anaheim-gazette 1944-11-16

A. W. Gerrard, Co-Founder of Alpha Beta Stores, Dies A. W. Gerrard, treasurer, and one of the founders of the Alpha Beta Food markets, Inc. passed away at 3 a.m. Wednesday morning, November 15, at the Santa Ana Valley Hospital. Mr. Gerrard suffered a heart attack last Sunday and seemed to rally again for a day or two but finally succumbed during the early morning hours of Wednesday. A host of friends and associates throughout southern California will mourn his passing. Always active, in spite of illness in recent years, he carried out his company duties as an officer of the Alpha Beta Food Markets. Born in St. Thomas, Canada, in July 1865, A. W. Gerrard left his native home and migrated to Kansas, stopping there for only a short time and coming to Riverside in 1887 where he resided until 1917. He led his whole family to California, they following him about one year later. While in Riverside he was employed as a blacksmith, later having his own shop. In 1917 he joined his brothers, Hugh A. Gerrard and the late Albert C. Gerrard in the grocery business. Upon incorporation of July 1865, A. W. Gerrard left his native home and migrated to Kansas, stopping there for only a short time and coming to Riverside in 1887 where he resided until 1917. He led his whole family to California, they following him about one year later. While in Riverside he was employed as a blacksmith, later having his own shop. In 1917 he joined his brothers, Hugh A. Gerrard and the late Albert C. Gerrard in the grocery business. Upon incorporation of the Alpha Beta Food Markets in 1929 he assumed the office of treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors, which he held until his death. Mr. Gerrard was an active member of the First Christian Church of Santa Ana, the Christian Business Men's Breakfast Club of that city, and formerly had been a trustee of Chapman College. Always interested and active in civil life he had served as director of a local bank and at the time of his decease was a member of the local price panel of O.P.A. Known to his thousands of friends as "Uncle Will" he was always known for his readiness to give those in need a helping hand. He financed the college education of many whom he judged worthy. He was tireless in his work in the field of Christianity. Next year, he and Mrs. Gerrard would have celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Besides his widow, Helen E. Gerrard of Santa Ana, he leaves an only daughter, Mrs. W. C. Chevron of Whittier; three grandsons, two brothers; Hugh A. Gerrard of Santa Ana and Clarence Gerrard of Hagerston, Maryland, and one sister, Mrs. L. J. Bentley of Claremont, Calif. All Alpha Beta Food Markets throughout southern California will remain closed on Friday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Funeral services are to be held at 2 p.m. in the Brown Mortuary, 17th at Broadway, Santa An'a, California. 3,000 SOUTHLAND STUDENTS LEARN TO DRIVE SAFELY More than 3,000 high school students enrolled in Southland principles of safe driving, according to a report just compiled by the public safety department of the Automobile Club of Southern California, which has completed a survey of the current driver education program. During the fall months, club representatives have visited virtually every Southern California Send one of these by V-Mail to that service man or woman overseas for Christmas; it should get there in time if you mail it before December 10. Southern Californians who planned to send Christmas packages overseas, but “missed the boat,” or who desire to make an additional contribution to the morale of their fighting men and women now are given that opportunity. The “best gifts of all,” Christmas V-Mail War Bond Certificates, will be accepted up to Dec. 10 by the Post Office for overseas mailing in time for Christmas. The V-Mail bonds, originated in Southern California and adopted nationally, are being pushed in this area by the Treasury War Finance Committee’s women’s division and retailers’ “Third Army” during the Sixth War Loan drive, which opens Nov. 20. The certificate, reproduced on the inside of an unfolded regulation size V-Mail envelope, is an exact facsimile of the bond you will want to buy for him or her during the drive. The issuing agency will stamp the certificate as proof that the bond has been actually purchased, and the certificate will bear the name and home address of the recipient, just like the actual bond. All issuing agencies in Southern California, including Victory booths, retail stores and theaters, are being supplied with these V-Mail Christmas Bond Certificates. However, bonds for overseas mailing must be purchased before Dec. 10, as that is the final day for mailing in time to reach the boys and girls at the fighting fronts before Christmas. Kaiser Predicts End of War Will Mark Beginning of Prosperous Era