REMEMBERING
ALMOUS C. NEW

By Joe C. Fling

Almous C. New was born at Iago in Wharton County, on June 29, 1922, the son of Johnnie Joshua New and Lalla Beatrice New. He lived in Bonus for 12 years, and graduated from nearby Crescent High School in 1939. With such strong ties to Wharton County, including as you will see, his place of burial, it could be assumed that New was actually a Wharton County man.

As has been previously stated in these articles, "home county" designations were often indistinct. This was of course most true to the heroic dead, who are often honored in multiple counties. One might think this was the case with New. You would be wrong. New was listed on the original 1946 War Department list of Colorado County casualties, and is not duplicated on the Wharton County Veterans marker, or on the list provided for Wharton County casualties by the War Department.

New joined the Army Air Corps in September, 1942 and trained at Sheppard Field, Texas; Ypsilanti, Michigan and Harlingen, Texas where he received his wings. He received training as a gunner. New was sent oversees around Thanksgiving, 1943. New went first to England, then North Africa and Italy, where he served with the 15th Air Force. New was assigned to the 451 AAF Bombardment Group. New was a B-24 waist gunner and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.

New was awarded numerous citations, including the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, and three battle stars. The crew of New's bomber was lost in a raid on the French harbor at Toulon on March 11, 1944. Toulon was a primary Nazi held port on the French Mediterranean coast and was vital both for supply of Italy and the defense of southern France, which was invaded by American troops later in the year. New's plane was shot down and crashed into the sea. German records found at the close of the war showed that New's body was recovered, identified and buried, later being moved into an American cemetery.

New was survived by his parents, who are now buried in the same cemetery lot as Almous; two sisters: Iola (Mrs. W.C.) Dixon of Alvin, and Melba Lou New, and three brothers: Alton of Lissie, Leland and Truett of Texas City. The New family still lived in Bonus.

New's body was returned from overseas for burial in 1948. The casket was accompanied by S/Sgt. Kent D. Wisdom, who had also served in the 15th Air Force. Services were conducted in Eagle Lake at the Mill Funeral Home, with Revs. L.W. Crouch of Bay City and Albert Brown, Eagle Lake Baptist minister officiating. Burial was in a family plot in the Wharton City Cemetery. Interment was on November 19, 1948.

His gravestone states that he died in 1943; although the newspapers from his 1948 burial state that he died in 1944. Another evidence of New's Eagle Lake connection is that the town's W. Cherry-M. Perry American Legion Post handled military honors. J.B. Wesson, Earl Braden and Fred Frnka among others participated. His funeral was attended by many out of town relatives and friends.