The White Falcon - 13.01.1945, Side 1
Vol. VII.
ICELAND, Saturday, January 13, 1945.
No. 17.
Falcon Editorial Comment To Be Strictly Gl
During the two month period (October to December, 1944) wh cn circumstances forced us to print the Falcon in its “abbreviated” form,
we found ourselves so limited in space that certain of our regular weekly features had to be deleted. One such feature was our editorial
column. |
However, now that it’s no longer necessary for us to squeeze our copy, photos and cartoons into si.v small pages, we) plan to resume| the
editorials '■— but with this change: they will be written not by us bu't by you, the Falcon readers — the GIs in Iceland.
What editorials appear in future editions of this paper will therefore represent no second-hand impressions of your ideas and alti-
tudes expressed by us, but will be your own opinions expressed by yourselves. We decline the prerogative of speaking in your behalf so that
you may have the opportunity, first-hand, of saying what you think — on any subject under the sun and the opportunity will exist for as.
long as we receive worthwhile response.
Your “guest editorial” may be as long or as short as you like and may be concerned with any topic which you think might be of inter-
est to readers. Only limiting factors are military security and excessive or groundless “griping.” Don’t misunderstnd us — you may suggest
improved ways of doing things where a situation involves a number of men, but individual complaints concerning individual difficulties,
will be ruled out.
Since all “guest editorials” must — like our other copy — be ap proved by Army censors prior to publication, it may sometimes be
necessary for us to alter your material. But we promise you that this won't be done unless it IS necessary.
This is not a contest, and unless response is exceptionally heavy we shall publish every “guest editorial” we 'receive. Incidentally,
be sure to include your name and unit. The first of these editorials will apear in our issue of Saturday, Jan. 20, and the: feature will continue
each week thereafter. Eligible to participate are all Allied servicemen in Iceland. There is no deadline.
Send your “guest editorial” to: EDITOR, THE WHITE FALCON, BASE SPECIAL SERVICE.
War Dept. Says
5,000.000 Vets Will
Go Back To College
After making a survey of
GIs overseas and in the U.
S., the War Dept, lias dis-
covered that 500,000 of the
6,750,000 enlisted men now
ill the Army definitely plan
to return to fulltime college
or other studies as soon as
the war in over. About 1,200,-
000 soldiers state they are
thinking of attending some
part-time school or college.
FROM WHOM?
The Army plans to purc-
hase 3,850,000,000 packs of
cigarettes during 1945.
‘The Sweaters Are Tighter’
Detroit Men, Back From T.D.,
Speak Of Typical Changes
In American Scene
them, Wells re
Upon returning to Detroit
after more than a year with
an Air Corps unit in Iceland,
Cpl. Harold R. Xemecheck
and! Cpl. Russell Wells were
very much aware of the
changes that had taken place
in the city during their ab-
sence.
For example, more hous-
ing projects and shacks have
popped up on the edges of
town as Americans have
Prominent Icelandic Baritone
To Give Concert With Army Band
Opening the first concert
of its 1945 season at the And-
rews Fieldhouse tomorrow
evening at 2030 hours, the
Army Band presents as solo-
ist Mr. GuSmundur Jonsson,
prominent Icelandic bari-
tone, who has just complet-
For other first-hand im-
pressions of life in the U.S..
see page 3.
flocked to the Motor City -—
mecca of big wages and good
war jobs. Cpl. Wells found
that more colored people
had migrated to the city
from the South.
Women dressed in slacks
an ({carrying lunch pails are
a common sight in Detroit
and every other metropolis
these days. Although both
the men are married, the
n 13 J “wolf” in Nemeclieck and
Army DclIUl Wells couldn’t help but not-
ed nine months’ voice study *CG ^ie sweaters are
tighter and the skirts short-
er. Xemecheck was astound-
in Hollywood, Calif.
Back in Iceland for a ser (
of recitals, Mr. Jonsson, ^ie number of women
wearing toeless shoes — even
Mr. GuSmundur Jonsson
les
will make his debut singing
before the Armed Forces.
Among other selections, he
has chosen “Song of Songs”
and the “Song of the Volga
Boatman.”
The Army Band, under
the direction of CWO John
D. Corley, will feature the
music from “Oklahoma!” —
Broadway hit which
drawing" throngs to
the box office window even
after a two-year run.
“Sailor In Town,” a rhap-
sody for piano and hand,
will be repeated. Its compos-
er, Cpl. Millard S. Thomson,
will appear at the piano.
Each man in uniform may
bring a guest. Xo tickets are
necessary.
in the snow.
Street car and bus trans-
portation is free to all mem-
bers of the armed forces who
visit Detroit. The USOs offer
tickets for the best theaters
and for outstanding sport-
ing events. There were more
Christmas invitations from
civilians than there were GIs
Kodachrome Exhibit
At Fieldhouse Jan. 21
Tec 5 Luther Cliovan will
present his newest set of
natural color (kodachrome)
slides at the Andrew Field-
house on Sunday, Jan. 21,
at 2000 hours. These slides
show Icelandic scenes and
also views of Gl life here.
to accept
marked.
As for the cigarette short-
age, both Harold and Russ
admit that it’s acute, but
that in their home city, at
least, every effort is put
forth to see that men in uni-
ETO PAPER PICKS
‘Gl JOE’ AS ITS
MAN OF THE YEAR
In a year’s end campaign,
conducted by Stars and
Stripes, American service
daily in the ETO, to deter-
mine the “man of the year,”1
top choice has been ann-
ounced as “Gl Joe.”
The newspaper states:'
“The very first nominating
letter that came in plugged
for Gl Joe — for all the
frontline Gl Joes, from those
who jump behind the enemy
lines to the medics who
the service is slow. The liq-' crawl into the lines to succor
uor-making holiday granted the wounded. And in the
distillers last summer has ^ flood of letters'that follow-
eased the drinking situation ed, Gl Joe’s name led all the
somewhat. “By the way,” j rest - from President Roose-
said Wells, “I found that niV| velt and General Eisenhow-
overseas service stripes were er to Sad Sack and old John
good for more than one Q. Public — by at least 10
form get enough to smoke.
The restaurants and night
clubs have a fair selection
of food on their menus, but
(Continued on Page 2)
to 1.
Union Leader Suggests That Employers
Pay War Bonus To Discharged Veterans
A proposal that employ-
ers pay a “war service bon-
us” to discharged war vet-
erans has been made by R.
J. Thomas, president of the
United Automobile Work-
ers (CIO). Thomas advo-
cates a bonus equal to 20
percent of a veteran’s start-
ing wage — to be paid for a
period equal to the veter-
an’s length of service.
Asserting that part of the
bonus would come from
funds which otherwise
would go to the government
in taxes, the union leader
said that American industry,
“which in every sense has
profiled during the war,”-
could well afford to make
the contribution as partial
repajinent for the veterans’
services to their country.
Gen. Bonesteel Replaced
By Gen. Pratt In W.D.C.
Xew Commanding Gener-
al of the Western Defense
Command has been an-
nounced as Maj. Gen. Harry
Conger Pratt. He succeeds
Maj. Gen. Charles H. Bone-
steel, former Commanding
General of the IBC.