for Coast When the last war contract in California expires, the last war plane built, the last war ship delivered, what will happen to the plants and men that built them? A careful study by researchers at Kaiser operated shipyards, indicates that the answer will not be a slump but the beginning of a period of bustling activity. There are many conflicting opinions as to the conditions of the postwar era, but one thing is certain—California will progress and this progress will be felt in small towns as well as big cities. As is to be expected the switch from war to peace production will be accomplished by painful adjustments especially in factories which abandoned their peace-time processes and retooled for the exclusive production of munitions. These plants both large and small will have no alternative but to suffer the pangs of reconversion. discarded when war is over. Our factories have learned new arts, new processes and how to work with new materials. Above all, we have acquired a tremendous reservoir of skilled manpower. Thousands of craftsmen have come from other states. Other thousands, unskilled, have been trained to new tasks. These assets combined with the American spirit of individual enterprise mean that California is on the march. State’s Vineyards Important Factor In Rubber Program California’s famous vineyards, covering half a million acres of fertile valleys from Oregon to 3,000 SOUTHLAND STUDENTS LEARN TO DRIVE SAFELY More than 3,000 high school students enrolled in Southland principles of safe driving, according to a report just compiled by the public safety department of the Automobile Club of Southern California, which has completed a survey of the current driver education program. During the fall months, club representatives have visited virtually every Southern California high school to discuss the possibilities of adding a driving course to the curriculum. Interest has been high, it was reported, and most schools have either started a program or expect to add driver education to their courses of study when time becomes available. HERBERT F. RAWLL Founder and President of Christmas Club, who announced today that member checks this year reached an all-time high, averaging $70.00 each and that 75% of the total annual distribution of $500,000,000 was being used for War Bonds, Savings and government urged purposes. As is to be expected the switch from war to peace production will be accomplished by painful readjustments especially in factories which abandoned their peace-time processes and retooled for the exclusive production of munitions. These plants both large and small will have no alternative but to suffer the pangs of reconversion. Nevertheless, even before the war ends, industries will be permitted to reconvert their productivity to materiel of peace. Already the government has authorized the sale of 31 California war plants to private interests. Scores of other factories, new and old, devoting all craftsmanship to military needs, have reported that they can, on amazingly short notice, start manufacture for the civilian market. The furniture industry, now heavily engaged in war production, needs no reconversion or retooling to pick up where it left off. Similarly, the oil industry faces no problem of reconversion in turning out fuel and lubricants. The same is true of countless others which will return to production of peace with equal facility. These industries and so-called "luxury trades" will play a great part in absorbing some of the shock-wave readjustment, thus assisting the less fortunately situated industries. But a more important reason for optimism than the above is the fact that California, because of the war, now possesses fundamental assets which make progress inevitable. We have acquired certain industrial advantages on the West Coast which need not and will not be American spirit of individual enterprise mean that California is on the march. State's Vineyards Important Factor In Rubber Program California's famous vineyards, covering half a million acres of fertile valleys from Oregon to Mexico, are making a "vital contribution" to America's synthetic rubber industry through the industrial alcohol program. W. C. Jacobsen, assistant director of the California Department of Agriculture, said that "less than a year after Pearl Harbor, the grape, raisin and wine industry was one of the most important factors in supplying food and essential raw material for the war effort." Jacobsen, guest of the Union Pacific Railroad on the program "Your America" over Mutual at 1 p.m. (PWT) last Sunday, disclosed that 20 percent of California's distilleries were turned over to the government to be dismantled and moved to other areas for production of industrial alcohol. "In addition, American wineries are the sole remaining United States source for tartrates, which are essential for the production of