1944 Paul M. Disinger, Jr., Ancestors Came Here in 1761 Trains at Sampson

Within a few miles of the home of his ancestors, one of whom fought in the Revolutionary War, Paul M. Disinger, Jr., of 210 Chaffee Avenue, Syracuse, trained at the Sampson Naval Training Center.

Seaman Disinger, who is attached to the audio-visual aids department at Sampson, is a great-great-grandson of Nicholas Disinger, who came to America from the Palatine district of Germany in 1761, sailing in the "Simon Squirrel," the first ship to leave European shores in five years, because of the war then raging between England and France.

He settled in Burks County, Pa., and in 1776, with other members of his family, enlisted in the Colonial Army, and served until the end of the Revolution. His grave at Fayette in Seneca County in the Reformed Church cemetery bears a marker placed there by Sa-Go-Ye-Wat-Ha Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, of Seneca Falls.

Nicholas Disinger and his family moved into the forest wilderness of what is now Seneca County in 1804 and purchased a large tract of land from the Indians. When he died, he left a farm to each of his five sons.

One of these sons, John Disinger, great-great-grandfather of Paul, Jr., arrived in Seneca County, it is said, with an axe and two shillings in his pockets. Proud of the humble beginning of the family in the new country, he directed that a log cabin be carved on his monument which stands in the nearby Canoga cemetery, where members of five other generations of Disingers also are buried.

Red Jacket, famous Indian, was born not far from where the cemetery now is and his monument stands at the entrance.

Seaman Disinger's grandfather was baptized 100 years ago in the nearby German Evangelical Reformed Church by Rev. Diedrich, who had fought in the Duke of Willmington's Army at Waterloo and was pastor of the church from 1821 to 1882, 61 years.

Not far from the old Disinger farm is the birthplace of Stephen Harkness, co-founder with John D, Rockefeller of the Standard Oil Company.

Descendants of the same Disinger family are Frank, Birney and Burt Disinger, all of whom, with their families, live near Canoga, and George and Emma Disinger of Seneca falls.

Seaman Disinger, who is married and the father of three children, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Disinger of 427 Maple Street, Syracuse. Before enlisting in the Navy, he was director of store display at the Addis Company in Syracuse.

July 7, 1944 Venezuelan Naval Officers Study Sampson Training Methods

Four representatives of the Venezuelan Navy arrived at Sampson this week to study recruit training methods and Service Schools operation of the greatest Navy in the world. They are on an official tour of naval establishments and will make an indefinite stay at this Naval Training Center. They are Ensigns Jose V. Azopardo, Juan J. Marquez, Jose M. Basso and Andres Moreno. They came to Sampson following arrival in this country, via plane at Miami, and a short stay in Washington.

July 23, 1944 Commando Courses Now In Use At Sampson

All recruit units at the Naval Training Station at Sampson, N.Y., have now been equipped with obstacle or commando courses. The E Unit course is the latest to be completed and the toughest, according to reports from the men who have been over it. The course was built by the recruits themselves and makes good use of natural obstacles of two rugged ravines behind the Unit area. Among artificial obstacles are a four-foot body vault, an eight-foot scaling wall, concrete tunnels, cargo nets over a high foot bridge, a ladder for crossing a creek hand-over-hand, a maze of posts and numerous other features designed to make the course a real test of physical stamina and agility.

July 19, 1944 Three Sampson Sailors Rescued In Cayuga Lake

Henry J. Pfeiffer of 6 Bostwick Avenue, Auburn, tennis star of that city, bowler and sailor, was the key figure in the rescue of three Sampson sailors off the Morehouse summer resort and boat livery on the west side of Cayuga Lake Sunday afternoon.

Pfeiffer was getting his sailboat ready for a trip up the lake, with high winds prevailing. His attention was called to an overturned rowboat out in the lake. His craft was equipped with an outboard motor and out he and his companions went to the rescue.

