This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bassham, Prosser, Cornwell, Anderson, Davis, Minton Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3h.2ADE/2075.2 Message Board Post: Bassham Boys of Floyd County Indiana Clifford H. Bassham and younger brother Earl C. were members of the National Guard Army and left New Albany for training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, in January 1941 and later had more training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Meanwhile their brother Carl, between them in age, received training with the regular Army Air Corps at Chanute Field at Rantoul, Illinois. He was the first to join the service and was later assigned to the European theatre of World War II and stationed in England. Clifford was commissioned as a first lieutenant and while in war was promoted to major. Earl earned the rank of private while the two fought together in New Guinea and at MacArthur’s “Return to the Philippines” at the battles for Leyte and Samar serving in the 152nd Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division. The primary treasure of recapturing the Philippines was Manila, “The Pearl of the Orient” located on the largest of the Islands, Luzon. The American forces invaded Luzon at the Lingayen Gulf well north of Manila January 13, 1945, and immediately commenced fighting in all directions to secure a beachhead, isolate the Japanese, and to advance southward to Manila to re-establish an American Command in formal eviction of the enemy. The Basshams had been very fortunate to have survived the major battles already but on April 2, 1945 the local newspaper gave the shocking news. A friend of Clifford’s wife sent a letter consoling her of the death of her husband. The friend stated that she had received a letter from her husband, who was under major Bassham’s command, telling her of his death on Iwo Jima. Although the family called Washington D.C. and another service family from Alexandria, Indiana serving with the boys but they were unable to secure additional information. Finally on Monday April 16, 1945, the worst of their fears were realized as Chaplain Anderson of Nichols General Hospital delivered the official message. It is believed that the brothers were killed about March 11, 1945, when a plane in which they were flying supplies to a mountain detachment, crashed to the side of the mountain. After many narrow escapes flying over Nazi Germany, Carl Bassham left England under the Army’s “last son” rule and was to be stationed at home in America. After a 30-day furlough he reported to Miami Beach, Florida, for reassignment and it was then discovered that he had enough points to be discharged. Indiana soldiers and sailors stood tall in the war and performed their military professions honorably and none were more honorable or bigger heroes than the Bassham Boys of Floyd County. Ref: New Albany Tribune, Tuesday, 20 May 1941 page1, column 5: City Mother Has Three Sons in Uncle Sam’s Army Service If Uncle Sam would bring all her soldier sons to Camp Shelby, Miss., for the weekend of May 24, Mrs. Clifford Bassham of 1602 Dewey Street wouldn’t miss the excursion mothers of New Albany National Guardsmen and selected are going to make to see their “boys.” Mrs. Bassham hopes she can make the trip with the other local mothers, but says she might wait until her oldest son, First Lieut. Clifford Bassham, 25, returns to Camp Shelby from Fort Benning, Ga. At Fort Benning Lieut. Bassham and Pvt. 1st Class Earl Bassham, 19, went to Camp Shelby in January as members of New Albany units of the 152d Infantry. A short time later, the lieutenant was transferred to Fort Benning for staff training at the Army’s Infantry School. Pvt. Bassham still is at Camp Shelby. A third son, Pvt. Carl Bassham, 23, is in training with the regular Army Air Corps at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill. The $13.50 fare for the round trip between New Albany and Camp Shelby is an opportunity for other mothers. But Mrs. Bassham’s husband is a Southern Railway employee and she has a pass that is good at any time. She’d much rather make the trip with the others than alone, but she says she may wait until at least two of her sons—Clifford and Earl—are at the camp at the same time * * * * * New Albany Tribune Monday 2 Apr 1945 page 1, column 3 Major Bassham Feared Killed on Iwo Jima Mrs. Clifford Bassham, the former Betty Prosser, Spring Avenue, received a letter of sympathy Saturday from a friend at Alexandria, Va., consoling her in the death of her husband, Major Clifford Bassham, 28. Mr. and Mrs. Bassham had received no official notice of his death, and immediately placed a call to Alexandria for further information. The friend stated that she had received a letter from her husband, who was under major Bassham’s command, telling her of his death on Iwo Jima. Although the family called Washington, they were unable to secure additional information. Major Bassham is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bassham, 16th and Dewey. A member of the National Guard, Major Bassham left New Albany in January 1941, and has been overseas for about a year and a half. He has an 11-month-old daughter, Teckla Bassham, whom he as never seen. Mrs. Bassham received her last letter from the major only last week. It was dated March 14. * * * * * Publisher: New Albany Tribune 16 Apr 1945; Edition: Monday Title: Official notice comes of death of 2 Basshams Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bassham received official notice of the deaths of two sons, Major Clifford H. Bassham and Pvt. Earl "Buddy" C. Bassham. Major Clifford H. Bassham's wife is Betty (Prosser) Bassham of New Albany. Mr. & Mrs. Harry Bassham have not decided whether to ask to have their third son, Sgt. Carl Bassham returned in non-combat duty. Carl's wife Nancy lives in Shreveport, LA. The third brother died at home after he got out of service . . . ? * * * * * New Albany Tribune Sat 7 Apr 1945 p1 c1: Basshams Lose Two Sons Same Day On Luzon Third Son Not Heard From For Months Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bassham, 1602 Dewey, who last week