Interview by Johnnie Faye Taylor
Jacob is the son of Dr. James E. New and Maude Brantley New. Jacob, called Jake by his family and friends, was born and raised in Dexter, Georgia. After graduating from high school, Jake entered the University of Georgia. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1941. Then Jake entered the University of Virginia Law School in Charlottesville, Virginia.
On Sunday, December 7th, 1941, Jake and two of his college friends were just finishing lunch when they heard the news of the Pearl Harbor Attack. Immediately, they heard yelling and much commotion in the streets as the news reached the people at the University and on the streets in the City of Charlottesville.
Jake remembers attending school on December 8th when much discussion was taking place among the students. Most of the young men wanted to sign up right away for military service. Jake recalls he was in that group, however, he was encouraged to finish his education before enlisting in the Army. He only agreed to finish that school year.
When Jake returned to Dexter for a visit with his family, he talked to his father about signing up for service. His father asked him to wait awhile even though it would be hard for him to do. Jake's two brothers were already overseas by then. Jake was asked by his father to at least postpone enlisting for about six months. Dr. New was ill but Jake didn't realize the seriousness of his father's illness.
Jake thought his father was being too cautious about his son since he had three of them. Jake talked to his friend's dad who reminded him that a father never had so many sons that he had one to lose.
It was agreed that Jake would wait until September and then he could enlist. September came and about that time Jake got his draft notice.
Jake entered the Army Air Corps at Fort MacPherson, Georgia in September of 1942. After being processed at Fort Mac, he was sent to St. Petersburg, Florida for training. When he arrived at the most luxurious hotel in St. Petersburg, Jake asked what they were doing there. He was told that this was their training location for the next few weeks. In disbelief, Jake said "here on these beautiful grounds"? Jake thought this was just fine though he was still in awe of the hotel, grounds and the girls walking around the hotel. This hotel was home to the young recruits for three or four weeks.
All good things end and soon it was time to move on to another location for more training. This time he was sent to Logan Field in Denver, Colorado. With Jake's college and law school background, it was decided that he was best suited for office work. He spent time at Logan Field learning the Army Air Corps office routine and paper work requirements.
Jake's father died about six months after he entered military service. He remembers how quickly the Army Air Corps arranged his leave time and travel arrangements for his return to Dexter for his father's funeral. Jake traveled from Denver via Chicago to Atlanta and then on to Dublin.
With all of Dr. New's sons were in military service, there was no one left at home to take care of the family's farming operation. One of the sons had to get out of the Army to take care of the family business. Jake didn't want to be that son. He had been trying to get overseas duty since he was inducted. Brantley New was decided upon as the one to leave the military. Brantley had always shown more interest in the farming operation than had the other two brothers. Dr. James New returned to his duty station and Jake returned to Denver to complete his training.
The training in Denver was over and it was now time for Jake to be officially assigned to duty. Jake was sent to St. Jo, Missouri. He was soon put to work. A Jewish officer came in and set up a really fine office. Jake was assigned to Lt. Kahn in the G-2 (Intelligence) Unit. It was a "two man" operation.
In order to obtain a security clearance, an investigation has to take place. An investigation team is usually sent to the individual's hometown to question family and friends to be sure there is nothing in the person's background to show any instability or vulnerability to foreign agents. It was necessary for Jake to have the security clearance in order to perform his duties in the Intelligence Unit.
Jake later learned that an investigative team had indeed gone to Dexter to question his family and friends about his past. He began to think that his work must be really important for them to send a team all the way to Dexter, Georgia to check him out.
Lt. Kahn and Jake became friends. Before long they knew nearly everyone stationed at the air field. Major Jordan came in and the G-2 office became a "three man operation".
Jake, being a young man, loved the girls everywhere. He didn't like the base curfew. He just hated to go in early at night. In fact, he was caught a couple of times for missing curfew. Jake finally got enough of the curfew hassle and decided to ask for a special pass. When Jake asked his commanding officer for a special pass that would give him permission to stay out past curfew, he was told to write it up.
By now Jake had been promoted to Staff Sgt.. The special pass he wrote up for himself said, "Staff Sgt. Jacob New---No one is to question what he is doing because he is on business for headquarters." Jake enjoyed his new freedom in his off duty hours. He was never in trouble for curfew violation again.
Major Jordan didn't have much interest in working. He soon let Jake know that the Major wouldn't be working and that Jake was expected to do most of it.
Meantime about 1944, Jake was still anxious to go overseas. He pleaded with Lt. Kahn to let him go. Finally the Major got mad with someone and told Jake that if he would do several chores he had the Major's permission to go overseas. Jake took care of the chores quickly and was ready to go.
He got his stuff together and got the first available plane to Clark Field (near Manila) in the Philippines. A Jeep picked Jake up on the western side of the island and took him to Clark Field.
Jake soon learned the Americans were beginning to show signs of winning the war by that time. Personnel were coming in with nothing to do. There was also a surplus of equipment in the Philippines. Jake saw a large group of tanks in one area at Clark Field. When he asked why so many tanks were there, one of the men told him that the war was almost over and the tanks were surplus. He also told Jake that one more tank brought to Clark would sink that part of the island.
