Pfc Earl Conover Freed From Japs

War Department Notifies Family
Of Columbia Soldier That
He Will Soon Be In States

The entire City of Columbia rejoiced with the Conover family when Mrs. W.R. Conover received a message from the War Department stating that her son, Pfc. Earl M. Conover, had been released from the Japs. His father, who works in Louisville, was notified of the good news at once.

The message said, "Your son, Pfc. Earl Conover, has been returned to military control and will be in the United States in the near future. He will be given the opportunity to communicate with you upon arrival."

Conover, who operated a jewelry shop entered the service in January, 1941, and was sent to the Pacific area in September of the same year prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was with the 17th Ordnance. When the war started he was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg, in the Philippine Islands. He was captured when Bataan Peninsula fell on April 9, 1942. He was first at Military Prison Camp No. 1 in the Philippines and later at camp No. 4.

Pfc. Conover's family received very few messages from him during the period he was a captive but enough came through to keep up hope he was alive. The last direct comunication were two cards received in Janaury and one in May from the Philippines. In June a card came notifying them that he had been sent to Tokyo Camp, Japan.

Pfc. Conover was the only Columbia soldier imprisoned by the Japanese and one of four Adair Countians, all of whom have now been released. The others are, Marine Sgt. Richard Cooley, Cpl. James L. Robertson, and Sgt. Nathaniel Simmons.

The following was inset in the above article. -CYRUS

Letter This Morning!

The following letter from Pfc. Conover reached his mother this morning:

Japan, Sept. 14

Dear Folks:

In good health. Waiting at Yokohoma Airport for plane to Manila. Will write from there. Very homesick but will soon be home. Can't tell you in words how I feel but maybe you have same feeling. Love to all.

Earl

Crowd Welcomes Sgt. Earl Conover

S/Sgt. Earl M. Conover, accompanied by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Conover, and his sister, Mrs. Frances Smith, all of whom met him in Louisville, arrived here Saturday mornng.

A calvacade of more than 50 cars filled with friends, met Sgt. Conover near Columbia and formed an escort into the city. In the group was his grandfather, Mr. B.L. Conover, his two aunts, Miss Lula Epperson and Mrs. R.P. Marshall, and his niece, Rochelle Smith.

Friends of this popular young soldier, who spent more than three years as a captive of the Japanese, will be interested to know that he was promoted to Sergeant before the fall of Bataan, though news of the promotion had never reached his family.

He was elevated to the rank of Staff Sergeant after liberation by the order of General MacArthur. He was awarded the American Defense, Asiatic-Pacific and Philippine Defense Ribbons with four Battle Stars, also the Good Conduct Ribbon and a Presidential Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

Sgt. Conover returned to Nichols General Hospital on Monday morning, but came that afternoon for a 15 day furlough. He expects to be disharged early in January.

Given Honorable Discharge

S/Sgt. Earl M. Conover, who returned home in October, after being held a prisoner of the Japanese since the fall of Bataan in the Philippines in April, 1942, was given an honorable discharge at Nichols General Hospital, Louisville, on Saturday.

Conover was one of the first Adair men to enter the Armed Forces and had served for five years lacking one week. he took his basic training at Fort Knox and shortly afterward was sent to the Philippine Islands.

He has been awarded the Distinguished Unit Badge with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon with 2 Bronze Service Stars, the Philippine Defense Ribbon with Bronze Star, World War II Victory Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon, and Good Conduct Medal.

Sgt. Conover ran a jewelry store and repair shop here before entering the Army. He has accepted a position with Paul Young, He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Conover.

Watchmaker Takes Over
Earl Conover's Business

Mr. M.D. Murphy, watchmaker, of Harrodsburg, has taken over Mr. Earl Conover's business. Mr. Conover volunteered for military service and was called for duty last week.

Mr. Murphy and wife are occupying quarters in the W.R. Conover residence on Jamestown St.

Goes To Philippine Islands

Private Earl Conover, of Fort Knox, who spent the week-end here with his family, expects to leave today for the Philippine Islands with his company.

Red Cross Report on Pvt. Earl Conover

A report was received here Thursday, February 12, from the American Red Cross stating that Pvt. Earl Conover had not been reported as wounded, killed or missing in action as of Friday, February 6.

Conover, who is a son of Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Conover, was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg, in the Philippine Islands, when the Japs made their first attack upon the Island possessions of the United States on December 7. No word has been received by his family since before that date. His last letter was written November 20 and was received January 9.

Message Received from Earl Conover

After four long months of anxious waiting the family of Earl Conover, who is with the U.S. Armed Forces in the Philippine Islands when war was declared in early December have at last gotten a message stating that he was all right.

His sister, Mrs. Frances Smith, and aunt, Miss Lula Epperson, received the letter here and relayed the message to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Conover, who are living at present in Leeds, Ala.

It was written February 1, bore no postmark or indication of where it was mailed but contained the following information which will be of great interest to Earl's many friends here:

"Dear Folks:

"No chance to write before. Am in the best of health, although losing a little sleep and getting two meals a day. Have been both bombed and strafed but only dirt thrown on me so far.

" Guess you know more about the war than I do. We hear nothing. At present we are in a hot spot. Jap planes bomb across from us almost every day. Have done lots of shooting with .50 cal. machine gun. Know I've hit the planes but haven't brought any down as yet. Will be home when this is over.

Earl."

When hostilities started December 7, 1941, Earl was stationed at Ft. Stotsenburg, P.I., forty miles North of Manila. He joined the U.S. Army January 20, 1941, being one of the first Adair County boys to enter the service.

Earl Conover Is Not
Reported As Casualty

Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Conover have received a notice from the War Department, dated April 28, which stated the following:

"Casualty reports received in the War Department to date do not contain the name of the individual about whom you inquire. In every case of casualty the person named as emergency addressee by the soldier is notified immediately upon receipt of such report in the War Department."

When last heard from Earl Conover was in the thick of the fighting on Bataan Peninsula. His friends here will be glad to know that he has not been reported as dead or captured and it may be that he was among those evacuated to the island fortress of Corregidor.

Earl Conover Jap Prisoner
Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Conover
Notified By War Department
That Their Son Is Prisoner Of Japs

Last heard from In Feb., 1942

Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Conover received a telegram Tuesday morning from the War Department stating that their son, Pvt. Earl Conover, of the 17th Ordinance Company, who had previously been reported missing in action, was held prisoner of war in the Philippine Islands.

Pvt. Conover volunteered for service in the U.S. Army two years ago and was inducted January 20, 1941, with the first group of men sent from Adair County. He was stationed at Fort Knox for seven months and was sent to Fort Stotsenburg in the August, 1941. He was later transferred to the Bataan Peninsula where he is thought to have been stationed when the Japs took over complete control of the Islands.

No word had been received from Pvt. Conover by his family since February, 1942, other than the announcement by the War Department that he was missing in action, which meant either death or capture. Before entering the service Conover operated a jewelry repair shop in Columbia.