elizabeth City, who was a member of
Gen. Jonathan WninwrightV staff on
Corregidor, was given the Distin¬
guished Service Medal for valuable
aid during the Philippine campaigns.
Ensign Non I Anderson Scott.
U.S.N., 24-year-old son of n Presby¬
terian minister at Goldsboro, lost his
life in a Pacific Naval battle hut in¬
spired the crew of his destroyer,
Smith, on to victory. As he was being
moved away from his gun with fatal
burns, he heard the voice of a friend—
he couldn't see— and he shouted:
“Keep those guns firing, mates!”
They Kept Fighting
“We had to after flint — for him,”
explained the gunnery officer, account¬
ing for the magnificent performance
of the destroyer in continuing its in¬
trepid protection of a vulnerable air¬
craft carrier. While some of the
sailors fought devastating flames
aboard the ship, the gun crews shot
seven enemy planes.
On the home front, revolutionary
transformations are taking place
under war conditions in North Caro-
( Continued on page luenty-rioht)
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