Jinx and Company at Peishiyi
My dad, then Cpl. James H. Mills, remembered these lovely ladies for long after the USO show that brought them to Peishiyi on October 30, 1944. Jinx Falkenburg, Betty Yeaton, and Ruth Carrell (left to right) , female performers of Camp Show #374, were well received by their appreciative audience. He occasionally mentioned them in the years that followed, and my mom always seemed a bit jealous because of his enthusiastic comments. J. H. Mills collection
The ongoing combination of limited fuel and almost continuous mist or light rain with low clouds prohibited aerial operations out of Peishiyi. Airmen of the 3rd Bomb Squadron had been accustomed to flying almost daily before their move to China, but now the pace of life slowed. Boredom brought about by inactivity soon caused an inevitable slump in morale, which seemed to be in direct proportion to the number of missions completed. Fortunately, a USO troupe that featured model/actress Jinx Falkenburg, dancer/contortionist Betty Yeaton, and singer Ruth Carrell arrived to entertain the troops, the majority of whom had not seen a white woman in six months or more. These three entertainers, with actor/comedian Pat O’Brien as emcee, singer/guitarist Jimmie Dodd (husband of Ruth Carrell), and singer/piano player Harry Brown accompanying them, appeared in USO shows at forward bases in China and later in India from October to early December 1944.
The men stationed at Peishiyi enjoyed the two-hour performance of Camp Show #374 on October 30 in the Chinese Recreation Hall (where the anniversary celebration was held), which had dressing rooms in addition to its stage. Capt. Robert C. MacNeil, squadron engineering officer, later commented that Jinx “couldn’t do much but look pretty,” although he, and likely the other audience members, considered that to be “quite enough.” Hank brought home several photos of the entertainers (the females, that is) and remembered them well. Lt. Paul L. Young, squadron historian and intelligence officer, commented the following day, "The boys are still talking about the show we saw here yesterday. It was really something to talk about for a while and we could stand more of the same type of entertainment, especially the singing and dancing. Even seeing a civilian these days makes you feel funny.”
The 1st Bomb Group historical officer, 1st Lt. Howard T. Chenoweth, included his own praise and recapped the show in the month's historical report. He wrote that Pat's Irish stories, impersonation of famed Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne, and accounts of the great coach's life were received with great enthusiasm. Jinx was “very decorative and also received a big hand.” Ruth Carrell and Jimmy Dodd “really stole the show.” He played the guitar, and they both sang many late songs and were “much in demand” by their enthusiastic audience. Ruth was “one of the loveliest entertainers it's been our pleasure to view.” Harry Brown “sang several nice songs and had a very good voice.” The other member of the troop, Betty Yeaton, “literally tied herself in knots for us. She too was very lovely and received a big hand for her efforts in our behalf.”
In addition to their pleasure at viewing the three attractive females, audience members particularly enjoyed O’Brien’s humorous stories, and Young chronicled several. Some of them involved ethnic humor, which was not considered offensive at that time but represented good, clean fun. One favorite was about a battalion that stood review every day. The major in charge stepped out in front each morning and roared the command, “‘ATTALION ATTENTION!” This went on daily until one day as he called out “‘ATTALION ATTENTION!” a little guy way down in back started walking around and kicking up dirt. Again the major gave the command, and still the little guy walked around kicking up dirt and talking to himself. The major instructed his aide to bring the soldier forward. “What’s the matter with you, soldier?” asked the major.
“You always so a pick on me” said the little guy. “Every day, I’m a da guy you so holler at.”
“But” said the major, “I’ve never picked on you.”
“Da hell a you don’t,” replied the little guy. “Same a thing every day always, ‘ITALIAN ATTENTION!’”
The Hollywood troupe received high praise, not only for their performances but also for their positive interaction with the soldiers whom they entertained. This stood in marked contrast to the negative publicity garnered by actress Ann Sheridan and her entourage in August, when the performer had voiced her dissatisfactions concerning scheduling and accommodations. In a review published in CBI Roundup, a New York drama critic wrote, "The players gave every indication of having a good time, as well as providing one, and that adds decidedly to any audience's fun.” He concluded, “All in all, the O'Brien-Falkenburg Co. gave not only a good show but accomplished considerably more than that. . . . They showed themselves good sports and good fellows, everyone here liked them enormously and the G.I.'s will go back home feeling better about the theater and its people."
Want to read more of this story? Find it in The Spray and Pray Squadron: 3rd Bomb Squadron, 1st Bomb Group, Chinese-American Composite Wing in World War II.