Lifestyles see more »

The nation was at war in 1944, and that stark reality was very plain from the headlines of The Llano News that year. Unfortunately, the headlines were all I could read on many of the pages (the 1944 microfilm at the library is not very clear, and I don’t have very good eyes), so the details will be a little sparse in this look at the "home front" in the days leading up to the invasion of Normandy June 6.

The front page of the January 6 newspaper showed the picture of a young man who had died in the war. As close as I could figure, the name under the photo was "Cardwell," but that name does not appear among the nearly 1,200 names on the World War II memorial in front of the courthouse. It’s not even close to any of the 28 names that I counted with a star beside them (signifying that they died in the conflict). Strangely enough, the name of the next young soldier whose picture appeared on the front page (Sgt. Robert Collier, "Wounded in Italy: Well Now") is not on the monument, either.

Other headlines January 6 described a Red Cross Blood Drive and a War Loan Drive with a January quota of $209,000 for Llano County. Also, "Air-WAC to send recruiting party to Llano."

But there was other news, too. One headline announced, "Hullinger buys De Luxe Shop," and another, "1943 Post Office Receipts exceed 1942 in Llano." January 13 headlines said, "Air Line asks permit to serve Llano," "Mercury drops to 19," and "Storage Locker Plant to be Built in Llano by Stanley Stribling." An ad from Van Spinks said, "We need clothes hangers urgently – It’s impossible to buy them – We do not have enough."

On January 20, the paper announced, "First snow in 3 years falls on Llano," and told how 250 residents had already signed up to be customers of Stribling’s locker plant (Its capacity was 350).

On January 27, the paper described a War Bond Rally to be held February 5, and announced that Llano County citizens would donate "over 50 gallons of blood to the Red Cross 3 days next week." Graphics on an inside page told the story of "the Battle of Tarawa told in pictures.Nearly 500 people gave blood at the Red Cross drive, including a group who caravanned over from San Saba. Lt. E.L. Tully, who had married Alberta Price of Llano just a month earlier, was killed when his B-24 Liberator crashed during a training exercise in Kearney, Nebraska. (His name is not on the monument, either)

The allies were clearly winning the war by that time, and a map on an inside page guessed (quite accurately) at the boundaries of post-war Poland. Ads and news stories were filled with politically incorrect names and descriptions of the Axis fighters. A photo showed a new "Guadalcanal railroad, built by Seabees." And an ad for Bruhl’s claimed "44 years of dependable service."

A young Marine, named Lloyd Beasley, of Buchanan Dam, was wounded; the notice appeared on February 10 (and his name IS on the monument). Three Clawson brothers from Lone Grove held a wartime "reunion" in Italy: 1

On February 24, a photo of Raymond A. Crooks (he is also on the monument) appeared on the front page, under the heading "In Italy." On March 2, a headline said "Marvin Willis dies of wounds in Italy action." There is a C.W. Willis on the monument with a star by his name, and a Eugene C. Willis without a star, but no Marvin.

On March 9, the headline announced "Over two score called to service," as the size of the military continued to swell. Another (rather puzzling) headline said, "All teachers in Llano schools re-elected." There was a photo of a soldier with a flame thrower, and a map of the Pacific with the caption, "We’re on the way to Tokyo." And Roy’s Café advertised new ownership and management under J.T. "Red" Ellason. "Come see us," the ad said, "when you want good food and cold beer."

On March 23, the big news was that Sheriff Roy Ellason had resigned to join the military. His replacement was former Chief Deputy R.P. McWilliams. Aaron Welch was "In North Africa," and Lt. Eugene A. Willis "Gets Wings." On the 30

On April 6, there was a photo of Pfc. Jack Lackey "In North Africa," a photo showed American infantrymen in northern Burma, and Carlos Ashley was elected president of the Chamber. By April 16, markers had been set on the North-South runway of the new airport, and an editorial thanked the Lions Club for sending cigarettes to soldiers overseas. Llano High School’s track team won first place at a San Saba meet, and Captain Heber H. McLean was awarded a medal.

A headline April 27 announced the capture of three German prisoners near Rocksprings; they had escaped from the P.O.W. camp in Brady the week before. Carl Garner was elected president of the Lions Club, the airport was nearing completion, and a graphic in The Llano News depicted the Battle of Odessa in the southern Soviet Union.

Mrs. J.F. Ross was elected president of the PTA, and Llano got its first rain in more than a month when 4.44" fell over the last weekend in April. Photos of Sgt. Forrest W. "Happy" Sawyer, Seaman First Class James C. "Curley" Sawyer, and Sgt. Raymon Chism were on the front page of the May 4 paper. LHS prepared to graduate 27 seniors.

Sgt. Lawrence R. Light was declared "missing in action" over Germany May 25; a month later, it was announced that he was being held prisoner. Sgt. Delmar Clifton Schmidt, an airplane mechanic who had been listed as MIA in Bataan, was declared dead.

Another article was headlined "Fourth son in Army," and told how Catarino Najar was now the fourth of his family to serve.

And then it happened! The Allies mounted a huge invasion of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The response in Llano was muted, but a small story on the front page June 8 said, "Invasion is On," and another small article inside quoted General Hap Arnold as saying. "This constitutes an invasion in the deadliest sense of the word," and "not a prelude, as some people believe." That was it; attention in subsequent papers shifted back to the Pacific, and there was no more mention of the invasion through the month of June. That was 1944.

st Lt. Johnnie, Technical Sgt. Billy and Staff Sgt. Doyle. Johnnie was killed later that year in the Gilbert Islands. All three names are on the Llano County monument.th, there were photos of "A pilot, a navigator and a bomabadier," 2nd Lts. C.L. Taylor Jr., Harry E. Nichols, and William M. Henderson. Governor Coke Stevenson was announced as the speaker for the Chamber of Commerce banquet, and a photo of the "Mount Cassino monastery" was shown, with the caption, "shelled to rout Nazis."