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Monday was V-E Day in Andalusia

When the Associated Press reported on Monday, May 7, the signing of the terms of unconditional surrender by all German forces to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, acting on behalf of the United States, Great Britain and Russia, Mayor Scherf ordered the siren to sound for 15 minutes. The stores closed promptly at 10 a.m. and the people quietly celebrated. There were no parades, no gathering of crowds, but each one, in his or her own way, observed the day of Victory in Europe.

At 8 p.m., the people of the city assembled at the First Methodist Church, in accordance with previously announced plans, and engaged in prayers of Thanksgiving, led by four pastors of the churches represented. There was no speech-making. There were songs appropriate to the occasion, scripture reading and prayers, for a period of some 40 minutes. The large audience then passed quietly out of the church and the day’s celebration was thus ended.

On Tuesday morning, people gathered around their radios to listen to the broadcast of President Truman’s proclamation. Following that, businesses carried on as usual in the city. There has been an evident feeling of restraint on the part of our people. They rejoice over the victory achieved in Europe but the war against Japan still rages.  We still have so many of our loved ones doing battle in the Pacific, most of them feel that jubilation should await the final victory over Japan.

News From Far Away Places

Your editor has had the pleasure of meeting three Andalusians who have served in Uncle Sam’s armed forces in remote areas of this conflict. Lt. Dempsey Albritton, with the U.S. Army Air Corps, has served in the CBI [China, Burma, India] theater for the past 11 months. Flying his C-47 from India, he has flown the “hump” over the Himalayas to China many times. Lt. Albritton has won his experience the hard way – flying through the most treacherous of weather conditions, over the dangerous Himalayan mountains.

Another Andalusian home on furlough is Capt. Paul Moss of the U.S. Marine Corps. He has served the past 27 months fighting with the Marines in the South Pacific, including the island campaigns of Bouganville, Leyte and Iwo Jima.

Home from the wars is another Andalusia, Radio Technician James Powell with the U.S. Army Air Corps. He serves with the Air Transport Command and is currently stationed in California. His travels with the transport command have taken him throughout a large part of the Pacific as well as our own country.

All three of these young servicemen look fine and fit and we hope they have a pleasant vacation during every minute of their well-earned leave.

Local Man’s Outfit is Heavyweight in Offensive in Italy

Jesse D. Simmons, Major, U.S. Army, is Executive Officer of the 185th Field Artillery Battalion in Italy. His wife, Mrs. Sara Simmons, lives at 703 S. Three Notch St. in Andalusia. The big guns of the 185th are softening up the Germans around the town of Bologna, Italy.

The 185th is a unit of the 34th “Red Bull” Division, which came overseas in April 1942. The battalion served throughout the Tunisian campaign including the battles of Fondouk Pass and Hill 609. The 185th joined the Fifth Army in late September 1942, near Salerno, Italy. The 185th fires the 155-millimeter howitzers, whose shells weigh 100 lbs. In 53 consecutive days, the battalion fired more than 15,000 shells at Cassino, Italy, where “A” Battery alone, fired 240 rounds in 10 minutes. The skill of the 185th was acquired during 500 straight days in combat in which they fired nearly 150,000 rounds into the enemy’s lines in Tunisia and Italy. Lt. Col. Robert D. Offer, Washington D.C., Commands the 185th and Major Jesse D. Simmons of Andalusia, is the Executive Officer.

John Vick