munitions and the manufacture of rayon for tents and parachutes," Jacobsen said. "In the field of transportation, the wine people turned over to the government 300 tank cars to be used for carrying oil and essential chemicals." Consumer surveys indicate that 70 per cent of the oranges sold in the United States are used for juice. High Bred Jersey Bull Purchased By R. F. Hazard A young outstanding Jersey bull calf was recently purchased by R. F. Hazard of Midway City from a Jersey breeder in Washington. With herd average of 10,267 pounds of milk and 481.6 pounds of butterfat for 200 head last year, only herd sires carrying factors of inherently high production can be expected to maintain or raise this excellent herd average. Since Mr. Hazard raises most of his replacements he is extremely anxious to secure herd sires the daughters of which will maintain or raise the general herd average. On the basis of performance, the sire and dam of the Jersey bull calf recently added to his herd are outstanding individuals of the breed, according to W. W. Cory, Assistant Farm Advisor. The sire, Marge's Golden Chief, is now the highest tested sire of the Jersey breed. His daughters have made him King of the Jerseys, which is the greatest record attainable. His tested sire rating is 650 pounds of butterfat on two time milking. The dam, Jewel Nelly of Redwood, is equally outstanding. She has a record of 19,728 pounds of milk and 957 pounds of butterfat. Among other honors, she is the Washington state champion milk producer over all ages. It can be said that Mr. Hazard has gone out after the best in his desire to maintain and build up his herd production. Certainly the progeny of animals with records such as these should influence the production of his daughters. Their inherent ability for high production should be reflected in higher individual and herd production records. American Red Cross To Assist Families With Wire Messages WASHINGTON, D.C.—To speed transmittal of emergency messages from servicemen in France to their families at home, the American Red Cross has arranged direct communications between Red Cross field directors in France and Home Service at national headquarters here through Army radio facilities, it is disclosed. For some time after the invasion it was necessary for messages to go by way of London. Emergency messages sent through the Red Cross by families in this country to men in France will continue to be relayed through London where they are checked against the Army locator files to facilitate delivery. The messages are then forwarded by courier to France. When telegraph facilities are not available to the serviceman's nearest Red Cross field director, the message is sent to the forward area in an Army mail pouch by jeep, plane or ship. Often one or all of these are used by field directors in delivering messages to men at the front. Episcopal Church To Hold Memorial For Lt. T.L.M. Smith The Sunday morning service at 10:30 o'clock at the St. Michael's Church will be a memorial service to the memory of Lieutenant Thomas L. M. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. K. M. Smith of 711 South Dickel street, who was first reported as missing in action since June 26, the message being received here by his parents on July 8, while participating in a bombing mission over Austrian oil Marine, Pet and Pistol U.S. Marine Corps Photo Marine Pfc. Harold Nebenzahl, 22, of Hollywood, Calif., proudly displays his newly-acquired pet bird given him by a native of Saipan during invasion operations. A Japanese language interpreter, Pfc. Nebenzahl is at a front-line command post, his pistol at hand. Rich Uncle By GEORGE S. BENSON President of Harding College Searcy, Arkansas A YOUNG 4-F of my acquaintance works at a chemical laboratory in a distant city. While visiting at home a few months ago he scratched around considerably on his father’s big farm collecting rocks. When he went back, he took the rocks with him, also notes on elevations and thicknesses of strata. He said he had always believed these shale sheets and showed me that 100% yearly return on a $100,000 investment was no good to him. All that tax laws will let him keep, along with his other income, is less than $3,000.” Grave OF COURSE a $3,000 Risks income is $60 a week, good pay if it is salary: no investment and no risk of For Lt. T.L.M. Smith The Sunday morning service at 10:30 o’clock at the St. Michael’s Church will be a memorial service to the memory of Lieutenant Thomas L. M. