Dayton Daily News - Thursday, March 12, 1942

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Two Daytonians with the American armed forces in Australia, are Lt. Roger Hugh Cowden, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Cowden, West Hillcrest avenue, and Charles F. Houk, son of Mrs. John Wiesner, 416 Hart street. Cowden's parents recently received a cable from him from Australia. Houk was identified as one of a crew of a flying fortress shown in action in Australia, in an Acme telephoto picture published Tuesday on the front page of The Herald. Houk enlisted in the air corps soon after graduation from Kiser high school. Cowden is assigned to an engineering battalion.

Two other Dayton men were reported safe in the Pacific war zone, in messages received by their parents Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kohler, 1018 Riverview avenue, received a telegram stating that their son, Charles, had arrived safely at an unannounced destination in the Pacific. Kohler entered the service August 6, enlisting at Patterson field with the Fourth Repair squadron. Wilmer Mark Hurst, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer E. Hurst, 132 Morgan avenue notified his parents in a letter that he was with the Pacific fleet and was in good health. The letter was written Dec. 24, and conveyed Christmas and New Year's greetings. Hurst is a fireman, first class, having entered the service in Aug., 1939.