Headlines- 1944

From time to time I plan to use quotes from old issues of The Caddo Herald. You can read more about the history of newspapers in Caddo next week in my “Newspapers of Caddo” blog. As far as I can determine, The Caddo Herald was printed from 1895 to 1948. Today’s headlines are from Friday, December 1, 1944. In 1944 the paper was published by editor-owner Guy A Crossett. (Please keep in mind as you read these or any other articles, that I’m not editing to make them politically correct, and they should be read with consideration for the time in which they were written.)

I suppose the reason my mother kept this particular newspaper is because my grandmother’s poem is on the front page. So first of all…

A Soldier’s View, by Della Springer

So you don’t like these bond drives,

You wish that they would stop

Mister, were you ever in a foxhole

With water up to the top?

Have you ever crawled thru mud and slime

Or faced hot screaming lead,

Have you ever hid for endless hours

Surrounded by the dead?

Have you ever fought in tortuous heat

Mid mosquitoes, ants and fleas,

Have you ever recoiled in sick revolt

At tarantulas, snakes & centipedes?

Have you ever drawn a perfect bead

On slinking, dirty Japs,

But when you pulled the trigger,

Your empty gun just snaps?

Can you imagine all our boys

With empty guns in hand,

Each one sacrificing all

To save our beloved land?

That’s what would happen mister,

If war bond drives should cease,

So, better go buy another bond,

To invest in your share of peace.

Sure, Hitler’s spread a rumor,

To stop the sale of bonds,

Don’t be a dumb cluck, Mister,

He’s out to get our sons.

So if someone says to you

Don’t buy bonds and the war will end,

Turn from him as you would a snake,

He’s Hitler’s dearest friend.

Also on the front page is an ad for the REX Theatre, showing “A Guy Named Joe”, starring Spencer Tracey and Irene Dunne.

And news that the women of Caddo were active in 1944:

The Caddo Civic and Cemetery Club

The Civic Club will meet Wednesday, December 6 at Community Hall, with a Christmas program. There will be a Christmas Tree and exchange of gifts by members. All members take notice. The President

(Apparently the biggest difference between Caddo’s sports program of 1944 and today was that they had a band to cheer them on!)

Caddo Loses Two Games Thursday to Kemp

Not much joy in Caddo Thursday night, when Kemp girls and Kemp boys poured it on Caddo girls and boys, the second game of the new basketball season. A large crowd was present, and Pop Gecks and his band with their good music and colorful drilling enlivened the occasion. Kemp girds 7, Caddo girls 6. Kemp boys 22, Caddo boys 14.

from the “Locals” section on the back page:

J.N. Broadhead has moved into the Price Hill home, he having lost his home by fire some weeks ago.

Jack Rudisill arrived home Wednesday after nearly three years in India with the army. We haven’t got to see him yet, but we are sure he’s had wonderful experiences.

Mrs. Glenn Simpson from A & M College, and Mrs. J.C. Carlton from Konawa were home last weekend, visiting their parents Mr. and Mrs. Hatsel Powell. Mrs. Simpson said that Glenn was at a port of embarkation, probably soon to go.

On the back page is an ad for the Lingo-Leeper Lumber Company. It says: “Lumber is available. We have a small amount of lumber that is now available for city and farm dwelling repairs on which no preference rating is required.” Phone 19, Caddo.

Hope you enjoyed these little bits of history!

I’ll be looking for more.

Comments

[Marilyn Crabtree]

It's interesting reading about the history of a small town. I've only visited Oklahoma a few times in the Lawton area since that's where Walt is from but also have aunt and cousins living near Shawnee and Norman. Keep up the writing on Caddo. We enjoy reading about where you live.

[Sonia]

Great Poem! I can't imagine if that poem was written today, and the word "hitler" was replaced with " sadam" or "osama". It wouldn't be allowed in most newspapers, that's for sure.