Most of the Laurens County men and women who enlisted or were drafted into the Armed Forces were still in training during the eighth month of 1942. The few who were newly stationed overseas were mainly officers.
Only those personnel who were already stationed in the South Pacific were in combat. In early August, Operation Watchtower began the Guadalcanal Campaign as American forces invaded Gavutu, Guadalcanal, Tulagi and Tanambogo in the Solomon Islands In the battle of Savo Island, near Guadalcanal, three American cruisers were lost. In New Guinea, both Japanese and Australian reinforcements arrive. Henderson Field on Guadalcanal received its first American fighter planes only to be struck the next day by a.: Japanese counter-attack. The USS Enterprise was serverly dmaaged in the Eastern Solomons Islands. Japanese forces launch a full-scale assault on Australian base near the eastern tip of New Guinea.
In Europe, the German army continued to dvance toward Stalingrad. Despite Russian pleas for help, Sir Winston Churchill told Russian leader, Joseph Stalin, that no second front would occur in 1942 to pull away German soldier and ease the relentless pressure on Russian defenders. The end of the month saw one massive air raid on Stalingrad after another.
In North Africa, German general, Erwin Rommel, began to the outskirts of El Alamein, but by September he is back to his original lines. General Bernard Montgomery appointed commander of the Eighth Army, which encompassed Allied ground forces in Egypt and Libya; Churchill is anxious to see more offensive action on the part of the Allies in North Africa. Disastrous end to the Malta convoy, but one tanker and four merchant ships get through. The Battle of Alam Halfa, a few miles south of El Alamein began Rommel's final try to break through the Allied lines in Egypt, a task made much more difficult by the Desert Air Force’s superiority in the air.
During August, the first US Army Air Force’s B-17 heavy bomber raid in Europe bombing the railroad yards at Rouen, France. A forest fire in Oregon caused by incendiary bombs dropped by Japanese seaplane.
The members of the local Georgia State Guards continued to recruit new members. The men set up a machine gun nest in the front of the Rose Theater to solicit new volunteers. Some of the officers and non-commissioned officers underwent training at Fort Benning. 1st Sgts. Richard W. Brandon and Morris Hankin commissioned 2nd Lt. In Georgia State Guard. Training at Fort Benning.
There was serious talk about scrapping the World War I German artillery piece on the courthouse square to generate metal for the war effort to kill Nazis, most especially using German metal to kill more Germans. The plan supported by most of the members of Post 17 of the American Legion, met with substantial opposition to the plan, or in the alternative to wait until all other sources of precious metals were exhausted. The project never materialized. The large gun was eventually moved to the American Legion quarters on North Jefferson Street and then to its new home on Moore Station Road, before being sold to a Johnson County collector of artillery pieces.
W.P. Tindol, a Dublin city alderman and leading businessman, withdrew from the race for a seat representing Laurens County in the Georgia legislature to enlist in the United States Army.
The Dublin Parnassus Club set a record of $13,522.00 for bond sales during the month of July. The effort did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. The United States Treasury Department issued Minute Man Medals to Parnassus Club members; Mrs. Alfred Eubanks, Mrs. Carl K. Nelson, Sr., Mrs. B.B. Page, and Ethel Jones. A fifth medal was awarded to Harry Johnson.
Alton A. Watson, son of Rawls Watson, was reported missing in action in mid-August. Watson was in the Phillipines which fell on May 7. Private Watson, 34 years of age, was a 16-year veteran of the U.S. Army. 24th Pursuit Group Sub Unit 20th Pursuit Squadron Parent Unit V Interceptor Command. Watson survived the war.
Lt. Paul Scarboro, listed as missing, was reported safe in Australia. Four months later, Lt. Scarboro was awarded a Silver Star for gallantry in action during aerial combat.
Clarence Jackson Horne, serving in the Merchant Marine for two years, lost his leg due to an accident at sea.
Ralph Webb, (left) a long time veteran of the local company of the Georgia National Guard, was promoted to Major at Fort Maxey, Paris, Texas, as field grade officer of the 402 Infantry Regiment.
The county air warning system was inspected by Army officials out of Savannah while several hundred Laurens County volunteers kept their eyes in the skies at all times to warn the army of any foreign aircraft.
The United States Postal Service, in expectation of increased mail volume in the upcoming holidays and the already large amount of mail sent and from the Armed Services members, opened a sub-station at Oatt’s Drug Store, which would remain open on Sundays and all holidays.
