Archival Friday: Censorship Scandal

Alumnus Magazine interaction with the U.S. Board of censorship 1944

"Code of Wartime Practices for the American Press"

The Alumnus magazine has been a great resource for alumni to both keep in touch with each other, and to keep in the loop with major events at Washington College. This was true all the way back in 1944, although the editor at that time made a major error in the March issue. The editor at the time, whose name is still unknown, revealed critical information about two individuals. Sgt. Harold T. Stafford and CDR Harry J. Hicks, Jr., both graduates of the class of '39 had their locations solicited in the magazine, which was in direct conflict with rules of the U.S. Board of Censorship. Somehow the department managed to get word of the magazine and sent the editor a relatively friendly letter of warning to remove the information, and to refrain from giving any such information in a public magazine. Giving Hick's location on the USS Nebraska, and Stafford's position in the 9th signal company were considered secret information, which could have been used by Axis powers to track and attack both divisions. To make sure that the editor was clear on publishing rules during the war, the department of censorship sent an instructional pamphlet clearly detailing every mandatory rule for publishers to avoid giving crucial information. The editor in response sent a letter of apology and gave his word to never post incriminating information in the future. 

 

Memorandum from the Navy.

My thoughts on the matter are mixed.  First and foremost I am, and always will be a supporter of the first amendment; freedom of speech as well as freedom of the press.  From my understanding this should also cover war time news.  On the other hand the U.S. Government did have a strong reason to monitor press release and censor any information that might be pertinent to “The Enemy”.  I am also shocked how perceptive the U.S. Board of censorship was during the wartime era.  To pick up a quick anecdote in a college alumni magazine proves how careful and thorough the department was.  This is both impressive, and equally terrifying.  The fact that the Board of censorship back in 1943 could pick up just about any revealing information in every U.S. publication points to a likely absolute government control of all media currently.

Ultimately, the answer lies in a gray area of moral ambiguity.  The government should watch for press releases of information that definitely would endanger the lives of American citizens.  Whether the U.S. government can be trusted with that responsibility is still debatable.

Harry Hicks, one of the soldiers mentioned in the magazine.

--Nick

Archival Friday: Lawrence Buffington

Lawrence Buffington's photo in the Pegasus yearbook.

Lawrence W. Buffington was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He was born in 1917 and had three brothers, John Raymond, James “Jay” and Donald L. Buffington. Later he went on to study at Washington College in Chestertown, MD where he studied mathematics and economics. He was associated with Greek life. Lawrence was the chairman of the inter-fraternity council, the president of Omicron Delta Kappa and Archon of Theta Kappa Nu. He also was active in the sports scene as a football player. During his senior year, he enlisted into the Army Air Forces in Washington D.C. Lawrence was the Captain of Regiment 345^th bomber group, medium, 500^th bomber squadron. Lawrence was declared dead August 12, 1945, stating that he was “missing in action or buried at sea”. This was three days before the end of the war with Japan. He was on a flying mission over Japan the last time he was seen. The awards he received were the air medal, Purple Heart, American campaign medal and the WWII victory medal.

Sources: www.honorstates.org, Yearbook of ’39, www.findgrave.com, www.ancientfaces.com, Theta Kappa Nu Pegasus article.

--Abby

Archival Friday: Terrence M. Burrows, Jr.

Terrence M. Burrows Jr.

The man I researched was Terrence M. Burrows Jr.  He was born in Baltimore on March 23^rd, 1923, and boy was he born in a bad year.  If you were born in 1923, you would’ve been 18 in 1941, the year when Japan attacked America and Germany attacked the USSR.  He spent one year as a freshman in Washington College; I was only able to find a few blurry pictures of him in group yearbook photos.  It was a way to learn a bit about him.  For example, he was a freshman in 1942.  He was also in the Classical Society, a pledge for the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, and a member of his local YMCA.

While in the armed service, he served in the 390^th bomber group as well as the 569^th bomb squad, flying in a B17 Flying Fortress.  The plane’s serial number was 43-38173.  He died on December 24^th, 1944 after being held by the Germans as a POW.  While the exact location of his prison is tricky to determine, it’s likely he was on a boat that was shot down by American planes.  He currently has a grave in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Talbot County, Maryland.