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. K. M. Smith of 711 South Dickel street, who was first reported as missing in action since June 26, the message being received here by his parents on July 8, while participating in a bombing mission over Austrian oil fields. At the time the message was received, his parents were notified that they would be further advised as to more definite information. On Thursday, November 2, Mr. and Mrs. Smith were further advised by the War Department that their son had been killed in action. The last letter his parents received was dated June 22 in which he stated that he had 24 missions to his credit, all gained within a month. Thomas was a graduate of the Anaheim Union High School with the class of 1941 and was attending Colorado School of Mines when he enlisted on Oct. 13, 1943. Most of his training was received in Texas and he was commissioned at Hondo, Texas. The services at the church on Sunday are open to the public and all friends of this young man are invited to attend and any other person who wishes to pay his respect to a hero is welcome. S/Sgt. Victor Schmelzer Has Major Operation S/Sgt. Victor Schmelzer, son of Rev. and Mrs. H. G. Schmelzer of 318 South Lemon Street, underwent another major operation on his right arm at Birmingham hospital, Van Nuys, last Thursday, having undergone several operations previous to this. He is recuperating as well as can be expected at this time. Victor suffered a severe injury while on foreign duty in the south Pacific when his plane crashed into a hill and he was caught in the wreckage of the plane. Due to the seriousness of his injuries and the bruised condition of his arm, he contracted osteomyolitis, an infection in the bone that is very severe and the pain the patient suffers is excruciating, necessitating operations in order to check the spread of the infection. The many friends of this young A YOUNG 4-F of my acquaintance works at a chemical laboratory in a distant city. While visiting at home a few months ago he scratched around considerably on his father's big farm collecting rocks. When he went back, he took the rocks with him, also notes on elevations and thicknesses of strata. He said he had always believed these shale glades might have value. Now he would find out! More recently he was at home again with a business-like glint in his eye, saying nothing about his mineral samples. One morning he went horsy and saddled a nag. Not pleasure; it was a business trip. He cantered directly to the home of his mother's uncle, the richest retired capitalist thereabout. When he returned he was a sadder, wiser young man. Pretty APPARENTLY his home Dream acres are full of a good grade of valuable ore. He had visions of incorporating a new, local industry soon after the war, offering jobs to veterans and former war workers. All he needed was capital, he thought. He had even charted markets, demands and prices for past years showing probable production and profits to interest the uncle. "Uncle Jeff knows his business," the lad said sadly. "He says he has $100,000 to put in such a venture if he can figure a way to come out whole. I showed him how we could earn $100,000 the first year, but he got out tax sheets and showed me that 100% yearly return on a $100,000 investment was no good to him. All that tax laws will let him keep, along with his other income, is less than $3,000." Grave OF COURSE a $3,000 Risks income is $60 a week, good pay if it is salary; no investment and no risk of financial loss. But when people invest sizable sums of money in industry, it is not usually in a "sure thing." There are always risks to run, and here arises our gravest prospect at the end of the war: Our victorious fighters to come home and find no jobs. The figures below support the young man's story. He proved at considerable trouble what economists have been saying for two years. Capital earns about as much and is safer frozen in bonds than active in business. When an investor's money returns but little, he wants it safe, in municipal bonds for example; not in venturesome enterprise. We Americans need a lot of items now and would buy them. Manufacturers know how to make them, good enough for anybody at popular prices. Such work can provide peace-time jobs for millions, but will it happen? Well—there's one sure way to spoil the prospect: Keep tax laws just like they are, so people who invest in industry can't benefit from it. Investments are absolutely essential to making jobs. Net Profit ..... $100,000 Normal Profit ..... $8,000 Normal Tax 40% ..... $3,200 Excess Profit ..... $92,000 Excess Profit Tax 85% ..... 78,200 Total Taxes ..... 81,400 Net Profit After Taxes ..... $18,600 Personal Income Tax 85% ..... 