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Dale Tincher 64
USA
485 Posts |
 Posted - 04/26/2006 : 23:31:45
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Hello everyone. Someone suggested wars as a topic. We agreed that it would be fascinating to learn more about how WW I, WW II, Vietnam (and any others) affected Rangers and their classes. Some of our classmates have children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who served in the Gulf and Iraq wars.
We want to avoid political commentary. We simply want to learn and share.
I found it very interesting to view the 40's yearbooks and see such a small number of junior and senior men due to the war and to try to read between the lines to see what was happening. It would be wonderful to learn the mood and thoughts of Rangers at that time. We would love to learn more about the war bonds, rationing, those who fought (we would love to have any names you can send of those who served), those who lost their lives (so we can honor them), what it was like when the boys came home, how the ladies adjusted and helped and anything else you want to share.
I'll start the topic by saying that my father, Clyde, was disabled in WW II while serving on the U.S.S. Nashville. He left school as a junior to serve. As I understand it, sailors would join and serve the four years together on their ship. He served proudly and attended Nashville reunions as long as his health would permit.
I'll be brief on my part. I remember the sadness and how quickly the word spread when Richard Curd lost his life in Vietnam. He was so full of life and so well-liked. Many of us served in Vietnam, including my brother, Donnie, and I. I was in college and was fairly certain that I would have to go. I decided I would rather go as an officer and went through ROTC. Few really wanted to go, but most felt it was their duty to support their country. I am now very proud that I served. A few of my Vietnam photos are located at http://www.consultwebs.com/daletincher/vietnam.htm
I, personally, find World War II and WW I much more interesting than our other wars. The patriotism, the sacrifices, the critical nature of the war, etc., made them more interesting in my opinion. My dad would tell stories about how people would come up and thank them, want to buy them a drink, lunch, etc.
A wonderful link about our wars is located on the Smithsonian site http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/exhibition/flash.html
We will call Mr. Anderson and see if he will contribute. We welcome any other ideas.
Again, this is a general topic about wars, life and how people were affected. I did a poor job introducing the topic, but I hope this will start it off. I shall now sit back and watch for your posts.
Dale Tincher - Class of 64
919-272-8052
dale.tincher@rainellereunion.com |
Edited by - Dale Tincher 64 on 04/27/2006 09:50:54 |
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Chris Dawson 51
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2006 : 00:41:53
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Interesting topic. I don’t have all that much I can ad. I was in the USAF during peace time and saw no action.
I had a cousin that died in the south pacific during WWII. He was not from Rainelle. I had a another cousin that was a nurse during WWII at the Greenbrier Hospital. She was not from Rainelle. I knew one person that was in Korea from Rainelle but didn’t attend RHS.
I can add some comments later for what I remember about rationing.
While not involved in the fighting we can comment about the women that worked in the factories. I forget what they were called. Something Jane I believe. Stories I have enjoyed were the ladies that flew the planes from the factory to the army airfields. |
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Connard Estep 53
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2006 : 22:19:59
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Does anyone recall a War memorial Sign board that was located between the old post office and Sadies Café on Main Street ? It had the names of Servicemen that served in ww2 and maybe ww1. Was a rather large sign painted white with black lettering as I recall. Someone must have a photo of it or a record in the Town archives.
When was it torn down and why ??? I know it was there in the late Forties and early Fifties.
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Dale Tincher 64
USA
485 Posts |
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Rita Curd Bender 64
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2006 : 11:08:17
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Hello all, I have some interest in this topic. My Dad, Tull, was a 1938 graduate of Rainelle High. He served in World War II and was injuried at Normandy and at the Battle of the Bulge. For those of you who would like to honor a loved one, the World War II Memorial site has a registry for you to do so at http://www.wwiimemorial.com/
It is a beautiful memorial.
I have a few articles from my Dad's time in the War to include a letter describing some locations and events. Many of our parents contributed to the war effort in various ways. My Dad was one of the lucky ones who came home, back to West Virginia. |
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Chris Dawson 51
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2006 : 11:51:18
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Hi Rita:
Nice to see you and your 1st post.