Citations for this post are the Washington College 1942 Yearbook, the Find a Grave website (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=20711112), the American Air Museum (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/208401), and a website listing POW information (http://www.ww2pow.info/index.php?page=directory&rec=818)

--Elijah McGuire-Berk

Archival Friday: Albert J. Bland

In one of our preliminary research periods, I came across the story of Albert J. Bland in a brief excerpt written about him in The Elm. It stated simply that Bland was being held in a Japanese prison camp, no more, no less. I wanted to know the end of his story, and while I was relieved to discover that he survived this ordeal, I was horrified by the discovery that for over three years Bland suffered a fate worse than death.

Bland was born in Toronto in 1916 and raised in Egg Harbor, New Jersey. He was an athlete in high school and came to Washington College in the fall of 1935, where he played on the college football team as a tackle. According to college records, Bland only attended WC from September 1935 to December 1936, though alumni records show that he graduated in 1939.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps (what would become the Air Force) in 1937, beginning his journey into World War II. At the start of the war, Bland was stationed in Nichols Field in the Philippines. However, after the American surrender at Bataan on April 9, 1942, Bland become a Japanese prisoner of war and was sent on the Bataan Death March. Bland survived the march all while helping to support an injured soldier.

From there, Bland remained a POW and was shipped throughout Asia until the end of the war. He was taken from the Philippines to Formosa, Japan, Korea, and Manchuria. Bland even spent time on the Oryoku Maru, a Japanese war ship known also as one of its "hell" ships.

Bland was finally liberated on August 20, 1945 after the Japanese surrendered to the United States. He was 98 pounds and blind from malnutrition. He spent one year recovering and regained his sight. He then continued to serve in the Army Air Corps until 1957, when he retired with the rank of Master Sergeant. Bland then worked in quality control until 1981.

He remained involved in POW affairs throughout most of his life, and even helped to create the Prisoner of War medal in 1985. Bland was awarded this very medal by President Ronald Reagan in 1988.

Bland died on the 58th anniversary of his liberation in 2003 at the age of 87. He was survived by his wife and three daughters.

Bland's suffering allowed the Allies (and even the Axis) powers to live in peace so many decades later. He said in an interview with The Baltimore Sun that had he known the fate that awaited him in Bataan, he would have chosen death in a heartbeat.

Source: The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Elm, the Washington College Alumni Catalog, ancestry.com.

--Emma Buchman

Archival Friday: From Washington College to West Point Military Academy

James Harold Pitman

So our goal for today was to look at the World War II Memorial in William Smith Hall.

Our group decided to look at the monument and pick one of the names of our fallen students whose names are immortalized on the plaque. So I originally picked Francis Zebrowski and Vincent Kohlerman, these are two men that I had letters from, which I discovered in a previous archives session. (So yes, I was cheating a little bit because I already had a lot of information on both soldiers.) However, as I was pulling out my letters, I found another name from the monument – James Pittman. His brother, Donald, sent the college a detailed history of Jim's military career, and with further exploration of what happened to Jim, as the names on the memorial plaque, are all men who gave their lives defending their country.

James Pitman was actually a student at Washington College for only 1 year before he accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. While at Washington College, James was the freshman class President for the year he was here for the 1935-1936 school year.

After he graduated in West Point, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Cavalry in June 1940. From West Point he was moved to the Cavalry school in Fort Riley, Kansas, after intense training there he was sent to the famous 7^th Cavalry Regiment in Fort Bliss, Texas. During this time he married Miss Theodora Burr of Bloomington Illinois. He then went with the 7th Cavalry when they went to Louisiana  with the 3rd army, but left to teach history at the newly formed West Point Preparatory School. Jim rose through the ranks, by the end of his teaching assignment he was promoted to First Lieutenant, and went to Fort Riley to join the 15th Cavalry Regiment and assigned as a S-3 (Operations Officer). Promoted again to Major in January 1943, he was transferred to South Carolina to help activate the 2nd Cavalry Group. Then in June of 1943, Jim became a father to his son James Hudson Pitman, who was born in Columbia, South Carolina. He joined the 42nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, was sent overseas in April 1944, and became a part of the Third Army.

