"Pulaski Tidbits"
submitted by Jim Garner

The 'Russell County News'
Thursday, January 8, 1942
(Reprinted from the Somerset 'Commonwealth'.)
(excerpt)

* Two Pulaski Youths Killed in Action *

  Parents of two Pulaski boys were officially notified this week that their sons have been killed in the performance of their duties and in the service of of their country.
  The young men who died a glorious death are Norman Lee Garland, 28, seaman first class U.S. Navy and Ernest George Kuzee, 19, seaman first class, U.S. Navy.
  Garland was the son of Mrs. D.J. Garland of Burnside, and Kuzee was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kuzee of Camp Ground. On Dec. 16 Mr. and Mrs. Kuzee were informed by the navy that their son had been wounded in action, presumably in the Pearl Harbor attack.   The Pulaski county chapter of the American Red Cross... received a telegram yesterday afternoon from the Navy which read:   "Norman Lee Garland has been reported on the official casualty list through Dec. 26 as missing. No further information is available."   Monday Mr. and Mrs. Kuzee were advised their son had died from his wounds.

1.

The 'Russell County [KY] News'
30 April 1942, page one
submitted by Jim Garner

Somerset Aviator Bags Two Jap Planes
  According to a press report from General MacArthur's headquarters in Australia, Lieut. G.E. Kiser, of Somerset, Ky., brought down two Jap planes over Darwin, Australia, on April 27. The report says he blew the engine out of one Jap plane and sent another spining down in flames and then narrowly escaped death himself.

  In the same engagement the report says seven Jap planes were brought down in one of the hottest air battles of the war. Kiser had already downed two enemy planes in former engagements.

Anyone know about this man?? Contact me

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Part Two
submitted by Jim Garner
The 'Russell Count News', Thursday, September 24, 1942, page one.

Somerset to Honor Native War Hero

  Capt. George Kiser, Somerset's war hero, who is credited with downing eleven Jap planes in the Southwest Pacific in the past few weeks, is to be honored at a homecoming celebration to be held in the public square in Somerset on Friday of this week.   Kiser, who is out on furlough for a few days, was married in San Antonio, Texas, last week and he and his bride will arrive in Somerset Thursday night, Sept. 24.   Gov. Keen Johnson and high army officials from Fort Knox will be speakers on the program...
2.

The 'Russell County News'
Thursday, May 7, 1942, page one
submitted by Jim Garner
(Reprinted from the Somerset 'Commonwealth' newspaper.)

  The wife of First Lieut. George A. Van Arsdale of the Harrodsburg tank company, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde McNamer of Somerset and has been making her home here for several months. The members of the tank company were left behind on Bataan peninsula in the Philippines when the Japs finally crushed the heroic resistance of the defenders. He is believed to be a prisoner of the Japs. Mrs. Van Arsdale's last letter from her husband was written in November.

3.

The 'Russell County News'
Thursday, May 21, 1942, page seven
submitted by Jim Garner
(reprinted from the Somerset 'Commonwealth' newspaper)

OLD TIMERS MET MAY 2 IN SCIENCE HILL DERBY
  Science Hill had its own derby last Saturday, Kentucky Derby Day. The entries were not three-year-old thoroughbreds but 96-year-old and 78-year-old men of war. The Pulaski County Derby was a foot race in front of Langdon's store and was sponsored by A.P. Vaught. The trim contestants were Uncle Robert Wheeler, 96 years old, of Science Hill, and Marshall Wesley of Fishing Creek, who has seen 78 summers. The course was around the Science Hill city block and was witnessed by a large crowd. The Fishing creek delegation made their entry an odds-on choice and he came through under a hard drive ten steps to the good.   Both runners turned in a spitited performance and each was rewarded for his efforts with some useful gifts. Three years ago the pair met on Derby Day and on that occasion Uncle Rob flashed by the judges a winner. After the race Saturday the Fishing Creek "Shut Out" said he never felt better while the Science Hill youngster said he was a bit tuckered out and attributed his defeat to a siege of influenza that threw him out of training in the late winter. The time of the race? War time.

******

A couple of notes for readers who are not 'chronologically enhanced.'
1) The 1942 Kentucky Derby winner was Shut Out.
2) During much of World War Two, the US was on 'war time', what is now
known as daylight savings time.

4.

The 'Russell County News', September 10, 1942, page six
submitted by Jim Garner
{reprinted from the 'Wayne County Outlook')

Miss Flora Dodson Safe in New York
  Walter C. Dodson of Somerset was here Tuesday and announced that his sister, Miss Flora Dodson was in New York city and would come to Kentucky in the next few days. Miss Dodson, who had been a missionary to China for several years and was captured by the Japanese in the fall of Hong Kong and was recently exchanged and returned to this country. Her mother, Mrs. John M. Dodson, resides in Louisville. her many friends here will be pleased to learn of her return and of her expected visit here.

5.

The Somerset Journal
The Oldest Democratic Newspaper in the Mountains of Kentucky
Feese & Williams
Somerset, Ky., Friday, March 25, 1921.
Transcribed by Ron Holt, read the entire article in this issue
Part of a letter to the editor:

"As for myself being an acorn eater, I own up to the goods.  I do eat a few acorns unless mast fails but I mix a little polk salt and hog jaw with them and somehow I believe that is the reason that I am in such good standing, however".................Further and in conclusion, I wish to invite the ones that are calling us people down around Cedar Grove acorn eaters to come down and eat a few acorns, hog jaw and polk salt and get a few seed ticks on you and perhaps you will be more acquainted as the dire needs of the mast feds.