I did indeed look at the WWII memorial site. Really quite nice. Didn’t find what I was searching.
Thanks to you, we now have a new site to view and research.
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Dale Tincher 64
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2006 : 10:42:23
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Hello everyone. Andy let me know about the “Ride for Freedom” for Prisoners of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA). This is an annual rally for POW/MIAs left behind after our wars. The group has had this ride every year on Memorial Day weekend since 1988 and arrives in Rainelle for the weekend. We will be posting a new topic called Rainelle Local News and will provide more detail about this. It sounds like a wonderful event. More detail can be found at http://www.greasyonline.com/content-2.html and http://lzrainelle.com/index.html
Dale Tincher - Class of 64
919-272-8052
dale.tincher@rainellereunion.com |
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Kenneth Napier 52
USA
11 Posts |
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Chris Dawson 51
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2006 : 16:03:16
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| I was wondering about something I remember from a movie. The movie was “Rules of Engagement” staring Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L Jackson. While the movie was not about Vietnam but Tommy Lee Jones remarked a few times in the movie the life expectance of a 2nd Lt in combat in Vietnam to Guy Pearce (the prosecuting attorney). Near the end of the movie Jones and Pearce had conversation where Pearce made a guess and Jones corrected him. If I remember it was 7 seconds. Does any one know if that was true? |
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Dale Tincher 64
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2006 : 23:14:17
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Chris, I was a 2nd, then a 1st Lieutenant Infantry rifle platoon leader for a period and, fortunately for me, I lived longer than 7 seconds. The story orginated from some 2nd Lieutenants arriving in 'Nam not long after officer school (OCS, ROTC, etc., West Pointers were usually more grounded) and a short stint as a platoon leader thinking they knew a lot and throwing their weight around. While they might have gotten away with that in the states, it did not work in Vietnam. Stories circulated about cocky LT's getting "fragged". I didn't know about any first-hand. In combat or at night, a hand grenade (frag) could come from any direction. The message to the LT's was to rely on savvy sergeants, corporals and privates who knew what they were doing and not pretend to know more than they did. When the platoon worked as a team, the platoon was more likely to come out alive. When a cocky, novice LT tried to run things and jeopardized lives, some troops considered convening field juries and/or let the LT know that his 7 seconds might be about up. Every LT knew what "fragged" meant. Dale
Dale Tincher - Class of 64
919-272-8052
dale.tincher@rainellereunion.com |
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Dale Tincher 64
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2006 : 14:24:55
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In honor of the Memorial Day activities, here's a teaser for the Vets. Who is/was Jody and what can you pass on about him?
Dale Tincher - Class of 64
919-272-8052
dale.tincher@rainellereunion.com |
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ML2006
USA
256 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2006 : 16:38:35
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For Vietnam Vets.
Perhaps you have not looked back since you "came back". But you should. Someone may be searching for you. There are hundreds of message board websites where vietnam vets are looking for their friends. There is also some very valuable information you may not be aware of concerning Agent Orange. If you were in any place in Vietnam you are considered to have been exposed to Agent Orange. You should read and search these websites.
www.vwam.com
www.vspa.com
www.legion.com
www.amvets.org
www.military.com
www.moorej.org
www.79caribou.com
www.war-stories.com
www.screamingeagles.com
type in search box: Disabled Veterans of America search for the agent orange/vietnam pages.
Diabetes, various cancers, post trauma, are all compensable.
