Reporter Tells What It’s Like to
Jump With Troops from Transport
Over Alaskan Winter Wilderness
(Editor’s note: Reporter Rob- <
■bert H. Sinclair of the Fair
banks Daily News Miner, for
mer Army paratrooper, was
given special permission by the
Air Force and the Army to
jump with troops from the
503rd Airborne Regiment of
Ft. Campbell, Ky., when they
bailed out near Talkeetna, Al
aska, to carry out war exercise
“Operation Snowbird.” The fol
lowing is his description of the
jump.)
By Robert H. Sinclair, of the
Fairbanks Daily News Miner
TALKEETNA, Alaska, Jan 29,
(jf)—When you parachute into 40
inches of snow it has the sound
of a nice, soft “plump.”
At least, that’s the way it
sounded to me when I hit the
snow with paratroopers of the
503rd Airborne Regiment after
floating to earth in the eerie, half
light of mid-winter Alaska yes
terday.
Each of us who jumped carried
more than 125 pounds of equip
ment. Each man was provided
with the things needed to live one
week in this snow-bound wilder
ness without danger even at tem
peratures 50 degrees below zero
or more.
When we took off from Elmen
dorf Air Force Base near Anchor
age in a C-119 Flying Boxcar,
there were 30 of us aboard, facing
each other along the two walls of
the cavernous fuselage.
But the paratroopers didn’t look
like people. It looked like there
were 30 neat piles of baggage
stacked along the walls of the
plane, with a small face peering
from each pile.
We had been flying through the
dreary sky about 20 minutes when
we suddenly got our jump warn
ing.
Two doors in the rear of the
plane dropped open and a vast
expanse of the Alaska wilderness,
frozen, white and silent, appeared
below.
The two officers who were to
lead each row of men leaped to
their feet.
Capt. Robert O. Sweet of Bel
mont, Mass., the leader of my side
of the plane, shouted “Stand up
and hook up.”
We got to our feet and hooked
our parachute cords to the wire
above us. Red lights flashed ahove
the open doors. They beckoned us
to jump.
Capt. Sweet and the leader of
the second row, Capt. Harry T.
Davis of Delray, Fla., turned to
the open doors without a word
and, in an instant, were tumbling
into the void.
As by a signal, the plane’s in
terior was filled with shouts of:
“Let’s go!”
And go we did. The long rows
melted through the door. I fol
lowed Cpt. William G. Fisher of
Bloomington, 111., into the numb
5>
I
: ing air.
It seemed that my ’chute blos
| somed almost immediately. I
floated down about 1,000 feet to
| an easy landing in the snow. The
1 temperature hovered near zero.
There were a total of only sev
I en minor casualties out of approx
j imately 1,800 jumpers—sprains,
I minor fractures, nothing serious.
One trooper, Pvt. Walter E.
I Arion, had the closest call. When
I Ariofc jumped, his static cord
' broke and he plummeted to with
| in 150 leet of the frozen ground
J before his emergency chute
streamed out.
The parachute opened just
enough to break his fall before he
hit. He jumped up and and hus
tled off to the assembly area
unhurt.
Asked when he first realized
his ’chute hadn’t opened, Arion
replied:
“Man, when I began passing
my buddies who had jumped
ahead of me. Brother, I knew
something was wrong, but defin
itely. So I just pulled my emer
gency, closed my eyes and prayed
a little.”
When I left the paratroopers
they were organized and were
setting up their camps in the deep
snow. I hated to leave them.
That 503rd is a terrific outfit.
11 Die in Cold Wave
'By the Associa’ed Press'
At least 11 persons have died
from causes attributed to the
stateside cold wave and snow
since last Thursday.
The winter’s wmrst widespread
cold wave stretched from the
western plains to the Atlantic
Saturday.
STATE OF NEW YORK, SUPREME
COURT, BROOME COUNTY.
VERA CLEVELAND, Plaintiff,
vs.
LOUIS H. BUCKLAND, Defendant.
Pliantiff designates Broome County as
the place of trial. Plaintiff resides in
Broome County.
To the above named Defendant:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to
answer the complaint in this action, and
to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the
complaint is not served with this sum
mons, to serve a notice of appearance,
on the Plaintiff’s Attorneys within twenty
days after the service of this summons,
exclusive of the day of service: and in
case of your failure to appear, or answer,
judgment will be taken against you by
default, for the relief demanded in the
complaint. Dated,
complaint. Dated,
Dated. December 22. 1955.
BERNSTEIN & GITLITZ
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Office & P.O. Address
604 O’Neil Building
Binghamton, New York
To the Defendant, Louis H. Buckland:
The foregoing summons is served upon
you by publication, pursuant to an order
of Hon. Daniel J. McAvoy, a justice of
the Supreme Court of the State of New
York, dated the 17th day of January,
1955, and filed with the complaint in the
office of the Clerk of the County of
Broome, at the County Court House, in
the City of Binghamton, Broome County,
State of New York.
