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~*~Col. Demonte White Terminates Active Service in May _ Page 2 ant wait what with the poor livâ€" ing conditions and the hard rainâ€" falls and the resulting mud. So . . . you can see, we were right bappy when we learned that our transportation had arrived . . . and it was the famous Matsonia, No. 1 luxury liner in the Pacific in preâ€"war days and since Dec. 7, lfll:el. the best troopship in the Paâ€" cific. under one of the nicest and most helpful first â€" sergéants I‘ve met since I donned k uniform 38 long months ago. His name is C. E. Hiltunen and he comes from Ponâ€" time, Mich. I told him I‘d menâ€" tion him in this column !~. . so there, you are, Sarge . . . WE LEAVE HAWAIL ... Most of us spent from five to 10 days at Oahu, ‘T. H.‘s Personnel Center, waiting for a ship to take us stateside. °It was an unpleasâ€" There is excitement in the air as I sit here in the captain‘s cabâ€" in writing this column. . I have never seen a happier group of solâ€" diers â€" and I share their happiâ€" ness. We should be happy. We‘re going home! A RAINY WAIT ... - The day of our departure dawnâ€" ed dark and dreary. It was not like Hawaii, where the average temperature is about 60 the year around and the sun shines just about all the time. We were loaded aboard large Army trucks at the Center and rushed to the pier where the Matâ€" sonia was docked. After the usual waitifig time, ~we â€" were, ordered aboard. â€" My quarters are in the fore part of the ship, F deck. # F En Route To Highland Park â€" II ABOARD THE LUXURY LINER SS MATSONIA As SHE AP. PROACHES SAN FRANCISCO‘S GOLDEN GATEâ€" San Francisco‘s beautiful Golden Gate is just ahead! Shortly this giant troopship will nose its way into the bay and mdufioâ€"-incddufisbmnduflndockwhkhwmh thfllnw'lfihtruhmfln,ndlnnmmm!u 2,406 Ar-ymryudhsuhmrychgburd. After depositing my heavy barâ€" racks bag in my bunk, I â€" and hundreds of â€"others â€" went topâ€" side. Soonâ€"came two blasts from the ship‘s horn and we were set to depart. k A band played and all the peoâ€" ple on the dock waved as this stately liner, still painted a comâ€" bat gray, was tugged to open waâ€" ter. â€"By this time the day was bright and lovely and this: soonâ€" toâ€"beâ€"aâ€"civilian had never seen Honolulu and the surrounding country look more picturesque. _ CHATS WITH COMMANDER . .. I went to see Comdr. Charles V. Elliot, commander . of all the troops aboard. He is a most corâ€" dial person and extended certain privileges which have enabled me ;,',“_ around on the ship with greater freedom during this 4% day voyage. 3. . My:quarters â€" and the quarters of 91 other GIs from nearly every state â€" were located where the ship‘s swimming pool used to be. And, by the way, where Dorothy Lamour, Iremne Dunne, Shirley Temple, Jeanette MacDonald and other movie queens had enjoyed a dip‘ in those carefrée, preâ€"war days. : & Shortly after we got under way I was taken to the tidy cabin of Lt. Comdr. C. L. Christian, a big, genial, whiteâ€"haired gentleman who is chief steward and a man who has sailed on the Matsonia longer than any other person. We had an interesting chat and I learned many facts about this ship . . . CARRIES 170,000 s To date â€" and this is presumaâ€" bly her last trip as a troopshipâ€" the Matsonia has made 37 round trips between San Francisco, Honâ€" olulu, and battle stations down under. ~She has hauled a total of In active service for over five years, he spent one year of that time in the Pacific theater with the adjutant general‘s departmenit. Now on terminal leave, with his wife and son, Demonte Jr., at 1637 Judson, Col. Demonte Waite will return to inactive status on May 4. . HomE FrRom Tne Wars Xt the Personnel Center I‘M STILL IN THE i«‘*ficial U. S. Army Correspondent) (Bpecial to The HighlandPark Press) During my conversation â€" with Comdr. Christian, Capt. Frank A. Johnson, the skipper of the Matâ€" sonia, stopped by. s On Dec. 14, 1941, the Matsonia left San Francisco with 3,000 comâ€" batâ€"equipped soldiers. _ This was the first ‘tonvoy . to leave San Frangisco in World War IL On the return voyage she was carryâ€" ing women and children evacuatâ€" ed from the Hawaiian Islands. MORE HPTS iÂ¥ + She was the first ship to take combat troops to Australia; the first