Action (May 1941 - Mar 1958)

AMERICAN LEGION POST-scripts! By Leslie F. Dressier YOU know . . . there are a great many people on this Lot, who talk too much. We mean about things they know only from hearsay. That's not knowing! Each telling of a tale makes It taller, and that's the kind of propaganda the subtle Nazis want to spread. Here's a sample. A woman — supposedly a Navy secretary? — told many things that were supposed to have happened December 6th. In wartime, things connected with the Military are confidential. What the hell kind of an American would reveal the secrets of the Government he works for? If they tell you a tale, call 'em liars and let them get sore. Common sense should help you identify the authentic sources of information. March 17th was meeting night and Comrade Bob Fleming won the jackpot, $8.90 worth of Defense Stamps. Onlv those attending have a chance to win, although every member' s name is on a slip of paper in an individual capsule. Be at the next meeting and enjoy yourself among Americans. More than forty members were present, and it was a lively and informative meeting. The high spot was a swell talk by Dan Clark. His words rammed home an Important message and made everyone thnik. What he said about Defense Bond buying held extra meaning, for Dan Clark practices what he preached that night. Our sales on the Lot are fair, but they could be better. Look at the amount purchased by the men in the Service! They don't make what we do. Buy Bonds today. the deduction way. In ten years you'll say, that ain't hay! Comrade Earl Richards is better and Comrade Lou Johnson is getting along at Sawtelle. We want to devote this paragraph to the Coast Guard. The pictures they showed at the meeting were a reminder that even in peace time we have men on duty to combat disaster. Storm, flood, fire, tornado . . . they take them in stride. Makes one realize that "Down to the Sea in Ships" is more hard work than romance. Thanks, fellows, for some swell entertainment. REMEMBER DECEMBER! BUY BONDS! BUY STAMPS! ★ Leslie F. Whalen, Foreign Publicity Manager of 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation, visited the Lot recently and had lunch wi th C ommander Lou Witte. After asking about our Post and divulging the information that he had served as Lieutenant with the 349th Infantry of the 88th Division during the last War, Les was in Lou's power between soup and nuts. He's back in New York now, with a Legion Cap and a dues card for 1942, an enthusiastic Comrade of 20th Century-Fox Post No. 563. He'll try to make his next visit coincide with one of our meeting nights. Leslie F. Dressier. NEWS FROM ONE OF OUR AMERICAN LEGION COMRADES Let's visit Comrade Graham Budd's brother as often as possible. I thought the following letter from him was very thoughtful. — Allan Maynard. Mr. Al Maynard Adj. American Legion Post 563 Beverly Hills, Calif. Dear sir: I have just received a letter from my brother, Mr. Graham Budd, a member of your Post from Pearl Harbor, T.H. in which he wished to be remembered to you and the other boys. Grab am enlisted in the Navy, the week following the Pear! Harbor disaster and was sent to the Naval Training Station at San Diego. After a brief training period he was detailed at the Destroyer Base. As he requested Immediate foreign service, he was shipped out a few weeks ago and is on his way to As I am tied down by reason of total disability, I will appreciate it if you can come out to see me some Sunday. "Carry on. Soldier." W. E. A. Budd, 13509 Burbank Blvd. Van Nuys, California. BIOGRAPHY OF A WORLD WAR VETERAN! As told to Leslie F. Dressier D ORN on April 16th, 1889, ^ in Granville, Illinois, Howard Child was the youngest of five sons that blessed the homestead of Mr. & Mrs. A. P. Child. The first dozen years of his life were spent much like those of any other country boy. When not in school he herded cows, acted as water boy for the haying, harvesting and threshing crews, and then — when the chores were done — rode his pony, hunted and fished, and in short, was a real American Boy. His father's auctioneering business became so important that the family moved Into town where Howard went to Grade and High School, studied voice and piano, and sang in the Choir. During the Summers he worked on the farm to earn spending money. When eighteen he went to Chicago and became a singer of Illustrated Songs in a small Southside Nickleodeon. Spare time was used to continue the study of music, concentrating on the vocal. Several years later, Howard became first tenor with the Chicago Orchestral Sextette and travelled the Chatauqua and Lyceum circuits until the United States entered the War against Germany in 1917. Enlisting on May 26th, 1917, Howard trained at the Paris island, S. C., Marine Station until August when he joined the 83rd Company, 6th Regiment, Marine Corps at Quantico, Virginia. Made a Corporal on September 24th, he enjoyed one month as a non-commissioned officer before boarding the U. S. S. Von Steuben at Philadelphia and heading for France. November 12th found the Marines at Brest, the first American troops to land there. A royal welcome served as 'Hello and Goodbye', for the boys Immediately boarded the 'forty and eight' box cars and were trundled to Bordeaux where they billeted on the estate of a wealthy American woman, Helen Gould by name. This place was up the Gironde River near Lormont. While there they worked with the U. S. Army 18th Railway Engineers, and Howard says he means worked! Then a trip to Chaumont where French Instructors taught the art of modern war, as it then was. March 15th — a defensive sector near Verdun, two months of see-saw night raids. Gas barrages took toll in some measure. May 15th, a rest area near Paris for rehabilitation. Replacements filled depleted ranks. At 5 o'clock on May 30th, the outfit was packed into trucks, twenty men and equipment in each, and were driven by French Sengalese on the Paris Metz Highway to Bols Belleau. Refugees blocked the road, wild-eyed people who were fleeing the German advance between Soissons and Rh elms. The enemy was thirtyfive miles from Paris and advancing at the rate of ten miles a day when the Marines faced them on June 1st, 1918. Not another Inch did they advance. Counter-attacking on the 6th, (Continued on page 10) 9