Should you be interested in finding any of your vietnam buddies, I "may" be able to help. |
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Andy Aide Pendleton 64
USA
297 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2006 : 16:39:51
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Re: Virginia (Jenny) Highberger Pendleton and William B. (Bill) Pendleton, parents and parents-in-law of Randy and Andrea (Andy)Aide Pendleton
During WWII, Virginia Highberger (later Pendleton) rose to the rank of SSgt in the Women's Air Corp (formerly the WAACs). Jenny worked in Army Intelligence and was a radio operator. She served in the theatres of France and Germany. Prior to going abroad, she was stationed at posts in several states in the U.S One was Colorado Springs, Colo, where she was named "Belle of the Base." When the war ended, Jenny was discharged and immediately enrolled in college where she majored in Biology and Phys. Ed. She became a teacher in Kanawha County. Jenny is the mother of Randy Pendleton of Rainelle, WV and the mother-in-law of Andrea Aide Pendleton. Jenny is now deceased, but our memories of her shall live on
Personal Memories of WWII from the Homefront:
quote:
My name is Ruth Highberger Clark, and I am the sister of Jenny Highberger Pendleton. Andy Aide Pendleton has asked me to share some of my memories of WWII. Since I was very young when the war was going on, I don't have a lot to share, but the memories I do have are very vivid. Probably the most vivid, was the patriotism. Any male or female wearing an army, marine, navy, air force, coast guard, etc uniform was almost put on a pedestal. Indeed, they were more idolized than movie stars back then. If you saw a uniformed individual coming down the street, you would step off the sidewalk to let him/her pass. EVERYONE was patriotic. We all detested the Nazis, Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese. We young children would sing songs denouncing these enemies. Songs such as: " A tisket, a tasket, put Hitler in his casket. Eenie, meanie Mussolini, wish that he were dead." And so on.... Another most clear memory was that of the air raids conducted on a regular basis in each town and community. The siren would sound very loud and everyone turned off all lights and pulled their dark green shades. EVERYONE participated. Another memory is the rationing. Many things were rationed back then, but the most prominent in my mind was the rationing of shoes. Only one pair per year. I can remember wearing shoes with holes in them and stuffing cardboard in my shoes to keep my feet dry and warm (er). All leather, etc. had to be reserved and used for war purposes. There were a lot of newspaper boys going around yelling "Extra, Extra, read all about it." And EVERYONE did! We had prayer meetings every evening in our homes and most of the praying was done for our soldiers, sailors, and marines overseas. GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS! What courage! What a war!
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Andy: I left out a very important memory from the homefront. That of the troop trains going through our towns on practically a daily basis. We would run to the station or railroad tracks and wave to the servicemen on the "troop trains." Some of the older teens would get addresses that were tossed at them from the soldiers, etc who were on the troop trains and would write to them when they went abroad. This was a commonplace event in every town and community. A very warm memory. r
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Thank you Aunt Ruth for sharing your memories with my classmates.
Andy |
Edited by - Andy Aide Pendleton 64 on 05/11/2006 22:22:15 |
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Dale Tincher 64
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2006 : 16:46:19
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I have placed this wonderful piece of history for Andy Aide Pendleton - Dale
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The following is a letter from Bill Pendleton writing from Antwerp,Belgium June 6,1945 to his brother Guy Pendleton.
William B. (Bill) Pendleton ws the father of Randy Pendleton and the father-in-law of Andrea Aide Pendleton. Bill rose to the rank of MSgt during WWII. I have sent Andy a letter that Bill wrote to his brother, Guy Pendleton, while he was a soldier in WWII and was stationed abroad in Antwerp, Belgium. Bill was always a stickler for details, and thank goodness for that, as he gives an excellent description of what it was like abroad during WWII. When Bill was in high school in Ohio, he was the editor of their school newspaper, so his writing skills are very good. I'm positive that Bill would have been very proud and delighted to share his story of the war with you. Andy is posting this letter on your website. Bill is now deceased, but our memories of him shall always live on.
quote:
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Antwerp, Belgium
6, June, 1945
Dear Guy,
Received your letter of 17 May from Abingdon, Va. a few days ago. I received your package the next day and the contents were in perfect condition. It wasn't long before the contents were in me though and did I get to feeling good. I shared it with a couple of friends but still I got pretty "tight" that night. Of course, I went out and had a few drinks of some of the local stuff and also a few beers, but that's beside the point.
Yes, that is beautiful country in Va. I was through Abingdon once with Grandpa and Uncle Joe. I was only about 12 years old at the time, but I will never forget it. We have quite a few distant relatives living in that part of Va.
And speaking of Va., I received a letter today from Virginia Highberger. Guess where she is now? In France, of all places. It really surprised me, although she said several times that she might be shipped overseas. The letter was very short and she didn't say where she was in France. I am not allowed to tell where she was nor to give any details as to her unit or their assignment. She said she would write more later and give me more details. I guess she will be able to tell me exactly where she is in her next letter as unit censorship has been lifted in this theatre. As soon as I find out where she is I will try to get a pass or furlough and go see her.