15,810 Income Remaining ..... $2,790 Victor suffered a severe injury while on foreign duty in the south Pacific when his plane crashed into a hill and he was caught in the wreckage of the plane. Due to the seriousness of his injuries and the bruised condition of his arm, he contracted osteomyolitis, an infection in the bone that is very severe and the pain the patient suffers is excruciating, necessitating operations in order to check the spread of the infection. The many friends of this young man are hoping for an early recovery and that he will soon be able to be up and about again. Veteran Air Ace Here on Visit Staff Sgt. Delos C. Miller of the 15th Air Force stationed in Italy, returned to the States November 1 and was a visitor in Anaheim last week. He is a former resident of this city and a nephew of Miss Beatrice Miller of the city hall office force. He was attending Fullerton junior college when he entered the service and his family now reside in Eagle Rock. During his stay in the European war theater he completed 28 missions over enemy territory and was piloting a bomber over Roumania when his plane was shot down at 22,000 feet. How he escaped from enemy territory to make his way back to the United States is an interesting story of the efficiency of the underground movement that can't be told until the war is over. Sgt. Miller was to report to the relocation center at Santa Monica for reassignment at the end of his leave. More Service Column News on Page 4. Read The Gazette, Anaheim's newspaper "bible" since 1870. Antonio Loya of Anaheim, Tail Gunner On History-Making B-17 Flying Fortress AN EIGHTH AIR FORCE BOMBER STATION, ENGLAND — Day after day the “Nevada Avenger” trundled down the mile-long runway and with a broad-jumper’s lunge lifted herself and her cargo of explosives into the air. Except for the maintenance crews, nobody paid much attention to her. When on the ground, the “Nevada Avenger” just seemed to blend in with the permanent fixtures on this B-17 Flying Fortress base, and her presence came to be taken for granted. Then one day Captain Nocolai Hansen of Nacogdoches, Texas, base material officer, presented a revealing set of statistics concerning the “Avenger's” activities. His column of figures disclosed that the heretofore little-noticed craft had been on 72 bombing operations over Euprope and in every instance had gone the full distance. Seventy-two missions without a return due to mechanical failure! It may have been intuition which, when the then-nameless Fortress “reported for duty” last January, led the group’s commanding officer, Col. Dale O. Smith of Reno Nevada, to christen her after his home state. If so, the “Avenger” has more than fulfilled everything that could have been expected of her. After nine months of combat she has travelled some 116,000 miles between her base in the English Midlands and Eighth Air Force objectives on the continent. She has dropped approximately 340,000 pounds of bombs on Gerjagged hole in the side and looked into a radio compartment that more closely resembled a pile of rubbish. The ship was punctured like a sieve from nose to tail—Thompson estimated between 400 and 500 holes. She had to be hospitalized for three weeks while repairs were being made. On her eleventh mission one of the “Nevada's” wheels obstinately refused to be lowered for a landing, with the result that the pilot was compelled to come in on one wheel. An entire new landing gear had to be installed after that misadventure. Except for those two incidents, the “Nevada Avenger's” injuries have been minor — just a few harmless flak or bullet holes now and then. She was a lucky ship, too. Not a man was so much as wounded on her first 71 flights. But on No. 72 the veteran battlewagon returned home with a dead waist gunner on board—a victim of flak. The month the Allies punched a hole in the Atlantic Wall and landed in Normandy the old “Avenger” had scarcely a moment to herself. She nearly flew herself into a state of exhaustion, making June her busiest month to date. Twenty times the old girl went up, 17 times to pound the Jerries in France, twice to Hamburg and once to Bremen. One day she took part in a double-header, crossing the channel in the morning, returning to the field for another load of bombs, and going out again in the afternoon. Most of the credit for the craft's T. T. L. M. Smith Monday morning service at dock at the St. Michael's will be a memorial sevence memory of Lieutenant M. M. Smith, son of Mr. T. K. M. Smith of 711 kel street, who was first missing in action since the message being received by his parents on July participating in a bombbon over Austrian oil at the time the message received, his parents were that they would be furned as to more definite in. Yesterday, November 2, Mr. Smith were further address War Department that had been killed in action. Let letter his parents resigned June 22 in which that he had 24 missions aid, all gained within a was a graduate of the Union High School with of 1941 and was attended School of Mines when on Oct. 13, 1943. Most training was received in he was commissioned at Texas. services at the church on he open to the public and of this young man are attend and any other wishes to pay his rehero is welcome. Victor Selzer Has Operation Victor Schmelzer, son of Mrs. H. G. Schmelzer of Lemon Street, underher major operation on arm at Birmingham hostage Nuys, last