Jake reported in to the Signal Group where he was assigned. The officer in charge was not there. Jake was told there would be no work that day because there was nothing to do. Many of the people at Clark Field had fought their way up through the islands to the Philippines. There were indeed more men than jobs to fill them.
Jake did his first "tent living" at Clark Field. Up until this time, he had been able to sleep in other accommodations. Actually, Jake didn't mind the living conditions at Clark. He remembers them as being good quarters.
The day after Jake's arrival, he went back to the Signal Group office. The Captain (in charge of the office) asked where the new fellow was first thing that morning. The Captain had already unloaded most of his duties on other men in the office. Only the morning report was left for him to do each day. The Captain asked Jake if he had ever done a morning report. Jake told him no but he was sure he could learn to do the report. From that day on the morning report became Jake's responsibility. It took about 30-45 minutes each morning.
The Cartographer at Clark Field was a Major. He was working on maps to be used if the United States had to invade Japan. Since Jake had a security clearance, the Major began using Jake some with work on the maps. It was the Major's opinion that invading mainland Japan would be very costly in United States military lives. The war had been going on for years though and it appeared for a time that invasion of Japan might be necessary. Plans had to be made for that occurrence if it was needed.
Invasion of Japan was not necessary after the Atom Bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Jake traveled to Japan in the first wave after the bombs were dropped. They stopped at Kyushu Island where heavy bombing had occurred just a few months earlier. Jake was impressed with the accuracy of the bombing missions. He remembers seeing the main street in town that ran approximately three to four miles. On one side of the street buildings were still standing and everything looked normal. The other side of the street was totally demolished. Outside the city he could see the beauty of this tropical island.
When Jake's group arrived on the mainland of Japan, they were the first Americans the Japanese in that area had ever seen. He remembers the expression on their faces and remains happy to this day that the war was over before Americans had to encounter the Japanese population in an invasion battle. However, he points out that he never had problems with the Japanese people while he was in their country.
A job in the motorworks unit was assigned to Jake. He recalls telling those in charge that he knew nothing about Jeeps and trucks. That didn't seem to be a problem to them and he was told not to worry about his lack of experience with the vehicles. Jake made the most of his time in the motor pool. He customized a truck for his own use. It became very popular with everybody around. They all wanted to ride in it or borrow it. Jake finally had to stop loaning it so it would be available for him to use when he wanted it for transportation.
After six or eight months in Japan, it was time to return to the States. Jake boarded a ship going to Seattle. It was a troop ship converted from a pre-war luxury cruise liner. Jake and the other men on board spent their time on the ship telling stories (some made up) and just enjoying themselves. They were just happy the war was over and they were returning home.
The men were allowed two or three days in Seattle. They were given money. Jake doesn't remember for sure but believes it may have been back pay.
From Seattle to Atlanta, Jake traveled by train. He was processed out and discharged at Fort MacPherson, Georgia. Jake doesn't recall how he got from Atlanta to Macon but he does recall travelling from Macon to Dublin on the MD&S train.
Jake enjoyed his return home and visiting all his family and friends. He went back to the University of Virginia to finish his last year and one half of law school. Jake graduated in 1948.
He started practicing law in Dublin. Jake says he wasn't the most ambitious lawyer in town. He was still enjoying life as a fun loving young man. It was just too easy to leave the office early if a friend came by and had something fun planned for the afternoon.
Later Jake got the opportunity to purchase the local credit reporting business. The owner wanted to retire but needed to sell the business first. Jake bought the credit reporting business and thought he would continue his law practice also. This didn't work very well so he gave up his law practice and gave the credit reporting business his full attention. After all, it was making more money than his law practice.
Jake met a V.A. nurse in 1948. Four years later Jake and Margaret Hammett were married. Two children were born to the couple. Their daughters, Elleanor Marie and Jackie are a pleasure and a source of pride to Jake and Margaret.
Jake was raised in church and had good religious training from his parents and the church when he was young. He was away from the church for several years during his college, military and young adult life. Jake became an active member of the Henry Memorial Presbyterian Church after his marriage when he settled down. He has been a Sunday School teacher for many years. He has also served as a church elder for a long time. Jake has been elected and re-elected to the Presbytery, which is the ruling office of the denomination. He served as moderator during the 1980s of the new Savannah Presbytery. (Dublin is in the Savannah Presbytery). He preached two sermons as moderator, one at the beginning of his term of office and one at the end of his term.
In 1986, Jack was elected District 692 Governor for Rotary International. He retired from his credit reporting business in order to have time for the travel required by the District Governor. He and Margaret traveled for Rotary in the district for about 2 years while he was vice governor and then governor. They both enjoyed the travels and the many people they met along the way.
Jake's retirement has allowed him to enjoy his four grandsons, continue with his civic interests and time to give devotionals in local nursing homes. He has also been involved in his farming interests.
Travel to places of interest has also been a pleasure for Jake and Margaret. Many years after World War II and his time at Clark Field, Jake returned with Margaret to the Philippines to see the changes there since the war years. The couple has made several other overseas trips to the Far East and Europe.
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