These clips were in my father's Army Album. I have transcribed them as they appear without corrections. There will be three parts because they are rather long. I hope someone finds a relative or two among the names mentioned. Ann TRANSCRIPTION OF NEWSCLIPS FROM THE ST. CLAIR CHRONICLE Dates of clips are unknown, but it is during WWII. These are from the St. Clair, Franklin Co., MO, newspaper. They have been saved by Melvin Bigley and his wife, Josephine. I am assuming that since Melvin was overseas in Puerto Rico, that his mother, Anna Belle Bigley, clipped them. Transcribed on 23 Jan 2001 by Ann Wideman. IN ONE RAID ST. CLAIR… DOWN Was one of a group of six in 1941 to volunteer. Kenneth Meyer in Flying Fortress “Old Bill” Praised By Pilot Whitman. The war never seemed so close to our doors, as when a number of St. Clair people who were listening to the 10 o’clock broadcast last Thursday night, heard the announcement that Sergt. K. V. Meyer of St. Clair, Mo. was credited with shooting down two enemy fighters in one of the biggest raids over Northern France up to that time. American Press News announced…. [Rest of article is missing] [Top part of this next clip is missing] Fred Mallet of the U. ______ who is attending diesel school ____ Columbia, spent the week-end at home. Fred will complete his training at Columbia the second week in March. He says they are studying hard but the Navy is OK in every respect and he is well satisfied. * * * * * * Looking over some of the letters received from our boys’ in foreign lands, we find many items of interest. From those in England, most of the boys’ say the British are anxious to become acquainted with the American soldier. They want to do all they can for them and are anxious to hear stories about America. Some of the questions are “Where do you live? What did you… [Rest of article is missing.] WITH OUR BOYS IN SERVICE Pvt. Harold Vedder of Fort Leonard Wood, was home over the week-end. ________________________ Roy Huff, who is somewhere in Australia wrote home to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Huff, telling them not to worry about him that he was OK. _________________________ Pvt. George Cates of Camp Wolters, Texas is home on furlough. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Cates and his parents as well as relatives and friends are glad to see him looking so well. __________________________ Kenneth McDermott wrote his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip McDermont on Monday this week, saying he was somewhere in New Mexico on his way to a training camp, but did not know where. ___________________________ Pfc. Charles Murry was home over Saturday night and Sunday. ‘Slats” is still at Fort Leonard Wood and never misses an opportunity to get home when he can get a few hours leave. _____________________________ A telegram was received Monday from Stf. Sgt. Curtis Showen, saying he was OK, had arrived safely and not to worry about him. His wife tells us the telegram was not dated and there was no indication as to where it was sent from. ____________________________ Pvt. Ervin Adams of Camp Ripley, Minnesota, is home this week on a furlough visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Adams. Ervin had his folks take out a subscription to the Chronicle for him, so he can keep in touch with home. _____________________________ Dallas “Chubby” Lewis, Seaman second-class, has completed his boot training at Williamsburg, Virginia and asks that his mail be held up until he sends a new address. “Chubby” has done very well for himself, having received a promotion before even completing his first step in Uncle Sam’s Navy. ____________________________ Alfred Hamilton who has been in Army training, is now enjoying a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Hamilton and family in the Cove neighborhood; and August Huff, who has been receiving preliminary naval training in Idaho, is now having a leave of absence from military duties and is spending his leave, with homefolks in the home of the Gillman Huff family in the Cove community. ____________________________ Paul J. Reiker, Seaman Second-Class wrote his parents last week, that he was leaving the good old U. S. A. for an unknown destination. Paul gets his mail through the Fleet Post Office in San Francisco. I t isbelieved he was shipped out week before last. Paul studied Radar. His brother, Henry is being sent back to Denver, Colorado from A_____, Texas. He is in a Private firstclass inUncle Sam’s army and will attend a school for camera repair. [The typos are as they appear in the newsclip.] _________________________ Two of the Berkel boys’ who are serving in the U. S. Army are changing their routine of training. Corp. Edward F. Berkel has been accepted for non-commissioned officers’ training school at Hill Field in Ogden, Utah and Pvt. Kenneth Berkel, who is at Tacoma, Washington, was sent last week to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to take tests for occupational school. Kenny wrote home that he passed all exams. OK but as yet did not know where he would be sent to school. ___________________________ Ensign James Raaf of Columbia, Mo was home Sunday. James says a native of Lima, Peru entered the State University in Columbia last week to study engineering. He speaks but little English but enough that a conversation could be carried on. Jim asked the young man why he picked Missouri to attend school and was told on looking over a map of the United States, this lad’s father, who is a political leader in Peru, said it was the state most centrally located and was the place not likely to be “boomed.”