The Sampson sailors had been out fishing when an exceptionally strong gust of wind overturned their craft. All three clambered on the overturned boat but huge seas washed them off into the lake frequently.

The sailors were rescued. They had doffed their clothing, which was lost. One of the sailors claimed to have lost $150 in money, another $70 and the third about $50. When the waters of old Cayuga become calm an effort will be made to salvage the uniforms and money.

March 8, 1944 Hitler's Nephew at Sampson for Training

Adolph Hitler's nephew, English-bred William Patrick Hitler, 32, arrived Tuesday at the Sampson Naval Training Station to begin a program of recruit training.

Now an apprentice seaman, he says he hopes to be assigned to the aviation branch of the service. He added that he was pleased with having been accepted by the Navy, having failed in attempts to enlist in the British, Canadian and U. S. Armies.

March 10, 1944 Sampson Sailor, Relative Of

Inventor, Gets Production Awards

Nelson Goodyear, Jr., seaman second class, who just returned to Sampson Naval Training Station from his recruit leave, was the recipient while he was home of an award from the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation, Long Island City N.Y., for 63 meritorious suggestions made to the management while he was in the employ of the company. An industrial engineer, with A.B. and M.A. degrees from Columbia University, Seaman Goodyear is the great grandson of Charles Goodyear, inventor of vulcanizing and founder of the rubber industry. His father, who died in 1917, was chief engineer of Columbia University Chapel and introduced oxy-acetylene welding into this country.

Sampson, N.Y.

Sampson now has its own song, dedicated to this Naval Training Station by the author, John Redmond, seaman second class, who took his recruit training here and is at present attached to the Welfare and Recreation Department. "You'll Never Be Blue in a Blue Uniform" is the name of the song, and it is now on sale. Seaman Redmond has been writing songs as a career for more than fifteen years and has a long list of hits to his credit. He is president of the Song Writers Guild of America and a member of ASCAP, society of music composers and authors.

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"Hellzapoppin," the riot that assailed Broadway theatergoers for five long years, moved in at Sullivan Auditorium for a three-day stay at this Naval Training Station. Playing six performances here and one at the U. S. Navy Hospital, which adjoins the training Station, the first three days of the week, the visiting troupe was enthusiastically received by the Sampson BlueJackets. Sponsored by USO Camp Shows the company numbered 45 people, starring Milton Douglas and Jack Leonard in the Olsen and Johnson roles.

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Seaman Art Jarrett, nationally known band leader now attached to this Naval Training Station, was featured on a Mutual Broadcasting Company program of the Navy Bulletin Board last Saturday evening. The program celebrated the first anniversary of inauguration of the program, with pickups from six different Naval Stations, training centers and ships. Jarrett sang "The Night We Called It a Day," accompanied by the Sampson Naval Station Orchestra.

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Recruits at the Naval Training Station here who have had unusual occupations or exceptional experiences of the kind Ripley relates will have a chance to tell their stories on the radio, if plans of the radio department work out. A search is being conducted for BlueJackets with odd hobbies, jobs, or who have experienced comic incidents in their lives worthy of putting on the air.

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All recruit units at the Naval Training Station here have now been equipped with obstacle or commando courses. The E Unit course is the latest to be completed and the toughest, according to reports from the men who have been over it. The course was built by the recruits themselves and makes good use of natural obstacles of two rugged ravines behind the Unit area. Among artificial obstacles are a four-foot body vault, an eight-foot scaling wall, concrete tunnels, cargo nets over a high foot bridge, a ladder for crossing a creek hand-over-hand, a maze of posts and numerous other features designed to make the course a real test of physical stamina and agility.

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The low-cost housing unit at the U.S. Naval Training Station here which serves as a residence area for married civilian employees and Naval personnel, now has its own swimming beach on the shore of Seneca Lake. A lifeguard is on duty daily from 10.00 in the morning until 7:30 in the evening.

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Formation of a Ship's Company softball league was begun this week by men representing the various branches of service among the station personnel. The league will include ten teams and it is expected competition will get under way next week.