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December 14, 1944 

Vol. 25 No. 28

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Lafayette Soldier is Wounded at Aachen

U.S. Army General Hospital, England.__ Wounded in the leg by German sniper fire in street fighting in Aachen, Private First Class Edgar R. Gass, 28, of Route 6, Lafayette, Tenn., is convalescing at this United States Army general hospital in England.

"Pfc. Gass will return to duty shortly." said his ward surgeon, Captain Edward B. French, of Hyde Park, Vermont.

"It was about noon of our second day in the city, when a German sniper, firing from a side street, his me in the leg," said Pfc. Gass. "My platoon sergeant helped me into a building and gave me first aid."

Pfc. Gass’s unit had been in the Aachen area for almost a month before this final assault was launched. "Our company headquarters was in the morgue at a cemetery in the Aachen State Forest," said Pfc. Gass, "The Germans pounded it with their artillery."

He was taken back to the battalion aid station by jeep and later evacuated to England by hospital ship.

Pfc. Gass worked on his father’s farm before entering the Army in March, 1941. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Gass, reside at the Lafayette address. Pfc. Gass received the Purple

Heart medal for wounds received in the Sicilian campaign.

Meet In Italy

Another meeting of brothers in unexpected places took place some time ago, according to a letter from Mrs. J. W. Patterson, formerly of this county, but now residing in Hermitage, Tenn. She states that her two sons, William C. Patterson and James Patterson, both in the Army for first time a few days ago in Italy, the first time two years ago in Italy, the meeting being at Florence and the boys being together three nights and two days. Both are in the Fifth Army, the former being in the Infantry and the latter in the Quartermaster Corps. Mrs. Patterson requests prayers for her boys and for all the others who are fighting for us.

Wounded Macon Soldier Recovering in England

The 22nd General Hospital, England.--Injured in the right leg when his jeep turned over while on the way to the from near Brest, France, Private Richard R. Minchey, of Red Boiling Springs, Tenn., is now convalescing at this United States Army general hospital in England.

"Pvt. Minchey is recovering rapidly and is expected to be returned to the United States in the near future for further medical treatment," said his ward surgeon, Lieutenant Seymour B. London of Miami, Fla.

Speeding toward the front under a heavy barrage of enemy artillery fire, Pvt. Minchey, an Infantryman, was riding in a jeep when it struck a shell hole, he said.  "Soon after I was injured the medics picked me up and took me to a field hospital," he said, "Later I was evacuated to England by plane."

The son of Mr. M. C. Minchey of Red Boiling Springs, Tenn., Pvt. Minchey entered the Army in January, 1943. He has been awarded the Purple Heart.

Injured in Battle

Pvt. Robert J. Sullivan, son of Owen Sullivan of the Green Grove section of the county, is in a hospital at Camp Edwards, Mass., after losing one leg in battle in Italy on October 14. No details beyond the information given above is available. He entered the Army four years ago as a volunteer. It is expected that he will be sent to a veterans’ hospital here in Tennessee inside the next few days.

Pfc. Earl Campbell was shot through the right leg in battle in Luxembourg on November 13, according to a message sent to his wife, Mrs. Louise Campbell, of Lafayette. The first message about his injuries went to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Campbell, of Casey County, Ky. He is now in a hospital in England and is making satisfactory progress toward recovery. He enlisted three years ago, training largely at Fort Leonard Wood and Camp Forest. He and the former Miss Louise Claiborne, were married on March 9, last year.

Pfc. Harold E. Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Williams of near Lafayette, was wounded in action in Germany on November 17, according to a message from the War Department. His injuries are not serious. He was stricken in the leg by shrapnel. He entered the Army in September, 1943, training largely at Camp Blanding, Fla., and going overseas last June.