Spright Dowell, Jr., Wilbur S. Jones, John Mahoney, and Brawner Smoot led the Exchange Club’s Junk Day. Every type of scrap material was solicited even phonograph records, which would be melted and recycled into new ones, primarily for the use of service men. More than 1400 78's were collected in the first week alone. The collection area was established in the Chevrolet used car lot next to the Fred Roberts Hotel. The event was sponsored by the Citizens and Southern Bank and Farmers and Merchants Bank.
Three years had now elapsed since the official start of World War II in September 1939. Three arduous, painful, and devastating years were yet to come.
Only those personnel who were already stationed in the South Pacific were in combat. In early August, Operation Watchtower began the Guadalcanal Campaign as American forces invaded Gavutu, Guadalcanal, Tulagi and Tanambogo in the Solomon Islands In the battle of Savo Island, near Guadalcanal, three American cruisers were lost. In New Guinea, both Japanese and Australian reinforcements arrive. Henderson Field on Guadalcanal received its first American fighter planes only to be struck the next day by a.: Japanese counter-attack. The USS Enterprise was serverly dmaaged in the Eastern Solomons Islands. Japanese forces launch a full-scale assault on Australian base near the eastern tip of New Guinea.
In Europe, the German army continued to dvance toward Stalingrad. Despite Russian pleas for help, Sir Winston Churchill told Russian leader, Joseph Stalin, that no second front would occur in 1942 to pull away German soldier and ease the relentless pressure on Russian defenders. The end of the month saw one massive air raid on Stalingrad after another.
In North Africa, German general, Erwin Rommel, began to the outskirts of El Alamein, but by September he is back to his original lines. General Bernard Montgomery appointed commander of the Eighth Army, which encompassed Allied ground forces in Egypt and Libya; Churchill is anxious to see more offensive action on the part of the Allies in North Africa. Disastrous end to the Malta convoy, but one tanker and four merchant ships get through. The Battle of Alam Halfa, a few miles south of El Alamein began Rommel's final try to break through the Allied lines in Egypt, a task made much more difficult by the Desert Air Force’s superiority in the air.
During August, the first US Army Air Force’s B-17 heavy bomber raid in Europe bombing the railroad yards at Rouen, France. A forest fire in Oregon caused by incendiary bombs dropped by Japanese seaplane.
The members of the local Georgia State Guards continued to recruit new members. The men set up a machine gun nest in the front of the Rose Theater to solicit new volunteers. Some of the officers and non-commissioned officers underwent training at Fort Benning. 1st Sgts. Richard W. Brandon and Morris Hankin commissioned 2nd Lt. In Georgia State Guard. Training at Fort Benning.
W.P. Tindol, a Dublin city alderman and leading businessman, withdrew from the race for a seat representing Laurens County in the Georgia legislature to enlist in the United States Army.
The Dublin Parnassus Club set a record of $13,522.00 for bond sales during the month of July. The effort did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. The United States Treasury Department issued Minute Man Medals to Parnassus Club members; Mrs. Alfred Eubanks, Mrs. Carl K. Nelson, Sr., Mrs. B.B. Page, and Ethel Jones. A fifth medal was awarded to Harry Johnson.
Alton A. Watson, son of Rawls Watson, was reported missing in action in mid-August. Watson was in the Phillipines which fell on May 7. Private Watson, 34 years of age, was a 16-year veteran of the U.S. Army. 24th Pursuit Group Sub Unit 20th Pursuit Squadron Parent Unit V Interceptor Command. Watson survived the war.
Lt. Paul Scarboro, listed as missing, was reported safe in Australia. Four months later, Lt. Scarboro was awarded a Silver Star for gallantry in action during aerial combat.
Clarence Jackson Horne, serving in the Merchant Marine for two years, lost his leg due to an accident at sea.
The county air warning system was inspected by Army officials out of Savannah while several hundred Laurens County volunteers kept their eyes in the skies at all times to warn the army of any foreign aircraft.
The United States Postal Service, in expectation of increased mail volume in the upcoming holidays and the already large amount of mail sent and from the Armed Services members, opened a sub-station at Oatt’s Drug Store, which would remain open on Sundays and all holidays.
Three years had now elapsed since the official start of World War II in September 1939. Three arduous, painful, and devastating years were yet to come.
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