Jim became a member of the British-American staff and observed the D-Day assaults, even though the Third Army did not participate. At the end of July, the 42nd Cavalry was part of the breakthrough of "St. Lo" and became the "point for Patton's Third Army dash across France." When Lt. Col. Hill, the leader of the 42nd, was hospitalized, Jim took control. By September, the 42nd had advanced miles ahead of the main force of the Third Army, and Jim was ordered to guard the road junctions of Luneville, France, and essentially protect the left flank. Jim was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallant service. Attacked at 7:30 in the morning on September 18th, "skillfully and courageously directed the defense of his positions until about 1:00 that afternoon when the 4th Armored Division arrived as back up. Pittman was able to deflect the heavy tank and machine gun fire with his lighter armaments, and successfully kept the enemy away from the road, while being calm and skillful under heavy fire, he was inspiration to his men. Jim Pittman lost his life after being shot by enemy tank gun fire while reporting the situation to his group commander.


--Sarah

Archival Friday: Lt. Foley

Thomas J. Foley only spent one year enrolled at Washington College, during the 1934-35 academic year, but as a Paratrooper during World War II he was part of a legendary infantry whose ferocity and resiliency would earn them an infamous nickname.  Foley left Washington College after his freshman year in the spring of 1935 for unknown reasons.  It is unclear whether he joined the armed forces through enlistment or the draft but Foley was a member of the 504^th Parachute Infantry stationed out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  Eventually reaching the rank of 1^st Lieutenant, Foley was with the 504^th as they became the first allied forces to enter Naples in October of 1943.  

 In January of 1944 the allies were beginning their assault on Rome but first needed to capture the coastal town of Anzio, 35 miles to the south.  In what was known as “Operation Shingle”, the 504^th landed on the Anzio beachhead on January 22, 1944.

After a successfully landing and capturing the beach, the 504^th was met with heavy German and Italian resistance as they tried to advance.  Both sides established trench positions and the ensuing bloody standoff lasted for another 8 weeks.  Despite the appalling trench conditions the 504^th stood their ground and did not surrender the beach.  The 504^th’s tenacious and forceful counteracts were noted by a German soldier who described the unit in his diary:

“American parachutists...devils in baggy pants...are less than 100 meters from my outpost line. I can't sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere...”

Allied forces occupy a trench in Anzio similar to what Foley and his company would have experienced. Image credit: Wikipedia

The 504^th adopted the Devils nickname and continue to use it to this day.  Foley was killed sometime during the period of trench warfare on March 19th, just four days before the Devils were recalled to Naples following the German and Italian retreat from Anzio.  Foley is honored along with the other Washington College alumnus who were killed in action on a memorial in William Smith Hall. 

--Joseph Swit 

Archival Friday

On the first Friday of the workshop, and only the third day overall, we started the morning with Heather Calloway, the archivist at Washington College's Miller Library. Heather had been working with the StoryQuest archival research team during the spring semester, helping them locate primary sources resources from the war years--including yearbooks, the college and town newspapers, meetings minutes, and one very special box of letters (ask Sarah about this at some point!)

This morning, Heather introduced us all to the archives, showing us all the collections the college has and explaining how the archival process works. Aside from realizing just how much the college has archived, everything from paintings to unidentified photographs to VHS tapes of sports games, we also got to see some cool stuff from the years we're interested in--the war years. We passed around a felt cap, stiffened with age, that the Freshman "rats" had to wear to identify themselves; a WAC pennant, with the owner's dance tickets pinned to it; a scrapbook, where a former student had kept photos now yellowed with old paste.

After lunch, we took a short field trip (a whole two minutes long) next door to William Smith, where a memorial plaque displays the names of the WAC students who gave their lives in the armed services during World War II. Some of the names were now familiar, after our morning of peeking into the college life of that time. Each student picked a name to research, and with Heather's help in directing them through the archive's resources, they spent the afternoon piecing together a timeline of these soldiers' lives, developing the research skills they'll put to use later in preparing for interviews.

We'll hear from them next about what this afternoon was like. As for me, I'm hoping to make Archival Fridays a thing!

--Rachel, 5/29