to take Marines to Pago Paâ€" go. â€" And back in July, 1944, she, being the fastest ship in the Southâ€" west Pacific at the time, rushed 3,100 fighting men from _ Milne Bay, New Guinea to New Zealand and Aitape. [ Cavt. Johnson, a colorful vetâ€" eran of the sea, became captain of the Matsonia back in 1935. Prior to that time he was master aboard the Yale, a well known ship which cruised between Los Angeles and San Francisco. ' Together Capt. Johnson md‘ Comdr. Christian have made over 200 round trips between San Franâ€" cisco and Honolulu. . Ang durine that time they have safely and comfortably (judging by the deâ€" scription given of the catering service, delicious food, and plushy quarters)_ transported ‘275,000 people to the Hawaiian . islands aboard this $8,500,000. liner. § RETURNS TO BRIDGE ... first class troopâ€"carrying vessel * "Someone knew trouble was coming for we began converting the Matsonia weeks before Dec. 7, 1941," Comdr. Christian told me. Capt. Johnson excused himself after spending 20 minutes with us and. returned to the bridge. "It has been a great experience carrying all these men, but it cerâ€" tainly will beâ€"nice to once again return to a civilian status," Comdr. Christian said. In addition to the 2,406 GIs, officers and nurses (prétty ones, too!) aboard, there are 317 civilâ€" ians, including many mothers with babes in arms. MEETS ROSS TWINS ... Naturally I met many GIs aboard. _.Among them were the Ross twins, Bart and Dick, two of the nicest and cleanestâ€"cut men I‘ve ever known. They come from Los Angeles. For hours at a time we talked about our futures, about the world situation, about how important the sanctity of the home and practiced religion are for a strong, morallyâ€" sound nation. 170,000 troops since she became a We were in complete agreement in our beliefs and it was indeed reâ€" and learn about their high ambiâ€" tions, their happy home life, and their deep faithâ€"in mankind .. . The Army liaison officer, Capt. Rex K. Escudilio, asked that I help him broadcast news aboard ship and together we gave the troops news from their home towns. freshing to talk to Bart and Dick All in all the trip has been most pleasant with a minimum nypmber of persons seasick. It is, indeed, u?ymupmdmmtn.hd well. and now I‘ve just got to leave this typewriter and go topside to see the majestic Golden Gate bridge. (Ed‘s note: Last week a loveâ€" ly spray of orchids arrived, via clipper, from Hawaii. _ Pleasant surprises like that, Whitt, are among the nicest things in life. Many thanks, sergeant.) Elffier A. Benson, Enters Chicago U Among those who entered the college at the midâ€"year is Elmer A. Benson, 2323 Eastwood Ave. cluding five veterans, enrolled unâ€" der the "GI Bill of Rights," are among the 184 students who enâ€" tered the college of the University of Chicago at the midâ€"year term January 28. See you soon! And we‘re nearly in port . . . Thirteen north side students, inâ€" : He is the son of Mr. and Mrs Harry Ward, 154 8. First > last 290 months a member of the air corps, has reenlisted in the urv_ieo.__smioqu at various posts in the States, his last post was at Tynsdale Field, Fla. After a 60â€"day furlough, to which his reenlistment entitles him, he may choose the field to which he is to be assigned. > the Addressograph Co. there. Pfc. Ralph E. Ward, AAF Veteran, to remain.. It is his tentative plan, upon being. discharged, to travel as his son‘s best man, last Novemâ€" ber, when the former Marine mar. ried a Fredericksburg, Va., girl whom he had met at the USO club while ‘stationed at. Quantico. Former Lt. Petry, who was staâ€" tioned in England with the AAF, now several months out of service, is living in Chicago, and has reâ€" turned to his former position with west in a trip around the world before returning home. Former Marine S/Sgt. Jack, a brother, now 3 months a civilian, after a long, rugged service in the Pacific, has returned to his preâ€" war position with the Public Servâ€" ice Co. Frank Ronan, Sr., served * _ â€" _ _ serve you beties. Tilk over adequate wilifig With us or your electricit contrartor today. Pfc. Ralph E. Ward, 21, for the + _ In your present or future home, plan to have adequate wiring so your new electric T HE PR ESS Killing the "Outlet Octopus" PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NORTHERN ILLINO!IS Our hero has the right idea . . . the "Outlet Octopus" «s to go . . . but the solution isa‘t the axe â€"it‘s adequate wiring. 