 WAR BOND PROMOTION AT LAKE TEXOMA Early campaigns during World War II encouraged enlistment to the military, the purchase of war bonds,
and conservation of war materials. Issued by the Defense
Department, the bonds were first called "Defense Bonds", but after the
attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the name was changed to "War
Bonds". Citizens could purchase these bonds to help finance the
war. The war bonds actually were loans to the United
States government during World War II. The bonds would reach
maturity in 10 years and could be cashed in at that time for full
value. Advertising was an emotional appeal to the citizens'
patriotism. Bond rallies were held throughout the country.  Denison Press June 1, 1945 May 8, 1945 Amphibious Landing Shows Planned During 7th War Loan Amphibious forces of the type which establish beachheads in the Pacific will stage invasion maneuvers during June at seven points along the Red and Mississippi Rivers to stimulate War Bond purchases during the Seventh War Loan, Nathan Adams, Texas War Finance Committee chairman, said Monday. First of the beachhead maneuvers, to be given by Navy and Army personnel, will be held Sunday, June 3, on Lake Texoma at Denison, as a joint Texas-Oklahoma undertaking. The Lake Texoma Invasion is expected to be one of the most spectacular War Bond promotion events conducted in Texas, Adams said. Invasion boats will crash the beach to discharge troops, tanks and jeeps under cover of smoke screens laid by planes. A new airborne lifeboat will be dropped by a rescue plane as climax of the show. A network broadcast of the invasion is scheduled for radio audiences, and visitors purchasing E Bonds will be given rides in Navy boats. Similar invasions will be staged at Arthur City Bridge, sponsored by Paris and Hugo, Okla.; at Fulton, sponsored by Texarkana and Hope, Ark.; and at Shreveport, Alexandria, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La. Military and naval unites to participate will be from Camp Howze; Perrin Field; Algiers Naval Station, New Orleans; Keesler Field, Biloxi, Miss.  May 27, 1945 HIGGINS BOATS PLY RED RIVER, NEAR DENISON Denison, Texas, May 26 - Two Higgins-built amphibious landing craft are churning up the Red River on the last leg of their 950-mile trek up the winding waterway to Denison, due to arrive about noon Tuesday. Capt. R.A. McDerby, instructor in HIggin's boat navigation and skipper of the boats, started the last leg of the trip from Arthur City Saturday. The trip is serving a twofold purpose. Sponsored by the War and Treasury Departments, the vessels are two of the nine landing craft to be used in the Red River Bond invasion program starting with an amphibious landing demonstration on Lake Texoma at Denison Dam on June 3 with, with subsequent landings at six other towns. War finance committeemen from the four states co-operating in the show are encouraged by the public interest aroused and expect the sale of bonds to soar. States represented are Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Another important aspect of the trip up the Red River is the proof that these waters can be navigated. This trip is considered the first step toward further navigation and future plans for industrialization at key points along the river. McDerby said he had talked to many businessmen along the route. "Many had been of the opinion that the river could not be navigated, he said. "I think that many of the skeptics are now convinced." Dallas Morning News May 28, 1945 FOOD FLOWN TO BOATS STRANDED IN RED RIVER Denison, Texas, May 27 (AP) - Food and water were flown from Denison Sunday to crew members to two landing craft stranded by low water in the Red River fifteen miles below Bonham. The two boats were bound from New Orleans to Denison for a bond invasion show on Lake Texoma her on June 3. They had been expected to arrive Sunday. First word of the plight of the boats was telephoned to Denison by Roy Baugher, a crew member, who walked six miles into Honey Grove to a telephone. Tom McBee, a Denison flying service operator, delivered food and water by plane Sunday to the boats. Baugher had said in his telephone conversation the crews were without drinking water and food supplies were running low. Asa Shannon, principal civilian engineer for the Denison Subdistrict Army Engineer Office, said additional water would be released into the river from Denison Dam to enable the boats to navigate. He said he expected the craft would reach Denison Monday night. Traveling with the boats were Jack Rutledge of the Dallas Association Press staff and Jack Maguire of the Denison Herald. Maguire returned to Denison aboard the plane. Denison, May 29 (UP) - Preparations for transferring two Higgins boats completing the 900-odd mile river trip from New Orleans to Denison out of the Red River and over Denison Dam into Lake Texoma were being made here Tuesday. An additional seven Higgins landing craft being sent overland from the Delta city by truck are due in Denison Wednesday, and will be put into the lake Thursday, according to Capt. R.A. McDerby, skipper of the fleet of boats. The two boats making the trip to Texoma by water, a personnel landing craft and a tank fighter, arrived here Monday. Next Sunday the nine boats will take part in the Lake Texoma War Bond invasion Show  Waterways |