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Darrtown native, Dale Bufler observed world's first H-Bomb blast
The 1954 headline, shown at the right, announced that Darrtown native, Dale Bufler, was on Military Police duty with the U.S. Army, when the first H-Bomb was exploded by the U.S. Government. The accompanying article appears below.
"Dale Bufler, of Oxford Stewart’s Faculty,
Pictured in Films Showing 1952 Explosions;
‘Awesomely Angry,’ Local Man’s Description
One look at an H-bomb explosion is “enough for always,’ even from a safe distance on a test, according to a young Butler County teacher who is pictured in recently-released films on the 1952 Elugelab Island blast.
Dale Bufler, 24, Hamilton-Richmond Pk., Darrtown, teacher of industrial arts and drafting at Stewart School in Oxford, is one of two military policemen shown in the film with Col. Richard T. Lunger in a sequence outlining security measures and various final preparations for the blast at the island. Mr. Bufler, who entered the army shortly after graduating from Miami University in 1951, was a private in the 516th Military Police Company at the time. He was released as a corporal last summer and started teaching at Stewart the day after he arrived home.
Awesomely Angry
‘Even the films we’ve seen on television and the still pictures in the newspapers, with all their graphs and comparisons,’ he added, ‘can’t convey the entire impression. I think color movies, if they are released, will get the idea across even more. There’s something awesomely angry about the colors that flash through the explosion, but originally we were warned not to even discuss the colors that we saw, for security reasons.’
‘I had a funny feeling inside, you can be sure. They told us they didn’t know what to expect, but it more than filled my expectations. I don’t care about seeing another. Once is enough for always.’ "
Like all American citizens during the Second World War, Darrtown residents felt the impact of that difficult time. The "rationing"program, which was an important part of the war effort, touched the lives of one and all.
World War II Rationing Program
"With the onset of World War II, numerous challenges confronted the American people. The government found it necessary to ration food, gas, and even clothing during that time. Americans were asked to conserve on everything. With not a single person unaffected by the war, rationing meant sacrifices for all." - From the United States History website; see: https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1674.html
The two images that appear at the right, show the front and back of a "Mileage Ration" coupon.
Issued to Darrtown resident, Raymond Wiley, the coupon is dated as being valid from December 4, 1944 through March 4, 1945.
Ray Wiley's younger son, Ron Wiley, contributed these documents to Darrtown.com.
ABOVE: This image shows a coupon for the purchase of one tire from Luther McVicker to Raymond Wiley (dated August 7, 1943). This coupon was authorized by the "United States of America Office of Price Administration."
RIGHT:
This image shows that Raymond Wiley purchased one tire from the Marsh-Schneider Tire Co. of 114 North Second St., Hamilton, Ohio - on August 13, 1943.
LEFT:
This image shows the front covers of four individual ration books that were alloted to:
> Albert Lindley,
> Albert's wife, Bernice,
> Albert's son, Fred,
and
> Albert's hired hand, William R. Davis, who was employed by Albert, when he operated a farm near Jacksonburg, Ohio, during World War II
Apparently ration books were allotted to all family members, regardless of age; as, Fred was approximately three years old at this time.
Fred's sister, Betty, had not yet been born; hence there is no ration book in her name.
BELOW: These three images show the front, inside, and back of a "War Ration Book Four" that was alloted to the Albert Lindley family during World War II.
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BACKGROUND ON WWII RATION BOOKS
(see ration book images below)
Because of food shortages during World War II, "the US government’s Office of Price Administration established a system of rationing that would more fairly distribute foods that were in short supply. Every American was issued a series of ration books during the war. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. Once a person’s ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldn’t buy any more of that type of food. This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program." (from the National WWII Museum website; see WWII Museum.)
The image at the right displays the infamous World War II "Greeting" letter from the President of the United States that directed the recipients to report for a "preinduction" physical examination.
This letter to Raymond Kenneth Wiley, dated February 25, 1944, notified Raymond that he was to report to the main lobby of the Hamilton, Ohio Y.M.C.A. at 7:30 A.M., on March 4, 1944.
World War II Registration Notice
World War II Honor Roll
RIGHT:
This photo of the WWII Honor Roll, which once stood in the northeast quadrant of the town square, was contributed by Dale Bufler.
The sign was located in the northeast quadrant of the village square (the south side of the K. of P. hall appears in the upper-left corner of the photo).
Seen in the photo are Mrs. Lorraine Uhl and her daughter, Myrna Uhl.
Unfortunately, the original image was not focused and it is difficult to discern all the names listed on the Honor Roll.
The names that appear in the columns at the right were identified from the photo, while it was magnified with a photo enhancing program.
If you see errors, or if you can provide names that are missing, please contact the Darrtown.com webmaster.
Clarence Wright
W. Moulton MIller
John F. Mee
Harold Baecker
Harry Summers ?
Robert Schlabach ?
Paul Weiss
M. Beecher Clark
Arthur Fulmer
Harry Pharis
Paul Krebs
Ralph Miller
Dwight Miller
? ____ Harris
Melvin Petri
Dorothy Harris
Keith Dynes
Donald McVicker
Thomas Popst
Fred Popst
Andrew Popst
Howard Cox
Charles Witherby
Eugene Wagonfield
Edward Fowler
Jack Fowler
Charles Uhl
Glen ___? (last name may include two "b's")
Fred Hunkler
Harold Schriver
William Falk
Earl Keiser
Leonard Schwab
Theo___? Schwab
Alvin Alford
Virgil Alston
Eldon Wyckoff
George M. Nichol
Paul Schlabach
John Schlabach
Lawrence Schlabach
Lawrence Baumann
Gordon Thomas
Edward W. ___?
Eldon Lee Wiley
P___? J. B____?
Wilber Pierson
Warren Hansel
Loren Sewell
William Uhl
Harold Witherby
A more complete list of veterans from Darrtown and vicinity is available at alphabetical list of military veterans.
1956 Dedication of Veterans' Memorial
ABOVE: These two images, taken by Paul Weiss, were dated as "July 8, 1956," which was a Sunday. The link at the right shows a news clipping that confirms the July 8th date, as the occasion when a veterans memorial plaque was dedicated. Later, the Fire Department building was constructed just beyond (east) of this site.
William “Bill” Miller receives Purple Heart award
RIGHT:
This photo of Bill Miller (circa mid-1940's) accompanied the following story that appeared in a Hamilton Journal news clipping.
"Private Miller is the husband of Mrs. Olive Henry Miller, R.R. 8 of Hamilton, Ohio and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Miller, R.R. 2, Oxford, Ohio.
He is a graduate of Darrtown High School and the Hamilton Business College. Prior to his enlistment, Mr. Miller was employed at the Mosler Safe Company of Hamilton."
Bill Miller was a life-long Darrtown resident, except for the time that he served in the U. S. Army.
Webmaster Notation: The "R.R. 2, Oxford, Ohio " residential address that is listed in the news clipping (left) applies to all Darrtown addresses - ever since the Darrtown Post Office closed in 1907 (date confirmed in "Early History - Page 3").
This "Purple Heart" news clipping was found among the many newspaper clippings maintained by Mrs. Albert (Bernice Weiss) Lindley during her lifetime.
This page contains stories about items listed at the right.
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