Local Men Meet In Italian Town

I found this article in some photos and other papers after my grandfathers death. I believe it is from the Rigby Star during World War II.

One chance in ten thousand is the usual ratio for the chances of men in the services from the same communities meeting in strange lands on battle fronts. Mrs. Clara Briggs of city subscribed to The Star on January 25th for her son, Pvt. Stanley Briggs now in Italy. Giving his APO number, she was told by The Star another Rigby boy, Walter Kay Scholes, having the same APO number and she said she would write her son, of the other young man. Last Wednesday Mr and Mrs. W. A. Scholes received a letter from their son, Kay, a member of a coast artillery searchlight battalion, written on January 10th in Italy, Corporal Scholes writes:

"Last Sunday had one of the happiest surprises since being overseas. While at church two men walked into the room and I thought I recognized them and one was Daniel W. Thomas who was examined by the draft board at Logan when I was up for my first examination. He was a first Leutenant. Also saw him at Frank Kenerel's home while in California. Guess who the other was? Stanley Briggs of Rigby. He was recreation leader at Rigby High when the folks hired him to keep the boys time (leisure) well occupied so they were not always up at the pool hal during the day. We had one of the best times you ever saw talking old times over. I am afraid I shall not see him again and he is the only person I have met I know so far."

The young men's meeting had not been arranged or planned. Pvt. Briggs is a member of an anti-aircraft artillery unit and was in American landings at Sicily, prior to Italy.

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