Thursday, undergone several operaous to this. He is reas well as can be exhistime. Suffered a severe injury foreign duty in the south on his plane crashed into and he was caught in edge of the plane. Due to ness of his injuries and condition of his arm, need osteomyolitis, an inthe bone that is very the pain the patient excruciating, necessitaons in order to check of the infection. By friends of this young January, led the group's commanding officer, Col. Dale O. Smith of Reno Nevada, to christen her after his home state. If so, the "Avenger" has more than fulfilled everything that could have been expected of her. After nine months of combat she has travelled some 116,000 miles between her base in the English Midlands and Eighth Air Force objectives on the continent. She has dropped approximately 340,000 pounds of bombs on German industries and military installations. At least two enemy fighter planes have been destroyed by her guns. Staff Sgt. Antonio Loya, 28, Route 2, Anaheim, has flown as a tail gunner on several of the "Nevada Avenger's" history-making missions. Sgt. Loya is married. Mrs. Loya residing at the above address. He wears the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. The Nevada Avenger arrived from the States just in time for the start of the all-out heavy bomber assault on Germany. She flew her first mission January 29, going to Frankfurt with some 800 other heavies. Listed among the ship's 72 assignments are the names of objectives that represent many of the greatest undertakings by American bombers. There were Brunswick, Wilhelmshaven, Oberpfaffanhofen, Berlin, Merseburg, Kiel, Mannheim, Halberstadt and Hamburg. Other well-known targets in Germany that have come in for a pasting by the "Nevada's" explosives include Bremen, Leipzig, Munich, Gelsenkirchen, Ludwigshafen, Eindhoven, Hamm, Osnabruck, Cologne, Magdeburg and Munster. For an aircraft so battle-experienced, the "Avenger" has led a comparatively charmed life. Most of her serious mishaps came during the early days of her career. The "Nevada Avenger" really looked down at the heels the day she staggered back from her sixth mission, a flak-and-fighter infested visit to the scene of her initial flight, Frankfurt. Master Sergeant Chester L. Thompson, 35, of 681 12th St., Mason City, Iowa, who with his ground crew nursed the ship through her first 28 operations, stuck his head through a "Avenger" had scarcely a moment to herself. She nearly flew herself into a state of exhaustion, making June her busiest month to date. Twenty times the old girl went up, 17 times to pound the Jerries in France, twice to Hamburg and once to Bremen. One day she took part in a double-header, crossing the channel in the morning, returning to the field for another load of bombs, and going out again in the afternoon. Most of the credit for the craft's brilliant and consistent performance goes to the two crews of mechanics who have mended her wounds, attended to her whims, and have treated her like a lady. The Nevada Avenger is doing her bit from hallowed ground. Down that same mile-long concrete runway on which she takes off on her way to work, 12 Fortresses thundered off on August 17, 1942, on the first U. S. heavy bomber operation over Europe. In Hospital With Broken Ankle Pvt. Foy W. Trapp, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Trapp, Jr., of Rio Vista Avenue, Anaheim, is in Muroc hospital suffering with a broken ankle, where he is receiving treatment. Pvt. Trapp has been in the Army Air Forces for over a year and a half and received the greater portion of his training in the eastern camps. His present address is Pvt. Foy W. Trapp, ASN 39701005, 421st Base Unit, Sq. F., Muroc, California. Harold Hipes Back To Duty With Navy Harold Hipes of the U. S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Hipes, left Saturday to report for further duty with the Navy after four weeks leave following his return from foreign service. He was on duty in Scotland, England and France during the invasion of Europe and was at Cherbourg on the Fourth of July. He has had many interesting experiences, many of which he is not at liberty to tell in detail at this time. His next mission at sea may take him to any of the many war fronts, which one he will not know until is ship is well out to sea. PAID and here's proof your cancelled TENPLAN check There's no room for doubt when you pay a bill by TENPLAN check. Your check—properly endorsed and cancelled—is a proof of payment which can never be disputed. TENPLAN checks are a real convenience—they help you save time, tires, gasoline. Open your TENPLAN account today at any branch of Bank of America. Buy ten checks for $1 in a neat packet. You need keep only enough money on deposit in the bank to cover the checks you write. Bank of America NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION • MEMBER FEDERAL RESERVE BANK