Roger Crawford White

Monroe News-Star (Monroe, Louisiana) Tuesday - 17 Jan 1950 ppg6 ROGER CRAWFORD WHITE, JR. CHOSEN LEADING YOUNG MAN The young man chosen as OUTSTANDING in the Twin Cities for 1949 if Roger Crawford White, Jr. That announcement was made last night at the annual meeting for the Jaycees by H. M. James, Chairman of the Judging who selected White the outstanding young man of the year in the Twin Cities. Mr. White, 29, of 503 Speed Drive, was presented with a gold distinguished service key and a certificate designating him as the Man of the Year. He was cited by Mr. James for several achievements and in his introduction made it clear that White had received so many recommendations for the award that the judges had only a small part in the final decision on his behalf. His achievements were evidenced in his contributions to community welfare in promoting an international letter writing campaign to further human understanding between the citizens of Monroe-West Monroe and the citizens of Ingolstadt, Germany. Also for his efforts to inform the citizens of Louisiana on the need for economy in our federal government while serving as State Chairman of "Operating Economy" as movement supporting the Hoover Commission Report. Mr. White, a part owner in a wholesale lumber yard and at present engaged in sales work, was also cited for his wide community interest as indicated by his membership in the Civitan Club, American Legion, Little Theater, National Guard, Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Monroe Methodist Church. His other interests in which he made his leadership well known were enumerated: Vice President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce (two terms) Sunday School Superintendent, board member and teacher of the Monroe Methodist Church and a member of the Advisory Board of "Operation Democracy" for promoting international friendship and a member of the board of the local Red Cross. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Monroe News-Star (Monroe, Louisiana) Friday - 29 June 1951 Front Page R. C. WHITE, JR., BELIEVED ALIVE Father Receives Information But Details Are Not Now Being Released Through channels that cannot be disclosed by which are said to be almost positive assurance, Roger C. White, Sr., stated Friday noon that he had unofficial information that his son, Roger Crawford White, Jr., is alive and well but is being held as a prisoner of war. He states that the source of information and details for security reasons cannot be divulged at this time, but he feels almost positively assured that his son is alive and well. Young White was reported missing on last May 18 in the front lines of attack in Korea. Roger Crawford White, Jr., is a member of the Louisiana State Legislature and volunteered to enlist last January. He was reported missing in World War II and was held prisoner for 11 months. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Monroe News-Star (Monroe, Louisiana) Tuesday - 29 Janaury 1959 Front Page R. C. WHITE, JR. WRITES HOME First Letter From POW Received By His Family Capt. Roger C. White, Jr., prisoner of war in Korea, wrote home to his parents a letter being received Tuesday, (today) which was written January 10. In the letter he wrote that he was well and that all are enthusiastic over the hope of soon being released to come home. He said this was the fourth letter he had sent but that this was the first one that his parents had received. He asked that his car, stored in California, be put in condition so he can drive home which he said he believed would be soon. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Monroe News-Star (Monroe, Louisiana) R. C. WHITE, SR. TO RECEIVE CITATION IN SON'S BEHALF At the armed forces day service Thursday, R. C. White, Sr., will receive the SILVER STAR citation presented to his son, Captain Roger Crawford White, Jr., for gallantry in action May 18, 1951, which was the day that Captain White was captured and imprisoned by the enemy in Korea. Company I of the 199th Infantry of the National Guard, the company which Captain White commanded before he volunteered to go on extended active duty, will act as honor guard for the presentation of the SILVER STAR. Captain White has TWICE in two wars been reported missing in action. In World War Ii he was so reported and even at one time was rumored to be dead, but he came home and was honorable discharged after a harrowing prison experience. He again entered armed service in the Korean War and was taken prisoner, as stated in May 1951. Captain White was state representative from Ouachita Parish before returning to active duty. High officials of the United Stated Army have stated that Captain White's achievements exemplify to the highest degree those attributes of courage, moral integrity and fidelity which make our country great and will further insure ultimate victory to the forces of freedom. Lt. General W. M. Hodge will present the SILVER STAR to Roger Crawford White, Sr. The letter follows: "Captain Roger C. White, Jr., Infantry Army of the United States, Commanding Company C, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, distinguished himself by gallantry in action on 18 May 1951 in the vicinity of Kunmul-gol Korea. On that date, when his unit was under severe enemy attack, Captain White moved about his men encouraging them and directing them under the advancing hostile force. In so doing, he constantly exposed himself to intense enemy fire. Later when the unit was threatened with complete encirclement, Captain White personally directed the withdrawal of his unit and realizing the lack of rear guard action remained behind while the remainder of his unit withdrew. When last seen he was inflicting heavy casualties upon the advancing troops. The gallantry in action and outstanding devotion to duty and comrades displayed by Captain White on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Monroe News-Star (Monroe, Louisiana) Thursday - 24 September 1953 Front Page 'PREFERENCE' FOR GERMANS TOLD BY CAPT. R. C. WHITE SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 24 - UP - Captain R. C. White, captured by the enemy in both World War II and the Korean Conflict, said Thursday he considered the Germans more humane than the Chinese. White, 33, of Monroe, Louisiana, returned to the United States Wednesday on the transport General Howze among the last shipload of war prisoner repatriated in "Operations Big Switch." The good-natured young Army officer was believed to be the only American to have had the misfortune of being a prisoner of war of both the Nazis and the Communists, although at least two other Korean war repatriates had been captive of the Japanese. White was captured by the Germans in 1944 at Anzio, Italy, while serving as a 2nd lieutenant with Company B of the 168th Infantry, the hard-luck 34th Division regiment that was wiped out in the Kasserine Pass during the Tunisian Campaign. He spent eleven (11) months in Oflag No. 64 in Poland as the "guest" of the Germans. White came out of his first prison camp without any feeling of bitterness toward the people who had been subjected to Nazi rule. When he returned to Louisiana, one of his first projects was organizing a campaign to clothe and feed the people of a German town. White became interested in politics in his home parish and won a seat in the Louisiana legislature. At the onset of the Korean War, White left his legislative seat before his term had expired to go to Korea. He was taken prisoner for the 2nd time in May, 1951, while commanding Company C of the 38th Infantry Regiment north of Honchong. He remained a captive of the Communists until September 6 when he was released in "Big Switch." In explaining his "preference" for German prisons, White said the Germans observed conditions of the Geneva Treaty while the Chinese used the pact "whenever it suited most for their purposes. Although the Chinese were always talking 'leniency policy' you saw very little of it," White said. White said he did not know whether he would reenter politics after his discharge from the Army in January. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana) Sunday - 6 May 1956 pg 6 WHITE-ZUMSTEG Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Zumsteg of New York and Syosset, Long Island, New York, announce the marriage of their daughter, Miss Karen Zumsteg, to Mr. Roger Crawford White, Jr., of Monroe, Louisiana. The ceremony performed Friday in New York in the Church of the Transfiguration. The bridge attended Metairie Park Country Day School in New Orleans and was graduated from Sarah Lawrence College. Mr. White is the son of Roger Crawford White, Sr., and the late Mrs. White. He was graduated from Culver Military Academy and Tulane University and served as a lieutenant in the infantry during World War II and as a captain during the Korean Conflict. After a trip to the Virgin Islands, Mr. White and his bride will reside at 410 West 24th Street in New York. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I found little after 1956 using digital search through Newspapers.com after this announcement in the Times-Picayune