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Show TedWeber'sDeath In Pacific Action Is Corroborated Word received by The News this week from Mr. and MJrs. J. G. Weber in Artesia, California confirms con-firms the sad news of the death of their son, Ted. He was killed in action March 2 on Los Negros island, first - of the Admiralty grov.p to be taken by forces of General Douglas MacArthur in his early March offensive north of New Guinea. Ted was attached to an anti-aircraft unit of the artillery, according accord-ing to his parents, and probably was killed as the Japs staged their first serious counter attack. The initial landing on this island "was launched as a reconnaisance in force" according to. MacArfchur's communique. The thrust took the enemy so completely by surprise, however, that the operation was "immediately developed into a peneJtraitSom, which was exploited into complete occupation." Invasion of the Admiralty islands advanced American front lines by some 250 miles, bringing them within 1300 miles of the Philippines. 'Big Momote airdrome on Los Negros island was quickly seized from the surprised Japanese, who put up only weak resistance and were quickly overpowered. The field, heavily raided by American bombers a month before, had been well repaired and was in such good condition it is now being turned to use against remaining enemy bases around the Bismarck sea. ' The surprise strike by the dismounted dis-mounted First cavalry was made under the personal direction of General Douglas MacArthur, who rode a warship with the invasion forces. It was one of MacArthur's favored fa-vored encircling moves, with a double, edge. It put American forces on either flank of Rabaul, 360 miles to the southeast, and severed Japanese supply lines from Truk to northeast New Guinea. The presence of MacArthur himself, with a battery of other high ranking officers, indicated the importance he attached to the . action. Ted Weber was born in South Milford December 17, 1922 and spent all his school days m Mil-ford, Mil-ford, up to graduation from Mil-ford Mil-ford high school in 1941. He was a member of the school track and took part in debating activities. He received a gold medal from Brig-ham Brig-ham Young university and also from the state for winning the mile run. He was awarded the 1940 Carl Raymond Gray scholarship scholar-ship in vocational agriculture for Beaver county and was a State Farmer in the Future Farmers of America setup. Ted entered the Utah State Agricultural college in the fall of 1941 and completed nearly two years of college work. In his first year of college he won the. crosscountry cross-country run and received two sweaters, one with freshman numerals and another for "upsetting "up-setting all pre-meet predictions to beat out a determined field of letter mem and freshman competitors." competi-tors." He enlisted in the fall of 1942 but was not called into active service ser-vice until April of 1943, going to Fort Douglas. From here he went to Camp Callan, California and was sent to Australia in August of 1943 for further training and from there to New Guinea. His last letter was dated February 26. The family received the sad word of his death from the war department April 26, and this was followed by a corroborating wire from Brigadier General Dunlap A little later the family received the following letter from General MacArthur: "In the death of your son. ... I have lost a gallant comrade-in-arms and I cannot express to you the poignancy of my regret. "His sen-ice under me in the Southwest Pacific was characterized char-acterized by his complete devotion de-votion to our beloved country and by his death in our crusade cru-sade for freedom and liberty he is enshrined in its imperishable im-perishable glory. "Very faithfully. Signed) "Douglas MacArthur." |
