Robert Lee Thigpen, S2-c, of Rt. 3, Columbia, now stationed at Memphis, Tenn., having as his guest over Christmas in Memphis his only brother, DeWitt Thigpen, Jr. . . . Seaman Thigpen will complete radio training in another month and will then receive gunnery training. . . . The son of Mr. and Mrs. D. T. Thigpen, he is a grandson of J. P. Dabbs of Blaney.

South Carolina officers and men of the 35th infantry division sending season’s greeting to the people of South Carolina. . . . A bit delayed, they’re still well received. . . . Frank C. Cain of St. Matthews observing a birthday today.

Warning . . . . Gifts from soldiers abroad may look innocent enough as you unpack them, but the packing may harbor enemies more dangerous than a roomful of fifth columnists . . . . During a routine mail inspection at St. Paul, customer officials recently found a captured German recently found a captured German helmet cushioned with four pounds of cotton packing. . . . The helmet was not alarming . . . . The packing was . . . . The cotton contained four live pink bollworms – most destructive of all cotton pests. . . . Entomologists of the USDA say that if such bollworms get established in cotton-producing state, now free from this pest, the infestation could cause enormous damages and losses. . . . Inspectors cannot open every package from every serviceman, because of the number involved. . . .But receivers should take the precaution to burn all pacing in order to destroy possible insects and plant diseases that may be lurking in it.

Sgt. Leon Stark of Terre Haulte, Ind., formerly stationed at Fort Jackson, visiting Mr. and Mrs. John C. Husband of 517 Heyward avenue recently . . . . He returned from foreign duty December 4 after serving three years and visited his parents in Indiana . . . . He left for Miami, Fla., for reassignment January 2. . . . He is one of the many soldiers who spent pleasant hours at the Husbands’ home while he was stationed at Fort Jackson. . . .Sergeant Stark says what impressed him most after returning from the Pacific was seeing civilian clothes and pretty girls in gay dress.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY: Edwin Averyt of Columbia, C. L. Hartley of Swansea, T. H. Gooding of Hampton, Hugh Hall of Chester, Mrs. Sallie E. Price of McCormick, Roy E. Garris of Aiken, Marvin P. Weed of Columbia, John W. Hipp of Whitmire, A. G. Pittman of Lake CIty, J. D. Hambright of Clover, J. Carroll Webb, Jr., of Columbia, an dSpeaker Sam Rayburn of Texas.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY: Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Smoak of Walterboro.