Now that unit censorship has been lifted I can tell you more of the places I have been and the things I have seen. I think you knew already that I was in Antwerp. I left New York on Dec. 28, l943 and about two weeks later landed at Glasgow, Scotland. We were in one of the biggest convoys that ever crossed the Atlantic. My outfit boarded a train and came down to Plymouth. We were quartered in an old British barracks right in town. It was bomb-damaged but we made it fairly comfortable.
Plymouth is a fairly large city, having a population of well over 100,000. It had been heavily bombed during 1942 and 1943, and the center of the city was almost completely destroyed. Plymouth has a very good harbor and one of the largest navy yards in England is located there. (Part of this letter is blurred, but Bill notes that someone in Plymouth's history met there to destroy the Spanish Armada.) So much for Plymouth's history. I might add, however, that it was only about 15 or 20 minutes flying time from the nearest German-held land.
We took over and commenced operating the part about the first of Feb. We were unloading ships of supplies from the states at that time. As time passed we took over and started operating smaller sub-parts all the way from Southhampton to Land's End. Our headquarters continued to be in Plymouth and I remained there, although I visited the sub-parts from time to time.
We experienced our first air raid on March 28. Plymouth had a good AA defense and they could really throw up a lot of stuff. The tracers, rockets, and bursting shells filled the whole sky and the noise was terrific. Still fragments were falling all around just like rain. Two waves of bombers came over about half an hour apart and altogether we were in slit trenches for two hours that night. Incidentally, no damage was done that night as Bristol was the target for that night, not Plymouth.
During the spring we were loading all types of boats with troops and equipment. Practice for the invasion. Sometimes, no one ever knew if it was the real thing or just practice. The suspense was terrible, until finally a year ago today, it happened. We brought in some of the first casualties the next day. All during June and most of July we worked continuously loading ships. Several times we completely loaded a Liberty ship with vehicles in less than seven hours.
During August and September, we didn't have so much to do. I went on a lot of road trips during these two months to various supply depots all over England. I would be on the road for as long as a week at a time. I was beginning to know the roads, towns, and cities of England almost as well as I know those of Ky. or W.Va.
I got to London only once for a couple of days. I didn't like London much. During September, we were wondering when we were going to France. There was a lot of guesses and rumors as to what part we would be given. The best bet seemed to be St. Mazaire, but we hadn't captured that yet. We did send over an advance party, but after camping behind the lines outside St Mazaire for a week or two, they went to Paris to await further orders. As you know St Mazaire never was taken. About the last of Sept., Antwerp was taken and we would go there. This was the best assignment on the continent and I guess all the major Port outfits were fighting for it. We won and started packing up in October.
An advance party consisting of about half the outfit was to leave first and set up the headquarters. I was with this party. We left Plymouth about the middle of Oct. aboard two LSTs and landed in Le Havre, France. Le Havre was one of the most beat-up cities I have ever seen. That place was bombed and shelled so badly that hardly a building remained. Part of our men drove our vehicles from Le Havre to Antwerp and the rest of us came here by train. It took about three days as the railroads had suffered plenty of damage.
When we first came into Antwerp, I never saw a more beautiful city. It had broad tree-lined avenues, large modern buildings, shops, stores, theatres, cafes, and apartment buildings. Beautiful huge plate glass windows. Glass, glass, lots of glass. I never saw so much glass. Then the V2 rockets started coming. Next the buzz bombs, and it was a city of sudden death and destruction all during November, December, January, February, and party of March. I don't think a day passed that we didn't get some, and on some days----well, there just isn't any way to describe the feeling you always had---the tension you were always under. There was no let up. It was constant day and night. When you went to bed, you could hardly get to sleep for thinking about it, wondering where the next one was going to hit. When you did get to sleep, one would hit nearby and wake you up, then you would lay there thinking again.