received information that their son, Major Clifford Bassham, was killed on Luzon, have had additional news that another son, Pvt. Earl Bassham, was killed the same day. Mrs. Betty Prosser Bassham, wife of the major, had received a letter from a friend in Alexandria, Ind., stating that her husband, also in the Philippines, had written of the Major’s death. This week Mrs. Delbert Cornwell, wife of Col. Delbert Cornwell, 1739 Depauw, received a letter from her husband saying that Major and Pvt. Bassham had been killed in a plane crash. The Basshams have received no official word of the death of either son. However, it is believed that the crash occurred somewhere on Luzon. A third son, Carl Bassham, with the air corps, has not been heard from in several months. In his last letter, he stated he was still in England. New Albany Tribune Mon 16 Apr 1945 p1 c5: Official Notice Comes Of Death of Two Basshams Official notice of the death of two sons, Major Clifford H. Bassham, 29, and Pvt. Earl “Buddy” C. Bassham, 23, was received by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bassham, 1602 Dewey Street, Sunday. Mrs. Betty Prosser Bassham, 2522 Spring Avenue, wife of the Major, and Mr. and Mrs. Bassham had received several letters of sympathy from soldiers under Major Bassham’s command before receiving the official message, which was delivered by Chaplain Anderson of Nichols General Hospital. A personal notification is given when the death of two sons occur at the same time. It is believed that the brothers were killed about March 11 when a plane in which they were flying supplies to a mountain detachment, crashed in to the side of the mountain. Overseas since January, 1944, both boys were members of the National Guard and left New Albany in January 1941 to train at Camp Shelby, Miss. They were veterans of the New Guinea, Samar, Leyte and Luzon campaigns. Brother in Europe A graduate of New Albany Senior High, Major Bassham was employed by Calumet Fertilizer Company prior to entering the service. Pvt. Bassham was a former high school student and both were natives of New Albany. Besides their parents they are survived by their brother, Sgt. Carl Bassham with the Army Air Force in Europe; sisters, Mrs. Roy Davis, Mrs. Dale Minton and Misses Dorothy and Shirley Bassham. Major Bassham is also survived by a daughter, Teckla Bassham whom he had never seen. The Basshams said they have not yet decided whether they will take advantage of the “last son” rule and ask to have their third son, Sgt. Carl Bassham returned in non-combat duty. Sgt. Bassham, 27, was recently awarded the air medal for “meritorious achievement” during bombing attacks against Nazi war industries and military targets. He is an engineer and top turret gunner on an Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying fortress. His wife, Mrs. Nancy E. Bassham, resides in Shrev! eport, La. * * * * * New Albany Tribune Wed 25 Jul 1945 page2, column 5 Sgt. Bassham after Many Narrow Escapes Asserts That He’s Just Lucky T/Sgt. Carl Bassham, whose two brothers, major Clifford H. Bassham and Pvt. Earl C. Bassham were killed in an airplane crash March 11 on Luzon, narrowly missed that same kind of death himself, he learned from a letter written to him by the wife of his crew’s pilot, when he walked home a civilian after being discharged under the Army’s point system last Wednesday. The letter said that five days after Bassham had left England to come to the United States his crew had crashed in Aachen, Germany and all men were killed. “I guess I’m just one of those lucky individuals,” he remarked when he read the letter. Bassham left England under the Army’s “last son” rule and was to be stationed in this country. After a 30-day furlough he reported to Miami Beach, Fla., for reassignment. It was then discovered that he had enough points to be discharged. Several incidents from his stay in the Army air corps were cited by Bassham to show what a “lucky” individual he is. Land Far From Base When he was stationed at the airfield at Hobbs, New Mexico, he and his crew went up on flight and were lost in the air for eight hours. Lightning had struck the ship, and burned the radios out. After more than 13 hours of wandering among the clouds the crew found themselves over Lanesville, Ohio, and because of the weather they couldn’t land. Going on to Columbus, they discovered they had to land although they couldn’t see the field, because they were almost out of gasoline. An audience of approximately 2000 persons saw them just miss hitting the airport tower and hanger and the odds against their landing safely were about 8 to 1. But almost tearing the wheels off the ship by locking the brakes, they made it. The next week the same ship with a different crew was being landed at Detroit when the brakes went bad and the ship just missed the airport administration building and ran into two parked civilian ships. One of the pilots burned to death and the other on! e was badly injured. The ship was condemned and salvaged on that field. All on the other plane were killed. Citing another incident at Hobbs Field, Bassham said that two ships went out on flight at the same time, one heading for Los Angeles and the other Nashville, Tenn. Bassham was assigned to the one heading for Los Angeles. At Nashville, the eastbound ship exploded and all eleven men on it were killed. Meanwhile back at Hobbs Field the reports had gotten mixed up and the field officers were getting ready to send word to the parents of the men on the plane headed for Los Angeles that their sons had been killed in a plane crash, when the Los Angeles crew flew in. Bassham said that when they landed, the men at the field could scarcely believe that it was not their ship that had exploded. Bassham had been in the Army Air Corps since Sept. 28, 1940, and completed 25 missions overseas. An engineer on a Flying Fortress, he was overseas from February 1945 to May 1945. He and his wife, Mrs. Nancy E. Bassham, Shreveport, La., will move to California where he will attend college. He plans to make flying his civilian career. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bassham, 1602 Dewey.