5 Maybe yours is still just a baby Octopus . . . but it‘ll grow unless your wiring is adequate. Not only are "dowbie piugs on doubte pings" unsightly but they are also dangerous. Think of those little wires behind the plug, they just gren‘t built to carry such a load. Avoid slow heating and inefficiently operating appliances, Adequate wiring means no more dimming lights . . . no more "Outiet Octopuses." You‘ll have plenty of convenience outlets . . ; and no more ""steps in the dark"â€"multiple switches will light your way ahead. To In Milwaukee, Wis. Norvik have announced that they will take up residence there; the captain having been offered a poâ€" Returning from a short visit to Milwaukee, Capt. and Mrs. Adolph sition with the Price Erecting Co. His terminal leave will expire on March 14. The young marine, who has spent four years and five days in the corps, served for 13 months of this time overseas. . Hewas staâ€" Miss Jean Hornung, 311 Vine, was last week released from servâ€" Discharge From WAVEs ice“Gr*‘lAku tioned at Pearl Harbor, New Caleâ€" donia, New Hebrides, Guadalcanal, and during the invasion of Tarawa took over the command of his unit, the colonel having become a casâ€" ualty. He was a 1st lieutenant at Highland~ Park,: returned to the States on the SS Goucher Victory, leaving Japan Jan. 22, and arrivâ€" ing in Seattle Feb. 5. & Jean Hornung Receives After the invasion of Tarawa, Norvik was given a leave â€" Deâ€" cember, 1943 â€" and since then has been stationed at posts in Calâ€" ifornia. William J. Cortesi_ Returning from Japan He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. August Norvik, 1747 Broadview. Mrs..Norvilk is the former Sylvia Price of Milwaukee. William H. Cortesi, 88 PEARL HARBOR, T. H. â€" Cpl. & James Bowden, Civilian Chicago Firm Eighteen months in service, one year of which was spent in the European theater, wherehe acted as interpreter in nine countries, James. Bowden, 22, has received his discharge from service and is now employed by an advertising firm in Chicago. Aside from this, he is working for his master‘s deâ€" gree at Loyola and Northwestern. Before entering the â€" service Bowden attended St. Benedictine college, Atchison, Kansas. He is the son of Mrs. Margaret Bowden, 625 Central, who wears a gold star for her son, Marine Sgt. Robâ€" ert, who gave his life at Tarawa, at the age of 23. A Civilian Since Last Saturday Miss Lillian Olson, of the WAVE,*was separated from servâ€" ice last week at Great Lakes, after serving for over three years. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Olson, 241 Prairie, Highâ€" Pauline Costo, WAVE, Is Separated From Service at Gt. Lakes at Great Lakes after nearly three years of serviceâ€"April, 1943â€"Feb. ruary, 1946. During this time she wood Pauline Costo,; SK 2/c, of the WAVE, was discharged last week was stationed at Norfolk, Va. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pau] Costo, 216 North. Her plans for the future are, as yet, indefinite. = Thursday, Feb. 14th, 1946 Home from Florida; Again a Civilian the WAVEs, nearly two years in service, and stationed at the Atianâ€" ta, Ga., air base since Dâ€"day, has been released from the navy and is now at home of her grandmothâ€" er, Mrs. Sophie Lauridsen, 374 North. A graduate of Highland Park high, she attended Occidenâ€" Thomas Strenger of The Seabees Is ceived her training at Hunter col Thomas E. Strenger, SF 1/¢, of the Seabees, who has been stationâ€" ed on Okinawa for the past year, Mary Fleager of the WAVE, Terminates Service at Gt. Lakes week at Great Lakes, and is now home with his wife and daughter, Mary Jane, at 132 S. First. Miss Mary Fleager, Y 3/c, of the WAVE, who entered service over two years ago," and spent a large part of her term of service in Hawaii, in personnel work, reâ€" ceived her discharge last week at Great Lakes. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Fleager, 559 Forest. Home from the Wars Gerald H. Gould, SKD 1/c, 315 N. St. Johns, was last week honâ€" orably discharged from the navy at Shoemaker, Calif., according to official notice from that separaâ€" tion center. im , P. 0. 27¢, of