Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 21, 1993 TAG: 9312210148
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: EXTRA1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Greg Edwards
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In recognition of the sacrifice of the region's veterans, Roanoke Times & World-News staff writer Greg Edwards will take a periodic look at the stories that dominated the news 50 years ago - news from the South Pacific, Europe and the home.
Following is a selection of news items and headlines published in the Roanoke Times, the Roanoke World-News and other sources in the week Sunday, Dec. 19, through Saturday, Dec. 25, 1943:
The U.S. destroyer O'Bannon was back from 14 months in the South Pacific, where it had taken part in a record five major engagements, helping sink a Japanese battleship, three cruisers and six destroyers.
Troops of the U.S. Sixth Army pushed their offensive on the Arawe peninsula in the battle for New Britain in the South Pacific, capturing a village and Japanese field guns and equipment.
American infantrymen captured San Pietro, perhaps the strongest point in the Nazi defense of Cassino in Italy.
Two million more men had to be drafted by July 1944, with 1 million of them to be taken from the pool of 5 million draftable fathers still with their families, the Selective Service said. The pool of draftable fathers was not as big as it seemed, though, because two of every three had been granted "necessary" man deferments in farming and industry by their local draft boards.
U.S. bombers pounded the German U-boat center of Bremen in daylight at the cost of 25 bombers and eight fighters. The Germans said some captured American fliers had "Murder Incorporated" written on their uniforms and claimed that was proof gangsters controlled the American Air Force.
The Germans, meanwhile, threatened to put American airmen on trial as war criminals in retaliation for the war crimes trials and executions of German prisoners by the Russians.
Gen. George C. Marshall, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, completed a series of surprise visits to battle fronts in the Pacific.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered Attorney General Biddle to prepare the necessary papers to take over the nation's railroads in the face of a threatened nationwide rail strike.
The Roanoke war price and rationing board and City Council took steps to halt alleged price-ceiling violations by hucksters at the City Market.
The collection of waste paper from Roanoke homes to be salvaged for vital war needs was producing only half its monthly goal.
President Roosevelt in a Christmas Eve War report disclosed the choice of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower to command the invasion of Hitler's European fortress.
In sports, Gunder Haegg, a Swedish runner, was voted the Associated Press' 1943 athlete of the year, and golfer Patty Berg was named woman athlete of the year. Amos Alonzo Stagg came up with a winning team at the College of the Pacific and was awarded the AP's sports comeback of the year award.
The undefeated basketball team of the Norfolk Naval Training Station handed the University of Virginia Cavaliers their first loss, 50-20.
"Slingin' " Sammy Baugh and "Anvil" Andy Farkas carried the Washington Redskins to the Eastern championship of the National Professional Football League with a 28-0 victory over the New York Giants.
Connie Mack, manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, celebrated his 81st birthday with no hint of retirement as he entered his 61st baseball year.
by CNB