Dated: Binghamton, New York
January 17th, 1955.
BERNSTEIN & GITLITZ
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Office & P.O. Address
604 O’Neil Building
' Binghamton. New York
/ My hope is built on nothing less Psalm 146:5 •
{ Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; Rev. 1:5 i
j \
p I dare not trust the sweetest frame, Titus 3:5 /
\ Bui wholly lean on Jesus' Name. Acts 4:12 (
\ 4 i
j Paid Adv. \
' SERVICE CLEANERS
4th and B Streets Opposite School House
QUALITY DRY CLEANING A SPECIALTY
Prompt and Courteous Service
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Mickelson, Proprietors
PHONE RED 96
Labor Secretary Asks
Injunction Against Coplin
For Wage-Hour Violations
Secretary of Labor James P.
Mitchell, through solicitor of
Labor Stuart Rothman, has asked
the U.S. District Court for the
Second Division for an order re
straining Frank M. Coplin, doing
business as Coplin Consolidated
Enterprises, from future viola
tions of the Fair Labor Standards
Act (Federal wage and hour law).
Coplin operates a gold mining
dredge on Niukluk River, four
miles north of Council. The firm
has eight employees.
L. E. Evans, territorial repre
sentative for the U.S. Dept, of
Labor, said an investigation dis
closed information that since
May 25, 1954, Coplin has violated
the overtime pay, record-keeping
and interstate shipment sections
of the act.
Senate Passes Jones’ Bill
Amending Marriage Law
In the Senate Friday a bill was
introduced which calls for putting
a million dollars a year into an
“Alaska stabilization fund” until
it builds up to 10 million, for a
reserve to provide jobs in an
emergency.
The Senate also passed a bill
by Charles Jones of Nome to
allow waiving the three-day wait
ing period on marriage licenses
in special hardship cases.
Pioneers at Home Get
$28 Poke of Gold Each
From Christmas Fund
According to a report from the
Pioneer’s Home at Sitka, each of
the Pioneer men and the Pioneer
women received a “poke of gold”
containing $28, which was their
share of the annual Christmas
funds contributed by Pioneers all
over the territory and stateside.
One of the largest single con
tributors is the John Lichtenberg
Estate (former owner of Nome
Hardware), which turned over
$1,025 this year.
Second Division Pioneers now
enjoying living in the home in
clude:
Louis Erickson, John Forsburg,
Edward A. Gross, John Knutson,
Richard McLean, Hans Obling,
John Pearson, Peter X. Peterson,
Wallace Porter, Edwin E. Rohn,
and Hans Samuelson. The latter
is from Unalakleet, the others
from Nome.
NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE
AT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Among the new books at the
Public Library are:
Flag over the North, by Kitch
ener; Fifty Years in Alaska, by
Lomen; Gargantua and Panta
gruel, Rabelais; Heaven and Its
Wonders and Hell, Swedenborg;
This I Believe, compiled by Eld
Morrow; Official Canasta, Gold
smith; Man and God, V. Gallancz;
Collected Tales, A. Coppard; The
Devils of Loudun, Aldous Huxley;
The View from Pompey’s Head,
Basso.
sT.ooo.01'
(ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS)
REWARD
For INFORMATION leading
io the LOCATING
DEAD or ALIVE
Richard John Lill, 2nd Lt.
U. S. Air Force
(Service No. A03-033-632
Lt. Lill landed 1 mile off
shore in NORTON BAY, ap
proximately 23 miles South
i Southeast of KOYUK, Alaska
October 16, 1954
Notify Proper Authorities
And the Undersigned
(Signed) Frank J. Lill. Father
109 W. 109th Street
Chicago 28, Illinois
U. S. A.
GOVERNOR NAMES 19
TO ALASKA BOARDS
JUNEAU, —Gov. Heintzleman
sent 19 appointments to various
territorial boards to the legisla
ture Friday for confirmation.
.They were:
Banking Boar d—Marshall
Crutcher, Kodiak, banker; E.
Wells Ervin, Anchorage, public
member.
Board of Education—Mrs. Myra
F. Rank, Fairbanks, to succeed
Edgar Vlarsen, Fairbanks; Mrs.
James P. March, Spenard, to suc
ceed Mrs. Margaret Harris, Val
dez; A. H. Ziegler, Ketchikan,
who was named by former Gov.
Gruening, but never confirmed by
the legislature.
University Regents—Dr. Philip
H. Moore, Mount Edgecumbe;
Mrs. Audry Loftus, of Fairbanks;
Miss Louise Kellogg, Palmer.