It wasn't long before a big percent of the civilian population left the city. All that glass disappeared in tiny fragments, taking its toll in the dead and wounded. I guess I have seen my share of mangled bodies of men, women, and children and I have helped dig from the debris the still living. Some of them dying while you work to free them. It wasn't pleasant. I'm just thankful that none of our men, women and children had to go through such an experience as these people have gone through.
I guess I was lucky as I came through it all without getting a scratch. Some of our boys weren't as lucky. Quite a few are wearing the Purple Heart. I had several close shaves, but so did every other man in the outfit.
I don't need to add that we did the job we came here to do, and we did it well. You have probably read about it in the newspapers. Now we have the job of outloading all the supplies we have here on the continent. Antwerp is the biggest port on the continent and the third largest in the world, so it will handle its share. It looks like the 13th will probably be here for about a year, and as I have but 77 points, I will probably remain right here with them. I don't mind, as I would rather remain here in Antwerp than in any other place outsie the U.S.
Well, I guess this brings us up-to-date, so I think I had better stop. So long for now. Write as often as you can.
Love, Bill
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I had writen Randy's Aunt Ruthie asking her to share details of Randy's parents Bill and Jenny Pendleton role in World War Two.
Andy
Dale Tincher - Class of 64
919-272-8052
dale.tincher@rainellereunion.com |
Edited by - Dale Tincher 64 on 05/11/2006 16:50:02 |
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ML2006
USA
256 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2006 : 02:00:58
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My husband, Clarence Bennett Rupert 65, served in the USAF, Vietnam.
He was there in early 1969, was sent back in late 1969 through late 1970. While there he was surprised to run across Garland Samples of Rupert and Denzil Daniels also of Rupert (at that time). An internet study of the Vietnam War is incredibly interesting. Since it was him and not me that served I will withhold any statements regarding the war. |
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Kenneth Napier 52
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2006 : 12:27:15
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The Journal of the Greenbrier Historical Society, Volume VIII, Number 1, 2005, has an article by John McIlhenny with Mitch Scott: The Home Front: Greenbrier County 1941-1945. Items of interest:
1. The American Legion Posts in Ronceverte and Rainelle sponsored a school for air raid wardens. (I remember black-out drills.)
2. New and recapped tires were strictly rationed. The May 1942 quota (for Greenbrier County) was 10 sets of new truck tires, 10 retreads, two new auto tires, and 16 recapped auto tires. The next quota was in November. Buyers had to get a certificate of authorization from the local rationing board to purchase a tire and the buyers’ names were published in the local newspapers.
3. Auto owners with an A sticker (90% of Greenbrier motorists) had a ration of 3 to 5 gallons per week.
4. The “Victory Speed Limit” was 35 mph.
5. Sugar was the first food item to be rationed. Deputy sugar ration boards were established in Quinwood, Rainelle, Alderson and Williamsburg to monitor home canning.
6. Coffee ration was one pound for each person over 15 every five weeks.
7. Shoes were rationed at 3 pairs per year, no frivolous styles or rubber soles, and colors restricted to black and brown. Women’s heels were a max of 2 and 5/8 inches. Coupon for the shoes came from the sugar ration book.
8. Towns promoted bond sales. In Rainelle the Lions Club jeep rides netted over $100,000 in bond sales. It was estimated that Greenbrier County citizens bought nearly $9 million of bonds during the war.
9. Greenbrier County students collected 2,648 bags of milkweed pods, enough for 1,324 life jackets. Only one other county in WV collected more.
10. By 1943, WV had 300,000 victory gardens.
11. “Production rooms” under the auspices of the Red Cross were established in Rainelle, Ronceverte, White Sulphur Springs, Lewisburg, and Frankford to produce surgical dressings.
12. The average time to build a liberty ship was 3 weeks. 2,761 were launched during the war.
13. Scrap drives were held for tin, iron, lead, paper, and grease.
14. May 1944: A 50-gallon still and 50 barrels of mash were discovered by state troopers. Six moonshiners (unnamed) were arrested and given the choice the choice of enlisting or going to jail; they enlisted. Their female accomplice was not given that option and received a two-year sentence in Alderson. Patriotism abounded.
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Wars, Rangers and their affect on Rainelle life