Agricultural Loan Board—Paul
Greimann, Fairbanks, a public
member; Richard Jones, Palmer,
banker; Archie P. McLane, Kasi
lof, farmer; Bert Stimple, Fair
banks, farmer; Max Sherrod,
Palmer, farmer.
Board of Pioneers Home—Thor
wald Osbo, Seward; Henry Roden,
Juneau; Charles W. Carter, Ju
neau.
Board of Accountancy—George
Jones, Anchorage, to succeed Jo
seph Boulet, Fairbanks; A. Van
Seven ter, Anchorage; Frederic J.
K. Randall, Fairbanks.
Fine Job Printing at The Nugget
ALASKA AIRLINES
From Anchorage: Capt. M. F.
Skidmore, Sgt. J. Burgard, Jack
Jenkins.
Jenkins, John Spahn, Maxine Dir,
Milo Fritz, George Eningowuk.
To Anchorage: Lt. and Mrs.
Frank Burdick and infant, Cpl.
Clarence Crakes, Cpl. Triebensee,
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Mickelson,
Sarah Okleasik, Paul Cassidy.
To Unalakleet: W. Ray, Robt
Vogt, Tom Oney.
From Unalakleet: John Os
borne, L. C. Ferguson.
From Gambell: Thelma Apapiki,
Amy Slwooko, Laura and Kath
leen Wondittillin.
NOTICE*
All cars in operation are re
quired to have the 1955 City
Slickers by February 1. 1955.
H. J. Jenks.
Nome Police Chief
Pub. Jan. 24, 28, 31, 1955
BERING SEA
BARBER SHOP
Downstairs in Bering Sea Club
12 Noon to 9.00 P.M:
Monday thru Friday
Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
— George Chapman —
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA 1
Alaska Agriculture Experiment Station I
ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF |
NEW PLANT MATERIALS
Four new plants which may contribute to better living in the |
Territory are new available in sufficient abundance for release
to farmers, gardeners and nurserymen who have the desire ;
and facilities to increase them for sale to the general public. %
Available for release this spring are the following:
WHEAT—A new spring wheat superior to Khogot in stiffness
of straw, shattering and yield. Milling and baking quality for
white flour is poor, fair for whole wheat flour. Should be a \
good chicken and stock feed for south central and interior
Alaska. Responsibility for increase is delegated to the Alaska
Crop Improvement Association. |;
CURRANT— A long branching, high yielding, medium sized,
red fruiting variety of average quality. Excellent for .iellies and
preserves. Well adapted to Matanuska and Tanana Valleys. Per
formance elsewhere is unknown. Cuttings only will be available.
RASPBERRY—Variety Sunrise. This is a standard commercial
variety combining good yield and color. It is being released with
the idea of encouraging nursery men to develop local stocks for *
gardeners and home owners among which a fairly large demand
exists. Purchase of local plants will eliminate transportation
damage and winter kill during first year. Canes available.
HONEYSUCKLE—First year winter kill of exotic ornamentals
has discouraged their use by home owners. These seedling
materials need further screening for habit and flower color
which can best be done by local nurserymen. Propagated by
cuttings, these foundation plants should provide a needed source
of decorative variety. Considered adapted to most sites including
Fairbanks and more southerly locations. Bushes available. j j
PRIORITY—Since stocks are not large CONDITIONS OF RELEASE—Inter
enough to give plants or seeds to all ested parties who are not members
who might desire them, materials of the Alaska Crop Improvement #
will be released in the following Association must: • S
priority: 1 Submit a letter of Interest Iql
TOP. To present members of eluding a description of location
the Alaska Crop Improvement' As- and facilities for Increasing plant
sociation who have in past years materials. *
shown interest in and exhibited , ca- 2. Be prepared to provide referenc
pabilities for increasing such plant es In event bid considered. ,
matSECOND. New members of the 3’ Be Prepared to sign a contract to
Crop Improvement Association who maintain and increase for sale to
have the interest, knowledge, and th* «e?eral public such plant
-arilitiM materials as are provided in re
THIRD. Others who can pre- sponse to bid.
sent evidence of interest, facilities, 4. Consent to inspection procedures
and knowledge of increasing the to insure strain or variety purity
plant materials in question. and freedom from disease of !;
SPECIAL. Established nursery- such increases as are obtained,
men and gardeners will receive 5. Be prepared to maintain records
special consideration with respect as proof to performance under
to bush fruits and ornamentals. contract.
The Experiment Station reserves the
right to reject any and all bids except
with respect to feed and forage crops »
for which responsibility is delegated to *
the Crop Improvement Association. j
Applications will be accepted until March 30, 1955
Communications and inquiries must be addressed to: I
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
ALASKA AGRICULTURE EXPERIMENT STATION j i
PALMER. ALASKA
... \mmianusim.